The Wayro route from Zacatelco to Metepec is 110 miles (177 km), about 2 h 12 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 110 mi (177 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 2 h 12 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-150D → Viaducto → MEX-15D → MEX-15 |
| Mexican states on the route | Tlaxcala (Level 2), Puebla (Level 2), State of Mexico (Level 2), Mexico City (Level 2) |
| Toll roads | MEX-150D, MEX-15D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 4.4 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 7 |
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 Zacatelco to Metepec is like
MEX-150D (56 mi) and MEX-15D (20 mi) carry about 69% of the 110 miles. MEX-150D, MEX-15D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-15 is a free federal road (libre). It runs through 4 states: Tlaxcala, Puebla, State of Mexico, Mexico City. Of the 7 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Zacatelco to Metepec, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–7 | 7 | Tlaxcala, Puebla |
| MEX-150D | 7–63 | 56 | Puebla, State of Mexico |
| local roads | 63–69 | 6 | State of Mexico, Mexico City |
| connecting roads | 69–70 | 1 | Mexico City |
| Viaducto | 70–76 | 6 | Mexico City |
| connecting roads | 76–81 | 5 | Mexico City |
| MEX-15D | 81–101 | 20 | Mexico City, State of Mexico |
| MEX-15 | 101–106 | 5 | State of Mexico |
| local roads | 106–110 | 4 | State of Mexico |
- Mile 5 of this route: Tlaxcala → Puebla (state line)
- Mile 34 of this route: Puebla → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 67 of this route: State of Mexico → Mexico City (state line)
- Mile 89 of this route: Mexico City → State of Mexico (state line)
Stops between Zacatelco and Metepec
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Desierto de los Leones National Park (mile 88), La Marquesa National Park (mile 91)
- Nature and outdoors: Lomas de Padierna National Park (mile 83), Desierto de los Leones National Park (mile 88), La Marquesa National Park (mile 91)
- Museums and history: Cacaxtla (mile 11), Cathedral of Nezahualcóyotl (mile 65), Museo de la Mujer (mile 73), Museo de Arte Moderno (mile 77)
Cacaxtla
Built on a hill rising above the Tlaxcala-Puebla valley, Cacaxtla is known for its pre-Hispanic murals on the Gran Basamento, a large platform now sheltered under a roof. INAH manages it together with nearby Xochitécatl.
Cathedral of Nezahualcóyotl
Consecrated on November 20, 2000, the Cathedral of Nezahualcóyotl, dedicated to Jesús, Señor de la Misericordia, is the seat of the Diocese of Nezahualcóyotl.
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.
Museo de Arte Moderno
In Chapultepec Park, the Museo de Arte Moderno is part of Mexico's national fine arts institute (INBAL) and shows modern Mexican art along with exhibitions by Mexican and international artists.
Lomas de Padierna National Park
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
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.
La Marquesa National Park
Set in high-altitude conifer forest along the Mexico City–Toluca highway, La Marquesa National Park offers roadside eateries, horse and ATV rentals, mountain biking and camping, and marks the site of the 1810 Battle of Monte de las Cruces.
When you get to Metepec
Museo Felipe Santiago Gutiérrez
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.
Parque de la Ciencia Fundadores
Opened in 2021 in downtown Toluca on the site of the former Plaza Ángel María Garibay, this science park adds green space, children's play areas and a planetarium with a 360-degree screen.
Fine Arts Museum of Toluca
Toluca's Museo de Bellas Artes has filled a former Carmelite convent since 1945. Its galleries hold colonial-era paintings and sculpture, including an 18th-century funeral catafalque.
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 Zacatelco to other places in Mexico
- Zacatelco to Tlaxco
- Zacatelco to Calpulalpan
- Zacatelco to Otumba
- Zacatelco to Atlatlahucan
- Zacatelco to Omitlán
- Zacatelco to Huasca de Ocampo
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Zacatelco to Metepec?
About 2 h 12 min of driving without stops, over 110 miles.
How far is Metepec from Zacatelco by car?
About 110 miles (177 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 Zacatelco 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 Zacatelco to Metepec?
The U.S. State Department rates Tlaxcala Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Puebla 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 Zacatelco to Metepec use?
In order: 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 Zacatelco and Metepec?
Closest to the road: Museo de Arte Moderno (museum of modern art, mile 77, 1 mi from the route); Desierto de los Leones National Park (National Park of Mexico, mile 88, 1 mi from the route); La Marquesa National Park (National Park of Mexico, mile 91, 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.