The Wayro route from Tonatico to Metztitlán is 182 miles (293 km), about 3 h 57 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 182 mi (293 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 3 h 57 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-55D → MEX-A10D → MEX-15D → MEX-15 → 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-55D, MEX-A10D, MEX-15D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 7.3 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 Tonatico to Metztitlán is like
MEX-85 (49 mi) and MEX-105 (31 mi) carry about 44% of the 182 miles. MEX-55D, MEX-A10D, MEX-15D are toll highways (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, 4 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Tonatico to Metztitlán, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–4 | 4 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-55D | 4–28 | 24 | State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 28–31 | 3 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-A10D | 31–43 | 12 | State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 43–45 | 2 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-15D | 45–65 | 20 | State of Mexico, Mexico City |
| MEX-15 | 65–69 | 4 | Mexico City |
| connecting roads | 69–70 | 1 | Mexico City |
| Circuito Interior | 70–75 | 5 | Mexico City |
| MEX-85 | 75–124 | 49 | Mexico City, State of Mexico, Hidalgo |
| local roads | 124–132 | 8 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-105 | 132–148 | 16 | Hidalgo |
| local roads | 148–152 | 4 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-105 | 152–167 | 15 | Hidalgo |
| connecting roads | 167–168 | 1 | Hidalgo |
| HGO 37 | 168–181 | 13 | Hidalgo |
| local roads | 181–182 | 1 | Hidalgo |
- Mile 57 of this route: State of Mexico → Mexico City (state line)
- Mile 80 of this route: Mexico City → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 103 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
Stops between Tonatico and Metztitlán
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museo de Historia Natural (mile 68), Angel of Independence (mile 71), El Tepeyac National Park (mile 78), Biosphere Reserve Barranca de Metztitlán (mile 174)
- Nature and outdoors: Museo de Historia Natural (mile 68), El Tepeyac National Park (mile 78), Biosphere Reserve Barranca de Metztitlán (mile 174)
- Museums and history: Museo de Historia Natural (mile 68), Angel of Independence (mile 71), Museo de Arte Popular (mile 72), Museo Nacional Numismático (mile 75), Planetario Luis Enrique Erro (mile 76), Mexican Air Force Museum (mile 97)
- With kids: Planetario Luis Enrique Erro (mile 76)
Ciénegas del Lerma
These marshes in the Toluca Valley are three lakes left from a wetland of about 27,000 hectares in the late 19th century. A Ramsar site since 2004, they hold dozens of endemic and threatened species and are a key stop for migratory species.
Museo de Historia Natural
In the second section of Chapultepec Park, the Museo de Historia Natural y Cultura Ambiental displays mounted animals, fossils, rocks, minerals, sculptures and models about life on Earth and Mexico's biodiversity.
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 Arte Popular
In an old firehouse in Mexico City's historic center, the Museo de Arte Popular shows Mexican folk art and crafts: textiles, pottery, glass, piñatas, alebrijes and furniture.
Museo Nacional Numismático
Part of Mexico's Casa de Moneda, the National Numismatic Museum sits in the historic center inside the old Casa del Apartado, where gold was separated from mined silver starting in the 17th century.
Planetario Luis Enrique Erro
Run by the National Polytechnic Institute, the Planetario Luis Enrique Erro in Mexico City is a planetarium open to the public and one of the longest-running in Latin America.
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.
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 Tonatico to other places in Mexico
- Tonatico to El Oro
- Tonatico to Bernal
- Tonatico to Mineral de Pozos
- Tonatico to Santa Fe de la Laguna
- Tonatico to Cuanajo
- Tonatico to Tócuaro
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Tonatico to Metztitlán?
About 3 h 57 min of driving without stops, over 182 miles.
How far is Metztitlán from Tonatico by car?
About 182 miles (293 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 Tonatico 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 Tonatico 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 Tonatico to Metztitlán use?
In order: MEX-55D, MEX-A10D, MEX-15D, MEX-15, 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 Tonatico and Metztitlán?
Closest to the road: Museo de Historia Natural (museum, mile 68, 0.2 mi from the route); Angel of Independence (monument, mile 71, 0.5 mi from the route); El Tepeyac National Park (National Park of Mexico, mile 78, 0.4 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.