The Wayro route from San Miguel de Allende to Metztitlán is 180 miles (290 km), about 4 h 38 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 180 mi (290 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 4 h 38 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-111 → MEX-57D → MEX-45 → MEX-85 |
| Mexican states on the route | Guanajuato (Level 3), Querétaro (Level 2), State of Mexico (Level 2), Hidalgo (Level 2) |
| Toll roads | MEX-57D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 7.2 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 Metztitlán is like
MEX-45 (51 mi) and MEX-57D (49 mi) carry about 56% of the 180 miles. MEX-57D is a toll highway (cuota); MEX-111, MEX-45, MEX-85 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 4 states: Guanajuato, Querétaro, State of Mexico, Hidalgo. Of the 9 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
The route from San Miguel de Allende to Metztitlán, 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 | 22–71 | 49 | Querétaro |
| MEX-45 | 71–122 | 51 | Querétaro, State of Mexico, Hidalgo |
| MEX-85 | 122–127 | 5 | Hidalgo |
| local roads | 127–180 | 53 | Hidalgo |
- Mile 17 of this route: Guanajuato → Querétaro (state line)
- Mile 78 of this route: Querétaro → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 81 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
Stops between San Miguel de Allende and Metztitlán
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museo de Arqueología e Historia de Huichapan (mile 94), Museo de la Cultura Hñähñu y Centro Cultural del Valle del Mezquital (mile 127), Church of San Miguel Arcángel (mile 127)
- Nature and outdoors: Parque Joya La Barreta (mile 17), Cerro de las Campanas (mile 34), Tolantongo Canyon (mile 153)
- Museums and history: Former hacienda of Chichimequillas (mile 30), Museo de Arqueología e Historia de Huichapan (mile 94), Museo de la Cultura Hñähñu y Centro Cultural del Valle del Mezquital (mile 127)
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.
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 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 Metztitlán?
About 4 h 38 min of driving without stops, over 180 miles.
How far is Metztitlán from San Miguel de Allende by car?
About 180 miles (290 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 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 San Miguel de Allende to Metztitlán?
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; Hidalgo 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 Metztitlán use?
In order: MEX-111, MEX-57D, MEX-45 and MEX-85. 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 Metztitlán?
Closest to the road: Museo de Arqueología e Historia de Huichapan (museum, mile 94, 0.7 mi from the route); Museo de la Cultura Hñähñu y Centro Cultural del Valle del Mezquital (museum, mile 127, 0.1 mi from the route); Church of San Miguel Arcángel (convent, mile 127, 0.2 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.