Plan on about 7 h 44 min of driving for the 386-mile (621 km) trip from Ciudad Tula to Malinalco, before any stops.
| Distance | 386 mi (621 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 7 h 44 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-101 → SLP 80D → SLP 75D → MEX-57D → MEX-57 → MEX-55 → MEX-55D |
| Mexican states on the route | Tamaulipas, San Luis Potosí, Guanajuato, Querétaro, State of Mexico |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-57D, MEX-55D, MEX-A10D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 15.4 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.
Driving Ciudad Tula to Malinalco: the shape of the trip
MEX-57 (97 mi) and MEX-57D (93 mi) carry about 49% of the 386 miles. It runs through 5 states: Tamaulipas, San Luis Potosí, Guanajuato, Querétaro, State of Mexico. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-57D, MEX-55D and MEX-A10D. Of the 9 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Ciudad Tula to Malinalco, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–2 | 2 | Tamaulipas |
| MEX-101 | 2–25 | 23 | Tamaulipas, San Luis Potosí |
| SLP 80D | 25–57 | 32 | San Luis Potosí |
| SLP 75D | 57–77 | 20 | San Luis Potosí |
| connecting roads | 77–79 | 2 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-57D | 79–121 | 42 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-57 | 121–218 | 97 | San Luis Potosí, Guanajuato, Querétaro |
| connecting roads | 218–219 | 1 | Querétaro |
| MEX-57D | 219–270 | 51 | Querétaro |
| MEX-55 | 270–310 | 40 | Querétaro, State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 310–311 | 1 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-55D | 311–345 | 34 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-55 | 345–350 | 5 | State of Mexico |
| local roads | 350–386 | 36 | State of Mexico |
- Mile 23 of this route: Tamaulipas → San Luis Potosí (state line)
- Mile 158 of this route: San Luis Potosí → Guanajuato (state line)
- Mile 212 of this route: Guanajuato → Querétaro (state line)
- Mile 272 of this route: Querétaro → State of Mexico (state line)
Where to stop on the way to Malinalco
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Cathedral of Atlacomulco (mile 310)
- Nature and outdoors: El Gogorrón National Park (mile 132), Museo de Ciencias Naturales del Estado de México (mile 351), Nevado de Toluca National Park (mile 362), Lagunas de Zempoala National Park (mile 377)
- Museums and history: San Luis Potosí Cathedral (mile 112), Cathedral of Atlacomulco (mile 310), Calixtlahuaca (mile 345), Museo de Ciencias Naturales del Estado de México (mile 351)
San Luis Potosí Cathedral
San Luis Potosí's cathedral anchors the city's historic center, which UNESCO lists as a component of the Camino Real de Tierra Adentro World Heritage Site.
El Gogorrón National Park
Hot-spring balnearios lie within the bounds of Gogorrón National Park, which covers parts of Villa de Reyes and Santa María del Río in San Luis Potosí. Its higher ground carries pine-oak forest.
Historic Monuments Zone of Querétaro
UNESCO listed Querétaro's historic center in 1996. Here, the Spanish grid of streets meets the winding lanes of the old Indigenous quarters, with Baroque churches and mansions throughout.
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.
Nevado de Toluca National Park
The Nevado de Toluca volcano was declared a flora and fauna protection area in 2013, a protected zone spanning ten municipalities of the State of Mexico, including Toluca, Zinacantepec and Temascaltepec.
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 Tula to other places in Mexico
- Ciudad Tula to Mineral de Pozos
- Ciudad Tula to Pabellón de Hidalgo
- Ciudad Tula to San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes
- Ciudad Tula to Jalpa de Cánovas
- Ciudad Tula to Temacapulín
- Ciudad Tula to Angangueo
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Ciudad Tula to Malinalco?
About 7 h 44 min of driving without stops, over 386 miles.
What is the driving distance from Ciudad Tula to Malinalco?
About 386 miles (621 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 Tula 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 Tula to Malinalco?
The U.S. State Department rates Tamaulipas Level 4: Do Not Travel; San Luis Potosí Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Guanajuato Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Querétaro Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; 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 Tula to Malinalco?
In order: MEX-101, SLP 80D, SLP 75D, MEX-57D, MEX-57, MEX-55 and MEX-55D. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Ciudad Tula and Malinalco?
Closest to the road: Cathedral of Atlacomulco (cathedral, mile 310, 0.4 mi from the route); Teatro Morelos (theater, mile 350, 1 mi from the route); Museo de Ciencias Naturales del Estado de México (museum, mile 351, 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.