The Wayro route from Tequila to Ixtenco is 460 miles (741 km), about 7 h 30 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 460 mi (741 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 7 h 30 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-15D → MEX-15 → MEX-M40D → MEX-136 |
| Mexican states on the route | Jalisco (Level 3), Michoacán (Level 4), State of Mexico (Level 2), Hidalgo (Level 2), Tlaxcala (Level 2) |
| Toll roads | MEX-15D, MEX-M40D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 18.4 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
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 Ixtenco is like
MEX-15D (275 mi) and MEX-M40D (121 mi) carry about 86% of the 460 miles. MEX-15D, MEX-M40D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-15, MEX-136 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 5 states: Jalisco, Michoacán, State of Mexico, Hidalgo, Tlaxcala. None of the 9 stops below is right on the road, so plan each as a short side trip.
The route from Tequila to Ixtenco, 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 | 36–290 | 254 | Jalisco, Michoacán, State of Mexico |
| MEX-M40D | 290–411 | 121 | State of Mexico, Hidalgo, Tlaxcala |
| MEX-136 | 411–460 | 49 | Tlaxcala |
- Mile 104 of this route: Jalisco → Michoacán (state line)
- Mile 272 of this route: Michoacán → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 322 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 352 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 366 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 383 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 395 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 403 of this route: Hidalgo → Tlaxcala (state line)
Stops between Tequila and Ixtenco
- Nature and outdoors: Rayón National Park (mile 268)
- Museums and history: Guachimontones (mile 11), Museo del Periodismo y las Artes Gráficas (mile 40), Museo Regional de la Ceramica, Tlaquepaque (mile 43), Teatro Morelos de Maravatío (mile 250), Museo Casa de Piedra (mile 439)
- With kids: Acuario Michin Guadalajara (mile 39)
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.
Acuario Michin Guadalajara
Acuario Michin Guadalajara is an aquarium in the city of Guadalajara, in the Mexican state of Jalisco.
Museo del Periodismo y las Artes Gráficas
The Museo del Periodismo y las Artes Gráficas stands on Paseo Alcalde, formerly Avenida Alcalde, in the city of Guadalajara, Jalisco.
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.
Teatro Morelos de Maravatío
Maravatío's Teatro Morelos is a late-19th-century theater in a French-influenced neoclassical style, designed by architect Rafael Guerrero Torres. It opened on January 11, 1879, with a performance by opera singer Ángela Peralta.
Rayón National Park
Just outside Tlalpujahua, Rayón National Park (Parque Nacional Rayón) marks the start of the area's famous butterfly reserve country, which stretches south and west from here.
Atlantean figures
Crowning the main pyramid at the Tula archaeological zone, these basalt sculptures of Toltec warriors stand more than four meters tall in what was once the Toltec capital; the nearby Wall of Snakes shows carved serpents devouring skeletons.
Aqueduct of Padre Tembleque
Built by Franciscan friar Francisco de Tembleque between 1554 and 1572, this 16th-century water system runs more than 48 km between Zempoala and Otumba. Its tallest arcade at Tepeyahualco reaches almost 40 meters, and UNESCO listed it in 2015.
Museo Casa de Piedra
Apizaco's old railroad station, dating from 1916, now houses the Museo Casa de Piedra. Inside, photographs and documents trace the town's history, especially its long ties to the railroads.
When you get to Ixtenco
Museo Nacional del Títere
On the main square of Huamantla, the National Puppet Museum (Museo Nacional del Títere) fills eight galleries with puppets from Mexico and abroad, including pieces tied to the Rosete Aranda family, whose company toured Mexico for generations.
More drives to Ixtenco
- Huejotzingo to Ixtenco
- Otumba to Ixtenco
- Pachuca to Ixtenco
- Mexico City to Ixtenco
- Tepotzotlán to Ixtenco
- Actopan to Ixtenco
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 Ixtenco?
About 7 h 30 min of driving without stops, over 460 miles.
How far is Ixtenco from Tequila by car?
About 460 miles (741 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 Ixtenco?
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 Ixtenco?
The U.S. State Department rates Jalisco Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Michoacán Level 4: Do Not Travel; State of Mexico Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Hidalgo Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Tlaxcala Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Tequila to Ixtenco use?
In order: MEX-15D, MEX-15, MEX-M40D and MEX-136. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Tequila and Ixtenco?
Closest to the road: Museo Regional de la Ceramica, Tlaquepaque (museum, mile 43, 1 mi from the route); Teatro Morelos de Maravatío (opera house, mile 250, 1 mi from the route); Atlantean figures (atlantean figures, mile 335, 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.