The Wayro route from Chiautempan to Malinalco is 135 miles (218 km), about 2 h 60 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 135 mi (218 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 2 h 60 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-117D → MEX-150D → Viaducto → MEX-15D → EM 6 |
| Mexican states on the route | Tlaxcala (Level 2), Puebla (Level 2), State of Mexico (Level 2), Mexico City (Level 2) |
| Toll roads | MEX-117D, MEX-M40D, MEX-150D, MEX-15D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 5.4 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 Chiautempan to Malinalco is like
MEX-150D (47 mi) and EM 6 (20 mi) carry about 50% of the 135 miles. MEX-117D, MEX-150D, MEX-15D are toll highways (cuota). It runs through 4 states: Tlaxcala, Puebla, State of Mexico, Mexico City. Of the 8 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Chiautempan to Malinalco, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–4 | 4 | Tlaxcala |
| MEX-117D | 4–19 | 15 | Tlaxcala, Puebla |
| connecting roads | 19–21 | 2 | Puebla |
| MEX-150D | 21–68 | 47 | Puebla, State of Mexico |
| local roads | 68–74 | 6 | State of Mexico, Mexico City |
| Viaducto | 74–81 | 7 | Mexico City |
| connecting roads | 81–86 | 5 | Mexico City |
| MEX-15D | 86–98 | 12 | Mexico City, State of Mexico |
| EM 6 | 98–118 | 20 | State of Mexico |
| local roads | 118–135 | 17 | State of Mexico |
- Mile 17 of this route: Tlaxcala → Puebla (state line)
- Mile 39 of this route: Puebla → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 72 of this route: State of Mexico → Mexico City (state line)
- Mile 94 of this route: Mexico City → State of Mexico (state line)
Stops between Chiautempan and Malinalco
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museo Casa de la Bola (mile 81), Desierto de los Leones National Park (mile 93), La Marquesa National Park (mile 96)
- Nature and outdoors: Cerro de la Estrella National Park (mile 72), Fuentes Brotantes de Tlalpan National Park (mile 88), Desierto de los Leones National Park (mile 93), La Marquesa National Park (mile 96)
- Museums and history: Museo de la Secretaría de Hacienda y Crédito Público (mile 77), Museo Casa de la Bola (mile 81), Museo del Caracol (mile 81)
Convento de Huejotzingo
Founded by Franciscans in the 16th century, the former convent of San Miguel Arcángel in Huejotzingo shows colonial Plateresque architecture on the western slopes of Popocatépetl and Iztaccíhuatl. UNESCO declared it a World Heritage Site in 1994.
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.
Museo de la Secretaría de Hacienda y Crédito Público
This art museum in Mexico City's historic center occupies the former Palacio del Arzobispado, built in 1530 under Friar Juan de Zumárraga atop the base of a pyramid to Tezcatlipoca.
Museo Casa de la Bola
The Museo Casa de la Bola is a museum in Mexico City, located in the city's Tacubaya neighborhood.
Museo del Caracol
Set within Chapultepec Park in Mexico City, the Museo del Caracol is a museum devoted to history.
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.
La Marquesa National Park
Set in high-altitude conifer forest along the Mexico City–Toluca highway, La Marquesa National Park offers roadside eateries, horse and ATV rentals, mountain biking and camping, and marks the site of the 1810 Battle of Monte de las Cruces.
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 Chiautempan to other places in Mexico
- Chiautempan to Omitlán
- Chiautempan to Atlatlahucan
- Chiautempan to Huasca de Ocampo
- Chiautempan to Metepec
- Chiautempan to Taxco
- Chiautempan to Tonatico
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Chiautempan to Malinalco?
About 2 h 60 min of driving without stops, over 135 miles.
How far is Malinalco from Chiautempan by car?
About 135 miles (218 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 Chiautempan 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 Chiautempan to Malinalco?
The U.S. State Department rates Tlaxcala Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Puebla 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 Chiautempan to Malinalco use?
In order: MEX-117D, MEX-150D, Viaducto, 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 Chiautempan and Malinalco?
Closest to the road: Museo Casa de la Bola (museum, mile 81, 0.1 mi from the route); Desierto de los Leones National Park (National Park of Mexico, mile 93, 1 mi from the route); La Marquesa National Park (National Park of Mexico, mile 96, 1 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.