The Wayro route from Cuautla to Apizaco is 96 miles (154 km), about 1 h 48 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 96 mi (154 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 1 h 48 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-160 → PUE 438D → MEX-190D → MEX-190 → MEX-119D → MEX-117D → MEX-136 |
| Mexican states on the route | Morelos (Level 3), Puebla (Level 2), Tlaxcala (Level 2) |
| Toll roads | MEX-190D, MEX-119D, MEX-117D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 3.8 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 Cuautla to Apizaco is like
PUE 438D (34 mi) and MEX-160 (15 mi) carry about 51% of the 96 miles. MEX-190D, MEX-119D, MEX-117D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-160, MEX-190, MEX-136 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 3 states: Morelos, Puebla, Tlaxcala. Of the 7 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Cuautla to Apizaco, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Morelos |
| MEX-160 | 1–16 | 15 | Morelos |
| PUE 438D | 16–50 | 34 | Morelos, Puebla |
| MEX-190D | 50–60 | 10 | Puebla |
| connecting roads | 60–61 | 1 | Puebla |
| MEX-190 | 61–71 | 10 | Puebla |
| MEX-119D | 71–82 | 11 | Puebla, Tlaxcala |
| MEX-117D | 82–92 | 10 | Tlaxcala |
| MEX-136 | 92–95 | 3 | Tlaxcala |
| local roads | 95–96 | 1 | Tlaxcala |
- Mile 24 of this route: Morelos → Puebla (state line)
- Mile 74 of this route: Puebla → Tlaxcala (state line)
Stops between Cuautla and Apizaco
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Parque ecológico Los Ladrillos (mile 75)
- Nature and outdoors: Parque ecológico Los Ladrillos (mile 75), La Malinche National Park (mile 85)
- Museums and history: Chalcatzingo (mile 16), International Museum of the Baroque (mile 61), Basílica de Ocotlán (mile 84)
Chalcatzingo
At the foot of Cerro Chalcatzingo in eastern Morelos, this early site is known for stone reliefs carved mainly between 700 and 500 BC, some among the region's earliest stone sculpture and several in Olmec style, spread across the hillside.
International Museum of the Baroque
Designed by Japanese architect Toyo Ito and opened in 2016, Puebla's baroque museum wraps its galleries in curving white concrete walls beside a reflecting pond. Exhibits cover baroque painting, sculpture, architecture, music, theater and literature.
Historic centre of Puebla
Laid out from scratch in 1531, Puebla's UNESCO-listed core is a grid of tile-covered houses, colonial churches and the 16th–17th-century cathedral, with the old archbishop's palace that houses the Palafox Library, established in 1646.
Great Pyramid of Cholula
Under a hilltop church dedicated to the Virgin of los Remedios lies Tlachihualtepetl, a pyramid built in superimposed stages with a base about 400 meters per side. Excavations have opened roughly 8 km of tunnels inside the mound.
Parque ecológico Los Ladrillos
Opened on April 2, 2015, Los Ladrillos Ecological Park is a nature reserve in the municipality of Zacatelco, in Tlaxcala.
Basílica de Ocotlán
On Cerro de San Lorenzo near the city of Tlaxcala, the Basílica de Ocotlán is a standout of Mexican Churrigueresque Baroque, begun in 1670 and home to an ocote-wood image of the Virgin tied to a 1541 legend.
La Malinche National Park
Tlaxcala's La Malinche National Park surrounds the inactive Matlalcuéyetl volcano, with pine, oak and fir forests on its slopes, hiking trails, birdwatching, and stone cabins and campsites at the Malintzi Vacation Center.
When you get to Apizaco
Basílica de Nuestra Señora de las Misericordias, Apizaco
In the city of Apizaco, this Catholic basilica (Basílica de Nuestra Señora de la Misericordia) was begun in the third decade of the 20th century and completed in 1961.
Museo Casa de Piedra
Apizaco's old railroad station, dating from 1916, now houses the Museo Casa de Piedra. Inside, photographs and documents trace the town's history, especially its long ties to the railroads.
Ex Convento de Santa María de la Concepción Atlihuetzia
The ruined walls of this 16th-century Franciscan convent in Atlihuetzia rise as high as 21 meters beside the 17th-century Purísima Concepción church. The site also holds a sanctuary to Cristóbal, honored as the first Catholic child martyr in the Americas.
More drives to Apizaco
- Mexico City to Apizaco
- Tepotzotlán to Apizaco
- Toluca to Apizaco
- Cuernavaca to Apizaco
- Taxco to Apizaco
- Zitácuaro to Apizaco
From Cuautla to other places in Mexico
- Cuautla to Malinalco
- Cuautla to Metepec
- Cuautla to Zitácuaro
- Cuautla to Tlalpujahua
- Cuautla to Amealco
- Cuautla to Tequisquiapan
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Cuautla to Apizaco?
About 1 h 48 min of driving without stops, over 96 miles.
How far is Apizaco from Cuautla by car?
About 96 miles (154 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 Cuautla to Apizaco?
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 Cuautla to Apizaco?
The U.S. State Department rates Morelos Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Puebla Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Tlaxcala Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Cuautla to Apizaco use?
In order: MEX-160, PUE 438D, MEX-190D, MEX-190, MEX-119D, MEX-117D and MEX-136. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Cuautla and Apizaco?
Closest to the road: International Museum of the Baroque (art museum, mile 61, 1 mi from the route); Great Pyramid of Cholula (pyramid, mile 66, 1 mi from the route); Parque ecológico Los Ladrillos (park, mile 75, 0.4 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.