The Wayro route from Cuernavaca to Actopan is 119 miles (192 km), about 2 h 50 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 119 mi (192 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 2 h 50 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-95D → 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-95D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 4.8 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 8 |
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 Cuernavaca to Actopan is like
MEX-85 (71 mi) and MEX-95D (19 mi) carry about 76% of the 119 miles. MEX-95D is a toll highway (cuota); MEX-85 is a free federal road (libre). It runs through 4 states: Morelos, Mexico City, State of Mexico, Hidalgo. Of the 8 stops listed below, 4 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Cuernavaca to Actopan, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–12 | 12 | Morelos |
| MEX-95D | 12–31 | 19 | Morelos, Mexico City |
| connecting roads | 31–37 | 6 | Mexico City |
| local roads | 37–45 | 8 | Mexico City |
| connecting roads | 45–48 | 3 | Mexico City |
| MEX-85 | 48–119 | 71 | Mexico City, State of Mexico, Hidalgo |
- Mile 18 of this route: Morelos → Mexico City (state line)
- Mile 54 of this route: Mexico City → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 77 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
Stops between Cuernavaca and Actopan
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Anahuacalli Museum (mile 38), Museo del Ejército y Fuerza Aerea Mexicanos (mile 40), Museo del Bicentenario (mile 46), Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe (mile 50)
- Nature and outdoors: Bosque de Tlalpan (mile 34), El Chico National Park (mile 103)
- Museums and history: San Bernardino de Siena Church, Xochimilco (mile 29), Museo Universitario Arte Contemporáneo (mile 35), Anahuacalli Museum (mile 38), Museo del Ejército y Fuerza Aerea Mexicanos (mile 40), Museo del Bicentenario (mile 46), Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe (mile 50)
San Bernardino de Siena Church, Xochimilco
Xochimilco's parish church of San Bernardino de Siena and its former monastery were built in the 16th century over a pre-Hispanic temple.
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.
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.
Anahuacalli Museum
Designed by muralist Diego Rivera as a temple of the arts, the Anahuacalli Museum is a museum and arts center in the San Pablo de Tepetlapa neighborhood of Coyoacán.
Museo del Ejército y Fuerza Aerea Mexicanos
Known as MUEFA, the Museo del Ejército y Fuerza Aérea Mexicanos presents key moments in the history of Mexico's armed forces.
Museo del Bicentenario
On the 36th floor of the Torre Latinoamericana, the Museo del Bicentenario displays documents, maps, photographs and objects from New Spain through Independence and the Revolution.
Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe
The Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe, at the foot of Tepeyac Hill in Mexico City's Gustavo A. Madero borough, is a Catholic basilica dedicated to the Virgin of Guadalupe within the Primate Archdiocese of Mexico.
El Chico National Park
In Hidalgo, El Chico National Park is known for towering cliffs such as Las Ventanas and Peña del Cuervo, popular with climbers, and forest wildlife including gray foxes, ringtails, armadillos, hawks, falcons and woodpeckers.
More drives to Actopan
- Tulancingo to Actopan
- Tepotzotlán to Actopan
- Mexico City to Actopan
- Tequisquiapan to Actopan
- Toluca to Actopan
- Querétaro to Actopan
From Cuernavaca to other places in Mexico
- Cuernavaca to Valle de Bravo
- Cuernavaca to Zitácuaro
- Cuernavaca to El Oro
- Cuernavaca to Tlalpujahua
- Cuernavaca to San Juan del Río
- Cuernavaca to Amealco
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Cuernavaca to Actopan?
About 2 h 50 min of driving without stops, over 119 miles.
How far is Actopan from Cuernavaca by car?
About 119 miles (192 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 Cuernavaca to Actopan?
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 Cuernavaca to Actopan?
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 Cuernavaca to Actopan use?
In order: MEX-95D and MEX-85. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Cuernavaca and Actopan?
Closest to the road: Anahuacalli Museum (museum, mile 38, 0.4 mi from the route); Museo del Ejército y Fuerza Aerea Mexicanos (museum, mile 40, 0.3 mi from the route); Museo del Bicentenario (museum, mile 46, 0.3 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.