The Wayro route from Pénjamo to Metepec is 216 miles (348 km), about 4 h 2 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 216 mi (348 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 4 h 2 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-90 → MEX-45D → MEX-47D → MEX-55 → MEX-55D |
| Mexican states on the route | Guanajuato (Level 3), Querétaro (Level 2), State of Mexico (Level 2) |
| Toll roads | MEX-45D, MEX-47D, MEX-55D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 8.6 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 Pénjamo to Metepec is like
MEX-47D (51 mi) and MEX-45D (50 mi) carry about 47% of the 216 miles. MEX-45D, MEX-47D, MEX-55D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-90, MEX-55 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 3 states: Guanajuato, Querétaro, State of Mexico. Of the 7 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Pénjamo to Metepec, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–2 | 2 | Guanajuato |
| MEX-90 | 2–30 | 28 | Guanajuato |
| MEX-45D | 30–80 | 50 | Guanajuato |
| connecting roads | 80–81 | 1 | Guanajuato |
| MEX-47D | 81–132 | 51 | Guanajuato, Querétaro |
| MEX-55 | 132–171 | 39 | Querétaro, State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 171–173 | 2 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-55D | 173–207 | 34 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-55 | 207–213 | 6 | State of Mexico |
| local roads | 213–216 | 3 | State of Mexico |
- Mile 93 of this route: Guanajuato → Querétaro (state line)
- Mile 134 of this route: Querétaro → State of Mexico (state line)
Stops between Pénjamo and Metepec
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Cathedral of Atlacomulco (mile 172)
- Nature and outdoors: Cerro de las Campanas (mile 91), El Cimatario National Park (mile 98), Parque Estatal Sierra Morelos (mile 208)
- Museums and history: Celaya Cathedral (mile 68), Cathedral of Atlacomulco (mile 172), Calixtlahuaca (mile 208)
Tequila Corralejo
Tequila Corralejo is distilled in Pénjamo, Guanajuato, at the historic Hacienda de Corralejo, where the brand, established in 1996, offers guided tours and hosts social events.
Celaya Cathedral
Celaya's main Catholic church, the Immaculate Conception Cathedral, occupies the space of a former chapel that was annexed to the neighboring Temple of St. Francis.
Cerro de las Campanas
Rising within Querétaro City, the Cerro de las Campanas is a hill that is protected as a Mexican national park.
El Cimatario National Park
El Cimatario National Park protects about 24 square kilometers of land just south of the city of Santiago de Querétaro.
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
Museum José María Velasco
In Toluca's historic center, the Museo José María Velasco shares the work of 19th-century Mexican painter José María Velasco, with Plaza de los Mártires to the south and the Government Palace to the east.
Museo Taller Nishizawa
A late 18th-century house in Toluca, where painter Luis Nishizawa once taught painting workshops, now preserves and displays his work, a collection of nearly 800 pieces in a range of techniques.
Cosmovitral
Toluca's Cosmovitral wraps a botanical garden of more than 500 plant species in a huge stained-glass work designed by artist Leopoldo Flores. Light filtering through the colored glass sets the mood as you walk the garden paths.
More drives to Metepec
- Zitácuaro to Metepec
- Salvatierra to Metepec
- Celaya to Metepec
- San Miguel de Allende to Metepec
- Uruapan to Metepec
- Paracho to Metepec
From Pénjamo to other places in Mexico
- Pénjamo to Cotija
- Pénjamo to Amatitán
- Pénjamo to Tequila
- Pénjamo to Pinos
- Pénjamo to Pabellón de Arteaga
- Pénjamo to Pabellón de Hidalgo
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Pénjamo to Metepec?
About 4 h 2 min of driving without stops, over 216 miles.
How far is Metepec from Pénjamo by car?
About 216 miles (348 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 Pénjamo 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 Pénjamo to Metepec?
The U.S. State Department rates Guanajuato Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Querétaro Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; 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 Pénjamo to Metepec use?
In order: MEX-90, MEX-45D, MEX-47D, MEX-55 and MEX-55D. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Pénjamo and Metepec?
Closest to the road: Tequila Corralejo (distillery, mile 7, 1 mi from the route); Cathedral of Atlacomulco (catholic cathedral, mile 172, 0.4 mi from the route); Calixtlahuaca (archaeological site, mile 208, 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.