The Wayro route from Cuernavaca to Bernal is 175 miles (282 km), about 3 h 59 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 175 mi (282 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 3 h 59 min |
| Main roads, in order | 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-95D, MEX-57D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 7.0 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 Cuernavaca to Bernal is like
MEX-57 (70 mi) and Periférico (30 mi) carry about 57% of the 175 miles. 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, 4 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Cuernavaca to Bernal, 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 |
| local roads | 31–35 | 4 | Mexico City |
| Periférico | 35–65 | 30 | Mexico City, State of Mexico |
| MEX-57 | 65–135 | 70 | State of Mexico, Hidalgo |
| MEX-57D | 135–144 | 9 | Querétaro |
| MEX-120 | 144–167 | 23 | Querétaro |
| QRO 5 | 167–171 | 4 | Querétaro |
| local roads | 171–175 | 4 | Querétaro |
- Mile 18 of this route: Morelos → Mexico City (state line)
- Mile 51 of this route: Mexico City → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 83 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 103 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 135 of this route: State of Mexico → Querétaro (state line)
Stops between Cuernavaca and Bernal
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Cuicuilco (mile 38), Polyforum Cultural Siqueiros (mile 47), Parque de las Esculturas (mile 68), Templo y exconvento de San Francisco (mile 89)
- Nature and outdoors: Las islas (mile 43)
- Museums and history: Cuicuilco (mile 38), Museo Universitario de Ciencias y Artes (mile 43), Polyforum Cultural Siqueiros (mile 47), Monument to Cuauhtémoc (mile 49), Catedral de Azcapotzalco (mile 53), Xólotl Museum (mile 60), Parque de las Esculturas (mile 68)
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 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.
Polyforum Cultural Siqueiros
Designed and decorated by David Alfaro Siqueiros in the 1960s, the Polyforum Cultural Siqueiros stands by the World Trade Center in Mexico City and holds his huge mural La Marcha de la Humanidad.
Monument to Cuauhtémoc
At the junction of Insurgentes and Paseo de la Reforma, this 1887 monument by Francisco Jiménez and Miguel Noreña honors Cuauhtémoc, the last Mexica ruler of Tenochtitlan.
Catedral de Azcapotzalco
Officially the Cathedral of the Holy Apostles Philip and James, the Catedral de Azcapotzalco is the seat of the Diocese of Azcapotzalco in Mexico City.
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.
Parque de las Esculturas
Seventeen sculptures by Charlotte Yazbek, first shown at the Mexico Pavilion of the 1964 New York World's Fair, stand in this Cuautitlán Izcalli park. The artist oversaw their installation here in 1976.
Templo y exconvento de San Francisco
The Templo y Exconvento de San Francisco is a church and former convent located in the city of Tepeji del Río, in the Mexican state of Hidalgo.
More drives to Bernal
- Celaya to Bernal
- Salamanca to Bernal
- Irapuato to Bernal
- Guanajuato to Bernal
- Pénjamo to Bernal
- León to Bernal
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 Bernal?
About 3 h 59 min of driving without stops, over 175 miles.
How far is Bernal from Cuernavaca by car?
About 175 miles (282 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 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 Cuernavaca 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 Cuernavaca to Bernal use?
In order: 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 Cuernavaca and Bernal?
Closest to the road: Cuicuilco (archaeological site, mile 38, 0.1 mi from the route); Parque de las Esculturas (open-air museum, mile 68, 0.6 mi from the route); Templo y exconvento de San Francisco (convent, mile 89, 0.6 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.