The Wayro route from Actopan to Malinalco is 130 miles (210 km), about 3 h 6 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 130 mi (210 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 3 h 6 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-85 → MEX-85D → Circuito Interior → MEX-15 → MEX-15D → EM 6 |
| Mexican states on the route | Hidalgo (Level 2), State of Mexico (Level 2), Mexico City (Level 2) |
| Toll roads | MEX-85D, MEX-15D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 5.2 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 Actopan to Malinalco is like
MEX-85 (35 mi) and MEX-85D (30 mi) carry about 50% of the 130 miles. MEX-85D, MEX-15D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-85, MEX-15 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 3 states: Hidalgo, State of Mexico, Mexico City. Of the 8 stops listed below, 4 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Actopan to Malinalco, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–2 | 2 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-85 | 2–37 | 35 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-85D | 37–67 | 30 | Hidalgo, State of Mexico, Mexico City |
| connecting roads | 67–71 | 4 | Mexico City |
| Circuito Interior | 71–76 | 5 | Mexico City |
| MEX-15 | 76–81 | 5 | Mexico City |
| MEX-15D | 81–93 | 12 | Mexico City, State of Mexico |
| EM 6 | 93–113 | 20 | State of Mexico |
| local roads | 113–130 | 17 | State of Mexico |
- Mile 43 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 66 of this route: State of Mexico → Mexico City (state line)
- Mile 89 of this route: Mexico City → State of Mexico (state line)
Stops between Actopan and Malinalco
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe (mile 69), Museo de los Ferrocarrileros (mile 69), Papalote Museo del Niño (mile 77), Desierto de los Leones National Park (mile 88)
- Nature and outdoors: El Chico National Park (mile 17), Viveros de Coyoacán (mile 78), Fuentes Brotantes de Tlalpan National Park (mile 83), Desierto de los Leones National Park (mile 88)
- Museums and history: Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe (mile 69), Museo de los Ferrocarrileros (mile 69), Benito Juárez Hemicycle (mile 73), Papalote Museo del Niño (mile 77)
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.
Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe
The Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe, at the foot of Tepeyac Hill in Mexico City's Gustavo A. Madero borough, is a Catholic basilica dedicated to the Virgin of Guadalupe within the Primate Archdiocese of Mexico.
Museo de los Ferrocarrileros
In the former La Villa train station in northern Mexico City, this museum opened in 2006 and tells the story of Mexico's railroads and the railroad workers' social movements.
Benito Juárez Hemicycle
At the Alameda Central in Mexico City, the Benito Juárez Hemicycle is a Neoclassical monument where his statue is flanked by marble Doric columns.
Papalote Museo del Niño
In Chapultepec's woods, Papalote Museo del Niño is a children's museum with interactive exhibits on science, technology and art built around learning and teamwork.
Viveros de Coyoacán
Part tree nursery, part public park, Viveros de Coyoacán covers 96 acres and was founded in the early 20th century by Miguel Ángel de Quevedo to grow seedlings for reforesting Mexico's forests.
Fuentes Brotantes de Tlalpan National Park
In southern Mexico City's Tlalpan borough, Fuentes Brotantes de Tlalpan was declared a national park on September 28, 1936, on land once called the Barranca de los Manantiales.
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.
When you get to Malinalco
Malinalco
Carved straight into the hillside above Malinalco, the Cuauhcalli is a rock-cut temple at the heart of this archaeological zone. The Mexica took the Matlatzinca town around 1476 and used it to train and consecrate elite warriors.
Desierto del Carmen National Park
Declared a national park on October 10, 1942, Desierto del Carmen is a protected area in the municipality of Tenancingo, in the State of Mexico.
More drives to Malinalco
- Valle de Bravo to Malinalco
- Zitácuaro to Malinalco
- Tlalpujahua to Malinalco
- San Juan del Río to Malinalco
- Tequisquiapan to Malinalco
- Salvatierra to Malinalco
From Actopan to other places in Mexico
- Actopan to Otumba
- Actopan to Cadereyta
- Actopan to Ezequiel Montes
- Actopan to Amealco
- Actopan to Pedro Escobedo
- Actopan to El Oro
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Actopan to Malinalco?
About 3 h 6 min of driving without stops, over 130 miles.
How far is Malinalco from Actopan by car?
About 130 miles (210 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 Actopan to Malinalco?
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 Actopan to Malinalco?
The U.S. State Department rates Hidalgo 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 Actopan to Malinalco use?
In order: MEX-85, MEX-85D, Circuito Interior, MEX-15, MEX-15D and EM 6. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Actopan and Malinalco?
Closest to the road: Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe (catholic parish church, mile 69, 0.6 mi from the route); Museo de los Ferrocarrileros (railway museum, mile 69, 0.6 mi from the route); Papalote Museo del Niño (museum building, mile 77, 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.