The Wayro route from Sayula to Metztitlán is 460 miles (740 km), about 8 h 12 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 460 mi (740 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 8 h 12 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-54 → MEX-54D → MEX-GUA 10D → MEX-35 → JAL 122 → MEX-15D → MEX-M40D → MEX-85 → MEX-105 → HGO 37 |
| Mexican states on the route | Jalisco (Level 3), Michoacán (Level 4), State of Mexico (Level 2), Hidalgo (Level 2) |
| Toll roads | MEX-54D, MEX-GUA 10D, MEX-15D, MEX-M40D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 18.4 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 Sayula to Metztitlán is like
MEX-15D (204 mi) and MEX-M40D (79 mi) carry about 62% of the 460 miles. MEX-54D, MEX-GUA 10D, MEX-15D, MEX-M40D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-54, MEX-35, MEX-85, MEX-105 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 4 states: Jalisco, Michoacán, State of Mexico, Hidalgo. Of the 9 stops listed below, 6 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Sayula to Metztitlán, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Jalisco |
| MEX-54 | 1–5 | 4 | Jalisco |
| connecting roads | 5–7 | 2 | Jalisco |
| MEX-54D | 7–48 | 41 | Jalisco |
| connecting roads | 48–49 | 1 | Jalisco |
| MEX-GUA 10D | 49–71 | 22 | Jalisco |
| connecting roads | 71–72 | 1 | Jalisco |
| MEX-35 | 72–101 | 29 | Jalisco |
| JAL 122 | 101–107 | 6 | Jalisco |
| MEX-15D | 107–311 | 204 | Jalisco, Michoacán, State of Mexico |
| MEX-M40D | 311–390 | 79 | State of Mexico, Hidalgo |
| MEX-85 | 390–401 | 11 | Hidalgo |
| local roads | 401–409 | 8 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-105 | 409–426 | 17 | Hidalgo |
| local roads | 426–429 | 3 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-105 | 429–444 | 15 | Hidalgo |
| connecting roads | 444–446 | 2 | Hidalgo |
| HGO 37 | 446–459 | 13 | Hidalgo |
| local roads | 459–460 | 1 | Hidalgo |
- Mile 124 of this route: Jalisco → Michoacán (state line)
- Mile 293 of this route: Michoacán → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 342 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 372 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 386 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
Stops between Sayula and Metztitlán
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Tula National Park (mile 355), Museo El Rehilete (mile 403), Acosta Mine Museum (mile 416), Templo y exconvento de San Agustín (mile 428), Barranca de Metztitlán (mile 445), Biosphere Reserve Barranca de Metztitlán (mile 452)
- Nature and outdoors: Rayón National Park (mile 289), Tula National Park (mile 355), El Chico National Park (mile 415), Basaltic Prisms of Santa María Regla (mile 423), Barranca de Metztitlán (mile 445), Biosphere Reserve Barranca de Metztitlán (mile 452)
- Museums and history: Museo El Rehilete (mile 403), Acosta Mine Museum (mile 416)
Rayón National Park
Just outside Tlalpujahua, Rayón National Park (Parque Nacional Rayón) marks the start of the area's famous butterfly reserve country, which stretches south and west from here.
Tula National Park
This park protects the ruins of Tula, ancient capital of the Toltecs. Walk up to the main pyramid to stand beside the Atlantes, basalt warrior figures more than four meters tall, and look for the Coatepantli wall's reliefs of snakes devouring skeletons.
Museo El Rehilete
Kids head to Pachuca's interactive museum El Rehilete for its planetarium, observatory, dinosaur park, botanical garden and archaeological walk, plus a historic DC-3 airplane and a fire truck they can explore.
El Chico National Park
In Hidalgo, El Chico National Park is known for towering cliffs such as Las Ventanas and Peña del Cuervo, popular with climbers, and forest wildlife including gray foxes, ringtails, armadillos, hawks, falcons and woodpeckers.
Acosta Mine Museum
In Mineral del Monte, Hidalgo, the Museo de Sitio Mina de Acosta is devoted to the history of mining and is run by Pachuca's Archivo Histórico y Museo de Minería.
Basaltic Prisms of Santa María Regla
Basalt columns more than 40 meters tall line a ravine near Huasca de Ocampo, formed when lava cooled quickly on contact with water. Alexander von Humboldt described the Basaltic Prisms (Prismas Basálticos) after his visit in 1803.
Templo y exconvento de San Agustín
Founded in 1536 and built between 1542 and 1562, the Augustinian church and former convent of San Agustín in Atotonilco el Grande has a Plateresque design and frescoes.
Barranca de Metztitlán
Barranca de Metztitlán is a biosphere reserve in Hidalgo, protected for its steep cliffs, deep winding canyons and distinctive plants and wildlife.
Biosphere Reserve Barranca de Metztitlán
The Barranca de Metztitlán Biosphere Reserve protects about 96,000 hectares of eastern-central Hidalgo, where the Amajac, Metztitlán, Almolón and Metzquititlán rivers have cut four canyons, the Metztitlán gorge being the main one.
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 Sayula to other places in Mexico
- Sayula to Amatitán
- Sayula to Temacapulín
- Sayula to Nochistlán
- Sayula to Jalpa de Cánovas
- Sayula to Pabellón de Hidalgo
- Sayula to San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Sayula to Metztitlán?
About 8 h 12 min of driving without stops, over 460 miles.
How far is Metztitlán from Sayula by car?
About 460 miles (740 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 Sayula 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 Sayula to Metztitlán?
The U.S. State Department rates Jalisco Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Michoacán Level 4: Do Not Travel; 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 Sayula to Metztitlán use?
In order: MEX-54, MEX-54D, MEX-GUA 10D, MEX-35, JAL 122, MEX-15D, MEX-M40D, MEX-85, MEX-105 and HGO 37. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Sayula and Metztitlán?
Closest to the road: Museo El Rehilete (museum, mile 403, 0.2 mi from the route); Acosta Mine Museum (museum, mile 416, 0.4 mi from the route); Barranca de Metztitlán (canyon, mile 445, 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.