The Wayro route from Calpulalpan to Malinalco is 103 miles (165 km), about 2 h 32 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 103 mi (165 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 2 h 32 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-136 → MEX-136D → Circuito Interior → MEX-15 → MEX-15D → EM 6 |
| Mexican states on the route | Tlaxcala (Level 2), State of Mexico (Level 2), Mexico City (Level 2) |
| Toll roads | MEX-136D, MEX-15D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 4.1 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 Calpulalpan to Malinalco is like
MEX-136 (23 mi) and EM 6 (20 mi) carry about 42% of the 103 miles. MEX-136D, MEX-15D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-136, MEX-15 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 3 states: Tlaxcala, State of Mexico, Mexico City. Of the 7 stops listed below, 4 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Calpulalpan to Malinalco, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| MEX-136 | 0–23 | 23 | Tlaxcala, State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 23–25 | 2 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-136D | 25–35 | 10 | State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 35–38 | 3 | Mexico City |
| Circuito Interior | 38–47 | 9 | Mexico City |
| connecting roads | 47–48 | 1 | Mexico City |
| MEX-15 | 48–52 | 4 | Mexico City |
| MEX-15D | 52–64 | 12 | Mexico City, State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 64–65 | 1 | State of Mexico |
| EM 6 | 65–85 | 20 | State of Mexico |
| local roads | 85–103 | 18 | State of Mexico |
- Mile 11 of this route: Tlaxcala → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 35 of this route: State of Mexico → Mexico City (state line)
- Mile 60 of this route: Mexico City → State of Mexico (state line)
Stops between Calpulalpan and Malinalco
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Los Volcanes Biosphere Reserve (mile 7), Zoológico de San Juan de Aragón (mile 37), Museo Nacional de la Revolución (mile 45), Museo Nacional de la Cartografía (mile 48)
- Nature and outdoors: Los Volcanes Biosphere Reserve (mile 7), Fuentes Brotantes de Tlalpan National Park (mile 55)
- Museums and history: Tepetlaoztoc (mile 17), Museo Archivo de la Fotografía (mile 41), Museo Nacional de la Revolución (mile 45), Museo Nacional de la Cartografía (mile 48)
- With kids: Zoológico de San Juan de Aragón (mile 37)
Los Volcanes Biosphere Reserve
Surrounding the volcanoes Popocatépetl and Iztaccíhuatl, Los Volcanes is a UNESCO biosphere reserve in the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt, where North American and tropical wildlife zones meet.
Tepetlaoztoc
Tepetlaoztoc, also spelled Tepetlaoxtoc, was an Aztec-Nahua settlement of the Late Postclassic period in central Mexico, and it stayed occupied into the colonial era.
Zoológico de San Juan de Aragón
Opened on November 20, 1964, near the San Juan de Aragón forest in Mexico City, this zoo was designed with a radial layout of semicircular exhibits that let visitors see animals from any angle.
Museo Archivo de la Fotografía
Housed in the late-16th-century Casa de las Ajaracas on Guatemala Street, the Museo Archivo de la Fotografía preserves, studies and exhibits photographs in Mexico City's historic center.
Museo Nacional de la Revolución
Opened on November 20, 1986, the National Museum of the Revolution sits in the basement of the Monument to the Revolution in Mexico City.
Museo Nacional de la Cartografía
The Museo Nacional de Cartografía occupies the former church of San José of the old San Diego convent in Tacubaya, built in 1686 by the Dieguino friars.
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.
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 Calpulalpan to other places in Mexico
- Calpulalpan to Omitlán
- Calpulalpan to Huasca de Ocampo
- Calpulalpan to Actopan
- Calpulalpan to Atlatlahucan
- Calpulalpan to Metepec
- Calpulalpan to Jilotepec
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Calpulalpan to Malinalco?
About 2 h 32 min of driving without stops, over 103 miles.
How far is Malinalco from Calpulalpan by car?
About 103 miles (165 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 Calpulalpan 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 Calpulalpan to Malinalco?
The U.S. State Department rates Tlaxcala 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 Calpulalpan to Malinalco use?
In order: MEX-136, MEX-136D, 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 Calpulalpan and Malinalco?
Closest to the road: Los Volcanes Biosphere Reserve (biosphere reserve, mile 7, 0.6 mi from the route); Zoológico de San Juan de Aragón (zoo, mile 37, 0.7 mi from the route); Museo Nacional de la Cartografía (museum, mile 48, 0.5 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.