The Wayro route from Apizaco to Metepec is 118 miles (190 km), about 2 h 15 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 118 mi (190 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 2 h 15 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-117D → MEX-150D → Viaducto → MEX-15D → MEX-15 |
| Mexican states on the route | Tlaxcala (Level 2), Puebla (Level 2), State of Mexico (Level 2), Mexico City (Level 2) |
| Toll roads | MEX-117D, MEX-M40D, MEX-150D, MEX-15D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 4.7 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 Apizaco to Metepec is like
MEX-150D (47 mi) and MEX-117D (19 mi) carry about 56% of the 118 miles. MEX-117D, MEX-150D, MEX-15D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-15 is a free federal road (libre). It runs through 4 states: Tlaxcala, Puebla, State of Mexico, Mexico City. Of the 8 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Apizaco to Metepec, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–3 | 3 | Tlaxcala |
| MEX-117D | 3–22 | 19 | Tlaxcala, Puebla |
| connecting roads | 22–25 | 3 | Puebla |
| MEX-150D | 25–72 | 47 | Puebla, State of Mexico |
| local roads | 72–78 | 6 | State of Mexico, Mexico City |
| Viaducto | 78–85 | 7 | Mexico City |
| connecting roads | 85–90 | 5 | Mexico City |
| MEX-15D | 90–109 | 19 | Mexico City, State of Mexico |
| MEX-15 | 109–115 | 6 | State of Mexico |
| local roads | 115–118 | 3 | State of Mexico |
- Mile 21 of this route: Tlaxcala → Puebla (state line)
- Mile 43 of this route: Puebla → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 76 of this route: State of Mexico → Mexico City (state line)
- Mile 98 of this route: Mexico City → State of Mexico (state line)
Stops between Apizaco and Metepec
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museo Cabeza de Juárez (mile 75), Kurimanzutto (mile 86), Museo de Historia Natural (mile 86)
- Nature and outdoors: Cerro de la Estrella National Park (mile 76), Museo de Historia Natural (mile 86), Lomas de Padierna National Park (mile 92)
- Museums and history: Tlaxcala Cathedral (mile 11), Museo Cabeza de Juárez (mile 75), Palace of Iturbide (mile 82), Kurimanzutto (mile 86), Museo de Historia Natural (mile 86)
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 Cabeza de Juárez
A colossal head of Benito Juárez, the 26th president of Mexico, crowns this museum and monument in Mexico City's Iztapalapa borough.
Cerro de la Estrella National Park
Rising in eastern Mexico City's Iztapalapa borough, Cerro de la Estrella is where the Mexica lit the New Fire every 52 years; trails lead up to a pyramid-shaped site museum near the summit and to caves with traces of pre-Hispanic use.
Palace of Iturbide
Built by the Count of San Mateo Valparaíso as a wedding gift for his daughter, the Palace of Iturbide is a grand residence at Madero 17 in Mexico City's historic center.
Teatro Metropólitan
The Teatro Metropólitan is a theater in Mexico City. It was built as a movie palace and was previously known as the Cine Metropólitan.
Kurimanzutto
Founded in 1999 by Mónica Manzutto and José Kuri, Kurimanzutto is a Mexico City contemporary art gallery that represents artists from around the world.
Museo de Historia Natural
In the second section of Chapultepec Park, the Museo de Historia Natural y Cultura Ambiental displays mounted animals, fossils, rocks, minerals, sculptures and models about life on Earth and Mexico's biodiversity.
Lomas de Padierna National Park
Lomas de Padierna National Park lies in the Cerro del Judío ecological reserve in La Magdalena Contreras, on the southwest side of Mexico City.
When you get to Metepec
Museo Felipe Santiago Gutiérrez
In Toluca's historic center, a building from the late 18th and early 19th centuries holds about 225 watercolors, oils and drawings tracing the work of painter Felipe Santiago Gutiérrez. It opened in December 1992.
José María Morelos y Pavón University History Museum
The Museo de Historia Universitaria José María Morelos y Pavón is a history museum located in the city of Toluca de Lerdo.
Museum José María Velasco
In Toluca's historic center, the Museo José María Velasco shares the work of 19th-century Mexican painter José María Velasco, with Plaza de los Mártires to the south and the Government Palace to the east.
More drives to Metepec
- Zitácuaro to Metepec
- Salvatierra to Metepec
- Celaya to Metepec
- San Miguel de Allende to Metepec
- Uruapan to Metepec
- Pénjamo to Metepec
From Apizaco to other places in Mexico
- Apizaco to Omitlán
- Apizaco to Huasca de Ocampo
- Apizaco to Atlatlahucan
- Apizaco to Jilotepec
- Apizaco to Malinalco
- Apizaco to Tonatico
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Apizaco to Metepec?
About 2 h 15 min of driving without stops, over 118 miles.
How far is Metepec from Apizaco by car?
About 118 miles (190 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 Apizaco to Metepec?
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 Apizaco to Metepec?
The U.S. State Department rates Tlaxcala Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Puebla Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; State of Mexico Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Mexico City Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Apizaco to Metepec use?
In order: MEX-117D, MEX-150D, Viaducto, 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 Apizaco and Metepec?
Closest to the road: Museo Cabeza de Juárez (museum, mile 75, 0.3 mi from the route); Kurimanzutto (art museum, mile 86, 0.6 mi from the route); Museo de Historia Natural (museum, mile 86, 0.6 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.