The Wayro route from Tequila to Zimapán is 343 miles (552 km), about 7 h 8 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 343 mi (552 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 7 h 8 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-15D → MEX-15 → MEX-110 → MEX-90 → MEX-45D → MEX-57D → QRO 4 → QRO 5 → MEX-120 |
| Mexican states on the route | Jalisco (Level 3), Michoacán (Level 4), Guanajuato (Level 3), Querétaro (Level 2), Hidalgo (Level 2) |
| Toll roads | MEX-15D, MEX-45D, MEX-57D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 13.7 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 8 |
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 Zimapán is like
MEX-15D (93 mi) and MEX-45D (67 mi) carry about 47% of the 343 miles. MEX-15D, MEX-45D, MEX-57D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-15, MEX-110, MEX-90, MEX-120 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 5 states: Jalisco, Michoacán, Guanajuato, Querétaro, Hidalgo. Of the 8 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Tequila to Zimapán, 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 | 36–108 | 72 | Jalisco, Michoacán |
| connecting roads | 108–109 | 1 | Michoacán |
| MEX-110 | 109–144 | 35 | Michoacán, Guanajuato |
| MEX-90 | 144–190 | 46 | Guanajuato |
| MEX-45D | 190–257 | 67 | Guanajuato, Querétaro |
| MEX-57D | 257–268 | 11 | Querétaro |
| QRO 4 | 268–287 | 19 | Querétaro |
| QRO 5 | 287–291 | 4 | Querétaro |
| local roads | 291–296 | 5 | Querétaro |
| MEX-120 | 296–308 | 12 | Querétaro |
| local roads | 308–343 | 35 | Querétaro, Hidalgo |
- Mile 104 of this route: Jalisco → Michoacán (state line)
- Mile 135 of this route: Michoacán → Guanajuato (state line)
- Mile 249 of this route: Guanajuato → Querétaro (state line)
- Mile 327 of this route: Querétaro → Hidalgo (state line)
Stops between Tequila and Zimapán
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Historic Monuments Zone of Querétaro (mile 257)
- Museums and history: Guachimontones (mile 11), Museo Regional de Guadalajara (mile 40), Museo Regional de la Ceramica, Tlaquepaque (mile 43), Plazuelas (mile 152), Irapuato Cathedral (mile 192)
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.
Museo Regional de Guadalajara
Facing the Rotonda de los Jaliscienses Ilustres in downtown Guadalajara, the Museo Regional de Guadalajara fills a full city block bounded by Hidalgo, Pino Suárez, Liceo and Independencia streets.
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.
Plazuelas
Near Pénjamo, Plazuelas flourished between AD 450 and 700. Trails lead to Casas Tapadas, a platform crowned by four pyramid bases, a ball court, and rocks carved with spirals and La Maqueta, a low-relief model of Casas Tapadas.
Tequila Corralejo
Tequila Corralejo is distilled in Pénjamo, Guanajuato, at the historic Hacienda de Corralejo, where the brand, established in 1996, offers guided tours and hosts social events.
Irapuato Cathedral
Irapuato's cathedral, dedicated to the Immaculate Conception, dates from the 18th century and has a Baroque facade. It served as the seat of the local parish until 2004, when the new Diocese of Irapuato made it a cathedral.
Casa de la Corregidora
Completed in 1770 as Querétaro's royal houses and town hall, the Casa de la Corregidora is where Josefa Ortiz de Domínguez, held there in 1810, sent word of danger to Miguel Hidalgo. After independence it became the state government palace.
Historic Monuments Zone of Querétaro
Querétaro's historic center, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1996, pairs the Spaniards' grid of streets with the winding lanes of the old Indigenous quarters. Walk it for Baroque churches and mansions of the 17th and 18th centuries and the city's landmark aqueduct.
More drives to Zimapán
- Celaya to Zimapán
- Tlalpujahua to Zimapán
- Moroleón to Zimapán
- Pénjamo to Zimapán
- Zitácuaro to Zimapán
- Cuitzeo to Zimapán
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 Zimapán?
About 7 h 8 min of driving without stops, over 343 miles.
How far is Zimapán from Tequila by car?
About 343 miles (552 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 Zimapán?
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 Zimapán?
The U.S. State Department rates Jalisco Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Michoacán Level 4: Do Not Travel; Guanajuato Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Querétaro Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Hidalgo 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 Zimapán use?
In order: MEX-15D, MEX-15, MEX-110, MEX-90, MEX-45D, MEX-57D, QRO 4, QRO 5 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 Zimapán?
Closest to the road: Museo Regional de la Ceramica, Tlaquepaque (museum, mile 43, 1 mi from the route); Casa de la Corregidora (building, mile 256, 1 mi from the route); Historic Monuments Zone of Querétaro (old town, mile 257, 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.