The Wayro route from Fresnillo to Metztitlán is 431 miles (693 km), about 8 h 40 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 431 mi (693 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 8 h 40 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-45 → MEX-45D → MEX-47D → MEX-85 |
| 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), Hidalgo (Level 2) |
| Toll roads | MEX-45D, MEX-43D, MEX-47D, MEX-57D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 17.2 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 Fresnillo to Metztitlán is like
MEX-45D (192 mi) and MEX-45 (121 mi) carry about 73% of the 431 miles. MEX-45D, MEX-47D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-45, MEX-85 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 7 states: Zacatecas, Aguascalientes, Jalisco, Guanajuato, Querétaro, State of Mexico, Hidalgo. Of the 9 stops listed below, 5 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Fresnillo to Metztitlán, 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 |
| connecting roads | 320–322 | 2 | Querétaro |
| MEX-45 | 322–372 | 50 | Querétaro, State of Mexico, Hidalgo |
| MEX-85 | 372–377 | 5 | Hidalgo |
| local roads | 377–431 | 54 | Hidalgo |
- 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 328 of this route: Querétaro → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 331 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
Stops between Fresnillo and Metztitlán
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Teatro Morelos (mile 108), Museo Escarcega (mile 108), Museo de Arqueología e Historia de Huichapan (mile 344), Museo de la Cultura Hñähñu y Centro Cultural del Valle del Mezquital (mile 377), Church of San Miguel Arcángel (mile 377)
- Nature and outdoors: Cerro de las Campanas (mile 280), Tolantongo Canyon (mile 403)
- Museums and history: Guadalupe regional museum (mile 43), Museo de la Insurgencia (mile 88), Museo Escarcega (mile 108), Museo de Arqueología e Historia de Huichapan (mile 344), Museo de la Cultura Hñähñu y Centro Cultural del Valle del Mezquital (mile 377)
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.
Teatro Morelos
In downtown Aguascalientes, Teatro Morelos is a neoclassical theater designed and built by engineer José Noriega and opened in 1885. In October and November 1914 it hosted the Sovereign Revolutionary Convention.
Museo Escarcega
Eduardo Escárcega Rangel created this museum in the city of Aguascalientes to show his personal collection of paintings and prints by local, national and international artists.
Cerro de las Campanas
Rising within Querétaro City, the Cerro de las Campanas is a hill that is protected as a Mexican national park.
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.
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.
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.
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 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 Metztitlán?
About 8 h 40 min of driving without stops, over 431 miles.
How far is Metztitlán from Fresnillo by car?
About 431 miles (693 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 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 Fresnillo to Metztitlán?
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; Hidalgo 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 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 Fresnillo and Metztitlán?
Closest to the road: Teatro Morelos (theatre building, mile 108, 0.2 mi from the route); Museo de la Cultura Hñähñu y Centro Cultural del Valle del Mezquital (museum, mile 377, 0.1 mi from the route); Church of San Miguel Arcángel (convent, mile 377, 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.