The Wayro route from San Miguel de Allende to Metepec is 158 miles (254 km), about 3 h 19 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 158 mi (254 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 3 h 19 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-111 → MEX-57D → MEX-55 → MEX-55D |
| Mexican states on the route | Guanajuato (Level 3), Querétaro (Level 2), State of Mexico (Level 2) |
| Toll roads | MEX-57D, MEX-55D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 6.3 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 San Miguel de Allende to Metepec is like
MEX-57D (51 mi) and MEX-55 (45 mi) carry about 61% of the 158 miles. MEX-57D, MEX-55D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-111, MEX-55 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 3 states: Guanajuato, Querétaro, State of Mexico. Of the 9 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
The route from San Miguel de Allende to Metepec, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–2 | 2 | Guanajuato |
| MEX-111 | 2–22 | 20 | Guanajuato, Querétaro |
| MEX-57D | 22–73 | 51 | Querétaro |
| MEX-55 | 73–113 | 40 | Querétaro, State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 113–114 | 1 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-55D | 114–149 | 35 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-55 | 149–154 | 5 | State of Mexico |
| local roads | 154–158 | 4 | State of Mexico |
- Mile 17 of this route: Guanajuato → Querétaro (state line)
- Mile 76 of this route: Querétaro → State of Mexico (state line)
Stops between San Miguel de Allende and Metepec
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Cathedral of Atlacomulco (mile 114)
- Nature and outdoors: Parque Joya La Barreta (mile 17), Cerro de las Campanas (mile 34), El Cimatario National Park (mile 42), Parque Estatal Sierra Morelos (mile 150)
- Museums and history: Former hacienda of Chichimequillas (mile 30), Cathedral of Atlacomulco (mile 114), Calixtlahuaca (mile 149)
Parque Joya La Barreta
Run by the municipality of Querétaro, Parque Recreativo Joya La Barreta protects a mountain ecosystem and offers space for ecotourism activities amid local flora and fauna.
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.
Cerro de las Campanas
Rising within Querétaro City, the Cerro de las Campanas is a hill that is protected as a Mexican national park.
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.
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
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.
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.
More drives to Metepec
- Zitácuaro to Metepec
- Salvatierra to Metepec
- Celaya to Metepec
- Uruapan to Metepec
- Pénjamo to Metepec
- Paracho to Metepec
From San Miguel de Allende to other places in Mexico
- San Miguel de Allende to Pénjamo
- San Miguel de Allende to Tócuaro
- San Miguel de Allende to Temacapulín
- San Miguel de Allende to Pabellón de Hidalgo
- San Miguel de Allende to Calvillo
- San Miguel de Allende to Zacatecas
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from San Miguel de Allende to Metepec?
About 3 h 19 min of driving without stops, over 158 miles.
How far is Metepec from San Miguel de Allende by car?
About 158 miles (254 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 San Miguel de Allende 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 San Miguel de Allende 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 San Miguel de Allende to Metepec use?
In order: MEX-111, MEX-57D, 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 San Miguel de Allende and Metepec?
Closest to the road: Cathedral of Atlacomulco (catholic cathedral, mile 114, 0.4 mi from the route); Calixtlahuaca (archaeological site, mile 149, 1 mi from the route); Parque Estatal Sierra Morelos (park, mile 150, 3 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.