The Wayro route from Metepec to Temacapulín is 311 miles (500 km), about 5 h 48 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 311 mi (500 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 5 h 48 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-55 → MEX-55D → MEX-M40D → MEX-47D → MEX-45D → MEX-80 → MEX-80D |
| Mexican states on the route | State of Mexico (Level 2), Querétaro (Level 2), Guanajuato (Level 3), Jalisco (Level 3) |
| Toll roads | MEX-55D, MEX-M40D, MEX-47D, MEX-45D, MEX-80D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 12.4 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 7 |
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 Temacapulín is like
MEX-45D (113 mi) and MEX-47D (52 mi) carry about 53% of the 311 miles. MEX-55D, MEX-M40D, MEX-47D, MEX-45D, MEX-80D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-55, MEX-80 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 4 states: State of Mexico, Querétaro, Guanajuato, Jalisco. None of the 7 stops below is right on the road, so plan each as a short side trip.
The route from Metepec to Temacapulín, 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 | 137–250 | 113 | Guanajuato, Jalisco |
| MEX-80 | 250–265 | 15 | Jalisco |
| MEX-80D | 265–291 | 26 | Jalisco |
| connecting roads | 291–294 | 3 | Jalisco |
| local roads | 294–311 | 17 | Jalisco |
- Mile 83 of this route: State of Mexico → Querétaro (state line)
- Mile 124 of this route: Querétaro → Guanajuato (state line)
- Mile 234 of this route: Guanajuato → Jalisco (state line)
Stops between Metepec and Temacapulín
- Nature and outdoors: Parque Estatal Sierra Morelos (mile 8), El Cimatario National Park (mile 119), Cerro de las Campanas (mile 125)
- Museums and history: Calixtlahuaca (mile 9), Celaya Cathedral (mile 149), Cathedral Basilica of San Juan de los Lagos (mile 270), Teocaltitan Archaeological Site (mile 278)
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.
El Cimatario National Park
El Cimatario National Park protects about 24 square kilometers of land just south of the city of Santiago de Querétaro.
Cerro de las Campanas
Rising within Querétaro City, the Cerro de las Campanas is a hill that is protected as a Mexican national park.
Celaya Cathedral
Celaya's main Catholic church, the Immaculate Conception Cathedral, occupies the space of a former chapel that was annexed to the neighboring Temple of St. Francis.
Cathedral Basilica of San Juan de los Lagos
Pilgrims come from far and wide to San Juan de los Lagos to see the small image of the Virgin kept in this cathedral basilica, built between 1732 and 1769. Inside are Gothic-style ribbed vaults and a silver-framed Way of the Cross.
Teocaltitan Archaeological Site
Near Jalostotitlán in the Los Altos region, the Teocaltitán site holds pyramids, sunken patios and a ball court spread across about nine hectares, built by a people who dominated much of the area from AD 400 to 900.
More drives to Temacapulín
- Pabellón de Arteaga to Temacapulín
- Pabellón de Hidalgo to Temacapulín
- San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes to Temacapulín
- Real de Asientos to Temacapulín
- Pinos to Temacapulín
- Guadalupe, Zacatecas to Temacapulín
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
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Metepec to Temacapulín?
About 5 h 48 min of driving without stops, over 311 miles.
How far is Temacapulín from Metepec by car?
About 311 miles (500 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 Temacapulín?
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 Temacapulín?
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 (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Metepec to Temacapulín use?
In order: MEX-55, MEX-55D, MEX-M40D, MEX-47D, MEX-45D, MEX-80 and MEX-80D. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Metepec and Temacapulín?
Closest to the road: Calixtlahuaca (archaeological site, mile 9, 1 mi from the route); Cathedral Basilica of San Juan de los Lagos (minor basilica, mile 270, 2 mi from the route); Teocaltitan Archaeological Site (archaeological site, mile 278, 2 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.