The Wayro route from Fresnillo to Metepec is 405 miles (651 km), about 7 h 16 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 405 mi (651 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 7 h 16 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-45 → MEX-45D → MEX-47D → MEX-55 → MEX-55D |
| Mexican states on the route | Zacatecas (Level 4), Aguascalientes (Level 2), Jalisco (Level 3), Guanajuato (Level 3), Querétaro (Level 2), State of Mexico (Level 2) |
| Toll roads | MEX-45D, MEX-43D, MEX-47D, MEX-55D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 16.2 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 Fresnillo to Metepec is like
MEX-45D (192 mi) and MEX-45 (71 mi) carry about 65% of the 405 miles. MEX-45D, MEX-47D, MEX-55D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-45, MEX-55 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 6 states: Zacatecas, Aguascalientes, Jalisco, Guanajuato, Querétaro, State of Mexico. Of the 8 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Fresnillo to Metepec, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Zacatecas |
| MEX-45 | 1–14 | 13 | Zacatecas |
| MEX-45D | 14–65 | 51 | Zacatecas |
| MEX-45 | 65–93 | 28 | Zacatecas, Aguascalientes |
| local roads | 93–97 | 4 | Aguascalientes |
| MEX-45 | 97–127 | 30 | Aguascalientes, Jalisco |
| MEX-45D | 127–268 | 141 | Jalisco, Guanajuato |
| connecting roads | 268–269 | 1 | Guanajuato |
| MEX-47D | 269–320 | 51 | Guanajuato, Querétaro |
| MEX-55 | 320–360 | 40 | Querétaro, State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 360–362 | 2 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-55D | 362–395 | 33 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-55 | 395–401 | 6 | State of Mexico |
| local roads | 401–405 | 4 | State of Mexico |
- Mile 70 of this route: Zacatecas → Aguascalientes (state line)
- Mile 124 of this route: Aguascalientes → Jalisco (state line)
- Mile 171 of this route: Jalisco → Guanajuato (state line)
- Mile 281 of this route: Guanajuato → Querétaro (state line)
- Mile 322 of this route: Querétaro → State of Mexico (state line)
Stops between Fresnillo and Metepec
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Aguascalientes Cathedral (mile 108)
- Nature and outdoors: Cerro de las Campanas (mile 280), El Cimatario National Park (mile 285)
- Museums and history: Guadalupe regional museum (mile 43), Museo de la Insurgencia (mile 88), Aguascalientes Cathedral (mile 108), Celaya Cathedral (mile 256), Calixtlahuaca (mile 396)
Historic centre of Zacatecas
Founded in 1546 after a rich silver strike, Zacatecas climbs the steep sides of a narrow valley; its UNESCO-listed center holds an 18th-century Baroque cathedral, colonial convents, the Calderón Theater and the old González Market.
Guadalupe regional museum
In Guadalupe, Zacatecas, the Museo de Guadalupe fills a former college that sent missionaries to the north and holds an important collection of 17th- to 19th-century painting, including works by Cristóbal de Villalpando, Miguel Cabrera and Juan Correa.
Museo de la Insurgencia
Set in a 17th-century estate, the Museo de la Insurgencia opened in 1964 to tell the story of Mexico's independence movement. One hall shows farm, mining and textile tools from hacienda work; another displays everyday objects from past eras.
Aguascalientes Cathedral
The cathedral of Aguascalientes stands on the Plaza de la Patria in the city's historic center.
Celaya Cathedral
Celaya's main Catholic church, the Immaculate Conception Cathedral, occupies the space of a former chapel that was annexed to the neighboring Temple of St. Francis.
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.
Calixtlahuaca
Spread over the slopes of Cerro Tenismó near Toluca, this site's standout is the round Temple of Ehécatl-Quetzalcóatl, rebuilt in four phases. Nearby, a Mexica-era skull rack displays stone skulls set into cross-shaped walls.
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.
Parque de la Ciencia Fundadores
Opened in 2021 in downtown Toluca on the site of the former Plaza Ángel María Garibay, this science park adds green space, children's play areas and a planetarium with a 360-degree screen.
Fine Arts Museum of Toluca
Toluca's Museo de Bellas Artes has filled a former Carmelite convent since 1945. Its galleries hold colonial-era paintings and sculpture, including an 18th-century funeral catafalque.
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 Fresnillo to other places in Mexico
- Fresnillo to Calvillo
- Fresnillo to San Juan de los Lagos
- Fresnillo to Temacapulín
- Fresnillo to Tepatitlán
- Fresnillo to Amatitán
- Fresnillo to Ajijic
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Fresnillo to Metepec?
About 7 h 16 min of driving without stops, over 405 miles.
How far is Metepec from Fresnillo by car?
About 405 miles (651 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 Fresnillo 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 Fresnillo to Metepec?
The U.S. State Department rates Zacatecas Level 4: Do Not Travel; Aguascalientes Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Jalisco Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Guanajuato Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Querétaro Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; State of Mexico Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Fresnillo to Metepec use?
In order: MEX-45, MEX-45D, MEX-47D, MEX-55 and MEX-55D. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Fresnillo and Metepec?
Closest to the road: Aguascalientes Cathedral (church building, mile 108, 0.2 mi from the route); Celaya Cathedral (church building, mile 256, 2 mi from the route); Calixtlahuaca (archaeological site, mile 396, 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.