Metztitlán to Real de Catorce is about 400 road miles (643 km): roughly 9 h 32 min at the wheel if you don't stop.
| Total distance | 400 mi (643 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 9 h 32 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-85 → MEX-45 → MEX-57D → MEX-57 → MEX-49 → MEX-63 → SLP 43 |
| Mexican states on the route | Hidalgo, Querétaro, Guanajuato, San Luis Potosí |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-57D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 16.0 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 Real de Catorce is like
MEX-57 (108 mi) and MEX-63 (74 mi) carry about 46% of the 400 miles. It runs through 4 states: Hidalgo, Querétaro, Guanajuato, San Luis Potosí. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-57D. Of the 9 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Metztitlán to Real de Catorce, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–54 | 54 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-85 | 54–59 | 5 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-45 | 59–109 | 50 | Hidalgo, Querétaro |
| MEX-57D | 109–158 | 49 | Querétaro |
| MEX-57 | 158–266 | 108 | Querétaro, Guanajuato, San Luis Potosí |
| connecting roads | 266–269 | 3 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-49 | 269–285 | 16 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-63 | 285–359 | 74 | San Luis Potosí |
| SLP 43 | 359–393 | 34 | San Luis Potosí |
| local roads | 393–400 | 7 | San Luis Potosí |
- Mile 103 of this route: Hidalgo → Querétaro (state line)
- Mile 165 of this route: Querétaro → Guanajuato (state line)
- Mile 219 of this route: Guanajuato → San Luis Potosí (state line)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Metztitlán and Real de Catorce
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Church of San Miguel Arcángel (mile 53), Museo de la Cultura Hñähñu y Centro Cultural del Valle del Mezquital (mile 54), Museo de Arqueología e Historia de Huichapan (mile 87)
- Nature and outdoors: Tolantongo Canyon (mile 27)
- Museums and history: Museo de la Cultura Hñähñu y Centro Cultural del Valle del Mezquital (mile 54), Museo de Arqueología e Historia de Huichapan (mile 87), Casa de la Corregidora (mile 143), Former hacienda of Chichimequillas (mile 150), Museo Regional Potosino (mile 268)
Tolantongo Canyon
Barranca de Tolantongo is a deep canyon in Hidalgo state whose walls rise as high as 500 meters.
Church of San Miguel Arcángel
Ixmiquilpan's 16th-century Church of San Miguel Arcángel is known for its murals with religious and secular scenes, and for a design that blends European and Indigenous traditions.
Museo de la Cultura Hñähñu y Centro Cultural del Valle del Mezquital
In Ixmiquilpan, Hidalgo, the Museo de la Cultura Hñähñu y Centro Cultural del Valle del Mezquital works as both a museum and a cultural center.
Museo de Arqueología e Historia de Huichapan
Huichapan's archaeology and history museum displays pre-Hispanic vessels, arrowheads, a funerary offering, shell and jade necklaces, replicas of rock paintings and pieces linked to the Mezquital Valley, plus workshops, film series and performances.
Historic Monuments Zone of Querétaro
Baroque churches and mansions from the 17th and 18th centuries line the streets of Querétaro's historic center, along with 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.
Cineteca Alameda
San Luis Potosí's Cineteca Alameda screens Mexican and international films in the 1940s Teatro Alameda building facing the Alameda Juan Sarabia, and also hosts concerts.
Museo Regional Potosino
Opened on November 20, 1952, the Museo Regional Potosino occupies part of the former Convent of San Francisco, built in 1586, in San Luis Potosí.
When you get to 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 Metztitlán to other places in Mexico
- Metztitlán to Omitlán
- Metztitlán to Tócuaro
- Metztitlán to Pacanda
- Metztitlán to Zirahuén
- Metztitlán to Ixcateopan
- Metztitlán to Boca de Pascuales
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 Metztitlán to Real de Catorce?
About 9 h 32 min of driving without stops, over 400 miles.
What is the driving distance from Metztitlán to Real de Catorce?
About 400 miles (643 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 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 Metztitlán to Real de Catorce?
The U.S. State Department rates Hidalgo 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.
Which highways go from Metztitlán to Real de Catorce?
In order: MEX-85, MEX-45, 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 Metztitlán and Real de Catorce?
Closest to the road: Church of San Miguel Arcángel (convent, mile 53, 0.1 mi from the route); Museo de la Cultura Hñähñu y Centro Cultural del Valle del Mezquital (museum, mile 54, 0.1 mi from the route); Museo de Arqueología e Historia de Huichapan (museum, mile 87, 0.7 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.