By road, Saltillo and Metztitlán are about 534 miles (860 km) apart, or roughly 11 h 21 min of driving.
What the State Department tells travelers on this route:
- Nuevo León: “Those traveling between the U.S. border and Monterrey on highways 85/85D, 54, and 40/40D should exercise caution and avoid travel after dark.”
- Nuevo León: “Armed robberies and carjackings have occurred along these highways even during daylight hours.”
| Total distance | 534 mi (860 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 11 h 21 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-57 → MEX-57D → MEX-45 → MEX-85 |
| Mexican states on the route | Coahuila, Nuevo León, San Luis Potosí, Guanajuato, Querétaro, Hidalgo |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-57D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 21.4 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 Saltillo to Metztitlán is like
MEX-57 (304 mi) and MEX-57D (119 mi) carry about 79% of the 534 miles. It runs through 6 states: Coahuila, Nuevo León, San Luis Potosí, Guanajuato, Querétaro, Hidalgo. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-57D. Of the 9 stops listed below, 4 are within a mile of the road.
Which roads connect Saltillo and Metztitlán
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| MEX-57 | 0–11 | 11 | Coahuila |
| MEX-57D | 11–32 | 21 | Coahuila |
| MEX-57 | 32–152 | 120 | Nuevo León, San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-57D | 152–161 | 9 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-57 | 161–237 | 76 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-57D | 237–278 | 41 | San Luis Potosí |
| connecting roads | 278–279 | 1 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-57 | 279–376 | 97 | San Luis Potosí, Guanajuato, Querétaro |
| connecting roads | 376–377 | 1 | Querétaro |
| MEX-57D | 377–425 | 48 | Querétaro |
| MEX-45 | 425–476 | 51 | Querétaro, Hidalgo |
| MEX-85 | 476–481 | 5 | Hidalgo |
| local roads | 481–534 | 53 | Hidalgo |
- Mile 32 of this route: Coahuila → Nuevo León (state line)
- Mile 140 of this route: Nuevo León → San Luis Potosí (state line)
- Mile 316 of this route: San Luis Potosí → Guanajuato (state line)
- Mile 370 of this route: Guanajuato → Querétaro (state line)
- Mile 436 of this route: Querétaro → Hidalgo (state line)
What to see on the way from Saltillo to Metztitlán
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museo de Arqueología e Historia de Huichapan (mile 447), Museo de la Cultura Hñähñu y Centro Cultural del Valle del Mezquital (mile 480), Church of San Miguel Arcángel (mile 481), Tolantongo Canyon (mile 508)
- Nature and outdoors: Tolantongo Canyon (mile 508)
- Museums and history: Matehuala Cathedral (mile 156), San Luis Potosí Cathedral (mile 270), Former hacienda of Chichimequillas (mile 385), Casa de la Corregidora (mile 392), Museo de Arqueología e Historia de Huichapan (mile 447), Museo de la Cultura Hñähñu y Centro Cultural del Valle del Mezquital (mile 480)
Matehuala Cathedral
Still open for worship, the Immaculate Conception Cathedral serves as the seat of the Catholic Diocese of Matehuala, a city in the state of San Luis Potosí.
San Luis Potosí Cathedral
San Luis Potosí's cathedral anchors the city's historic center, which UNESCO lists as a component of the Camino Real de Tierra Adentro World Heritage Site.
Former hacienda of Chichimequillas
Discalced Carmelite friars founded this hacienda around 1690 to shelter travelers on the Camino Real de Tierra Adentro and to farm. Its two-story stone and lime main house, finished in 1813, wraps around a central courtyard beside a chapel.
Casa de la Corregidora
Completed in 1770 as Querétaro's royal houses and town hall, the Casa de la Corregidora is where Josefa Ortiz de Domínguez, held there in 1810, sent word of danger to Miguel Hidalgo. After independence it became the state government palace.
Historic Monuments Zone of Querétaro
Querétaro's historic center, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1996, pairs the Spaniards' grid of streets with the winding lanes of the old Indigenous quarters. Walk it for Baroque churches and mansions of the 17th and 18th centuries and the city's landmark aqueduct.
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.
Arriving in 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 Saltillo to other places in Mexico
- Saltillo to Montemorelos
- Saltillo to Linares
- Saltillo to Ciudad Victoria
- Saltillo to Nochistlán
- Saltillo to Tampico
- Saltillo to El Salto, Durango
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Saltillo to Metztitlán?
About 11 h 21 min of driving without stops, over 534 miles.
What is the driving distance from Saltillo to Metztitlán?
About 534 miles (860 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 Saltillo 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 Saltillo to Metztitlán?
The U.S. State Department rates Coahuila Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Nuevo León Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; San Luis Potosí Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Guanajuato Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Querétaro 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 Saltillo to Metztitlán use?
In order: MEX-57, MEX-57D, MEX-45 and MEX-85. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Saltillo and Metztitlán?
Closest to the road: Museo de Arqueología e Historia de Huichapan (museum, mile 447, 0.7 mi from the route); Museo de la Cultura Hñähñu y Centro Cultural del Valle del Mezquital (museum, mile 480, 0.1 mi from the route); Church of San Miguel Arcángel (convent, mile 481, 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 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: at least one strong stop for each stretch of the drive, then the best-known places nearest the road, up to nine in all. Places that are closed, private or not open to visitors are removed. Place 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.