The Wayro route from Real de Asientos to Metztitlán is 359 miles (578 km), about 7 h 35 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 359 mi (578 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 7 h 35 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-39 → AGS 9 → MEX-71 → MEX-45 → MEX-45D → MEX-47D → MEX-85 |
| Mexican states on the route | Aguascalientes (Level 2), Jalisco (Level 3), Guanajuato (Level 3), Querétaro (Level 2), State of Mexico (Level 2), Hidalgo (Level 2) |
| Toll roads | MEX-45D, MEX-43D, MEX-47D, MEX-57D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 14.4 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 Real de Asientos to Metztitlán is like
MEX-45D (143 mi) and MEX-45 (78 mi) carry about 62% of the 359 miles. MEX-45D, MEX-47D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-39, MEX-71, MEX-45, MEX-85 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 6 states: Aguascalientes, Jalisco, Guanajuato, Querétaro, State of Mexico, Hidalgo. Of the 9 stops listed below, 5 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Real de Asientos to Metztitlán, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Aguascalientes |
| MEX-39 | 1–9 | 8 | Aguascalientes |
| connecting roads | 9–11 | 2 | Aguascalientes |
| AGS 9 | 11–14 | 3 | Aguascalientes |
| MEX-71 | 14–21 | 7 | Aguascalientes |
| connecting roads | 21–22 | 1 | Aguascalientes |
| local roads | 22–26 | 4 | Aguascalientes |
| MEX-45 | 26–55 | 29 | Aguascalientes, Jalisco |
| MEX-45D | 55–198 | 143 | Jalisco, Guanajuato |
| MEX-47D | 198–249 | 51 | Guanajuato, Querétaro |
| connecting roads | 249–252 | 3 | Querétaro |
| MEX-45 | 252–301 | 49 | Querétaro, State of Mexico, Hidalgo |
| MEX-85 | 301–306 | 5 | Hidalgo |
| local roads | 306–359 | 53 | Hidalgo |
- Mile 52 of this route: Aguascalientes → Jalisco (state line)
- Mile 101 of this route: Jalisco → Guanajuato (state line)
- Mile 211 of this route: Guanajuato → Querétaro (state line)
- Mile 257 of this route: Querétaro → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 260 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
Stops between Real de Asientos and Metztitlán
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Aguascalientes Cathedral (mile 37), Museum of Contemporary Art (mile 37), Museo de Arqueología e Historia de Huichapan (mile 273), Museo de la Cultura Hñähñu y Centro Cultural del Valle del Mezquital (mile 306), Church of San Miguel Arcángel (mile 306)
- Nature and outdoors: Cerro de las Campanas (mile 209), El Cimatario National Park (mile 215), Tolantongo Canyon (mile 333)
- Museums and history: Museo de la Insurgencia (mile 18), Aguascalientes Cathedral (mile 37), Museum of Contemporary Art (mile 37), Museo de Arqueología e Historia de Huichapan (mile 273), Museo de la Cultura Hñähñu y Centro Cultural del Valle del Mezquital (mile 306)
Museo de la Insurgencia
Set in a 17th-century estate, the Museo de la Insurgencia opened in 1964 to tell the story of Mexico's independence movement. One hall shows farm, mining and textile tools from hacienda work; another displays everyday objects from past eras.
Aguascalientes Cathedral
The cathedral of Aguascalientes stands on the Plaza de la Patria in the city's historic center.
Museum of Contemporary Art
Aguascalientes' Museum of Contemporary Art shows works by contemporary Mexican artists in its Jesús F. Contreras gallery.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Tolantongo Canyon
Barranca de Tolantongo is a deep canyon in Hidalgo state whose walls rise as high as 500 meters.
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 Real de Asientos to other places in Mexico
- Real de Asientos to Temacapulín
- Real de Asientos to San Luis Soyatlán
- Real de Asientos to Tócuaro
- Real de Asientos to Zirahuén
- Real de Asientos to Pacanda
- Real de Asientos to Ihuatzio
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Real de Asientos to Metztitlán?
About 7 h 35 min of driving without stops, over 359 miles.
How far is Metztitlán from Real de Asientos by car?
About 359 miles (578 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 Real de Asientos 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 Real de Asientos to Metztitlán?
The U.S. State Department rates Aguascalientes Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Jalisco Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Guanajuato Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Querétaro 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 Real de Asientos to Metztitlán use?
In order: MEX-39, AGS 9, MEX-71, MEX-45, MEX-45D, MEX-47D and MEX-85. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Real de Asientos and Metztitlán?
Closest to the road: Museum of Contemporary Art (art museum, mile 37, 0.0 mi from the route); Museo de la Cultura Hñähñu y Centro Cultural del Valle del Mezquital (museum, mile 306, 0.1 mi from the route); Church of San Miguel Arcángel (convent, mile 306, 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.