The Wayro route from Celaya to Cuernavaca is 202 miles (325 km), about 3 h 36 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 202 mi (325 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 3 h 36 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-45 → MEX-45D → MEX-47D → MEX-57D → MEX-57 → Periférico → MEX-95D |
| Mexican states on the route | Guanajuato (Level 3), Querétaro (Level 2), State of Mexico (Level 2), Hidalgo (Level 2), Mexico City (Level 2), Morelos (Level 3) |
| Toll roads | MEX-45D, MEX-47D, MEX-57D, MEX-95D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 8.1 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 Celaya to Cuernavaca is like
MEX-57D (74 mi) and MEX-47D (52 mi) carry about 62% of the 202 miles. MEX-45D, MEX-47D, MEX-57D, MEX-95D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-45, MEX-57 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 6 states: Guanajuato, Querétaro, State of Mexico, Hidalgo, Mexico City, Morelos. Of the 8 stops listed below, 4 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Celaya to Cuernavaca, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–2 | 2 | Guanajuato |
| MEX-45 | 2–7 | 5 | Guanajuato |
| connecting roads | 7–8 | 1 | Guanajuato |
| MEX-45D | 8–13 | 5 | Guanajuato |
| MEX-47D | 13–65 | 52 | Guanajuato, Querétaro |
| MEX-57D | 65–139 | 74 | Querétaro, State of Mexico, Hidalgo |
| MEX-57 | 139–147 | 8 | State of Mexico |
| Periférico | 147–167 | 20 | State of Mexico, Mexico City |
| connecting roads | 167–168 | 1 | Mexico City |
| MEX-95D | 168–190 | 22 | Mexico City, Morelos |
| local roads | 190–202 | 12 | Morelos |
- Mile 25 of this route: Guanajuato → Querétaro (state line)
- Mile 67 of this route: Querétaro → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 101 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 120 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 152 of this route: State of Mexico → Mexico City (state line)
- Mile 185 of this route: Mexico City → Morelos (state line)
Stops between Celaya and Cuernavaca
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Templo y exconvento de San Francisco (mile 113), National Museum of Anthropology (mile 153), Lomas de Padierna National Park (mile 161), Six Flags México (mile 163)
- Nature and outdoors: Cerro de las Campanas (mile 24), Lomas de Padierna National Park (mile 161), Cerro de la Estrella National Park (mile 167), El Tepozteco National Park (mile 185)
- Museums and history: National Museum of Anthropology (mile 153), Frida Kahlo Museum (mile 157)
- With kids: Six Flags México (mile 163)
Cerro de las Campanas
Rising within Querétaro City, the Cerro de las Campanas is a hill that is protected as a Mexican national park.
Templo y exconvento de San Francisco
The Templo y Exconvento de San Francisco is a church and former convent located in the city of Tepeji del Río, in the Mexican state of Hidalgo.
National Museum of Anthropology
Mexico's National Museum of Anthropology in Mexico City is the country's national museum devoted to anthropology.
Frida Kahlo Museum
Known as the Blue House for its cobalt-blue walls, the Frida Kahlo Museum in Coyoacán is a historic house and art museum devoted to the life and work of the painter.
Lomas de Padierna National Park
Lomas de Padierna National Park lies in the Cerro del Judío ecological reserve in La Magdalena Contreras, on the southwest side of Mexico City.
Six Flags México
Six Flags México is an amusement park operated by Six Flags on the southern edge of Mexico City, in the forested Tlalpan borough.
Cerro de la Estrella National Park
Rising in eastern Mexico City's Iztapalapa borough, Cerro de la Estrella is where the Mexica lit the New Fire every 52 years; trails lead up to a pyramid-shaped site museum near the summit and to caves with traces of pre-Hispanic use.
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.
When you get to Cuernavaca
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.
Xochicalco
A fortified hilltop city that thrived between about 650 and 900, Xochicalco is a UNESCO World Heritage site where you can see the Pyramid of the Plumed Serpent with its carved reliefs, ball courts, an underground observatory and a site museum.
More drives to Cuernavaca
- Toluca to Cuernavaca
- Querétaro to Cuernavaca
- Morelia to Cuernavaca
- Irapuato to Cuernavaca
- León to Cuernavaca
- Guadalajara to Cuernavaca
From Celaya to other places in Mexico
- Celaya to Real de Asientos
- Celaya to Amatitán
- Celaya to Zacatecas
- Celaya to Tequila
- Celaya to Jerez, Zacatecas
- Celaya to Sombrerete
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Celaya to Cuernavaca?
About 3 h 36 min of driving without stops, over 202 miles.
How far is Cuernavaca from Celaya by car?
About 202 miles (325 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 Celaya to Cuernavaca?
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 Celaya to Cuernavaca?
The U.S. State Department rates Guanajuato Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Querétaro Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; State of Mexico Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Hidalgo Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Mexico City Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Morelos Level 3: Reconsider Travel (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Celaya to Cuernavaca use?
In order: MEX-45, MEX-45D, MEX-47D, MEX-57D, MEX-57, Periférico and MEX-95D. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Celaya and Cuernavaca?
Closest to the road: Templo y exconvento de San Francisco (convent, mile 113, 0.6 mi from the route); Lomas de Padierna National Park (National Park of Mexico, mile 161, 0.7 mi from the route); Six Flags México (amusement park, mile 163, 0.7 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.