The Wayro route from Tequila to Ihuatzio is 208 miles (335 km), about 3 h 54 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 208 mi (335 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 3 h 54 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-15D → MEX-15 → MICH 39 → MEX-120 |
| Mexican states on the route | Jalisco (Level 3), Michoacán (Level 4) |
| Toll roads | MEX-15D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 8.3 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 6 |
Driving this route in a car with U.S. plates
| Temporary vehicle import permit (TIP) | Required: this route is outside the zones where U.S.-registered cars can skip the temporary import permit (Baja California, Baja California Sur and part of Sonora) |
|---|---|
| Mexican auto insurance | Required for all vehicles: buy a Mexican policy before you drive |
Sources: U.S. State Department, Mexico travel information (updated August 11, 2026); permits are issued by Banjercito.
What the drive from Tequila to Ihuatzio is like
MEX-15D (145 mi) and MEX-15 (34 mi) carry about 86% of the 208 miles. MEX-15D is a toll highway (cuota); MEX-15, MEX-120 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 2 states: Jalisco, Michoacán. Of the 6 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Tequila to Ihuatzio, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–4 | 4 | Jalisco |
| MEX-15D | 4–25 | 21 | Jalisco |
| MEX-15 | 25–36 | 11 | Jalisco |
| MEX-15D | 36–160 | 124 | Jalisco, Michoacán |
| MICH 39 | 160–172 | 12 | Michoacán |
| MEX-15 | 172–195 | 23 | Michoacán |
| connecting roads | 195–196 | 1 | Michoacán |
| MEX-120 | 196–205 | 9 | Michoacán |
| local roads | 205–208 | 3 | Michoacán |
- Mile 104 of this route: Jalisco → Michoacán (state line)
Stops between Tequila and Ihuatzio
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Parque Metropolitano de Guadalajara (mile 35), Statue of Minerva, Guadalajara (mile 38)
- Nature and outdoors: Parque Metropolitano de Guadalajara (mile 35), Parque Walt Disney (mile 42)
- Museums and history: Guachimontones (mile 11), Museo Regional de la Ceramica, Tlaquepaque (mile 43)
Guachimontones
Near the town of Teuchitlán, Guachimontones is known for its circular structures. INAH describes it as the first large population center in western Mexico, emerging around 1000 BC, with two ball courts and about 40 circular buildings across 20 hectares.
Parque Metropolitano de Guadalajara
Parque Metropolitano de Guadalajara is a public park in Zapopan, Jalisco, that hosts many events, including concerts, outdoor movie screenings and food festivals.
Statue of Minerva, Guadalajara
At a roundabout fountain in Guadalajara, a bronze statue of Minerva, Roman goddess of wisdom, stands on a large pedestal inscribed with the names of 18 notable citizens.
Exconvento del Carmen
Built in the 17th century for the Discalced Carmelites, the Ex Convento del Carmen in Guadalajara is now a cultural venue with a long religious history.
Parque Walt Disney
Despite sharing a name with Walt Disney, this recreational space in Guadalajara's Colonia Olímpica has no direct theme tied to Disney's amusement parks.
Museo Regional de la Ceramica, Tlaquepaque
On Independencia Street in central Tlaquepaque, Jalisco, the Museo Regional de la Cerámica is one of the city's two main ceramics museums, alongside the Pantaleón Panduro Museum.
When you get to Ihuatzio
Lake Pátzcuaro
Boats leave the shore of Lake Pátzcuaro for its islands, including Janitzio, topped by a statue of José María Morelos. Purépecha fishers here are known for butterfly-shaped nets, and whitefish is the local specialty.
Tzintzuntzan
Once the political and economic capital of the Purépecha empire, governed by a hereditary line of uacúsecha, or 'eagle lords,' Tzintzuntzan preserves its yácatas, temple bases that combine rectangular and semicircular platforms around ritual plazas.
Ihuatzio
On the shore of Lake Pátzcuaro, Ihuatzio was one of three main Purépecha power centers. Visitors can see raised walkways and two semicircular pyramids called yácatas; excavations here also turned up Chac Mool and coyote sculptures carved from volcanic rock.
More drives to Ihuatzio
- Amatitán to Ihuatzio
- Pabellón de Hidalgo to Ihuatzio
- Calvillo to Ihuatzio
- Real de Asientos to Ihuatzio
- Zacatecas to Ihuatzio
- Jerez, Zacatecas to Ihuatzio
From Tequila to other places in Mexico
- Tequila to Temacapulín
- Tequila to Pabellón de Hidalgo
- Tequila to San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes
- Tequila to Calvillo
- Tequila to Real de Asientos
- Tequila to El Rosario, Sinaloa
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Tequila to Ihuatzio?
About 3 h 54 min of driving without stops, over 208 miles.
How far is Ihuatzio from Tequila by car?
About 208 miles (335 km) on the Wayro route. Other map services may show a few miles more or less, depending on where they start and end in each city.
Do I need a permit to drive my U.S. car from Tequila to Ihuatzio?
Yes. A temporary vehicle import permit (TIP) is required for a U.S.-registered car on this route, which is outside the zones where it can be skipped. Mexican auto insurance is required for every vehicle.
Is it safe to drive from Tequila to Ihuatzio?
The U.S. State Department rates Jalisco Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Michoacán Level 4: Do Not Travel (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Tequila to Ihuatzio use?
In order: MEX-15D, MEX-15, MICH 39 and MEX-120. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Tequila and Ihuatzio?
Closest to the road: Parque Metropolitano de Guadalajara (park, mile 35, 0.9 mi from the route); Statue of Minerva, Guadalajara (statue, mile 38, 0.8 mi from the route); Museo Regional de la Ceramica, Tlaquepaque (museum, mile 43, 1 mi from the route). All stops are described above.
How we put this guide together
Wayro calculates the route from OpenStreetMap road data; mile numbers are positions along this route, not highway mile markers, and "from the route" distances are straight-line, so the real detour depends on access roads. Stops are chosen from parks, natural sites, museums, historic sites and attractions close to the route (roughly 2 to 7 miles depending on the type, farther for World Heritage sites): at least one strong stop for each stretch of the drive, then the best-known places nearest the road, with no more than five of one type, up to nine in all. Places that are closed, private or not open to visitors are removed. Place and city descriptions are written by the Wayro team from official park, museum, tourism and government websites and other published sources. Safety levels and entry rules were checked against the U.S. Department of State on September 29, 2026. Conditions change, so check the linked sources before you travel.
Route data © OpenStreetMap contributors.