The Wayro route from Metztitlán to Ixcateopan is 230 miles (370 km), about 5 h 38 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 230 mi (370 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 5 h 38 min |
| Main roads, in order | HGO 37 → MEX-105 → MEX-85 → MEX-85D → EM 12 → Viaducto → MEX-95D → MEX-95 → MEX-92D |
| Mexican states on the route | Hidalgo (Level 2), State of Mexico (Level 2), Mexico City (Level 2), Morelos (Level 3), Guerrero (Level 4) |
| Toll roads | MEX-85D, MEX-95D, MEX-92D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 9.2 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 Metztitlán to Ixcateopan is like
MEX-95 (36 mi) and MEX-95D (33 mi) carry about 30% of the 230 miles. MEX-85D, MEX-95D, MEX-92D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-105, MEX-85, MEX-95 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 5 states: Hidalgo, State of Mexico, Mexico City, Morelos, Guerrero. Of the 9 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Metztitlán to Ixcateopan, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| HGO 37 | 0–14 | 14 | Hidalgo |
| connecting roads | 14–15 | 1 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-105 | 15–30 | 15 | Hidalgo |
| local roads | 30–34 | 4 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-105 | 34–49 | 15 | Hidalgo |
| local roads | 49–56 | 7 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-85 | 56–71 | 15 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-85D | 71–88 | 17 | Hidalgo, State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 88–93 | 5 | State of Mexico |
| EM 12 | 93–101 | 8 | State of Mexico |
| local roads | 101–104 | 3 | State of Mexico, Mexico City |
| connecting roads | 104–111 | 7 | Mexico City |
| local roads | 111–117 | 6 | Mexico City |
| Viaducto | 117–121 | 4 | Mexico City |
| MEX-95D | 121–142 | 21 | Mexico City, Morelos |
| connecting roads | 142–152 | 10 | Morelos |
| MEX-95 | 152–160 | 8 | Morelos |
| MEX-95D | 160–172 | 12 | Morelos |
| MEX-95 | 172–200 | 28 | Morelos, Guerrero |
| connecting roads | 200–203 | 3 | Guerrero |
| MEX-92D | 203–208 | 5 | Guerrero |
| local roads | 208–230 | 22 | Guerrero |
- Mile 77 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 103 of this route: State of Mexico → Mexico City (state line)
- Mile 138 of this route: Mexico City → Morelos (state line)
- Mile 194 of this route: Morelos → Guerrero (state line)
Stops between Metztitlán and Ixcateopan
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Biosphere Reserve Barranca de Metztitlán (mile 7)
- Nature and outdoors: Biosphere Reserve Barranca de Metztitlán (mile 7), Grutas de Cacahuamilpa National Park (mile 199)
- Museums and history: Mexican Air Force Museum (mile 83), Tlatelolco (mile 105), Museo Nacional Numismático (mile 105), Museum of Mexico City (mile 111), Museo Nacional de la Estampa (mile 111), Palace of Cortés, Cuernavaca (mile 160)
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.
Mexican Air Force Museum
At Santa Lucía Air Base, the Military Aviation Museum, run by the Secretariat of National Defense, displays historical material from the Mexican Air Force.
Tlatelolco
Centered on the Plaza de las Tres Culturas, Tlatelolco is an archaeological excavation site in Mexico City with remains of the pre-Columbian city-state of the same name.
Museo Nacional Numismático
Part of Mexico's Casa de Moneda, the National Numismatic Museum sits in the historic center inside the old Casa del Apartado, where gold was separated from mined silver starting in the 17th century.
Museum of Mexico City
The Museum of Mexico City occupies the former palace of the Counts of Santiago de Calimaya at Pino Suárez 30, a few blocks south of the Zócalo.
Museo Nacional de la Estampa
Dedicated to Mexican graphic arts, the Museo Nacional de la Estampa in Mexico City covers printmaking techniques such as woodcuts, lithography and seals.
Teatro de los Insurgentes
Opened in 1953, Teatro de los Insurgentes is a theater on Mexico City's Avenida de los Insurgentes, with seating for 959 spectators.
Palace of Cortés, Cuernavaca
Begun in the 16th century, the Palace of Cortés in Cuernavaca now holds the Museo Regional de los Pueblos de Morelos, reopened in 2023. Out on the east terrace, Diego Rivera's mural on the history of Morelos is back on view.
Grutas de Cacahuamilpa National Park
Protected as a national park since 1936, this area near Taxco centers on the Cacahuamilpa caverns, where a guided route of about 4 km passes chambers up to 80 meters high, decorated with flowstone and floor-to-ceiling columns.
When you get to Ixcateopan
Ixcateopan
Some 36 kilometers from Taxco in the rugged mountains of northern Guerrero, the ruins at Ixcateopan de Cuauhtémoc belong to a city that served as an important regional ceremonial center.
More drives to Ixcateopan
- Tlaltizapán to Ixcateopan
- Tepoztlán to Ixcateopan
- Metepec to Ixcateopan
- Oaxtepec to Ixcateopan
- Tlayacapan to Ixcateopan
- Zacualpan de Amilpas to Ixcateopan
From Metztitlán to other places in Mexico
- Metztitlán to Omitlán
- Metztitlán to Tócuaro
- Metztitlán to Pacanda
- Metztitlán to Zirahuén
- Metztitlán to Boca de Pascuales
- Metztitlán to Maruata
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Metztitlán to Ixcateopan?
About 5 h 38 min of driving without stops, over 230 miles.
How far is Ixcateopan from Metztitlán by car?
About 230 miles (370 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 Metztitlán to Ixcateopan?
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 Metztitlán to Ixcateopan?
The U.S. State Department rates Hidalgo Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; State of Mexico Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Mexico City Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Morelos Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Guerrero Level 4: Do Not Travel (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Metztitlán to Ixcateopan use?
In order: HGO 37, MEX-105, MEX-85, MEX-85D, EM 12, Viaducto, MEX-95D, MEX-95 and MEX-92D. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Metztitlán and Ixcateopan?
Closest to the road: Biosphere Reserve Barranca de Metztitlán (biosphere reserve, mile 7, 0.6 mi from the route); Museum of Mexico City (museum, mile 111, 2 mi from the route); Palace of Cortés, Cuernavaca (fortified palace, mile 160, 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.