The Wayro route from Veracruz to Metztitlán is 287 miles (462 km), about 5 h 36 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 287 mi (462 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 5 h 36 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-180D → MEX-180 → MEX-140 → MEX-140D → MEX-136 → MEX-M40D → MEX-132 → MEX-88 → MEX-105 → HGO 37 |
| Mexican states on the route | Veracruz (Level 2), Puebla (Level 2), Tlaxcala (Level 2), Hidalgo (Level 2), State of Mexico (Level 2) |
| Toll roads | MEX-180D, MEX-140D, MEX-M40D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 11.5 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 Veracruz to Metztitlán is like
MEX-140D (93 mi) and MEX-136 (51 mi) carry about 50% of the 287 miles. MEX-180D, MEX-140D, MEX-M40D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-180, MEX-140, MEX-136, MEX-132, MEX-88, MEX-105 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 5 states: Veracruz, Puebla, Tlaxcala, Hidalgo, State of Mexico. Of the 9 stops listed below, 4 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Veracruz to Metztitlán, 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 | 135–186 | 51 | Tlaxcala |
| connecting roads | 186–187 | 1 | Tlaxcala |
| MEX-M40D | 187–214 | 27 | Tlaxcala, Hidalgo, State of Mexico |
| MEX-132 | 214–217 | 3 | State of Mexico, Hidalgo |
| connecting roads | 217–218 | 1 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-88 | 218–234 | 16 | Hidalgo |
| local roads | 234–237 | 3 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-105 | 237–253 | 16 | Hidalgo |
| local roads | 253–257 | 4 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-105 | 257–272 | 15 | Hidalgo |
| connecting roads | 272–273 | 1 | Hidalgo |
| HGO 37 | 273–286 | 13 | Hidalgo |
| local roads | 286–287 | 1 | Hidalgo |
- Mile 101 of this route: Veracruz → Puebla (state line)
- Mile 127 of this route: Puebla → Tlaxcala (state line)
- Mile 196 of this route: Tlaxcala → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 203 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 216 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
Stops between Veracruz and Metztitlán
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Acosta Mine Museum (mile 244), Templo y exconvento de San Agustín (mile 256), Barranca de Metztitlán (mile 272), Biosphere Reserve Barranca de Metztitlán (mile 280)
- Nature and outdoors: Parque Nacional Cofre de Perote (mile 91), La Malinche National Park (mile 147), El Chico National Park (mile 242), Basaltic Prisms of Santa María Regla (mile 250), Barranca de Metztitlán (mile 272), Biosphere Reserve Barranca de Metztitlán (mile 280)
- Museums and history: Acosta Mine Museum (mile 244)
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.
La Malinche National Park
Tlaxcala's La Malinche National Park surrounds the inactive Matlalcuéyetl volcano, with pine, oak and fir forests on its slopes, hiking trails, birdwatching, and stone cabins and campsites at the Malintzi Vacation Center.
Teatro de la Ciudad San Francisco
The Teatro de la Ciudad San Francisco is a theater in the historic center of Pachuca de Soto, in the Mexican state of Hidalgo.
El Chico National Park
In Hidalgo, El Chico National Park is known for towering cliffs such as Las Ventanas and Peña del Cuervo, popular with climbers, and forest wildlife including gray foxes, ringtails, armadillos, hawks, falcons and woodpeckers.
Acosta Mine Museum
In Mineral del Monte, Hidalgo, the Museo de Sitio Mina de Acosta is devoted to the history of mining and is run by Pachuca's Archivo Histórico y Museo de Minería.
Basaltic Prisms of Santa María Regla
Basalt columns more than 40 meters tall line a ravine near Huasca de Ocampo, formed when lava cooled quickly on contact with water. Alexander von Humboldt described the Basaltic Prisms (Prismas Basálticos) after his visit in 1803.
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.
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 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 Metztitlán?
About 5 h 36 min of driving without stops, over 287 miles.
How far is Metztitlán from Veracruz by car?
About 287 miles (462 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 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 Veracruz to Metztitlán?
The U.S. State Department rates Veracruz Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Puebla Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Tlaxcala Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Hidalgo Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; State of Mexico 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 Metztitlán use?
In order: MEX-180D, MEX-180, MEX-140, MEX-140D, MEX-136, MEX-M40D, MEX-132, MEX-88, 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 Veracruz and Metztitlán?
Closest to the road: Acosta Mine Museum (museum, mile 244, 0.5 mi from the route); Barranca de Metztitlán (canyon, mile 272, 0.1 mi from the route); Biosphere Reserve Barranca de Metztitlán (biosphere reserve, mile 280, 0.6 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.