Tulancingo to Metepec Road Trip: Distance, Time & Stops

By admin, 3 October, 2026

The Wayro route from Tulancingo to Metepec is 113 miles (182 km), about 2 h 21 min of driving without stops.

U.S. State Department travel advisory: Hidalgo — Level 2, Exercise Increased Caution; State of Mexico — Level 2, Exercise Increased Caution; Mexico City — Level 2, Exercise Increased CautionAdvisory issued May 29, 2026; checked September 29, 2026. State of Mexico is the Mexican state that contains Metepec. See the full advisory for current details.
Church and former convent of Todos los SantosPyramid of the MoonCatedral de TeotihuacánBasilica of Our Lady of GuadalupeMuseo de los FerrocarrilerosViveros de CoyoacánLomas de Padierna National ParkDesierto de los Leones National ParkTulancingoMetepec
Route from Tulancingo to Metepec with the 8 stops listed below (blue dots).
Distance113 mi (182 km)
Driving time, no stops2 h 21 min
Main roads, in orderMEX-130 → MEX-132 → MEX-132D → MEX-85D → EM 10 → MEX-134D
Mexican states on the routeHidalgo (Level 2), State of Mexico (Level 2), Mexico City (Level 2)
Toll roadsMEX-132D, MEX-85D, MEX-134D
Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg)about 4.5 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic
Stops listed below8

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 insuranceRequired 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 Tulancingo to Metepec is like

MEX-132 (41 mi) and MEX-134D (24 mi) carry about 58% of the 113 miles. MEX-132D, MEX-85D, MEX-134D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-130, MEX-132 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 3 states: Hidalgo, State of Mexico, Mexico City. None of the 8 stops below is right on the road, so plan each as a short side trip.

The route from Tulancingo to Metepec, road by road

RoadRoute miles (from–to)Length, miState
local roads0–22Hidalgo
MEX-1302–64Hidalgo
MEX-1326–4741Hidalgo, State of Mexico
MEX-132D47–5811State of Mexico
MEX-85D58–668State of Mexico
EM 1066–704Mexico City
connecting roads70–711Mexico City
local roads71–8312State of Mexico
MEX-134D83–10724State of Mexico
local roads107–1136State of Mexico
  • Mile 29 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
  • Mile 66 of this route: State of Mexico → Mexico City (state line)
  • Mile 71 of this route: Mexico City → State of Mexico (state line)

Stops between Tulancingo and Metepec

  • Nature and outdoors: Viveros de Coyoacán (mile 79), Lomas de Padierna National Park (mile 85), Desierto de los Leones National Park (mile 85)
  • Museums and history: Catedral de Teotihuacán (mile 46), Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe (mile 66), Museo de los Ferrocarrileros (mile 66)

Church and former convent of Todos los Santos

Mile 24 · Convent · 2 mi from the route · side trip; actual detour depends on access roads

Franciscan friars built this fortress-style convent in Zempoala, and the complex still keeps the classic layout of atrium, church, open chapel and cloister. It pairs well with a drive through the area's old pulque haciendas.

Pyramid of the Moon

Mile 42 · Step pyramid · 2 mi from the route · side trip; actual detour depends on access roads

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.

Catedral de Teotihuacán

Mile 46 · Catholic cathedral · 2 mi from the route

In Teotihuacán de Arista, the town at the heart of the municipality, the Cathedral Sanctuary of the Divine Redeemer serves as the seat of the Diocese of Teotihuacán.

Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe

Mile 66 · Catholic parish church · 2 mi from the route · side trip; actual detour depends on access roads

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.

Museo de los Ferrocarrileros

Mile 66 · Railway museum · 3 mi from the route · side trip; actual detour depends on access roads

In the former La Villa train station in northern Mexico City, this museum opened in 2006 and tells the story of Mexico's railroads and the railroad workers' social movements.

Viveros de Coyoacán

Mile 79 · National Park of Mexico · 9 mi from the route · side trip; actual detour depends on access roads

Part tree nursery, part public park, Viveros de Coyoacán covers 96 acres and was founded in the early 20th century by Miguel Ángel de Quevedo to grow seedlings for reforesting Mexico's forests.

Lomas de Padierna National Park

Mile 85 · National Park of Mexico · 8 mi from the route · side trip; actual detour depends on access roads

Lomas de Padierna National Park lies in the Cerro del Judío ecological reserve in La Magdalena Contreras, on the southwest side of Mexico City.

Desierto de los Leones National Park

Mile 85 · National Park of Mexico · 7 mi from the route · side trip; actual detour depends on access roads

Declared a national park in 1917, this fir, ash and oak forest in Mexico City's Cuajimalpa and Álvaro Obregón boroughs surrounds a former Carmelite monastery. Locals come to hike, run and cycle, and more than 100 bird species live here.

When you get to Metepec

Museo Galería de Arte Mexiquense Torres Bicentenario

Art museum · in Metepec

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.

Museum José María Velasco

Art museum · in Metepec

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.

Museo Felipe Santiago Gutiérrez

Art museum · in Metepec

In Toluca's historic center, a building from the late 18th and early 19th centuries holds about 225 watercolors, oils and drawings tracing the work of painter Felipe Santiago Gutiérrez. It opened in December 1992.

More drives to Metepec

From Tulancingo to other places in Mexico

Frequently asked questions

How long is the drive from Tulancingo to Metepec?

About 2 h 21 min of driving without stops, over 113 miles.

How far is Metepec from Tulancingo by car?

About 113 miles (182 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 Tulancingo 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 Tulancingo to Metepec?

The U.S. State Department rates 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 Tulancingo to Metepec use?

In order: MEX-130, MEX-132, MEX-132D, MEX-85D, EM 10 and MEX-134D. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.

What are good stops between Tulancingo and Metepec?

Closest to the road: Church and former convent of Todos los Santos (convent, mile 24, 2 mi from the route); Pyramid of the Moon (step pyramid, mile 42, 2 mi from the route); Catedral de Teotihuacán (catholic cathedral, mile 46, 2 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.