The Wayro route from Tequila to Tzintzuntzan is 201 miles (323 km), about 3 h 39 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 201 mi (323 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 3 h 39 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 8.0 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 5 |
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 Tzintzuntzan is like
MEX-15D (145 mi) and MEX-15 (34 mi) carry about 89% of the 201 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 5 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Tequila to Tzintzuntzan, 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 | 196–201 | 5 | Michoacán |
- Mile 104 of this route: Jalisco → Michoacán (state line)
Stops between Tequila and Tzintzuntzan
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Parque Metropolitano de Guadalajara (mile 35)
- Nature and outdoors: Parque Metropolitano de Guadalajara (mile 35)
- Museums and history: Guachimontones (mile 11), Museo del Periodismo y las Artes Gráficas (mile 40), Guadalajara Cathedral (mile 40), 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.
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.
Guadalajara Cathedral
In the Centro of Guadalajara, the Cathedral of the Assumption of Our Lady is the seat of the Archdiocese of Guadalajara and a minor basilica.
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 Tzintzuntzan
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 Tzintzuntzan
- Pabellón de Arteaga to Tzintzuntzan
- Guadalupe, Zacatecas to Tzintzuntzan
- Zacatecas to Tzintzuntzan
- Jerez, Zacatecas to Tzintzuntzan
- Sombrerete to Tzintzuntzan
- Mazatlán to Tzintzuntzan
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 Tzintzuntzan?
About 3 h 39 min of driving without stops, over 201 miles.
How far is Tzintzuntzan from Tequila by car?
About 201 miles (323 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 Tzintzuntzan?
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 Tzintzuntzan?
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 Tzintzuntzan 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 Tzintzuntzan?
Closest to the road: Parque Metropolitano de Guadalajara (park, mile 35, 0.9 mi from the route); Guadalajara Cathedral (cathedral, mile 40, 2 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.