The Wayro route from Zacatelco to Tequila is 447 miles (720 km), about 7 h 3 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 447 mi (720 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 7 h 3 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-119 → MEX-117D → MEX-M40D → MEX-15D → MEX-15 |
| Mexican states on the route | Tlaxcala (Level 2), Puebla (Level 2), Hidalgo (Level 2), State of Mexico (Level 2), Michoacán (Level 4), Jalisco (Level 3) |
| Toll roads | MEX-117D, MEX-M40D, MEX-15D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 17.9 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 Zacatelco to Tequila is like
MEX-15D (279 mi) and MEX-M40D (136 mi) carry about 93% of the 447 miles. MEX-117D, MEX-M40D, MEX-15D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-119, MEX-15 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 6 states: Tlaxcala, Puebla, Hidalgo, State of Mexico, Michoacán, Jalisco. Of the 8 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Zacatelco to Tequila, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| MEX-119 | 0–6 | 6 | Tlaxcala |
| MEX-117D | 6–21 | 15 | Tlaxcala, Puebla |
| MEX-M40D | 21–157 | 136 | Puebla, Tlaxcala, Hidalgo, State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 157–158 | 1 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-15D | 158–414 | 256 | State of Mexico, Michoacán, Jalisco |
| MEX-15 | 414–423 | 9 | Jalisco |
| MEX-15D | 423–446 | 23 | Jalisco |
| local roads | 446–447 | 1 | Jalisco |
- Mile 19 of this route: Tlaxcala → Puebla (state line)
- Mile 23 of this route: Puebla → Tlaxcala (state line)
- Mile 45 of this route: Tlaxcala → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 53 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 66 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 83 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 96 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 127 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 176 of this route: State of Mexico → Michoacán (state line)
- Mile 344 of this route: Michoacán → Jalisco (state line)
Stops between Zacatelco and Tequila
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Parque Metropolitano de Guadalajara (mile 413)
- Nature and outdoors: Rayón National Park (mile 179), Parque Metropolitano de Guadalajara (mile 413)
- Museums and history: Tlaxcala Cathedral (mile 9), Museo Nacional de Antropología e Historia de Tlaxcala (mile 9), Teotihuacan (mile 65), Tula (mile 113), Museo del Periodismo y las Artes Gráficas (mile 408), Guachimontones (mile 437)
Tlaxcala Cathedral
Part of a 16th-century Franciscan complex among the earliest in the Americas, Tlaxcala's cathedral is famous for its carved Mudéjar-style wooden ceiling. Look for the freestanding bell tower and the stone font where Tlaxcalan lords were baptized.
Museo Nacional de Antropología e Historia de Tlaxcala
Set in the cloisters of Tlaxcala's former Franciscan convent, founded in 1528, the regional museum (Museo Regional de Tlaxcala) traces the state from paleontology and pre-Hispanic cultures through the colonial era to the Revolution, with pottery, sculpture and paintings.
Teotihuacan
Built between the 1st and 7th centuries AD, this UNESCO-listed ancient city lines the Avenue of the Dead, where you can walk between the Pyramid of the Sun, the Pyramid of the Moon and the Temple of the Feathered Serpent.
Tula
Once the Toltec capital, the Tula archaeological zone is best known for its Atlantes, basalt warrior figures over four meters (13 feet) tall crowning the main pyramid. Visitors also see a ball court, the Burnt Palace and the Coatepantli wall, carved with snakes devouring skeletons.
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.
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.
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.
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.
When you get to Tequila
National Museum of Tequila
The National Museum of Tequila (MUNAT) in the town of Tequila tells the story of the spirit that put this corner of Jalisco on the map. The state government took it back in 2026 and announced a reopening with refreshed exhibits.
More drives to Tequila
- Tepatitlán to Tequila
- San Juan de los Lagos to Tequila
- Aguascalientes to Tequila
- Pabellón de Arteaga to Tequila
- Guadalupe, Zacatecas to Tequila
- Zacatecas to Tequila
From Zacatelco to other places in Mexico
- Zacatelco to Tlaxco
- Zacatelco to Calpulalpan
- Zacatelco to Otumba
- Zacatelco to Atlatlahucan
- Zacatelco to Omitlán
- Zacatelco to Huasca de Ocampo
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Zacatelco to Tequila?
About 7 h 3 min of driving without stops, over 447 miles.
How far is Tequila from Zacatelco by car?
About 447 miles (720 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 Zacatelco to Tequila?
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 Zacatelco to Tequila?
The U.S. State Department rates Tlaxcala Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Puebla Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Hidalgo Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; State of Mexico Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Michoacán Level 4: Do Not Travel; Jalisco Level 3: Reconsider Travel (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Zacatelco to Tequila use?
In order: MEX-119, MEX-117D, MEX-M40D, MEX-15D and MEX-15. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Zacatelco and Tequila?
Closest to the road: Museo Nacional de Antropología e Historia de Tlaxcala (museum, mile 9, 1 mi from the route); Tula (archaeological site, mile 113, 1 mi from the route); Parque Metropolitano de Guadalajara (park, mile 413, 0.9 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.