The Wayro route from Celaya to Metztitlán is 175 miles (282 km), about 4 h 14 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 175 mi (282 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 4 h 14 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-45 → MEX-45D → MEX-47D → MEX-85 |
| Mexican states on the route | Guanajuato (Level 3), Querétaro (Level 2), State of Mexico (Level 2), Hidalgo (Level 2) |
| Toll roads | MEX-45D, MEX-47D, MEX-57D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 7.0 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 6 |
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 Celaya to Metztitlán is like
MEX-45 (54 mi) and MEX-47D (52 mi) carry about 61% of the 175 miles. MEX-45D, MEX-47D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-45, MEX-85 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 4 states: Guanajuato, Querétaro, State of Mexico, Hidalgo. Of the 6 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Celaya to Metztitlán, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–2 | 2 | Guanajuato |
| MEX-45 | 2–7 | 5 | Guanajuato |
| connecting roads | 7–8 | 1 | Guanajuato |
| MEX-45D | 8–13 | 5 | Guanajuato |
| MEX-47D | 13–65 | 52 | Guanajuato, Querétaro |
| connecting roads | 65–67 | 2 | Querétaro |
| MEX-45 | 67–116 | 49 | Querétaro, State of Mexico, Hidalgo |
| MEX-85 | 116–121 | 5 | Hidalgo |
| local roads | 121–175 | 54 | Hidalgo |
- Mile 25 of this route: Guanajuato → Querétaro (state line)
- Mile 73 of this route: Querétaro → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 76 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
Stops between Celaya and Metztitlán
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museo de Arqueología e Historia de Huichapan (mile 88), Church of San Miguel Arcángel (mile 121), Museo de la Cultura Hñähñu y Centro Cultural del Valle del Mezquital (mile 121)
- Nature and outdoors: Cerro de las Campanas (mile 24), El Cimatario National Park (mile 30), Tolantongo Canyon (mile 148)
- Museums and history: Museo de Arqueología e Historia de Huichapan (mile 88), Museo de la Cultura Hñähñu y Centro Cultural del Valle del Mezquital (mile 121)
Cerro de las Campanas
Rising within Querétaro City, the Cerro de las Campanas is a hill that is protected as a Mexican national park.
El Cimatario National Park
El Cimatario National Park protects about 24 square kilometers of land just south of the city of Santiago de Querétaro.
Museo de Arqueología e Historia de Huichapan
Huichapan's archaeology and history museum displays pre-Hispanic vessels, arrowheads, a funerary offering, shell and jade necklaces, replicas of rock paintings and pieces linked to the Mezquital Valley, plus workshops, film series and performances.
Church of San Miguel Arcángel
Ixmiquilpan's 16th-century Church of San Miguel Arcángel is known for its murals with religious and secular scenes, and for a design that blends European and Indigenous traditions.
Museo de la Cultura Hñähñu y Centro Cultural del Valle del Mezquital
In Ixmiquilpan, Hidalgo, the Museo de la Cultura Hñähñu y Centro Cultural del Valle del Mezquital works as both a museum and a cultural center.
Tolantongo Canyon
Barranca de Tolantongo is a deep canyon in Hidalgo state whose walls rise as high as 500 meters.
When you get to Metztitlán
Los Reyes Magos monastery, Metztitlán
Augustinian friars built the fortress-like Santos Reyes convent in Metztitlán in the 16th century, enclosing its atrium with a wall, open chapels and an atrial cross; it stands inside the Barranca de Metztitlán Biosphere Reserve with wide canyon views.
More drives to Metztitlán
- Pachuca to Metztitlán
- Actopan to Metztitlán
- Tulancingo to Metztitlán
- Zimapán to Metztitlán
- Otumba to Metztitlán
- Calpulalpan to Metztitlán
From Celaya to other places in Mexico
- Celaya to Real de Asientos
- Celaya to Amatitán
- Celaya to Zacatecas
- Celaya to Tequila
- Celaya to Jerez, Zacatecas
- Celaya to Sombrerete
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Celaya to Metztitlán?
About 4 h 14 min of driving without stops, over 175 miles.
How far is Metztitlán from Celaya by car?
About 175 miles (282 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 Celaya to Metztitlán?
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 Celaya to Metztitlán?
The U.S. State Department rates Guanajuato Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Querétaro Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; State of Mexico 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 Celaya to Metztitlán use?
In order: MEX-45, MEX-45D, MEX-47D and MEX-85. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Celaya and Metztitlán?
Closest to the road: Museo de Arqueología e Historia de Huichapan (museum, mile 88, 0.7 mi from the route); Museo de la Cultura Hñähñu y Centro Cultural del Valle del Mezquital (museum, mile 121, 0.2 mi from the route); Church of San Miguel Arcángel (convent, mile 121, 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.