By road, Tampico and Metepec are about 318 miles (512 km) apart, or roughly 5 h 49 min of driving.
| Total distance | 318 mi (512 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 5 h 49 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-180 → MEX-180D → MEX-130D → MEX-132D → MEX-132 → MEX-85D → EM 10 → MEX-134D |
| Mexican states on the route | Tamaulipas, Veracruz, Puebla, Hidalgo, State of Mexico, Mexico City |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-180D, MEX-130D, MEX-132D, MEX-85D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 12.7 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 8 |
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.
On the road from Tampico to Metepec
MEX-132D (99 mi) and MEX-180 (44 mi) carry about 45% of the 318 miles. It runs through 6 states: Tamaulipas, Veracruz, Puebla, Hidalgo, State of Mexico, Mexico City. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-180D, MEX-130D and MEX-132D. None of the 8 stops below is right on the road, so plan each as a short side trip.
Tampico to Metepec: the road sequence
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Tamaulipas |
| MEX-180 | 1–45 | 44 | Tamaulipas, Veracruz |
| local roads | 45–74 | 29 | Veracruz |
| MEX-180D | 74–108 | 34 | Veracruz |
| MEX-130D | 108–123 | 15 | Veracruz |
| MEX-132D | 123–211 | 88 | Veracruz, Puebla, Hidalgo |
| MEX-132 | 211–252 | 41 | Hidalgo, State of Mexico |
| MEX-132D | 252–263 | 11 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-85D | 263–271 | 8 | State of Mexico |
| EM 10 | 271–275 | 4 | Mexico City |
| connecting roads | 275–276 | 1 | Mexico City |
| local roads | 276–288 | 12 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-134D | 288–312 | 24 | State of Mexico |
| local roads | 312–318 | 6 | State of Mexico |
- Mile 7 of this route: Tamaulipas → Veracruz (state line)
- Mile 132 of this route: Veracruz → Puebla (state line)
- Mile 186 of this route: Puebla → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 233 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 271 of this route: State of Mexico → Mexico City (state line)
- Mile 276 of this route: Mexico City → State of Mexico (state line)
Where to stop on the way to Metepec
El Tajín
Look for elaborately carved reliefs on columns and friezes at El Tajín, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Veracruz, along with the Pyramid of the Niches and some of the site's 17 ballcourts.
El Santo Museum
Wrestling fans can stop in Tulancingo, birthplace of the masked luchador El Santo, where this museum opened in 1985. Displays include original masks and ring outfits, movie promotional material and photos from his career and private life.
Pyramid of the Moon
In the western part of ancient Teotihuacan, in present-day San Martín de las Pirámides, the Pyramid of the Moon mimics the contours of Cerro Gordo, the mountain just north of the site.
Acueducto de Guadalupe
Built in the mid-18th century to carry drinking water from Santa María Tlalnepantla to the Villa de Guadalupe, this colonial aqueduct in northern Mexico City now stands as a historic monument.
Xólotl Museum
Run by INAH at the Tenayuca archaeological zone in Tlalnepantla, the Xólotl Museum traces the history of Tenayuca, an early Chichimec settlement in the Basin of Mexico.
Catedral de Azcapotzalco
Officially the Cathedral of the Holy Apostles Philip and James, the Catedral de Azcapotzalco is the seat of the Diocese of Azcapotzalco in Mexico City.
Museo Tezozómoc
Run by the Instituto Politécnico Nacional since 1999, Museo Tezozómoc is an interactive museum about science and technology.
Museo Soumaya
Museo Soumaya is a private, nonprofit art museum in Mexico City with two buildings, Plaza Loreto and Plaza Carso. Its collection spans pre-Hispanic sculpture, Mexican art and European masters such as Rodin, Dalí and Tintoretto.
Arriving in Metepec
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.
José María Morelos y Pavón University History Museum
The Museo de Historia Universitaria José María Morelos y Pavón is a history museum located in the city of Toluca de Lerdo.
Museo Galería de Arte Mexiquense Torres Bicentenario
Set in Toluca's Torres Bicentenario complex, built to celebrate Mexican independence, this gallery shows paintings, prints and sculpture by artists from the State of Mexico, and many works are for sale.
More drives to Metepec
- Zitácuaro to Metepec
- Salvatierra to Metepec
- Celaya to Metepec
- San Miguel de Allende to Metepec
- Uruapan to Metepec
- Pénjamo to Metepec
From Tampico to other places in Mexico
- Tampico to Huasca de Ocampo
- Tampico to Pachuca
- Tampico to Omitlán
- Tampico to Actopan
- Tampico to Calpulalpan
- Tampico to Zacatelco
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Tampico to Metepec?
About 5 h 49 min of driving without stops, over 318 miles.
What is the driving distance from Tampico to Metepec?
About 318 miles (512 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 Tampico 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 Tampico to Metepec?
The U.S. State Department rates Tamaulipas Level 4: Do Not Travel; Veracruz Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Puebla Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Hidalgo Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; State of Mexico Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Mexico City Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Tampico to Metepec use?
In order: MEX-180, MEX-180D, MEX-130D, MEX-132D, MEX-132, MEX-85D, EM 10 and MEX-134D. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Tampico and Metepec?
Closest to the road: Acueducto de Guadalupe (monument, mile 272, 2 mi from the route); Xólotl Museum (archaeological museum, mile 276, 1 mi from the route); Museo Tezozómoc (museum, mile 280, 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.