The Wayro route from Tapalpa to Metztitlán is 468 miles (753 km), about 8 h 41 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 468 mi (753 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 8 h 41 min |
| Main roads, in order | JAL 436 → 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, Michoacán, State of Mexico, Hidalgo |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-54D, MEX-GUA 10D, MEX-15D, MEX-M40D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 18.7 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.
Driving Tapalpa to Metztitlán: the shape of the trip
MEX-15D (204 mi) and MEX-M40D (79 mi) carry about 60% of the 468 miles. It runs through 4 states: Jalisco, Michoacán, State of Mexico, Hidalgo. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-54D, MEX-GUA 10D and MEX-15D. Of the 9 stops listed below, 5 are within a mile of the road.
Which roads connect Tapalpa and Metztitlán
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Jalisco |
| JAL 436 | 1–20 | 19 | Jalisco |
| MEX-54 | 20–30 | 10 | Jalisco |
| local roads | 30–34 | 4 | Jalisco |
| MEX-54D | 34–56 | 22 | Jalisco |
| connecting roads | 56–58 | 2 | Jalisco |
| MEX-GUA 10D | 58–80 | 22 | Jalisco |
| MEX-35 | 80–109 | 29 | Jalisco |
| connecting roads | 109–110 | 1 | Jalisco |
| JAL 122 | 110–115 | 5 | Jalisco |
| MEX-15D | 115–319 | 204 | Jalisco, Michoacán, State of Mexico |
| MEX-M40D | 319–398 | 79 | State of Mexico, Hidalgo |
| connecting roads | 398–399 | 1 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-85 | 399–410 | 11 | Hidalgo |
| local roads | 410–418 | 8 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-105 | 418–434 | 16 | Hidalgo |
| local roads | 434–437 | 3 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-105 | 437–453 | 16 | Hidalgo |
| connecting roads | 453–454 | 1 | Hidalgo |
| HGO 37 | 454–468 | 14 | Hidalgo |
- Mile 133 of this route: Jalisco → Michoacán (state line)
- Mile 301 of this route: Michoacán → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 350 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 381 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 395 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
Places worth a stop between Tapalpa and Metztitlán
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Parque Ecológico Cubitos (mile 415), El Hiloche (mile 423), La Dificultad Mine Museum (mile 424), Templo y exconvento de San Agustín (mile 437), Barranca de Metztitlán (mile 454)
- Nature and outdoors: Parque Ecológico Cubitos (mile 415), El Hiloche (mile 423), Barranca de Metztitlán (mile 454)
- Museums and history: Teatro Morelos de Maravatío (mile 280), Tula (mile 364), Museo Nacional de la Fotografía (mile 419), La Dificultad Mine Museum (mile 424)
Teatro Morelos de Maravatío
Maravatío's Teatro Morelos is a late-19th-century theater in a French-influenced neoclassical style, designed by architect Rafael Guerrero Torres. It opened on January 11, 1879, with a performance by opera singer Ángela Peralta.
Tula
Basalt warrior figures over four meters (13 feet) tall, the Atlantes, crown the main pyramid at Tula. Visitors can also explore a ball court, the Burnt Palace and the Coatepantli wall.
Parque Ecológico Cubitos
Between Pachuca de Soto and Mineral de la Reforma, Parque Ecológico Cubitos is a 90-hectare protected natural area whose public section has a botanical garden, an arboretum, a herpetarium, a farm, a maze, a zip line and a bike path.
Ex monastery of Saint Francis of Assisi, Pachuca de Soto, Hidalgo
The Templo y exconvento de San Francisco in Pachuca de Soto is mainly Baroque, with touches of Churrigueresque and Neoclassical style. Construction began in 1596 under Fray Francisco de Torantos, who chose the style of its facade and windows.
Museo Nacional de la Fotografía
Pachuca de Soto, in the Mexican state of Hidalgo, is home to the Museo Nacional de la Fotografía, a museum devoted to photography.
El Hiloche
Bosque El Hiloche is a state park of about 100 hectares of forest in Mineral del Monte, Hidalgo, and one of the geosites of the Comarca Minera Geopark.
La Dificultad Mine Museum
At the La Dificultad mine in Mineral del Monte, a site museum and interpretation center tells the area's mining and hospital history, showing how the mines moved from steam power to electricity.
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.
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 Tapalpa to other places in Mexico
- Tapalpa to Temacapulín
- Tapalpa to Jalpa de Cánovas
- Tapalpa to Pabellón de Hidalgo
- Tapalpa to San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes
- Tapalpa to Real de Asientos
- Tapalpa to Mineral de Pozos
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Tapalpa to Metztitlán?
About 8 h 41 min of driving without stops, over 468 miles.
How far is Metztitlán from Tapalpa by car?
About 468 miles (753 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 Tapalpa 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 Tapalpa 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 Tapalpa to Metztitlán use?
In order: JAL 436, 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 for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Tapalpa to Metztitlán?
Closest to the road: El Hiloche (state park, mile 423, 0.4 mi from the route); La Dificultad Mine Museum (museum, mile 424, 0.5 mi from the route); Barranca de Metztitlán (canyon, mile 454, 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 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.