Metepec to El Oro Road Trip: Route, Stops & Safety

By admin, 3 October, 2026

The Wayro route from Metepec to El Oro is 62 miles (100 km), about 1 h 19 min of driving without stops.

U.S. State Department travel advisory: State of Mexico — Level 2, Exercise Increased CautionAdvisory issued May 29, 2026; checked September 29, 2026. State of Mexico is the Mexican state that contains El Oro. See the full advisory for current details.
Parque Estatal Sierra MorelosCalixtlahuacaCathedral of AtlacomulcoMetepecEl Oro
Route from Metepec to El Oro with the 3 stops listed below (blue dots).
Distance62 mi (100 km)
Driving time, no stops1 h 19 min
Main roads, in orderMEX-55 → MEX-55D → EM 5
Mexican states on the routeState of Mexico (Level 2)
Toll roadsMEX-55D
Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg)about 2.5 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic
Stops listed below3

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 insuranceRequired 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 Metepec to El Oro is like

MEX-55D (29 mi) and EM 5 (17 mi) carry about 74% of the 62 miles. MEX-55D is a toll highway (cuota); MEX-55 is a free federal road (libre). Of the 3 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.

The route from Metepec to El Oro, road by road

RoadRoute miles (from–to)Length, miState
local roads0–33State of Mexico
MEX-553–1411State of Mexico
MEX-55D14–4329State of Mexico
connecting roads43–452State of Mexico
EM 545–6217State of Mexico

Stops between Metepec and El Oro

  • Right off the route (under 1 mile): Cathedral of Atlacomulco (mile 43)
  • Nature and outdoors: Parque Estatal Sierra Morelos (mile 8)
  • Museums and history: Calixtlahuaca (mile 9), Cathedral of Atlacomulco (mile 43)

Parque Estatal Sierra Morelos

Mile 8 · Park · 3 mi from the route · side trip; actual detour depends on access roads

This Toluca park, one of the State of Mexico's protected natural areas, is home to more than 500 species of plants and animals. Families come for the axolotl center, bat house, small farm and jogging track.

Calixtlahuaca

Mile 9 · Archaeological site · 1 mi from the route

Spread over the slopes of Cerro Tenismó near Toluca, this site's standout is the round Temple of Ehécatl-Quetzalcóatl, rebuilt in four phases. Nearby, a Mexica-era skull rack displays stone skulls set into cross-shaped walls.

Cathedral of Atlacomulco

Mile 43 · Catholic cathedral · 0.8 mi from the route

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.

When you get to El Oro

Museo del Ferrocarril del Oro

Museum · in El Oro

The Museo del Ferrocarril is in El Oro de Hidalgo, State of Mexico, a town seen as an important part of Mexico's mining and railroad history and named a Pueblo Mágico in 2011.

Rayón National Park

National Park of Mexico · in El Oro

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.

More drives to El Oro

From Metepec to other places in Mexico

Frequently asked questions

How long is the drive from Metepec to El Oro?

About 1 h 19 min of driving without stops, over 62 miles.

How far is El Oro from Metepec by car?

About 62 miles (100 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 Metepec to El Oro?

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 Metepec to El Oro?

The U.S. State Department rates State of Mexico Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.

What roads does the drive from Metepec to El Oro use?

In order: MEX-55, MEX-55D and EM 5. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.

What are good stops between Metepec and El Oro?

Closest to the road: Parque Estatal Sierra Morelos (park, mile 8, 3 mi from the route); Calixtlahuaca (archaeological site, mile 9, 1 mi from the route); Cathedral of Atlacomulco (catholic cathedral, mile 43, 0.8 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.