Plan on about 9 h 46 min of driving for the 521-mile (838 km) trip from Huatulco to Metztitlán, before any stops.
| Distance by road | 521 mi (838 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 9 h 46 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-200 → MEX-175D → MEX-175 → MEX-190 → MEX-135D → MEX-150D → MEX-M40D → MEX-132 → MEX-88 → MEX-105 → HGO 37 |
| Mexican states on the route | Oaxaca, Puebla, Tlaxcala, Hidalgo, State of Mexico |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-175D, MEX-135D, MEX-150D, MEX-M40D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 20.8 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 7 |
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 Huatulco to Metztitlán is like
MEX-135D (152 mi) and MEX-150D (69 mi) carry about 42% of the 521 miles. It runs through 5 states: Oaxaca, Puebla, Tlaxcala, Hidalgo, State of Mexico. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-175D, MEX-135D and MEX-150D. Of the 7 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Huatulco to Metztitlán, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–3 | 3 | Oaxaca |
| MEX-200 | 3–63 | 60 | Oaxaca |
| connecting roads | 63–64 | 1 | Oaxaca |
| MEX-175D | 64–127 | 63 | Oaxaca |
| connecting roads | 127–131 | 4 | Oaxaca |
| local roads | 131–138 | 7 | Oaxaca |
| MEX-175 | 138–150 | 12 | Oaxaca |
| local roads | 150–160 | 10 | Oaxaca |
| MEX-175 | 160–173 | 13 | Oaxaca |
| connecting roads | 173–176 | 3 | Oaxaca |
| MEX-190 | 176–181 | 5 | Oaxaca |
| MEX-135D | 181–333 | 152 | Oaxaca, Puebla |
| MEX-150D | 333–402 | 69 | Puebla |
| MEX-M40D | 402–447 | 45 | Puebla, Tlaxcala, Hidalgo, State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 447–448 | 1 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-132 | 448–452 | 4 | State of Mexico, Hidalgo |
| MEX-88 | 452–467 | 15 | Hidalgo |
| local roads | 467–471 | 4 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-105 | 471–487 | 16 | Hidalgo |
| local roads | 487–490 | 3 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-105 | 490–506 | 16 | Hidalgo |
| HGO 37 | 506–521 | 15 | Hidalgo |
- Mile 281 of this route: Oaxaca → Puebla (state line)
- Mile 407 of this route: Puebla → Tlaxcala (state line)
- Mile 430 of this route: Tlaxcala → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 437 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 449 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
Places worth a stop between Huatulco and Metztitlán
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Graphic Arts Institute of Oaxaca (mile 175), Church and former convent of Todos los Santos (mile 455), Templo y exconvento de San Agustín (mile 489)
- Nature and outdoors: Mermejita (mile 35), Benito Juárez National Park (mile 181), Tehuacán-Cuicatlán Biosphere Reserve (mile 290)
- Museums and history: Graphic Arts Institute of Oaxaca (mile 175), Casa del Alfeñique (mile 382)
Mermejita
On Oaxaca's central coast just west of Mazunte and San Agustinillo, Mermejita is a small beach village where newcomers have built simple houses from local materials.
Graphic Arts Institute of Oaxaca
Founded by artist Francisco Toledo, the Graphic Arts Institute of Oaxaca is an art school in Oaxaca de Juárez that holds a large collection of Latin American artwork.
Benito Juárez National Park
Just north of Oaxaca City, Benito Juárez National Park covers about 2,737 hectares of pine and oak forest. Trails wind through the woods, including La Coronilla, a moderate loop of roughly 5 km.
Tehuacán-Cuicatlán Biosphere Reserve
Cactus diversity reaches one of its peaks in the Tehuacán-Cuicatlán Valley, a dry landscape shared by Puebla and Oaxaca. Ancient canals, wells, terraces and dams show how people managed its scarce water.
Casa del Alfeñique
Founded in 1926, the Museo Regional Casa de Alfeñique is a museum in the city of Puebla, housed in the building known as the Casa de Alfeñique.
Church and former convent of Todos los Santos
Franciscan friars built this fortress-style convent in Zempoala, and the complex still keeps the classic layout of atrium, church, open chapel and cloister. It pairs well with a drive through the area's old pulque haciendas.
Templo y exconvento de San Agustín
Founded in 1536 and built between 1542 and 1562, the Augustinian church and former convent of San Agustín in Atotonilco el Grande has a Plateresque design and frescoes.
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 Huatulco to other places in Mexico
- Huatulco to Capulalpam de Méndez
- Huatulco to San Juan Chamula
- Huatulco to Chipilo
- Huatulco to San Miguel, Morelos
- Huatulco to Ocuituco
- Huatulco to Oaxtepec
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Huatulco to Metztitlán?
About 9 h 46 min of driving without stops, over 521 miles.
How far is Metztitlán from Huatulco by car?
About 521 miles (838 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 Huatulco 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 Huatulco to Metztitlán?
The U.S. State Department rates Oaxaca Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Puebla Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Tlaxcala Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Hidalgo 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.
Which highways go from Huatulco to Metztitlán?
In order: MEX-200, MEX-175D, MEX-175, MEX-190, MEX-135D, MEX-150D, MEX-M40D, MEX-132, MEX-88, MEX-105 and HGO 37. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Huatulco to Metztitlán?
Closest to the road: Graphic Arts Institute of Oaxaca (art museum, mile 175, 1 mi from the route); Church and former convent of Todos los Santos (convent, mile 455, 0.5 mi from the route); Templo y exconvento de San Agustín (convent, mile 489, 0.7 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 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: at least one strong stop for each stretch of the drive, then the best-known places nearest the road, up to nine in all. Places that are closed, private or not open to visitors are removed. Place 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.