The Wayro route from Cuanajo to Metztitlán is 277 miles (445 km), about 5 h 21 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 277 mi (445 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 5 h 21 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-14 → MEX-126 → MEX-48D → MEX-15D → MEX-M40D → MEX-85 → MEX-105 → HGO 37 |
| Mexican states on the route | Michoacán (Level 4), State of Mexico (Level 2), Hidalgo (Level 2) |
| Toll roads | MEX-48D, MEX-15D, MEX-M40D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 11.1 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
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 Cuanajo to Metztitlán is like
MEX-M40D (80 mi) and MEX-15D (77 mi) carry about 57% of the 277 miles. MEX-48D, MEX-15D, MEX-M40D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-14, MEX-126, MEX-85, MEX-105 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 3 states: Michoacán, State of Mexico, Hidalgo. Of the 9 stops listed below, 4 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Cuanajo to Metztitlán, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–4 | 4 | Michoacán |
| MEX-14 | 4–29 | 25 | Michoacán |
| connecting roads | 29–30 | 1 | Michoacán |
| MEX-126 | 30–34 | 4 | Michoacán |
| connecting roads | 34–35 | 1 | Michoacán |
| MEX-48D | 35–50 | 15 | Michoacán |
| MEX-15D | 50–127 | 77 | Michoacán, State of Mexico |
| MEX-M40D | 127–207 | 80 | State of Mexico, Hidalgo |
| connecting roads | 207–208 | 1 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-85 | 208–219 | 11 | Hidalgo |
| local roads | 219–227 | 8 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-105 | 227–242 | 15 | Hidalgo |
| local roads | 242–247 | 5 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-105 | 247–262 | 15 | Hidalgo |
| HGO 37 | 262–277 | 15 | Hidalgo |
- Mile 109 of this route: Michoacán → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 159 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 190 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 204 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
Stops between Cuanajo and Metztitlán
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museo Regional Michoacano (mile 29), Teatro Ocampo de Morelia (mile 29), Barranca de Metztitlán (mile 262), Biosphere Reserve Barranca de Metztitlán (mile 270)
- Nature and outdoors: Insurgente José María Morelos y Pavón National Park (mile 37), Rayón National Park (mile 106), Parque de los Niños Héroes, Pachuca (mile 227), Barranca de Metztitlán (mile 262), Biosphere Reserve Barranca de Metztitlán (mile 270)
- Museums and history: Museo Regional Michoacano (mile 29), Teatro Ocampo de Morelia (mile 29), Teatro Morelos de Maravatío (mile 88), Tula (mile 172)
Museo Regional Michoacano
In the historic center of Morelia, the Museo Regional Michoacano is a long-running museum focused on the history of Michoacán.
Teatro Ocampo de Morelia
Morelia's Teatro Ocampo is a historic theater originally built from 1828 to 1830 by architect Luis Zapari and later rebuilt between 1868 and 1870.
Insurgente José María Morelos y Pavón National Park
Insurgente José María Morelos y Pavón National Park protects about 72 square kilometers of mountain terrain in the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt in Michoacán.
Teatro Morelos de Maravatío
Maravatío's Teatro Morelos is a late-19th-century theater in a French-influenced neoclassical style, designed by architect Rafael Guerrero Torres. It opened on January 11, 1879, with a performance by opera singer Ángela Peralta.
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.
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.
Parque de los Niños Héroes, Pachuca
The Jardín de los Niños Héroes is a public park in the historic center of Pachuca de Soto, in the Mexican state of Hidalgo.
Barranca de Metztitlán
Barranca de Metztitlán is a biosphere reserve in Hidalgo, protected for its steep cliffs, deep winding canyons and distinctive plants and wildlife.
Biosphere Reserve Barranca de Metztitlán
The Barranca de Metztitlán Biosphere Reserve protects about 96,000 hectares of eastern-central Hidalgo, where the Amajac, Metztitlán, Almolón and Metzquititlán rivers have cut four canyons, the Metztitlán gorge being the main one.
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 Cuanajo to other places in Mexico
- Cuanajo to Temacapulín
- Cuanajo to Pabellón de Hidalgo
- Cuanajo to Real de Asientos
- Cuanajo to San Ignacio, Sinaloa
- Cuanajo to Mineral de Pozos
- Cuanajo to Bernal
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Cuanajo to Metztitlán?
About 5 h 21 min of driving without stops, over 277 miles.
How far is Metztitlán from Cuanajo by car?
About 277 miles (445 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 Cuanajo 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 Cuanajo to Metztitlán?
The U.S. State Department rates Michoacán Level 4: Do Not Travel; 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 Cuanajo to Metztitlán use?
In order: MEX-14, MEX-126, MEX-48D, MEX-15D, MEX-M40D, MEX-85, MEX-105 and HGO 37. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Cuanajo and Metztitlán?
Closest to the road: Museo Regional Michoacano (museum, mile 29, 0.1 mi from the route); Teatro Ocampo de Morelia (opera house, mile 29, 0.2 mi from the route); Barranca de Metztitlán (canyon, mile 262, 0.1 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.