The Wayro route from Sombrerete to Metztitlán is 496 miles (799 km), about 10 h 1 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 496 mi (799 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 10 h 1 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-45 → MEX-45D → MEX-47D → MEX-85 |
| Mexican states on the route | Zacatecas (Level 4), Aguascalientes (Level 2), Jalisco (Level 3), Guanajuato (Level 3), Querétaro (Level 2), Hidalgo (Level 2) |
| Toll roads | MEX-45D, MEX-43D, MEX-47D, MEX-57D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 19.9 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 Sombrerete to Metztitlán is like
MEX-45D (202 mi) and MEX-45 (177 mi) carry about 76% of the 496 miles. MEX-45D, MEX-47D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-45, MEX-85 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 6 states: Zacatecas, Aguascalientes, Jalisco, Guanajuato, Querétaro, Hidalgo. Of the 9 stops listed below, 4 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Sombrerete to Metztitlán, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Zacatecas |
| MEX-45 | 1–60 | 59 | Zacatecas |
| MEX-45D | 60–72 | 12 | Zacatecas |
| MEX-45 | 72–81 | 9 | Zacatecas |
| MEX-45D | 81–130 | 49 | Zacatecas |
| MEX-45 | 130–159 | 29 | Zacatecas, Aguascalientes |
| local roads | 159–163 | 4 | Aguascalientes |
| MEX-45 | 163–193 | 30 | Aguascalientes, Jalisco |
| MEX-45D | 193–334 | 141 | Jalisco, Guanajuato |
| connecting roads | 334–335 | 1 | Guanajuato |
| MEX-47D | 335–386 | 51 | Guanajuato, Querétaro |
| connecting roads | 386–388 | 2 | Querétaro |
| MEX-45 | 388–438 | 50 | Querétaro, Hidalgo |
| MEX-85 | 438–442 | 4 | Hidalgo |
| local roads | 442–496 | 54 | Hidalgo |
- Mile 135 of this route: Zacatecas → Aguascalientes (state line)
- Mile 190 of this route: Aguascalientes → Jalisco (state line)
- Mile 238 of this route: Jalisco → Guanajuato (state line)
- Mile 347 of this route: Guanajuato → Querétaro (state line)
- Mile 397 of this route: Querétaro → Hidalgo (state line)
Stops between Sombrerete and Metztitlán
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museo Nacional de la Muerte (mile 174), Museo de Arqueología e Historia de Huichapan (mile 409), Museo de la Cultura Hñähñu y Centro Cultural del Valle del Mezquital (mile 442), Church of San Miguel Arcángel (mile 443)
- Nature and outdoors: El Cimatario National Park (mile 352), Tolantongo Canyon (mile 470)
- Museums and history: Museo de la Insurgencia (mile 153), Museo Nacional de la Muerte (mile 174), Celaya Cathedral (mile 322), Museo de Arqueología e Historia de Huichapan (mile 409), Museo de la Cultura Hñähñu y Centro Cultural del Valle del Mezquital (mile 442)
Historic centre of Zacatecas
Founded in 1546 after a rich silver strike, Zacatecas climbs the steep sides of a narrow valley; its UNESCO-listed center holds an 18th-century Baroque cathedral, colonial convents, the Calderón Theater and the old González Market.
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.
Museo Nacional de la Muerte
Run by the Autonomous University of Aguascalientes, the Museo Nacional de la Muerte displays objects about death in Mexican culture, drawn from a collection donated by printmaker Octavio Bajonero Gil.
Celaya Cathedral
Celaya's main Catholic church, the Immaculate Conception Cathedral, occupies the space of a former chapel that was annexed to the neighboring Temple of St. Francis.
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 Sombrerete to other places in Mexico
- Sombrerete to Cosalá
- Sombrerete to Temacapulín
- Sombrerete to Amatitán
- Sombrerete to Ajijic
- Sombrerete to San Luis Soyatlán
- Sombrerete to Mazamitla
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Sombrerete to Metztitlán?
About 10 h 1 min of driving without stops, over 496 miles.
How far is Metztitlán from Sombrerete by car?
About 496 miles (799 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 Sombrerete 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 Sombrerete to Metztitlán?
The U.S. State Department rates Zacatecas Level 4: Do Not Travel; Aguascalientes Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Jalisco Level 3: Reconsider Travel; 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 Sombrerete to Metztitlán use?
In order: 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 Sombrerete and Metztitlán?
Closest to the road: Museo Nacional de la Muerte (art museum, mile 174, 0.1 mi from the route); Museo de la Cultura Hñähñu y Centro Cultural del Valle del Mezquital (museum, mile 442, 0.1 mi from the route); Church of San Miguel Arcángel (convent, mile 443, 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.