The Wayro route from Toluca to Metztitlán is 148 miles (238 km), about 3 h 24 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 148 mi (238 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 3 h 24 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-15 → MEX-15D → Circuito Interior → MEX-85 → MEX-105 → HGO 37 |
| Mexican states on the route | State of Mexico (Level 2), Mexico City (Level 2), Hidalgo (Level 2) |
| Toll roads | MEX-15D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 5.9 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 Toluca to Metztitlán is like
MEX-85 (50 mi) and MEX-105 (32 mi) carry about 55% of the 148 miles. MEX-15D is a toll highway (cuota); MEX-15, MEX-85, MEX-105 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 3 states: State of Mexico, Mexico City, Hidalgo. Of the 9 stops listed below, 8 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Toluca to Metztitlán, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| MEX-15 | 0–11 | 11 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-15D | 11–31 | 20 | State of Mexico, Mexico City |
| MEX-15 | 31–35 | 4 | Mexico City |
| Circuito Interior | 35–40 | 5 | Mexico City |
| MEX-85 | 40–90 | 50 | Mexico City, State of Mexico, Hidalgo |
| local roads | 90–98 | 8 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-105 | 98–114 | 16 | Hidalgo |
| local roads | 114–117 | 3 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-105 | 117–133 | 16 | Hidalgo |
| connecting roads | 133–134 | 1 | Hidalgo |
| HGO 37 | 134–148 | 14 | Hidalgo |
- Mile 23 of this route: State of Mexico → Mexico City (state line)
- Mile 46 of this route: Mexico City → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 69 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
Stops between Toluca and Metztitlán
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Los Pinos (mile 35), Angel of Independence (mile 37), Museo de Geología de la UNAM (mile 39), Tlatelolco (mile 40), Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe (mile 43), El Tepeyac National Park (mile 44), Barranca de Metztitlán (mile 133), Biosphere Reserve Barranca de Metztitlán (mile 140)
- Nature and outdoors: El Tepeyac National Park (mile 44), Barranca de Metztitlán (mile 133), Biosphere Reserve Barranca de Metztitlán (mile 140)
- Museums and history: Los Pinos (mile 35), Angel of Independence (mile 37), Museo de Geología de la UNAM (mile 39), Tlatelolco (mile 40), Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe (mile 43), Mexican Air Force Museum (mile 63)
Los Pinos
In Chapultepec Forest, Los Pinos served as the official residence and office of Mexico's presidents from 1934 to 2018.
Angel of Independence
Officially the Monumento a la Independencia, El Ángel is a victory column on Paseo de la Reforma, built in 1910 by architect Antonio Rivas Mercado for the centennial of the start of the War of Independence.
Museo de Geología de la UNAM
In the Santa María la Ribera neighborhood, UNAM's Museo de Geología displays the geological collections of the university's Institute of Geology.
Tlatelolco
Centered on the Plaza de las Tres Culturas, Tlatelolco is an archaeological excavation site in Mexico City with remains of the pre-Columbian city-state of the same name.
Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe
The Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe, at the foot of Tepeyac Hill in Mexico City's Gustavo A. Madero borough, is a Catholic basilica dedicated to the Virgin of Guadalupe within the Primate Archdiocese of Mexico.
El Tepeyac National Park
Decreed in 1937 on reforested slopes of the Sierra de Guadalupe, including Cerro del Tepeyac, this national park was created for rest and recreation, with views toward Mexico City and the old Lake Texcoco plain.
Mexican Air Force Museum
At Santa Lucía Air Base, the Military Aviation Museum, run by the Secretariat of National Defense, displays historical material from the Mexican Air Force.
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 Toluca to other places in Mexico
- Toluca to Salvatierra
- Toluca to Celaya
- Toluca to Santa Fe de la Laguna
- Toluca to Tócuaro
- Toluca to Pénjamo
- Toluca to Cotija
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Toluca to Metztitlán?
About 3 h 24 min of driving without stops, over 148 miles.
How far is Metztitlán from Toluca by car?
About 148 miles (238 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 Toluca 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 Toluca to Metztitlán?
The U.S. State Department rates State of Mexico Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Mexico City 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 Toluca to Metztitlán use?
In order: MEX-15, MEX-15D, Circuito Interior, 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 Toluca and Metztitlán?
Closest to the road: Los Pinos (museum, mile 35, 0.2 mi from the route); El Tepeyac National Park (National Park of Mexico, mile 44, 0.3 mi from the route); Barranca de Metztitlán (canyon, mile 133, 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.