The Wayro route from Tequila to Zirahuén is 204 miles (328 km), about 4 h 7 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 204 mi (328 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 4 h 7 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-15D → MEX-15 → MEX-37 |
| Mexican states on the route | Jalisco (Level 3), Michoacán (Level 4) |
| Toll roads | MEX-15D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 8.2 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 7 |
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 Zirahuén is like
MEX-15D (120 mi) and MEX-37 (42 mi) carry about 79% of the 204 miles. MEX-15D is a toll highway (cuota); MEX-15, MEX-37 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 2 states: Jalisco, Michoacán. Of the 7 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Tequila to Zirahuén, 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 | 36–135 | 99 | Jalisco, Michoacán |
| connecting roads | 135–136 | 1 | Michoacán |
| MEX-37 | 136–178 | 42 | Michoacán |
| local roads | 178–204 | 26 | Michoacán |
- Mile 104 of this route: Jalisco → Michoacán (state line)
Stops between Tequila and Zirahuén
- 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), Lago de Camécuaro National Park (mile 147)
- Museums and history: Guachimontones (mile 11), Museo Regional de Guadalajara (mile 40), Museo Regional de la Cerámica (mile 44)
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.
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.
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 Cerámica
On Calle Independencia in central Tlaquepaque, Jalisco, the Museo Regional de la Cerámica is one of the town's two main ceramics museums.
Lago de Camécuaro National Park
Fed by countless springs, clear Lake Camécuaro near Tangancícuaro, about 13 km from Zamora, is ringed by old ahuehuete (sabino) trees. The national park is a popular spot for swimming, rowboats and picnics in their shade.
When you get to Zirahuén
Lake Zirahuén
Small and deep, Lake Zirahuén is a mountain lake in the Santa Clara del Cobre municipality of Michoacán, with a sandy bottom partly covered in mud and no outlet to the sea.
More drives to Zirahuén
- Amatitán to Zirahuén
- Pabellón de Arteaga to Zirahuén
- Pabellón de Hidalgo to Zirahuén
- San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes to Zirahuén
- Calvillo to Zirahuén
- Real de Asientos to Zirahuén
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 Zirahuén?
About 4 h 7 min of driving without stops, over 204 miles.
How far is Zirahuén from Tequila by car?
About 204 miles (328 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 Zirahuén?
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 Zirahuén?
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 Zirahuén use?
In order: MEX-15D, MEX-15 and MEX-37. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Tequila and Zirahuén?
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 Cerámica (museum, mile 44, 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.