Ixtepec to Metztitlán is about 517 road miles (832 km): roughly 9 h 23 min at the wheel if you don't stop.
| Distance | 517 mi (832 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 9 h 23 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-185D → MEX-185 → MEX-145D → MEX-150D → MEX-M40D → MEX-132 → MEX-88 → MEX-105 → HGO 37 |
| Mexican states on the route | Oaxaca, Veracruz, Puebla, Tlaxcala, Hidalgo, State of Mexico |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-185D, MEX-145D, MEX-150D, MEX-M40D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 20.7 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.
On the road from Ixtepec to Metztitlán
MEX-150D (157 mi) and MEX-145D (118 mi) carry about 53% of the 517 miles. It runs through 6 states: Oaxaca, Veracruz, Puebla, Tlaxcala, Hidalgo, State of Mexico. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-185D, MEX-145D and MEX-150D. Of the 9 stops listed below, 4 are within a mile of the road.
Road-by-road breakdown: Ixtepec to Metztitlán
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–2 | 2 | Oaxaca |
| MEX-185D | 2–16 | 14 | Oaxaca |
| connecting roads | 16–17 | 1 | Oaxaca |
| MEX-185 | 17–39 | 22 | Oaxaca |
| local roads | 39–44 | 5 | Oaxaca |
| MEX-185 | 44–61 | 17 | Oaxaca |
| local roads | 61–64 | 3 | Oaxaca |
| MEX-185 | 64–122 | 58 | Oaxaca, Veracruz |
| connecting roads | 122–123 | 1 | Veracruz |
| MEX-145D | 123–241 | 118 | Veracruz |
| MEX-150D | 241–398 | 157 | Veracruz, Puebla |
| MEX-M40D | 398–444 | 46 | Puebla, Tlaxcala, Hidalgo, State of Mexico |
| MEX-132 | 444–447 | 3 | State of Mexico, Hidalgo |
| connecting roads | 447–448 | 1 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-88 | 448–464 | 16 | Hidalgo |
| local roads | 464–467 | 3 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-105 | 467–482 | 15 | Hidalgo |
| local roads | 482–487 | 5 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-105 | 487–501 | 14 | Hidalgo |
| connecting roads | 501–502 | 1 | Hidalgo |
| HGO 37 | 502–516 | 14 | Hidalgo |
| local roads | 516–517 | 1 | Hidalgo |
- Mile 81 of this route: Oaxaca → Veracruz (state line)
- Mile 309 of this route: Veracruz → Puebla (state line)
- Mile 403 of this route: Puebla → Tlaxcala (state line)
- Mile 426 of this route: Tlaxcala → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 433 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 445 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
Where to stop on the way to Metztitlán
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Cañón del Río Blanco National Park (mile 296), Church and former convent of Todos los Santos (mile 450), Templo y exconvento de San Agustín (mile 485), Barranca de Metztitlán (mile 502)
- Nature and outdoors: Cañón del Río Blanco National Park (mile 296), Parque de los Niños Héroes, Pachuca (mile 467), El Chico National Park (mile 472), Barranca de Metztitlán (mile 502)
- Museums and history: Orizaba Cathedral (mile 287), Museo Nacional de los Ferrocarriles Mexicanos (mile 378)
Orizaba Cathedral
The Cathedral of St. Michael the Archangel is the main Catholic church of Orizaba, in the state of Veracruz, and the seat of the Diocese of Orizaba.
Cañón del Río Blanco National Park
Cañón del Río Blanco National Park is a protected natural area in the Mexican state of Veracruz, set aside by the government as a national park.
Teatro de la Ciudad de Puebla
The Teatro de la Ciudad is a performance venue on the Portal Hidalgo, in the historic center of the city of Puebla.
Museo Nacional de los Ferrocarriles Mexicanos
In Puebla's historic center, this national railway museum studies, preserves and shares Mexico's railroad heritage through exhibits on the history of the trains.
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.
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.
El Chico National Park
In Hidalgo, El Chico National Park is known for towering cliffs such as Las Ventanas and Peña del Cuervo, popular with climbers, and forest wildlife including gray foxes, ringtails, armadillos, hawks, falcons and woodpeckers.
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.
Arriving in 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 Ixtepec to other places in Mexico
- Ixtepec to Capulalpam de Méndez
- Ixtepec to San Miguel, Morelos
- Ixtepec to Tetela del Volcán
- Ixtepec to Otumba
- Ixtepec to Atlatlahucan
- Ixtepec to Tepoztlán
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Ixtepec to Metztitlán?
About 9 h 23 min of driving without stops, over 517 miles.
What is the driving distance from Ixtepec to Metztitlán?
About 517 miles (832 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 Ixtepec 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 Ixtepec to Metztitlán?
The U.S. State Department rates Oaxaca Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Veracruz 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 Ixtepec to Metztitlán?
In order: MEX-185D, MEX-185, MEX-145D, 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.
What are good stops between Ixtepec and Metztitlán?
Closest to the road: Cañón del Río Blanco National Park (national park, mile 296, 0.5 mi from the route); Church and former convent of Todos los Santos (convent, mile 450, 0.5 mi from the route); Barranca de Metztitlán (canyon, mile 502, 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 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.