Tequila to Tlaxco Road Trip: Stops, Tolls & Drive Time

By admin, 3 October, 2026

The Wayro route from Tequila to Tlaxco is 436 miles (702 km), about 7 h 20 min of driving without stops.

U.S. State Department travel advisory: 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 CautionAdvisory issued May 29, 2026; checked September 29, 2026. Tlaxcala is the Mexican state that contains Tlaxco. This route passes through a state at the advisory's highest level. Read the full advisory before you plan this drive.
GuachimontonesParque Metropolitano de GuadalajaraGuadalajara city museumConvento de Nuestra Señora del Perpetuo SocorroMuseo Regional de la Ceramica, TlaquepaqueRayón National ParkJorge R. Acosta MuseumAqueduct of Padre TemblequeMuseo del Ferrocarril de ApanTequilaTlaxco
Route from Tequila to Tlaxco with the 9 stops listed below (blue dots).
Distance436 mi (702 km)
Driving time, no stops7 h 20 min
Main roads, in orderMEX-15D → MEX-15 → MEX-M40D
Mexican states on the routeJalisco (Level 3), Michoacán (Level 4), State of Mexico (Level 2), Hidalgo (Level 2), Tlaxcala (Level 2)
Toll roadsMEX-15D, MEX-M40D
Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg)about 17.5 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic
Stops listed below9

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 insuranceRequired 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 Tlaxco is like

MEX-15D (275 mi) and MEX-M40D (112 mi) carry about 89% of the 436 miles. MEX-15D, MEX-M40D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-15 is a free federal road (libre). It runs through 5 states: Jalisco, Michoacán, State of Mexico, Hidalgo, Tlaxcala. Of the 9 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.

The route from Tequila to Tlaxco, road by road

RoadRoute miles (from–to)Length, miState
local roads0–44Jalisco
MEX-15D4–2521Jalisco
MEX-1525–3611Jalisco
MEX-15D36–290254Jalisco, Michoacán, State of Mexico
MEX-M40D290–402112State of Mexico, Hidalgo
local roads402–43634Hidalgo, 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 422 of this route: Hidalgo → Tlaxcala (state line)

Stops between Tequila and Tlaxco

  • Right off the route (under 1 mile): Parque Metropolitano de Guadalajara (mile 35), Museo del Ferrocarril de Apan (mile 411)
  • Nature and outdoors: Parque Metropolitano de Guadalajara (mile 35), Rayón National Park (mile 268)
  • Museums and history: Guachimontones (mile 11), Guadalajara city museum (mile 40), Museo Regional de la Ceramica, Tlaquepaque (mile 43), Jorge R. Acosta Museum (mile 335), Museo del Ferrocarril de Apan (mile 411)

Guachimontones

Mile 11 · Archaeological site · 9 mi from the route · side trip; actual detour depends on access roads

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

Mile 35 · Park · 0.9 mi from the route

Parque Metropolitano de Guadalajara is a public park in Zapopan, Jalisco, that hosts many events, including concerts, outdoor movie screenings and food festivals.

Guadalajara city museum

Mile 40 · Museum · 2 mi from the route · side trip; actual detour depends on access roads

Guadalajara's city museum (Museo de la Ciudad), in the historic center, opened on February 14, 1992, and covers the city's history and many sides of its culture.

Convento de Nuestra Señora del Perpetuo Socorro

Mile 40 · Convent · 1 mi from the route

Better known as El Perpetuo Socorro, this Guadalajara church is home to a Passionist convent that has housed the order's postulants since 2020.

Museo Regional de la Ceramica, Tlaquepaque

Mile 43 · Museum · 1 mi from the route

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.

Rayón National Park

Mile 268 · National Park of Mexico · 5 mi from the route · side trip; actual detour depends on access roads

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.

Jorge R. Acosta Museum

Mile 335 · Museum · 1 mi from the route

Next to the Tula ruins, the Museo de Sitio Jorge R. Acosta traces the rise and decline of the Toltecs and their city, Tollan Xicocotitlan. It moved into new facilities in 1982 and covers nearly 20 years of digs led by archaeologist Jorge R. Acosta.

Aqueduct of Padre Tembleque

Mile 385 · Aqueduct · 2 mi from the route

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 del Ferrocarril de Apan

Mile 411 · Museum · 0.2 mi from the route

Set in Apan's old train station on the former Mexico City–Veracruz line, this railroad museum preserves the town's history.

More drives to Tlaxco

From Tequila to other places in Mexico

Frequently asked questions

How long is the drive from Tequila to Tlaxco?

About 7 h 20 min of driving without stops, over 436 miles.

How far is Tlaxco from Tequila by car?

About 436 miles (702 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 Tlaxco?

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 Tlaxco?

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 Tlaxco use?

In order: MEX-15D, MEX-15 and MEX-M40D. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.

What are good stops between Tequila and Tlaxco?

Closest to the road: Parque Metropolitano de Guadalajara (park, mile 35, 0.9 mi from the route); Jorge R. Acosta Museum (museum, mile 335, 1 mi from the route); Museo del Ferrocarril de Apan (museum, mile 411, 0.2 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.