The Wayro route from Malinalco to Metztitlán is 168 miles (270 km), about 4 h 15 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 168 mi (270 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 4 h 15 min |
| Main roads, in order | EM 6 → MEX-15 → MEX-15D → Circuito Interior → MEX-85 → MEX-105 → HGO 37 |
| Mexican states on the route | State of Mexico (Level 2), Mexico City (Level 2), Hidalgo (Level 2) |
| Toll roads | MEX-15D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 6.7 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.
What the drive from Malinalco to Metztitlán is like
MEX-85 (50 mi) and MEX-105 (32 mi) carry about 49% of the 168 miles. MEX-15D is a toll highway (cuota); MEX-15, MEX-85, MEX-105 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 3 states: State of Mexico, Mexico City, Hidalgo. Of the 9 stops listed below, 7 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Malinalco to Metztitlán, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–18 | 18 | State of Mexico |
| EM 6 | 18–38 | 20 | State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 38–39 | 1 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-15 | 39–44 | 5 | State of Mexico, Mexico City |
| MEX-15D | 44–51 | 7 | Mexico City |
| MEX-15 | 51–55 | 4 | Mexico City |
| Circuito Interior | 55–60 | 5 | Mexico City |
| MEX-85 | 60–110 | 50 | Mexico City, State of Mexico, Hidalgo |
| local roads | 110–118 | 8 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-105 | 118–134 | 16 | Hidalgo |
| local roads | 134–137 | 3 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-105 | 137–153 | 16 | Hidalgo |
| HGO 37 | 153–168 | 15 | Hidalgo |
- Mile 43 of this route: State of Mexico → Mexico City (state line)
- Mile 66 of this route: Mexico City → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 89 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
Stops between Malinalco and Metztitlán
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): La Marquesa National Park (mile 40), Museo de Historia Natural (mile 54), Museo Universitario del Chopo (mile 58), Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe (mile 63), Museo de los Ferrocarrileros (mile 63), Barranca de Metztitlán (mile 153), Biosphere Reserve Barranca de Metztitlán (mile 160)
- Nature and outdoors: La Marquesa National Park (mile 40), Museo de Historia Natural (mile 54), El Chico National Park (mile 123), Barranca de Metztitlán (mile 153), Biosphere Reserve Barranca de Metztitlán (mile 160)
- Museums and history: Museo de Historia Natural (mile 54), Museo Universitario del Chopo (mile 58), Museo del Ejército y Fuerza Aérea Mexicanos (mile 58), Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe (mile 63), Museo de los Ferrocarrileros (mile 63)
La Marquesa National Park
Set in high-altitude conifer forest along the Mexico City–Toluca highway, La Marquesa National Park offers roadside eateries, horse and ATV rentals, mountain biking and camping, and marks the site of the 1810 Battle of Monte de las Cruces.
Museo de Historia Natural
In the second section of Chapultepec Park, the Museo de Historia Natural y Cultura Ambiental displays mounted animals, fossils, rocks, minerals, sculptures and models about life on Earth and Mexico's biodiversity.
Museo Universitario del Chopo
In the Santa María la Ribera neighborhood, the Museo Universitario del Chopo is the National Autonomous University's venue for contemporary art collections.
Museo del Ejército y Fuerza Aérea Mexicanos
The Museum of the Mexican Army and Air Force stands on a downtown Mexico City property taken from the church during the Reform era, later home to the Diario del Hogar newspaper founded by Filomeno Mata.
Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe
The Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe, at the foot of Tepeyac Hill in Mexico City's Gustavo A. Madero borough, is a Catholic basilica dedicated to the Virgin of Guadalupe within the Primate Archdiocese of Mexico.
Museo de los Ferrocarrileros
In the former La Villa train station in northern Mexico City, this museum opened in 2006 and tells the story of Mexico's railroads and the railroad workers' social movements.
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.
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 Malinalco to other places in Mexico
- Malinalco to El Oro
- Malinalco to Amealco
- Malinalco to Bernal
- Malinalco to Mineral de Pozos
- Malinalco to Santa Fe de la Laguna
- Malinalco to Ihuatzio
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Malinalco to Metztitlán?
About 4 h 15 min of driving without stops, over 168 miles.
How far is Metztitlán from Malinalco by car?
About 168 miles (270 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 Malinalco 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 Malinalco to Metztitlán?
The U.S. State Department rates State of Mexico Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Mexico City 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 Malinalco to Metztitlán use?
In order: EM 6, MEX-15, MEX-15D, Circuito Interior, 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 Malinalco and Metztitlán?
Closest to the road: Museo de Historia Natural (museum, mile 54, 0.2 mi from the route); Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe (catholic parish church, mile 63, 0.4 mi from the route); Barranca de Metztitlán (canyon, mile 153, 0.0 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.