The Wayro route from Ihuatzio to Metztitlán is 286 miles (460 km), about 5 h 15 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 286 mi (460 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 5 h 15 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-37D → 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-37D, MEX-15D, MEX-M40D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 11.4 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 Ihuatzio to Metztitlán is like
MEX-15D (91 mi) and MEX-M40D (79 mi) carry about 59% of the 286 miles. MEX-37D, MEX-15D, MEX-M40D are toll highways (cuota); 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, 6 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Ihuatzio to Metztitlán, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–3 | 3 | Michoacán |
| connecting roads | 3–8 | 5 | Michoacán |
| MEX-37D | 8–45 | 37 | Michoacán |
| connecting roads | 45–46 | 1 | Michoacán |
| MEX-15D | 46–137 | 91 | Michoacán, State of Mexico |
| MEX-M40D | 137–216 | 79 | State of Mexico, Hidalgo |
| MEX-85 | 216–228 | 12 | Hidalgo |
| local roads | 228–236 | 8 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-105 | 236–252 | 16 | Hidalgo |
| local roads | 252–255 | 3 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-105 | 255–271 | 16 | Hidalgo |
| connecting roads | 271–272 | 1 | Hidalgo |
| HGO 37 | 272–286 | 14 | Hidalgo |
- Mile 119 of this route: Michoacán → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 168 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 199 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 213 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
Stops between Ihuatzio and Metztitlán
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Atlantean figures (mile 181), Paste Museum (mile 240), Museo de Medicina Laboral y Centro Cultural Nicolás Zavala (mile 240), Templo y exconvento de San Agustín (mile 255), Barranca de Metztitlán (mile 271), Biosphere Reserve Barranca de Metztitlán (mile 278)
- Nature and outdoors: Rayón National Park (mile 115), Barranca de Metztitlán (mile 271), Biosphere Reserve Barranca de Metztitlán (mile 278)
- Museums and history: Cathedral of Atlacomulco (mile 135), Paste Museum (mile 240), Museo de Medicina Laboral y Centro Cultural Nicolás Zavala (mile 240)
Historic Centre of Morelia
Morelia's old core, founded in the 16th century as Valladolid, keeps more than 200 historic buildings in the region's pink stone around its cathedral and checkerboard streets. UNESCO added it to the World Heritage List in 1991.
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.
Cathedral of Atlacomulco
Atlacomulco's cathedral, the Catedral de la Divina Providencia, is the seat of the Diocese of Atlacomulco and is dedicated to Divine Providence, making it the town's principal Catholic church.
Atlantean figures
Crowning the main pyramid at the Tula archaeological zone, these basalt sculptures of Toltec warriors stand more than four meters tall in what was once the Toltec capital; the nearby Wall of Snakes shows carved serpents devouring skeletons.
Paste Museum
The Museo del Paste in Mineral del Monte, Hidalgo, is a food museum that shares and promotes the culinary and historical legacy of the paste.
Museo de Medicina Laboral y Centro Cultural Nicolás Zavala
Occupational medicine and mining history are the focus of this museum in Mineral del Monte, Hidalgo, which keeps the original facilities, furniture and medical equipment. Pachuca's mining archive and museum runs it.
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.
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 Ihuatzio to other places in Mexico
- Ihuatzio to Mineral de Pozos
- Ihuatzio to Omitlán
- Ihuatzio to Huasca de Ocampo
- Ihuatzio to Pinal de Amoles
- Ihuatzio to Ixcateopan
- Ihuatzio to Boca de Pascuales
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Ihuatzio to Metztitlán?
About 5 h 15 min of driving without stops, over 286 miles.
How far is Metztitlán from Ihuatzio by car?
About 286 miles (460 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 Ihuatzio 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 Ihuatzio 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 Ihuatzio to Metztitlán use?
In order: MEX-37D, 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 Ihuatzio and Metztitlán?
Closest to the road: Paste Museum (museum, mile 240, 0.3 mi from the route); Barranca de Metztitlán (canyon, mile 271, 0.1 mi from the route); Biosphere Reserve Barranca de Metztitlán (biosphere reserve, mile 278, 0.6 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.