Plan on about 6 h 15 min of driving for the 370-mile (595 km) trip from Ciudad Lázaro Cárdenas to Malinalco, before any stops.
| Total distance | 370 mi (595 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 6 h 15 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-37D → MEX-14D → MEX-15D → MEX-55D → MEX-55 |
| Mexican states on the route | Michoacán, Guerrero, State of Mexico |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-37D, MEX-14D, MEX-15D, MEX-M40D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 14.8 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
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 Ciudad Lázaro Cárdenas to Malinalco is like
MEX-37D (171 mi) and MEX-15D (91 mi) carry about 71% of the 370 miles. It runs through 3 states: Michoacán, Guerrero, State of Mexico. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-37D, MEX-14D and MEX-15D. Of the 9 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Ciudad Lázaro Cárdenas to Malinalco, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–2 | 2 | Michoacán |
| MEX-37D | 2–135 | 133 | Michoacán, Guerrero |
| MEX-14D | 135–163 | 28 | Michoacán |
| MEX-37D | 163–201 | 38 | Michoacán |
| connecting roads | 201–202 | 1 | Michoacán |
| MEX-15D | 202–293 | 91 | Michoacán, State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 293–295 | 2 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-55D | 295–329 | 34 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-55 | 329–335 | 6 | State of Mexico |
| local roads | 335–370 | 35 | State of Mexico |
- Mile 4 of this route: Michoacán → Guerrero (state line)
- Mile 38 of this route: Guerrero → Michoacán (state line)
- Mile 275 of this route: Michoacán → State of Mexico (state line)
What to see on the way from Ciudad Lázaro Cárdenas to Malinalco
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Cathedral of Atlacomulco (mile 295)
- Nature and outdoors: Barranca del Cupatitzio National Park (mile 134), Rayón National Park (mile 271), Museo de Ciencias Naturales del Estado de México (mile 335), Lagunas de Zempoala National Park (mile 360)
- Museums and history: Museo de Artes e Industrias Populares (mile 160), Historic Centre of Morelia (mile 190), Cathedral of Atlacomulco (mile 295), Calixtlahuaca (mile 329), Museo de Ciencias Naturales del Estado de México (mile 335)
Barranca del Cupatitzio National Park
In Michoacán, Barranca del Cupatitzio National Park follows the headwaters of the Cupatitzio River, which bubbles up from an underground spring and carves a small ravine as it starts to flow.
Museo de Artes e Industrias Populares
Housed in an 18th-century building adapted from the Colegio de San Nicolás, which Vasco de Quiroga founded in the 16th century, this INAH museum in Pátzcuaro shows Purépecha pottery, textiles, woodwork and lacquerware.
Historic Centre of Morelia
Morelia's old core, founded in the 16th century as Valladolid, keeps more than 200 historic buildings in the region's pink stone around its cathedral and checkerboard streets. UNESCO added it to the World Heritage List in 1991.
Rayón National Park
On the outskirts of Tlalpujahua, Parque Nacional Rayón is the gateway to the area's well-known butterfly reserves, which spread out to the south and west of the park.
Cathedral of Atlacomulco
The seat of the Diocese of Atlacomulco is the Catedral de la Divina Providencia, which serves as the main Catholic church in town and takes its dedication from Divine Providence.
Calixtlahuaca
Spread over the slopes of Cerro Tenismó near Toluca, this site's standout is the round Temple of Ehécatl-Quetzalcóatl, rebuilt in four phases. Nearby, a Mexica-era skull rack displays stone skulls set into cross-shaped walls.
Teatro Morelos
In Toluca's historic center, just west of the State of Mexico's Palace of Justice, Teatro Morelos stages plays along with other shows and cultural events.
Museo de Ciencias Naturales del Estado de México
Set in the Parque de los Matlatzincas on Cerro del Calvario, the Natural Sciences Museum of the State of Mexico explores biology, geology and the preservation of natural resources.
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.
Once you reach 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 Ciudad Lázaro Cárdenas to other places in Mexico
- Ciudad Lázaro Cárdenas to Pénjamo
- Ciudad Lázaro Cárdenas to Tepatitlán
- Ciudad Lázaro Cárdenas to Tapalpa
- Ciudad Lázaro Cárdenas to Amatitán
- Ciudad Lázaro Cárdenas to Cadereyta
- Ciudad Lázaro Cárdenas to Mineral de Pozos
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Ciudad Lázaro Cárdenas to Malinalco?
About 6 h 15 min of driving without stops, over 370 miles.
How far is Malinalco from Ciudad Lázaro Cárdenas by car?
About 370 miles (595 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 Ciudad Lázaro Cárdenas 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 Ciudad Lázaro Cárdenas to Malinalco?
The U.S. State Department rates Michoacán Level 4: Do Not Travel; Guerrero Level 4: Do Not Travel; State of Mexico Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Ciudad Lázaro Cárdenas to Malinalco?
In order: MEX-37D, MEX-14D, MEX-15D, MEX-55D and MEX-55. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Ciudad Lázaro Cárdenas and Malinalco?
Closest to the road: Cathedral of Atlacomulco (cathedral, mile 295, 0.5 mi from the route); Teatro Morelos (theater, mile 334, 1 mi from the route); Museo de Ciencias Naturales del Estado de México (museum, mile 335, 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 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: at least one strong stop for each stretch of the drive, then the best-known places nearest the road, up to nine in all. Places that are closed, private or not open to visitors are removed. Place 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.