The Wayro route from Zitácuaro to Metepec is 60 miles (96 km), about 1 h 8 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 60 mi (96 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 1 h 8 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-15 → MEX-15D → MEX-A7D → MEX-55 |
| Mexican states on the route | Michoacán (Level 4), State of Mexico (Level 2) |
| Toll roads | MEX-15D, MEX-A7D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 2.4 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 4 |
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 Zitácuaro to Metepec is like
MEX-A7D (34 mi) and MEX-55 (8 mi) carry about 70% of the 60 miles. MEX-15D, MEX-A7D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-15, MEX-55 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 2 states: Michoacán, State of Mexico. Of the 4 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Zitácuaro to Metepec, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–2 | 2 | Michoacán |
| MEX-15 | 2–6 | 4 | Michoacán |
| MEX-15D | 6–13 | 7 | Michoacán |
| MEX-A7D | 13–47 | 34 | Michoacán, State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 47–48 | 1 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-55 | 48–56 | 8 | State of Mexico |
| local roads | 56–60 | 4 | State of Mexico |
- Mile 16 of this route: Michoacán → State of Mexico (state line)
Stops between Zitácuaro and Metepec
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Bosencheve National Park (mile 19)
- Nature and outdoors: Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve (mile 9), Bosencheve National Park (mile 19), Parque Estatal Sierra Morelos (mile 52)
- Museums and history: Calixtlahuaca (mile 50)
Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve
Every fall, millions of monarch butterflies from across North America return to the oyamel fir forests about 100 km northwest of Mexico City, clustering so densely they bend branches. The reserve became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2008.
Bosencheve National Park
Straddling Michoacán and the State of Mexico, Bosencheve National Park was established in 1940 and protects roughly 146 square kilometers of land.
Calixtlahuaca
Spread over the slopes of Cerro Tenismó near Toluca, this site's standout is the round Temple of Ehécatl-Quetzalcóatl, rebuilt in four phases. Nearby, a Mexica-era skull rack displays stone skulls set into cross-shaped walls.
Parque Estatal Sierra Morelos
This Toluca park, one of the State of Mexico's protected natural areas, is home to more than 500 species of plants and animals. Families come for the axolotl center, bat house, small farm and jogging track.
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.
Cosmovitral
Toluca's Cosmovitral wraps a botanical garden of more than 500 plant species in a huge stained-glass work designed by artist Leopoldo Flores. Light filtering through the colored glass sets the mood as you walk the garden paths.
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
- Salvatierra to Metepec
- Celaya to Metepec
- San Miguel de Allende to Metepec
- Uruapan to Metepec
- Pénjamo to Metepec
- Paracho to Metepec
From Zitácuaro to other places in Mexico
- Zitácuaro to Amealco
- Zitácuaro to Cuanajo
- Zitácuaro to Ezequiel Montes
- Zitácuaro to Bernal
- Zitácuaro to Mineral de Pozos
- Zitácuaro to Pabellón de Arteaga
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Zitácuaro to Metepec?
About 1 h 8 min of driving without stops, over 60 miles.
How far is Metepec from Zitácuaro by car?
About 60 miles (96 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 Zitácuaro 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 Zitácuaro to Metepec?
The U.S. State Department rates Michoacán Level 4: Do Not Travel; 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 Zitácuaro to Metepec use?
In order: MEX-15, MEX-15D, MEX-A7D and MEX-55. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Zitácuaro and Metepec?
Closest to the road: Bosencheve National Park (National Park of Mexico, mile 19, 0.9 mi from the route); Calixtlahuaca (archaeological site, mile 50, 1 mi from the route); Parque Estatal Sierra Morelos (park, mile 52, 3 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.