The Wayro route from Metepec to Nombre de Dios is 512 miles (824 km), about 9 h 30 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 512 mi (824 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 9 h 30 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-55 → MEX-55D → MEX-M40D → MEX-47D → MEX-45D → MEX-45 |
| Mexican states on the route | State of Mexico (Level 2), Querétaro (Level 2), Guanajuato (Level 3), Jalisco (Level 3), Aguascalientes (Level 2), Zacatecas (Level 4), Durango (Level 3) |
| Toll roads | MEX-55D, MEX-M40D, MEX-47D, MEX-45D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 20.5 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 Metepec to Nombre de Dios is like
MEX-45D (194 mi) and MEX-45 (175 mi) carry about 72% of the 512 miles. MEX-55D, MEX-M40D, MEX-47D, MEX-45D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-55, MEX-45 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 7 states: State of Mexico, Querétaro, Guanajuato, Jalisco, Aguascalientes, Zacatecas, Durango. Of the 9 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Metepec to Nombre de Dios, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–3 | 3 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-55 | 3–14 | 11 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-55D | 14–43 | 29 | State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 43–45 | 2 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-M40D | 45–54 | 9 | State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 54–55 | 1 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-55 | 55–85 | 30 | State of Mexico, Querétaro |
| MEX-47D | 85–137 | 52 | Querétaro, Guanajuato |
| MEX-45D | 137–278 | 141 | Guanajuato, Jalisco |
| MEX-45 | 278–308 | 30 | Jalisco, Aguascalientes |
| local roads | 308–311 | 3 | Aguascalientes |
| MEX-45 | 311–340 | 29 | Aguascalientes, Zacatecas |
| MEX-45D | 340–374 | 34 | Zacatecas |
| connecting roads | 374–375 | 1 | Zacatecas |
| MEX-45 | 375–382 | 7 | Zacatecas |
| MEX-45D | 382–388 | 6 | Zacatecas |
| MEX-45 | 388–396 | 8 | Zacatecas |
| MEX-45D | 396–409 | 13 | Zacatecas |
| MEX-45 | 409–510 | 101 | Zacatecas, Durango |
| local roads | 510–512 | 2 | Durango |
- Mile 83 of this route: State of Mexico → Querétaro (state line)
- Mile 124 of this route: Querétaro → Guanajuato (state line)
- Mile 233 of this route: Guanajuato → Jalisco (state line)
- Mile 281 of this route: Jalisco → Aguascalientes (state line)
- Mile 335 of this route: Aguascalientes → Zacatecas (state line)
- Mile 487 of this route: Zacatecas → Durango (state line)
Stops between Metepec and Nombre de Dios
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museo Descubre (mile 294), Teatro Morelos (mile 296), Sierra de Órganos National Park (mile 479)
- Nature and outdoors: Parque Estatal Sierra Morelos (mile 8), Cerro de las Campanas (mile 125), Jardín Botánico Rey Netzahualcoyotl (mile 298), Sierra de Órganos National Park (mile 479)
- Museums and history: Calixtlahuaca (mile 9), Museo Descubre (mile 294), Guadalupe regional museum (mile 362)
Parque Estatal Sierra Morelos
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
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.
Cerro de las Campanas
Rising within Querétaro City, the Cerro de las Campanas is a hill that is protected as a Mexican national park.
Museo Descubre
Museo Descubre is a hands-on, interactive museum in the city of Aguascalientes whose spiral-shaped interior leads inward along various paths of knowledge.
Teatro Morelos
In downtown Aguascalientes, Teatro Morelos is a neoclassical theater designed and built by engineer José Noriega and opened in 1885. In October and November 1914 it hosted the Sovereign Revolutionary Convention.
Jardín Botánico Rey Netzahualcoyotl
The Jardín Botánico Rey Nezahualcóyotl is a botanical garden that falls under the administration of the Universidad Autónoma de Aguascalientes.
Guadalupe regional museum
In Guadalupe, Zacatecas, the Museo de Guadalupe fills a former college that sent missionaries to the north and holds an important collection of 17th- to 19th-century painting, including works by Cristóbal de Villalpando, Miguel Cabrera and Juan Correa.
Historic centre of Zacatecas
Founded in 1546 after a rich silver strike, Zacatecas climbs the steep sides of a narrow valley; its UNESCO-listed center holds an 18th-century Baroque cathedral, colonial convents, the Calderón Theater and the old González Market.
Sierra de Órganos National Park
Volcanic activity and erosion shaped the 20- to 60-meter rock spires of Sierra de Órganos, a national park near Sombrerete created in 2000. Western movies have been filmed here, and visitors hike marked trails, mountain bike and camp.
More drives to Nombre de Dios
- Cosalá to Nombre de Dios
- Aguascalientes to Nombre de Dios
- San Juan de los Lagos to Nombre de Dios
- Tepatitlán to Nombre de Dios
- Amatitán to Nombre de Dios
- Ajijic to Nombre de Dios
From Metepec to other places in Mexico
- Metepec to Valle de Bravo
- Metepec to El Oro
- Metepec to Ezequiel Montes
- Metepec to Zimapán
- Metepec to Tócuaro
- Metepec to Cotija
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Metepec to Nombre de Dios?
About 9 h 30 min of driving without stops, over 512 miles.
How far is Nombre de Dios from Metepec by car?
About 512 miles (824 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 Nombre de Dios?
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 Nombre de Dios?
The U.S. State Department rates State of Mexico Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Querétaro Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Guanajuato Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Jalisco Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Aguascalientes Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Zacatecas Level 4: Do Not Travel; Durango Level 3: Reconsider Travel (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Metepec to Nombre de Dios use?
In order: MEX-55, MEX-55D, MEX-M40D, MEX-47D, MEX-45D and MEX-45. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Metepec and Nombre de Dios?
Closest to the road: Museo Descubre (museum, mile 294, 0.3 mi from the route); Teatro Morelos (theatre building, mile 296, 0.1 mi from the route); Sierra de Órganos National Park (National Park of Mexico, mile 479, 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 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.