The Wayro route from Cuautla to Bernal is 198 miles (318 km), about 4 h 10 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 198 mi (318 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 4 h 10 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-160D → MEX-95D → Periférico → MEX-57 → MEX-57D → MEX-120 → QRO 5 |
| Mexican states on the route | Morelos (Level 3), Mexico City (Level 2), State of Mexico (Level 2), Hidalgo (Level 2), Querétaro (Level 2) |
| Toll roads | MEX-160D, MEX-95D, MEX-57D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 7.9 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 Bernal is like
MEX-57 (70 mi) and Periférico (30 mi) carry about 51% of the 198 miles. MEX-160D, MEX-95D, MEX-57D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-57, MEX-120 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 5 states: Morelos, Mexico City, State of Mexico, Hidalgo, Querétaro. Of the 9 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Cuautla to Bernal, 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 | 25–53 | 28 | Morelos, Mexico City |
| local roads | 53–58 | 5 | Mexico City |
| Periférico | 58–88 | 30 | Mexico City, State of Mexico |
| MEX-57 | 88–158 | 70 | State of Mexico, Hidalgo |
| MEX-57D | 158–167 | 9 | Querétaro |
| MEX-120 | 167–190 | 23 | Querétaro |
| QRO 5 | 190–194 | 4 | Querétaro |
| local roads | 194–198 | 4 | Querétaro |
- Mile 40 of this route: Morelos → Mexico City (state line)
- Mile 73 of this route: Mexico City → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 106 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 125 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 158 of this route: State of Mexico → Querétaro (state line)
Stops between Cuautla and Bernal
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Cuicuilco (mile 60), Museo Universitario Arte Contemporáneo (mile 61), Papalote Museo del Niño (mile 71)
- Nature and outdoors: Las islas (mile 66), Tula National Park (mile 120)
- Museums and history: El Tepozteco (mile 20), Cuicuilco (mile 60), Museo Universitario Arte Contemporáneo (mile 61), Museo Universitario de Ciencias y Artes (mile 65), Papalote Museo del Niño (mile 71), Garros Galería (mile 71), Xólotl Museum (mile 82)
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.
Cuicuilco
In Mexico City's Tlalpan borough, Cuicuilco preserves a pyramid whose construction began a few centuries BCE, during the Late Preclassic period, near the old southern shore of Lake Texcoco.
Museo Universitario Arte Contemporáneo
On the main campus of the National Autonomous University of Mexico, the University Museum of Contemporary Art (MUAC) has shown art made in the 21st century since opening in November 2008.
Museo Universitario de Ciencias y Artes
MUCA, the Museo Universitario de Ciencias y Artes, is a university venue that promotes multidisciplinary exhibitions and also offers academic and outreach activities.
Las islas
Las Islas is the colloquial name for a public garden at the Ciudad Universitaria of the National Autonomous University of Mexico, known as UNAM.
Papalote Museo del Niño
In Chapultepec's woods, Papalote Museo del Niño is a children's museum with interactive exhibits on science, technology and art built around learning and teamwork.
Garros Galería
In Mexico City's Colonia Roma, Garros Galería is an art gallery and museum devoted entirely to cats.
Xólotl Museum
Run by INAH at the Tenayuca archaeological zone in Tlalnepantla, the Xólotl Museum traces the history of Tenayuca, an early Chichimec settlement in the Basin of Mexico.
Tula National Park
This park protects the ruins of Tula, ancient capital of the Toltecs. Walk up to the main pyramid to stand beside the Atlantes, basalt warrior figures more than four meters tall, and look for the Coatepantli wall's reliefs of snakes devouring skeletons.
More drives to Bernal
- Celaya to Bernal
- Salamanca to Bernal
- Irapuato to Bernal
- Guanajuato to Bernal
- Pénjamo to Bernal
- León to Bernal
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 Bernal?
About 4 h 10 min of driving without stops, over 198 miles.
How far is Bernal from Cuautla by car?
About 198 miles (318 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 Bernal?
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 Bernal?
The U.S. State Department rates Morelos Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Mexico City Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; State of Mexico Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Hidalgo Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Querétaro 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 Bernal use?
In order: MEX-160D, MEX-95D, Periférico, MEX-57, MEX-57D, MEX-120 and QRO 5. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Cuautla and Bernal?
Closest to the road: Cuicuilco (archaeological site, mile 60, 0.2 mi from the route); Museo Universitario Arte Contemporáneo (museum, mile 61, 0.8 mi from the route); Papalote Museo del Niño (museum building, mile 71, 0.2 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.