I'm so sorry if this has been asked before - can't find anything recent on the subject.

My husband and I will be visiting Mexico City in a month. We are a young couple that loves to travel independently. We usually NEVER (as in ever) use tours, but it seems like it might be worth it for Teotihuacán. However, we've read horrible stuff about the big tours (how you only spend an hour at the pyramids and hours at souvenir shops, etc) so we were wondering if anyone had had a good experience with a private driver/small tour that actually focuses on the pyramids and culture and not tourist traps. Our other concern is that we would like to be there at opening time so we can avoid the crowds.

Any ideas are greatly appreciated! Thank you!

I've not been there yet. Maybe my next trip to CDMX. But I did save this link for when I do:
https://sightdoing.net/how-to-visit-...ithout-a-tour/

We did it on our own. Easy to reach easy to visit.
Might be guides on Site as we found at Palenque.

Many hotels will book you on a small tour, but beware, they will almost always include a stop at a souvenir shop (often billed as a chance to sample pulque and learn about the agave plant) and a stop at the shrine of the Virgin of Guadeloupe.

However, the last time I was in MC, I booked a private driver through the hotel. I made it clear that I was only interested in Teotihuacan and wanted especially to see the murals at Tepantitla, which I hadn't seen before. Can't remember the cost, but we did get what we wanted.

Many people do take public transit out -- metro and bus -- but I haven't tried it yet so can't comment.

However you go, make certain to stop at The Citadel to see the Temple of Quetzalcoatl. I count my first view of it as one of the most thrilling moments of my travels -- but then I'm a ruins freak!

We did it by ourselves also, quite easy. Took the bus at the gate number 8 at the main bus station in the morning and had front row seta all the way to the site without any stops. Amazing adventure. On our way back, same thing, took another bus back to the same station, but this time we had to ask at what exit we had to go to which I believe was exit 5.
Be sure to have lunch at the restaurant called La Greta, incredible...