Driving from Mérida to Quito
Quito lies 1,274 km (792 mi) south-west of Mérida, -1 h on the clock. What the numbers say about getting there.
Driving takes about 19 h 26 min without stops, over roughly 1,554 km (966 mi) of road; add breaks, fuel and any border.
| Mérida | Quito | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Venezuela | Ecuador |
| Population | 300,000 | 2.8 million |
| Elevation | 1,389 m (4,557 ft) | 2,854 m (9,364 ft) |
| Time now | UTC-4 (America/Caracas) | UTC-5 (America/Guayaquil) |
Clocks in Quito are 1 h behind Mérida right now, so a 19 h 26 min journey lands only 18 h 26 min later by the destination clock.
What changes when you arrive in Quito
Crossing from Venezuela into Ecuador: money changes from the Bolivar Soberano to the Dollar (USD); the dialling code becomes +593; the emergency number is http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q25648794 / http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q25648798.
Where to book car hire from Mérida to Quito
We take no bookings for these providers and hold no reservation with them. The provider you choose handles payment, confirmation, changes and refunds. How that works.
Staying in Quito
Our booking partner lists 947 places to stay in Quito. Of the 459 with a star rating, the largest group is 3-star (218), and 19 are five-star. Across 151 properties with at least 50 reviews, the average guest score is 9 out of 10. Guests have left 54,891 reviews in total.
Book a hotel in Quito
Live rooms and prices from our booking partner, booked and paid for here. Free cancellation is marked where it applies.
Common questions
How far is Quito from Mérida?
1,274 km (792 mi) in a straight line, south-west of Mérida; by road roughly 1,554 km (966 mi).
How long does it take to get from Mérida to Quito by car?
About 19 h 26 min, estimated from distance and typical speeds. Timetables and traffic decide the real figure.
Is there a time difference between Mérida and Quito?
Quito is 1 h behind at the moment (America/Guayaquil against America/Caracas).
What currency do I need in Quito?
The Dollar (USD).
Where can I stay in Quito?
Our booking partner lists 947 places to stay in Quito, bookable on this site.
Where these facts come from
- GeoNames (CC BY 4.0): population, elevation, time zone, postal codes
- Wikidata (CC0): area, sister cities, visitor numbers, heritage listings, stations and ports
- OurAirports (public domain): airports, runways
- Natural Earth (public domain): map outlines
Data compiled 13 September 2026. Hotel figures are from our booking partner’s catalogue on that date. Journey times on this page are estimates from distance, not timetables; check the operator before you rely on one.