The Wayro route from Veracruz to Metepec is 278 miles (448 km), about 4 h 58 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 278 mi (448 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 4 h 58 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-180D → MEX-180 → MEX-140 → MEX-140D → MEX-136 → MEX-117D → MEX-150D → Viaducto → MEX-15D → MEX-15 |
| Mexican states on the route | Veracruz (Level 2), Puebla (Level 2), Tlaxcala (Level 2), State of Mexico (Level 2), Mexico City (Level 2) |
| Toll roads | MEX-180D, MEX-140D, MEX-117D, MEX-M40D, MEX-150D, MEX-15D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 11.1 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.
What the drive from Veracruz to Metepec is like
MEX-140D (93 mi) and MEX-150D (47 mi) carry about 50% of the 278 miles. MEX-180D, MEX-140D, MEX-117D, MEX-150D, MEX-15D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-180, MEX-140, MEX-136, MEX-15 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 5 states: Veracruz, Puebla, Tlaxcala, State of Mexico, Mexico City. Of the 8 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Veracruz to Metepec, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–4 | 4 | Veracruz |
| MEX-180D | 4–21 | 17 | Veracruz |
| MEX-180 | 21–30 | 9 | Veracruz |
| MEX-140 | 30–39 | 9 | Veracruz |
| MEX-140D | 39–47 | 8 | Veracruz |
| MEX-140 | 47–50 | 3 | Veracruz |
| MEX-140D | 50–135 | 85 | Veracruz, Puebla, Tlaxcala |
| MEX-136 | 135–163 | 28 | Tlaxcala |
| MEX-117D | 163–183 | 20 | Tlaxcala, Puebla |
| connecting roads | 183–185 | 2 | Puebla |
| MEX-150D | 185–232 | 47 | Puebla, State of Mexico |
| local roads | 232–238 | 6 | State of Mexico, Mexico City |
| Viaducto | 238–245 | 7 | Mexico City |
| connecting roads | 245–250 | 5 | Mexico City |
| MEX-15D | 250–270 | 20 | Mexico City, State of Mexico |
| MEX-15 | 270–275 | 5 | State of Mexico |
| local roads | 275–278 | 3 | State of Mexico |
- Mile 101 of this route: Veracruz → Puebla (state line)
- Mile 127 of this route: Puebla → Tlaxcala (state line)
- Mile 181 of this route: Tlaxcala → Puebla (state line)
- Mile 203 of this route: Puebla → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 236 of this route: State of Mexico → Mexico City (state line)
- Mile 258 of this route: Mexico City → State of Mexico (state line)
Stops between Veracruz and Metepec
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Teatro Xicohténcatl (mile 171), Galería de Arte Mexicano (mile 246), Desierto de los Leones National Park (mile 257)
- Nature and outdoors: Parque Nacional Cofre de Perote (mile 91), Garden of the Triple Alliance (mile 242), Desierto de los Leones National Park (mile 257)
- Museums and history: Cantona (mile 108), Acozac (mile 223), Museo de la Mujer (mile 241), Garden of the Triple Alliance (mile 242), Galería de Arte Mexicano (mile 246)
Parque Nacional Cofre de Perote
Cofre de Perote National Park protects the forested slopes of the mountain, and its role is practical as well as scenic: a little over 40 percent of the water used in Xalapa comes from here.
Cantona
High on the Puebla plateau near the Veracruz line, Cantona was a fortified pre-Hispanic city that controlled trade toward the Gulf; its explored southern section reveals interconnected streets, walled residential units and more than two dozen ballgame courts.
Teatro Xicohténcatl
Tlaxcala's Teatro Xicohténcatl opened in 1873 and was reopened in 1888 after remodeling. Look up to see John Fulton's ceiling mural of the nine muses, painted in Art Nouveau style against a Tlaxcalan landscape.
Acozac
Acozac is an archaeological site in the municipality of Ixtapaluca, State of Mexico, located at kilometer 30 of the federal Mexico City–Puebla road, heading toward Ixtapaluca.
Museo de la Mujer
Run by the National Autonomous University of Mexico, the Museo de la Mujer highlights the role women have played in building Mexico throughout its history.
Garden of the Triple Alliance
West of the Zócalo on Filomeno Mata street, this small garden displays three bronzes of the rulers of the Aztec Triple Alliance, cast by Jesús F. Contreras in 1888–1889.
Galería de Arte Mexicano
Galería de Arte Mexicano was founded in 1935 and directed for decades by Inés Amor; its Mexico City building was designed by architect Andrés Casillas de Alba.
Desierto de los Leones National Park
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
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.
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.
Toluca Cathedral
Begun in 1867 and finished only in 1978, Toluca's Cathedral of Saint Joseph has a neoclassical facade and a bronze statue of the saint on its dome. It also preserves the 18th-century baroque front of the former San Elzeario church.
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 Veracruz to other places in Mexico
- Veracruz to Tecolutla
- Veracruz to Poza Rica
- Veracruz to Zacatelco
- Veracruz to Huejotzingo
- Veracruz to Cuautla
- Veracruz to Oaxtepec
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Veracruz to Metepec?
About 4 h 58 min of driving without stops, over 278 miles.
How far is Metepec from Veracruz by car?
About 278 miles (448 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 Veracruz 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 Veracruz to Metepec?
The U.S. State Department rates Veracruz Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Puebla Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Tlaxcala 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 Veracruz to Metepec use?
In order: MEX-180D, MEX-180, MEX-140, MEX-140D, MEX-136, MEX-117D, MEX-150D, Viaducto, MEX-15D and MEX-15. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Veracruz and Metepec?
Closest to the road: Teatro Xicohténcatl (theatre building, mile 171, 0.9 mi from the route); Galería de Arte Mexicano (art gallery, mile 246, 0.7 mi from the route); Desierto de los Leones National Park (National Park of Mexico, mile 257, 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.