The Wayro route from Oaxtepec to Metztitlán is 165 miles (265 km), about 3 h 48 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 165 mi (265 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 3 h 48 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-115 → MEX-115D → MEX-142 → MEX-85D → MEX-85 → MEX-105 → HGO 37 |
| Mexican states on the route | Morelos (Level 3), State of Mexico (Level 2), Hidalgo (Level 2) |
| Toll roads | MEX-115D, MEX-85D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 6.6 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 Oaxtepec to Metztitlán is like
MEX-105 (30 mi) and MEX-115 (18 mi) carry about 29% of the 165 miles. MEX-115D, MEX-85D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-115, MEX-142, MEX-85, MEX-105 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 3 states: Morelos, State of Mexico, Hidalgo. Of the 9 stops listed below, 7 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Oaxtepec to Metztitlán, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–8 | 8 | Morelos |
| MEX-115 | 8–11 | 3 | Morelos |
| MEX-115D | 11–26 | 15 | Morelos, State of Mexico |
| MEX-115 | 26–41 | 15 | State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 41–42 | 1 | State of Mexico |
| local roads | 42–55 | 13 | State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 55–57 | 2 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-142 | 57–71 | 14 | State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 71–75 | 4 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-85D | 75–92 | 17 | State of Mexico, Hidalgo |
| MEX-85 | 92–107 | 15 | Hidalgo |
| local roads | 107–115 | 8 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-105 | 115–130 | 15 | Hidalgo |
| local roads | 130–135 | 5 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-105 | 135–150 | 15 | Hidalgo |
| HGO 37 | 150–165 | 15 | Hidalgo |
- Mile 19 of this route: Morelos → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 86 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
Stops between Oaxtepec and Metztitlán
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Templo y Exconvento de San Mateo Apóstol (mile 7), Cerrito de Los Melones (mile 60), Paleontological Museum in Tocuila (mile 61), Paste Museum (mile 119), Templo y exconvento de San Agustín (mile 133), Barranca de Metztitlán (mile 150), Biosphere Reserve Barranca de Metztitlán (mile 157)
- Nature and outdoors: El Chico National Park (mile 121), Barranca de Metztitlán (mile 150), Biosphere Reserve Barranca de Metztitlán (mile 157)
- Museums and history: Cerrito de Los Melones (mile 60), Paleontological Museum in Tocuila (mile 61), Mexican Air Force Museum (mile 80), Paste Museum (mile 119)
Templo y Exconvento de San Mateo Apóstol
Built by Augustinian friars, the Templo y Exconvento de San Mateo Apóstol in Atlatlahucan is well preserved, with murals and decorated vaults, and is associated with the origins of the Chinelo dancers.
Cerrito de Los Melones
Named for the place where it sits, Cerrito de los Melones, the Ahuehuetitlán archaeological zone of ruler Nezahualcóyotl's palace is one of the few explored traces of the great pre-Hispanic city of Acolhuacan.
Paleontological Museum in Tocuila
The Paleontological Museum in Tocuila, in Texcoco, State of Mexico, is a fossil museum displaying part of a rich deposit of Late Pleistocene animals from the Americas.
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.
Paste Museum
The Museo del Paste in Mineral del Monte, Hidalgo, is a food museum that shares and promotes the culinary and historical legacy of the paste.
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.
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 Oaxtepec to other places in Mexico
- Oaxtepec to Tonatico
- Oaxtepec to Omitlán
- Oaxtepec to El Oro
- Oaxtepec to Huasca de Ocampo
- Oaxtepec to Tetela de Ocampo
- Oaxtepec to Bernal
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Oaxtepec to Metztitlán?
About 3 h 48 min of driving without stops, over 165 miles.
How far is Metztitlán from Oaxtepec by car?
About 165 miles (265 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 Oaxtepec 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 Oaxtepec to Metztitlán?
The U.S. State Department rates Morelos Level 3: Reconsider Travel; 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 Oaxtepec to Metztitlán use?
In order: MEX-115, MEX-115D, MEX-142, MEX-85D, 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 Oaxtepec and Metztitlán?
Closest to the road: Templo y Exconvento de San Mateo Apóstol (convent, mile 7, 0.2 mi from the route); Paste Museum (museum, mile 119, 0.4 mi from the route); Barranca de Metztitlán (canyon, mile 150, 0.2 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.