The Wayro route from Acapulco to Tepoztlán is 199 miles (320 km), about 3 h 13 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 199 mi (320 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 3 h 13 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-95D → MEX-95 → MEX-160D |
| Mexican states on the route | Guerrero (Level 4), Morelos (Level 3) |
| Toll roads | MEX-95D, MEX-160D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 7.9 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 Acapulco to Tepoztlán is like
MEX-95D (174 mi) and MEX-95 (15 mi) carry about 95% of the 199 miles. MEX-95D, MEX-160D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-95 is a free federal road (libre). It runs through 2 states: Guerrero, Morelos. Of the 8 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Acapulco to Tepoztlán, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–3 | 3 | Guerrero |
| MEX-95D | 3–63 | 60 | Guerrero |
| MEX-95 | 63–70 | 7 | Guerrero |
| MEX-95D | 70–178 | 108 | Guerrero, Morelos |
| MEX-95 | 178–186 | 8 | Morelos |
| MEX-95D | 186–192 | 6 | Morelos |
| MEX-160D | 192–197 | 5 | Morelos |
| local roads | 197–199 | 2 | Morelos |
- Mile 150 of this route: Guerrero → Morelos (state line)
Stops between Acapulco and Tepoztlán
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Chilpancingo Cathedral (mile 66), Museo Regional de Guerrero (mile 66), Cuetlajuchitlán (mile 123)
- Nature and outdoors: Lagunas de Zempoala National Park (mile 188)
- Museums and history: Tehuacalco (mile 39), Chilpancingo Cathedral (mile 66), Museo Regional de Guerrero (mile 66), Cuetlajuchitlán (mile 123), Cuernavaca Cathedral (mile 178), Teopanzolco (mile 180), Museo Fotográfico de Cuernavaca (mile 185)
Tehuacalco
Near Chilpancingo, Tehuacalco is an archaeological site tied to the Yope people, with excavation work carried out in the 2000s.
Chilpancingo Cathedral
Chilpancingo's neoclassical cathedral of the Assumption hosted the Congress of Anáhuac in 1813, a key moment of the independence movement whose work led to the Apatzingán Constitution, with its ideas of popular sovereignty and separation of powers.
Museo Regional de Guerrero
Chilpancingo's former Government Palace, a Neoclassical building from 1902, now houses the INAH regional museum, with Mezcala-culture stone miniatures, Manila galleon and independence-era pieces, and four murals around the central courtyard.
Cuetlajuchitlán
Discovered in 1991 while the Autopista del Sol was being built, Cuetlajuchitlán (Los Querende) preserves plazas, ritual baths, sunken courtyards and pink stone walls with drainage channels from a settlement that peaked between 200 BC and AD 200.
Cuernavaca Cathedral
Franciscans built this 16th-century convent church, now Cuernavaca's cathedral and part of the UNESCO-listed monasteries on the slopes of Popocatépetl; visitors can see its murals, side chapels and a sacred art museum.
Teopanzolco
Now surrounded by the city of Cuernavaca, Teopanzolco preserves a Late Postclassic pyramid base that once carried twin temples to Tlaloc and Huitzilopochtli, a layout closely tied to Tenochtitlan's sacred precinct.
Museo Fotográfico de Cuernavaca
The Museo Fotográfico de Cuernavaca is a photography museum in Cuernavaca, Morelos, housed in a building that resembles a French-style castle.
Lagunas de Zempoala National Park
Seven lagoons, three of them permanent, sit among pine, oak and fir forest above 3,000 meters in this park, decreed in 1936 on the Morelos–State of Mexico line. Hiking, horseback riding, camping and rowboats are popular here.
When you get to Tepoztlán
Tepoztlán Ex Convento Museum
Tepoztlán's Dominican monastery, built between 1555 and 1580, keeps original 16th-century murals in its cloister. Upstairs, the museum covers local daily life, faith, festivals and dances, and the complex is part of a UNESCO World Heritage listing.
Museo Carlos Pellicer
Tepoztlán's Museo de Arte Prehispánico Carlos Pellicer, opened in 1965 and named for the poet and museographer, displays a collection of pre-Hispanic objects in the former granary of the Church of Nuestra Señora de la Natividad.
El Tepozteco National Park
Eroded volcanic hills of the Sierra de Tepoztlán fill this national park, about half of which lies in Mexico City's Milpa Alta borough. A short, steep climb leads to the Tepozteco archaeological zone; wear good shoes, since the rocks get slippery.
More drives to Tepoztlán
- Mexico City to Tepoztlán
- Metepec to Tepoztlán
- Toluca to Tepoztlán
- Atlixco to Tepoztlán
- Taxco to Tepoztlán
- Tepotzotlán to Tepoztlán
From Acapulco to other places in Mexico
- Acapulco to Iguala
- Acapulco to Tlaltizapán
- Acapulco to Oaxtepec
- Acapulco to Malinalco
- Acapulco to Zacualpan de Amilpas
- Acapulco to Ocuituco
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Acapulco to Tepoztlán?
About 3 h 13 min of driving without stops, over 199 miles.
How far is Tepoztlán from Acapulco by car?
About 199 miles (320 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 Acapulco to Tepoztlán?
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 Acapulco to Tepoztlán?
The U.S. State Department rates Guerrero Level 4: Do Not Travel; Morelos Level 3: Reconsider Travel (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Acapulco to Tepoztlán use?
In order: MEX-95D, MEX-95 and MEX-160D. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Acapulco and Tepoztlán?
Closest to the road: Chilpancingo Cathedral (cathedral, mile 66, 0.6 mi from the route); Museo Regional de Guerrero (museum, mile 66, 0.6 mi from the route); Cuetlajuchitlán (archaeological site, mile 123, 0.2 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.