The Wayro route from Paracho to Metepec is 218 miles (351 km), about 3 h 57 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 218 mi (351 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 3 h 57 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-37 → MEX-14D → MEX-37D → MEX-15D → MEX-55D → MEX-55 |
| Mexican states on the route | Michoacán (Level 4), State of Mexico (Level 2) |
| Toll roads | MEX-14D, MEX-37D, MEX-15D, MEX-M40D, MEX-55D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 8.7 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 Paracho to Metepec is like
MEX-15D (90 mi) and MEX-37D (38 mi) carry about 59% of the 218 miles. MEX-14D, MEX-37D, MEX-15D, MEX-55D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-37, MEX-55 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 2 states: Michoacán, State of Mexico. Of the 7 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Paracho to Metepec, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Michoacán |
| MEX-37 | 1–7 | 6 | Michoacán |
| local roads | 7–27 | 20 | Michoacán |
| connecting roads | 27–31 | 4 | Michoacán |
| MEX-14D | 31–43 | 12 | Michoacán |
| MEX-37D | 43–81 | 38 | Michoacán |
| connecting roads | 81–82 | 1 | Michoacán |
| MEX-15D | 82–172 | 90 | Michoacán, State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 172–175 | 3 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-55D | 175–209 | 34 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-55 | 209–214 | 5 | State of Mexico |
| local roads | 214–218 | 4 | State of Mexico |
- Mile 155 of this route: Michoacán → State of Mexico (state line)
Stops between Paracho and Metepec
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Cathedral of Atlacomulco (mile 174)
- Nature and outdoors: Rayón National Park (mile 151), Parque Estatal Sierra Morelos (mile 211)
- Museums and history: Basilica of Nuestra Señora de la Salud, Pátzcuaro (mile 40), Museo de Artes e Industrias Populares (mile 40), Cathedral of Atlacomulco (mile 174), Calixtlahuaca (mile 209)
Basilica of Nuestra Señora de la Salud, Pátzcuaro
Pátzcuaro's basilica (Basílica de Nuestra Señora de la Salud) rises on pre-Hispanic platforms beside its own plaza. Bishop Vasco de Quiroga planned it as a five-nave cathedral, only one nave was finished, and his remains rest inside.
Museo de Artes e Industrias Populares
Housed in an 18th-century building adapted from the Colegio de San Nicolás, which Vasco de Quiroga founded in the 16th century, this INAH museum in Pátzcuaro shows Purépecha pottery, textiles, woodwork and lacquerware.
Historic Centre of Morelia
Morelia's old core, founded in the 16th century as Valladolid, keeps more than 200 historic buildings in the region's pink stone around its cathedral and checkerboard streets. UNESCO added it to the World Heritage List in 1991.
Rayón National Park
Just outside Tlalpujahua, Rayón National Park (Parque Nacional Rayón) marks the start of the area's famous butterfly reserve country, which stretches south and west from here.
Cathedral of Atlacomulco
Atlacomulco's cathedral, the Catedral de la Divina Providencia, is the seat of the Diocese of Atlacomulco and is dedicated to Divine Providence, making it the town's principal Catholic church.
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.
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.
When you get to Metepec
Toluca Cathedral
Begun in 1867 and finished only in 1978, Toluca's Cathedral of Saint Joseph has a neoclassical facade and a bronze statue of the saint on its dome. It also preserves the 18th-century baroque front of the former San Elzeario church.
Museo Galería de Arte Mexiquense Torres Bicentenario
Set in Toluca's Torres Bicentenario complex, built to celebrate Mexican independence, this gallery shows paintings, prints and sculpture by artists from the State of Mexico, and many works are for sale.
José María Morelos y Pavón University History Museum
The Museo de Historia Universitaria José María Morelos y Pavón is a history museum located in the city of Toluca de Lerdo.
More drives to Metepec
- Zitácuaro to Metepec
- Salvatierra to Metepec
- Celaya to Metepec
- San Miguel de Allende to Metepec
- Uruapan to Metepec
- Pénjamo to Metepec
From Paracho to other places in Mexico
- Paracho to Amatitán
- Paracho to Tequila
- Paracho to Pabellón de Arteaga
- Paracho to Pabellón de Hidalgo
- Paracho to San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes
- Paracho to Calvillo
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Paracho to Metepec?
About 3 h 57 min of driving without stops, over 218 miles.
How far is Metepec from Paracho by car?
About 218 miles (351 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 Paracho to Metepec?
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 Paracho to Metepec?
The U.S. State Department rates Michoacán Level 4: Do Not Travel; State of Mexico Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Paracho to Metepec use?
In order: MEX-37, MEX-14D, MEX-37D, MEX-15D, MEX-55D and MEX-55. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Paracho and Metepec?
Closest to the road: Museo de Artes e Industrias Populares (museum, mile 40, 1 mi from the route); Cathedral of Atlacomulco (catholic cathedral, mile 174, 0.4 mi from the route); Calixtlahuaca (archaeological site, mile 209, 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.