The Wayro route from Cuautla to Zacatlán is 140 miles (225 km), about 2 h 46 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 140 mi (225 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 2 h 46 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-160 → PUE 438D → MEX-190D → MEX-190 → MEX-119D → MEX-117D → MEX-119 |
| 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 5.6 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 Zacatlán is like
MEX-119 (45 mi) and PUE 438D (34 mi) carry about 56% of the 140 miles. MEX-190D, MEX-119D, MEX-117D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-160, MEX-190, MEX-119 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 3 states: Morelos, Puebla, Tlaxcala. None of the 9 stops below is right on the road, so plan each as a short side trip.
The route from Cuautla to Zacatlán, 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 |
| connecting roads | 92–95 | 3 | Tlaxcala |
| MEX-119 | 95–140 | 45 | Tlaxcala, Puebla |
- Mile 24 of this route: Morelos → Puebla (state line)
- Mile 74 of this route: Puebla → Tlaxcala (state line)
- Mile 116 of this route: Tlaxcala → Puebla (state line)
Stops between Cuautla and Zacatlán
- Nature and outdoors: La Malinche National Park (mile 85)
- Museums and history: Chalcatzingo (mile 16), International Museum of the Baroque (mile 61), Museo de Historia y Antropología de Cholula (mile 66), Museo Miguel N. Lira (mile 83)
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.
Convento de San Juan Bautista
This convent in Tetela del Volcán, known for its carved wooden sacristy and light-filled cloister walks, was cleaned of soot left from its use as a barracks during the Mexican Revolution in a conservation project completed in 2009.
Former convent of Saint Dominic de Guzmán
In the town of Hueyapan, the 16th-century church and former convent of Santo Domingo de Guzmán keeps original frescoes and moldings inside, around a modest cloister typical of its era.
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.
Tonantzintla Observatory
The Tonantzintla Observatory in Puebla was home to the National Astrophysical Observatory directed by Guillermo Haro. Its main instrument, a Schmidt camera, was a wide-field telescope built for photographing the sky.
Museo de Historia y Antropología de Cholula
Run by INAH, the Museo de Historia y Antropología de Cholula is the site museum for Cholula's archaeological zone. Don't confuse it with the Museo Regional de Cholula, two blocks away.
Museo Miguel N. Lira
Downtown Tlaxcala's Museo Miguel N. Lira fills the old State Printing Office, linked to the writer and poet. Visitors see his manuscripts, family photos and personal belongings, plus the original linotype machines and the press that printed his work.
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.
Santuario de Nuestro Padre Jesús de Aquixtla
In the Sierra Norte de Puebla, the sanctuary of Nuestro Padre Jesús in Aquixtla draws thousands of pilgrims during the year who come to give thanks for favors received.
More drives to Zacatlán
- Chiautempan to Zacatlán
- Zacatelco to Zacatlán
- Pachuca to Zacatlán
- Cholula to Zacatlán
- Atlixco to Zacatlán
- Mexico City to Zacatlán
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 Zacatlán?
About 2 h 46 min of driving without stops, over 140 miles.
How far is Zacatlán from Cuautla by car?
About 140 miles (225 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 Zacatlán?
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 Zacatlán?
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 Zacatlán use?
In order: MEX-160, PUE 438D, MEX-190D, MEX-190, MEX-119D, MEX-117D and MEX-119. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Cuautla and Zacatlán?
Closest to the road: International Museum of the Baroque (art museum, mile 61, 1 mi from the route); Museo de Historia y Antropología de Cholula (museum, mile 66, 1 mi from the route); Santuario de Nuestro Padre Jesús de Aquixtla (sanctuary, mile 127, 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 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.