The Wayro route from Cuautla to Naolinco is 183 miles (294 km), about 3 h 28 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 183 mi (294 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 3 h 28 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-160 → PUE 438D → MEX-190D → MEX-190 → MEX-140D → VER 65 |
| Mexican states on the route | Morelos (Level 3), Puebla (Level 2), Tlaxcala (Level 2), Veracruz (Level 2) |
| Toll roads | MEX-190D, MEX-150D, MEX-140D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 7.3 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 Naolinco is like
MEX-140D (65 mi) and PUE 438D (34 mi) carry about 54% of the 183 miles. MEX-190D, MEX-140D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-160, MEX-190 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 4 states: Morelos, Puebla, Tlaxcala, Veracruz. None of the 9 stops below is right on the road, so plan each as a short side trip.
The route from Cuautla to Naolinco, 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 | 61–75 | 14 | Puebla |
| connecting roads | 75–77 | 2 | Puebla |
| local roads | 77–103 | 26 | Puebla, Tlaxcala |
| MEX-140D | 103–168 | 65 | Tlaxcala, Puebla, Veracruz |
| connecting roads | 168–170 | 2 | Veracruz |
| VER 65 | 170–182 | 12 | Veracruz |
| local roads | 182–183 | 1 | Veracruz |
- Mile 24 of this route: Morelos → Puebla (state line)
- Mile 89 of this route: Puebla → Tlaxcala (state line)
- Mile 96 of this route: Tlaxcala → Puebla (state line)
- Mile 103 of this route: Puebla → Tlaxcala (state line)
- Mile 112 of this route: Tlaxcala → Puebla (state line)
- Mile 137 of this route: Puebla → Veracruz (state line)
Stops between Cuautla and Naolinco
- Nature and outdoors: Jardín Botánico Universitario de la Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla (mile 65), Parque Nacional Cofre de Perote (mile 146)
- Museums and history: Las Pilas archaeological site (mile 14), Chalcatzingo (mile 16), International Museum of the Baroque (mile 60), Convent Church of Santo Domingo, Puebla (mile 71), Museo de Sitio de Cantona (mile 128), Cantona (mile 129)
Las Pilas archaeological site
Set inside a bathing park in Jonacatepec, Las Pilas was a ceremonial center devoted to water, where inhabitants built channels to collect and store underground water for irrigation; burials were found within the channel system.
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.
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.
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.
Jardín Botánico Universitario de la Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla
On the Ciudad Universitaria campus of BUAP in Puebla, the university botanical garden covers about 10.7 hectares and was formerly named after Ignacio Rodríguez Alconedo.
Convent Church of Santo Domingo, Puebla
Behind the facade of Puebla's Santo Domingo church hides the Capilla del Rosario, inaugurated in 1690. Gold covers its walls, pilasters and vaults, and contemporaries hailed it as the eighth wonder of the New World.
Museo de Sitio de Cantona
At the Cantona archaeological zone in Tepeyahualco, this site museum shows finds from more than 20 years of digs: pottery, obsidian and stone tools, musical instruments, greenstone and shell ornaments, and burial remains.
Cantona
High on the Puebla plateau near the Veracruz line, Cantona was a fortified pre-Hispanic city that controlled trade toward the Gulf; its explored southern section reveals interconnected streets, walled residential units and more than two dozen ballgame courts.
Parque Nacional Cofre de Perote
Cofre de Perote National Park protects the forested slopes of the mountain, and its role is practical as well as scenic: a little over 40 percent of the water used in Xalapa comes from here.
More drives to Naolinco
- Cholula to Naolinco
- Zacatelco to Naolinco
- Huejotzingo to Naolinco
- Atlixco to Naolinco
- Tepotzotlán to Naolinco
- Cuernavaca to Naolinco
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 Naolinco?
About 3 h 28 min of driving without stops, over 183 miles.
How far is Naolinco from Cuautla by car?
About 183 miles (294 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 Naolinco?
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 Naolinco?
The U.S. State Department rates Morelos Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Puebla Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Tlaxcala Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Veracruz 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 Naolinco use?
In order: MEX-160, PUE 438D, MEX-190D, MEX-190, MEX-140D and VER 65. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Cuautla and Naolinco?
Closest to the road: Chalcatzingo (archaeological site, mile 16, 2 mi from the route); International Museum of the Baroque (art museum, mile 60, 1 mi from the route); Jardín Botánico Universitario de la Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla (botanical garden, mile 65, 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.