The Wayro route from Cuautla to Barra de Navidad is 543 miles (874 km), about 10 h 39 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 543 mi (874 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 10 h 39 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-160D → MEX-95D → MEX-106 → MEX-200 → EM 44 → MEX-55 → MEX-55D → MEX-15D → MEX-110 → MEX-15 → MEX-54 → MEX-54D → MEX-200D |
| Mexican states on the route | Morelos (Level 3), State of Mexico (Level 2), Michoacán (Level 4), Jalisco (Level 3), Colima (Level 4) |
| Toll roads | MEX-160D, MEX-95D, MEX-55D, MEX-15D, MEX-54D, MEX-200D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 21.7 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 Cuautla to Barra de Navidad is like
MEX-15D (189 mi) and MEX-110 (108 mi) carry about 55% of the 543 miles. MEX-160D, MEX-95D, MEX-55D, MEX-15D, MEX-54D, MEX-200D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-106, MEX-200, MEX-55, MEX-110, MEX-15, MEX-54 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 5 states: Morelos, State of Mexico, Michoacán, Jalisco, Colima. Of the 9 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Cuautla to Barra de Navidad, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–4 | 4 | Morelos |
| MEX-160D | 4–24 | 20 | Morelos |
| connecting roads | 24–25 | 1 | Morelos |
| MEX-95D | 25–35 | 10 | Morelos |
| connecting roads | 35–36 | 1 | Morelos |
| MEX-106 | 36–54 | 18 | Morelos, State of Mexico |
| MEX-200 | 54–58 | 4 | State of Mexico |
| local roads | 58–63 | 5 | State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 63–66 | 3 | State of Mexico |
| EM 44 | 66–73 | 7 | State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 73–74 | 1 | State of Mexico |
| local roads | 74–80 | 6 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-55 | 80–90 | 10 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-55D | 90–119 | 29 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-55 | 119–122 | 3 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-15D | 122–311 | 189 | State of Mexico, Michoacán, Jalisco |
| connecting roads | 311–316 | 5 | Jalisco |
| MEX-110 | 316–334 | 18 | Michoacán |
| MEX-15 | 334–339 | 5 | Michoacán |
| connecting roads | 339–341 | 2 | Michoacán |
| MEX-110 | 341–406 | 65 | Michoacán, Jalisco |
| MEX-54 | 406–416 | 10 | Jalisco |
| connecting roads | 416–418 | 2 | Jalisco |
| MEX-54D | 418–442 | 24 | Jalisco, Colima |
| MEX-54 | 442–449 | 7 | Colima |
| MEX-110 | 449–474 | 25 | Colima |
| connecting roads | 474–477 | 3 | Colima |
| MEX-200D | 477–514 | 37 | Colima |
| MEX-200 | 514–542 | 28 | Colima, Jalisco |
| local roads | 542–543 | 1 | Jalisco |
- Mile 48 of this route: Morelos → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 141 of this route: State of Mexico → Michoacán (state line)
- Mile 309 of this route: Michoacán → Jalisco (state line)
- Mile 316 of this route: Jalisco → Michoacán (state line)
- Mile 365 of this route: Michoacán → Jalisco (state line)
- Mile 433 of this route: Jalisco → Colima (state line)
- Mile 529 of this route: Colima → Jalisco (state line)
Stops between Cuautla and Barra de Navidad
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Lagunas de Zempoala National Park (mile 45), Museo Comunitario de la Sal (mile 486)
- Nature and outdoors: El Tepozteco National Park (mile 20), Lagunas de Zempoala National Park (mile 45), Cumbres del Ajusco National Park (mile 47), La Marquesa National Park (mile 66), Rayón National Park (mile 144)
- Museums and history: El Tepozteco (mile 20), Museum José María Velasco (mile 81), Alfonso Michel University Art Gallery (mile 447), Museo Comunitario de la Sal (mile 486)
El Tepozteco
High on a hill above Tepoztlán, El Tepozteco holds the remains of a shrine to Ometochtli-Tepoztécatl, god of pulque, fertility and the harvest, along with terraced platforms built from around AD 1200.
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.
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.
Cumbres del Ajusco National Park
Pine and oak forests climb toward alpine meadows in Cumbres del Ajusco National Park, on Mexico City's southern edge. It draws hikers, climbers and cyclists, and it gets occasional snow, a rarity for the region.
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.
Museum José María Velasco
In Toluca's historic center, the Museo José María Velasco shares the work of 19th-century Mexican painter José María Velasco, with Plaza de los Mártires to the south and the Government Palace to the east.
Rayón National Park
Just outside Tlalpujahua, Rayón National Park (Parque Nacional Rayón) marks the start of the area's famous butterfly reserve country, which stretches south and west from here.
Alfonso Michel University Art Gallery
Two restored old houses in downtown Colima hold this art gallery (Pinacoteca Universitaria Alfonso Michel), which honors painter Alfonso Michel and displays a large collection belonging to the University of Colima.
Museo Comunitario de la Sal
Set in an old warehouse in Cuyutlán, the community Salt Museum (Museo Comunitario de la Sal) explains how local salt has been harvested, from the old tapeixtle technique to modern methods, with historic photos of the salt works.
More drives to Barra de Navidad
- Cotija to Barra de Navidad
- Tepatitlán to Barra de Navidad
- San Juan de los Lagos to Barra de Navidad
- Nochistlán to Barra de Navidad
- Jalpa to Barra de Navidad
- Pátzcuaro to Barra de Navidad
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 Barra de Navidad?
About 10 h 39 min of driving without stops, over 543 miles.
How far is Barra de Navidad from Cuautla by car?
About 543 miles (874 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 Barra de Navidad?
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 Barra de Navidad?
The U.S. State Department rates Morelos Level 3: Reconsider Travel; State of Mexico Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Michoacán Level 4: Do Not Travel; Jalisco Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Colima Level 4: Do Not Travel (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Cuautla to Barra de Navidad use?
In order: MEX-160D, MEX-95D, MEX-106, MEX-200, EM 44, MEX-55, MEX-55D, MEX-15D, MEX-110, MEX-15, MEX-54, MEX-54D and MEX-200D. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Cuautla and Barra de Navidad?
Closest to the road: Lagunas de Zempoala National Park (National Park of Mexico, mile 45, 0.3 mi from the route); Museum José María Velasco (art museum, mile 81, 1 mi from the route); Museo Comunitario de la Sal (museum, mile 486, 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.