The Wayro route from Metepec to Real de Catorce is 377 miles (607 km), about 8 h 19 min of driving without stops.
| Distance by road | 377 mi (607 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 8 h 19 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-55 → MEX-55D → MEX-M40D → MEX-57D → MEX-57 → MEX-49 → MEX-63 → SLP 43 |
| Mexican states on the route | State of Mexico, Querétaro, Guanajuato, San Luis Potosí |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-55D, MEX-M40D, MEX-57D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 15.1 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.
How the Metepec to Real de Catorce drive plays out
MEX-57 (109 mi) and MEX-63 (74 mi) carry about 49% of the 377 miles. It runs through 4 states: State of Mexico, Querétaro, Guanajuato, San Luis Potosí. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-55D, MEX-M40D and MEX-57D. Of the 9 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Metepec to Real de Catorce, 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-57D | 85–135 | 50 | Querétaro |
| MEX-57 | 135–244 | 109 | Querétaro, Guanajuato, San Luis Potosí |
| connecting roads | 244–247 | 3 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-49 | 247–263 | 16 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-63 | 263–337 | 74 | San Luis Potosí |
| SLP 43 | 337–370 | 33 | San Luis Potosí |
| local roads | 370–377 | 7 | San Luis Potosí |
- Mile 83 of this route: State of Mexico → Querétaro (state line)
- Mile 142 of this route: Querétaro → Guanajuato (state line)
- Mile 196 of this route: Guanajuato → San Luis Potosí (state line)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Metepec and Real de Catorce
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Cathedral of Atlacomulco (mile 44), Museo del Ferrocarril Jesús García Corona (mile 244)
- Nature and outdoors: Parque Estatal Sierra Morelos (mile 8), El Gogorrón National Park (mile 222)
- Museums and history: Calixtlahuaca (mile 9), Cathedral of Atlacomulco (mile 44), Casa de la Corregidora (mile 120), Former hacienda of Chichimequillas (mile 127), Catedral Basílica de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe, San Luis Potosí (mile 244), Museo del Ferrocarril Jesús García Corona (mile 244)
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.
Cathedral of Atlacomulco
Dedicated to Divine Providence, the cathedral in Atlacomulco is the principal Catholic church in town and the seat of the local diocese.
Historic Monuments Zone of Querétaro
Querétaro's historic center, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1996, pairs the Spaniards' grid of streets with the winding lanes of the old Indigenous quarters. Walk it for Baroque churches and mansions of the 17th and 18th centuries and the city's landmark aqueduct.
Casa de la Corregidora
Completed in 1770 as Querétaro's royal houses and town hall, the Casa de la Corregidora is where Josefa Ortiz de Domínguez, held there in 1810, sent word of danger to Miguel Hidalgo. After independence it became the state government palace.
Former hacienda of Chichimequillas
Discalced Carmelite friars founded this hacienda around 1690 to shelter travelers on the Camino Real de Tierra Adentro and to farm. Its two-story stone and lime main house, finished in 1813, wraps around a central courtyard beside a chapel.
El Gogorrón National Park
Decreed a national park in 1936, Gogorrón in San Luis Potosí mixes desert scrub and grassland with pine-oak forest on its heights, and hot-spring balnearios lie within its bounds.
Catedral Basílica de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe, San Luis Potosí
The Basilica Sanctuary of Our Lady of Guadalupe is a Catholic church on the Calzada de Guadalupe in the historic center of San Luis Potosí.
Museo del Ferrocarril Jesús García Corona
Opened on August 12, 2009, in San Luis Potosí's Barrio del Montecillo, this railroad museum focuses on the steam locomotive, its parts and history, and its role in 20th-century Mexico.
Arriving in Real de Catorce
High in the mountains of northern San Luis Potosí Real de Catorce is a former silver-mining town whose most prosperous era began in 1778. It joined the Pueblos Mágicos program in 2001, and its identity grew out of both its mining past and the culture of the Huichol (Wixárika) people.
- Túnel de Ogarrio: The Túnel de Ogarrio, the town's famous tunnel, is one of the landmarks SECTUR highlights for visitors to Real de Catorce. source
- Parroquia de la Purísima Concepción: The Parroquia de la Purísima Concepción is the parish church at the center of town life, and the feast of St. Francis of Assisi on October 4 is its biggest celebration. source
- Museo Parroquial Padre José Robledo: The Museo Parroquial Padre José Robledo preserves pieces of the town's religious history. source
More drives to Real de Catorce
- Comfort, TX to Real de Catorce
- San Antonio, TX to Real de Catorce
- Boerne, TX to Real de Catorce
- San Marcos, TX to Real de Catorce
- McAllen, TX to Real de Catorce
- Bandera, TX to Real de Catorce
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
Coming to Real de Catorce from the United States? Border crossings, permits and routes from U.S. cities: Driving to Real de Catorce, Mexico from the U.S.
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Metepec to Real de Catorce?
About 8 h 19 min of driving without stops, over 377 miles.
What is the driving distance from Metepec to Real de Catorce?
About 377 miles (607 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 Real de Catorce?
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 Real de Catorce?
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; San Luis Potosí 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 Real de Catorce use?
In order: MEX-55, MEX-55D, MEX-M40D, MEX-57D, MEX-57, MEX-49, MEX-63 and SLP 43. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Metepec and Real de Catorce?
Closest to the road: Cathedral of Atlacomulco (cathedral, mile 44, 0.1 mi from the route); Museo del Ferrocarril Jesús García Corona (museum, mile 244, 1 mi from the route); Catedral Basílica de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe, San Luis Potosí (cathedral, mile 244, 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.