The Wayro route from Cuautla to Zimapán is 186 miles (300 km), about 4 h 9 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 186 mi (300 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 4 h 9 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-160D → MEX-95D → Periférico → MEX-57 → MEX-11 → MEX-45 → MEX-85 |
| Mexican states on the route | Morelos (Level 3), Mexico City (Level 2), State of Mexico (Level 2), Hidalgo (Level 2) |
| Toll roads | MEX-160D, MEX-95D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 7.4 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 Zimapán is like
Periférico (30 mi) and MEX-95D (28 mi) carry about 31% of the 186 miles. MEX-160D, MEX-95D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-57, MEX-11, MEX-45, MEX-85 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 4 states: Morelos, Mexico City, State of Mexico, Hidalgo. Of the 9 stops listed below, 5 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Cuautla to Zimapán, 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 | 88–110 | 22 | State of Mexico, Hidalgo |
| connecting roads | 110–111 | 1 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-11 | 111–114 | 3 | Hidalgo |
| local roads | 114–157 | 43 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-45 | 157–162 | 5 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-85 | 162–182 | 20 | Hidalgo |
| local roads | 182–186 | 4 | Hidalgo |
- 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)
Stops between Cuautla and Zimapán
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Tepoztlán Ex Convento Museum (mile 19), Bosque de Tlalpan (mile 62), Jardín Botánico del Instituto de Biología (mile 62), National Museum of Anthropology (mile 71), Museo Nacional del Virreinato (mile 94)
- Nature and outdoors: Fuentes Brotantes de Tlalpan National Park (mile 57), Bosque de Tlalpan (mile 62), Jardín Botánico del Instituto de Biología (mile 62)
- Museums and history: Tepoztlán Ex Convento Museum (mile 19), Copilco (mile 66), Leon Trotsky House Museum (mile 68), National Museum of Anthropology (mile 71), Estela de Luz (mile 71), Museo Nacional del Virreinato (mile 94)
Tepoztlán Ex Convento Museum
Tepoztlán's Dominican monastery, built between 1555 and 1580, keeps original 16th-century murals in its cloister. Upstairs, the museum covers local daily life, faith, festivals and dances, and the complex is part of a UNESCO World Heritage listing.
Fuentes Brotantes de Tlalpan National Park
In southern Mexico City's Tlalpan borough, Fuentes Brotantes de Tlalpan was declared a national park on September 28, 1936, on land once called the Barranca de los Manantiales.
Bosque de Tlalpan
Bosque de Tlalpan is a protected urban forest of about 253 hectares in southern Mexico City, near the Periférico Sur and Avenida Insurgentes Sur.
Jardín Botánico del Instituto de Biología
Run by UNAM's Institute of Biology, this botanical garden in Mexico City belongs to the Mexican Association of Botanical Gardens and works on plant conservation.
Copilco
Copilco was an important Mesoamerican ceremonial center southwest of Mexico City, located about four kilometers north of Cuicuilco.
Leon Trotsky House Museum
In Coyoacán, the house museum honoring Leon Trotsky, officially the Instituto del Derecho de Asilo - Museo Casa de León Trotsky, also works to promote political asylum.
National Museum of Anthropology
Mexico's National Museum of Anthropology in Mexico City is the country's national museum devoted to anthropology.
Estela de Luz
Built in 2011 for the bicentennial of Mexico's independence, the Estela de Luz is a Mexico City monument that combines quartz with electric lighting.
Museo Nacional del Virreinato
Housed in the former Jesuit college of San Francisco Javier in Tepotzotlán, begun in 1606, this national museum covers three centuries of colonial art. Its Baroque church, built 1670-1682, keeps altarpieces designed by Miguel Cabrera and Higinio de Chávez.
More drives to Zimapán
- Celaya to Zimapán
- Tlalpujahua to Zimapán
- Moroleón to Zimapán
- Pénjamo to Zimapán
- Zitácuaro to Zimapán
- Cuitzeo to Zimapán
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 Zimapán?
About 4 h 9 min of driving without stops, over 186 miles.
How far is Zimapán from Cuautla by car?
About 186 miles (300 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 Zimapán?
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 Zimapán?
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 (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Cuautla to Zimapán use?
In order: MEX-160D, MEX-95D, Periférico, MEX-57, MEX-11, MEX-45 and MEX-85. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Cuautla and Zimapán?
Closest to the road: Tepoztlán Ex Convento Museum (museum, mile 19, 0.6 mi from the route); Bosque de Tlalpan (park, mile 62, 0.6 mi from the route); Jardín Botánico del Instituto de Biología (botanical garden, mile 62, 0.7 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.