The Wayro route from Mexico City to Metztitlán is 111 miles (178 km), about 2 h 44 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 111 mi (178 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 2 h 44 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-85 → MEX-105 → HGO 37 |
| Mexican states on the route | Mexico City (Level 2), State of Mexico (Level 2), Hidalgo (Level 2) |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 4.4 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 Mexico City to Metztitlán is like
MEX-85 (49 mi) and MEX-105 (31 mi) carry about 72% of the 111 miles. The route stays on free federal roads (libre): MEX-85, MEX-105. It runs through 3 states: Mexico City, State of Mexico, Hidalgo. Of the 9 stops listed below, 6 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Mexico City to Metztitlán, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–4 | 4 | Mexico City |
| MEX-85 | 4–53 | 49 | Mexico City, State of Mexico, Hidalgo |
| local roads | 53–61 | 8 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-105 | 61–76 | 15 | Hidalgo |
| local roads | 76–80 | 4 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-105 | 80–96 | 16 | Hidalgo |
| HGO 37 | 96–111 | 15 | Hidalgo |
- Mile 9 of this route: Mexico City → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 32 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
Stops between Mexico City and Metztitlán
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): El Tepeyac National Park (mile 7), Sacred Heart of Jesus Cathedral, Ecatepec (mile 15), Casa de Morelos, Ecatepec (mile 16), Templo y exconvento de San Agustín (mile 80), Barranca de Metztitlán (mile 96), Biosphere Reserve Barranca de Metztitlán (mile 103)
- Nature and outdoors: El Tepeyac National Park (mile 7), El Chico National Park (mile 66), Basaltic Prisms of Santa María Regla (mile 74), Barranca de Metztitlán (mile 96), Biosphere Reserve Barranca de Metztitlán (mile 103)
- Museums and history: Sacred Heart of Jesus Cathedral, Ecatepec (mile 15), Casa de Morelos, Ecatepec (mile 16), Mexican Air Force Museum (mile 25)
El Tepeyac National Park
Decreed in 1937 on reforested slopes of the Sierra de Guadalupe, including Cerro del Tepeyac, this national park was created for rest and recreation, with views toward Mexico City and the old Lake Texcoco plain.
Sacred Heart of Jesus Cathedral, Ecatepec
The Sacred Heart of Jesus Cathedral, also called Ecatepec Cathedral, is the main Catholic church and seat of the Diocese of Ecatepec in Mexico, dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
Casa de Morelos, Ecatepec
Also called the Centro Comunitario Casa de Morelos, the Casa de Morelos is a museum in the municipality of Ecatepec de Morelos dedicated to José María Morelos y Pavón.
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.
El Chico National Park
In Hidalgo, El Chico National Park is known for towering cliffs such as Las Ventanas and Peña del Cuervo, popular with climbers, and forest wildlife including gray foxes, ringtails, armadillos, hawks, falcons and woodpeckers.
Basaltic Prisms of Santa María Regla
Basalt columns more than 40 meters tall line a ravine near Huasca de Ocampo, formed when lava cooled quickly on contact with water. Alexander von Humboldt described the Basaltic Prisms (Prismas Basálticos) after his visit in 1803.
Templo y exconvento de San Agustín
Founded in 1536 and built between 1542 and 1562, the Augustinian church and former convent of San Agustín in Atotonilco el Grande has a Plateresque design and frescoes.
Barranca de Metztitlán
Barranca de Metztitlán is a biosphere reserve in Hidalgo, protected for its steep cliffs, deep winding canyons and distinctive plants and wildlife.
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.
When you get to Metztitlán
Los Reyes Magos monastery, Metztitlán
Augustinian friars built the fortress-like Santos Reyes convent in Metztitlán in the 16th century, enclosing its atrium with a wall, open chapels and an atrial cross; it stands inside the Barranca de Metztitlán Biosphere Reserve with wide canyon views.
More drives to Metztitlán
- Pachuca to Metztitlán
- Actopan to Metztitlán
- Tulancingo to Metztitlán
- Zimapán to Metztitlán
- Otumba to Metztitlán
- Calpulalpan to Metztitlán
From Mexico City to other places in Mexico
- Mexico City to Metepec
- Mexico City to Toluca
- Mexico City to Cuernavaca
- Mexico City to Atlatlahucan
- Mexico City to Malinalco
- Mexico City to Cuautla
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Mexico City to Metztitlán?
About 2 h 44 min of driving without stops, over 111 miles.
How far is Metztitlán from Mexico City by car?
About 111 miles (178 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 Mexico City to Metztitlán?
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 Mexico City to Metztitlán?
The U.S. State Department rates Mexico City Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; State of Mexico Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Hidalgo Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Mexico City to Metztitlán use?
In order: MEX-85, MEX-105 and HGO 37. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Mexico City and Metztitlán?
Closest to the road: El Tepeyac National Park (National Park of Mexico, mile 7, 0.4 mi from the route); Casa de Morelos, Ecatepec (museum, mile 16, 0.2 mi from the route); Barranca de Metztitlán (canyon, mile 96, 0.1 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.