Cuernavaca to General Zaragoza is about 485 road miles (781 km): roughly 10 h 36 min at the wheel if you don't stop.
| Distance | 485 mi (781 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 10 h 36 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-95D → Periférico → MEX-57 → MEX-57D → SLP 29 → NL 3 |
| Mexican states on the route | Morelos, Mexico City, State of Mexico, Hidalgo, Querétaro, Guanajuato, San Luis Potosí, Nuevo León |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-95D, MEX-57D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 19.4 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 Cuernavaca to General Zaragoza is like
MEX-57 (243 mi) and MEX-57D (101 mi) carry about 71% of the 485 miles. It runs through 8 states: Morelos, Mexico City, State of Mexico, Hidalgo, Querétaro, Guanajuato, San Luis Potosí, Nuevo León. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-95D and MEX-57D. Of the 9 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
Road-by-road breakdown: Cuernavaca to General Zaragoza
| 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 | 135–188 | 53 | Querétaro |
| MEX-57 | 188–286 | 98 | Querétaro, Guanajuato, San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-57D | 286–328 | 42 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-57 | 328–403 | 75 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-57D | 403–409 | 6 | San Luis Potosí |
| SLP 29 | 409–438 | 29 | San Luis Potosí, Nuevo León |
| NL 3 | 438–444 | 6 | Nuevo León |
| local roads | 444–485 | 41 | Nuevo León |
- 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)
- Mile 195 of this route: Querétaro → Guanajuato (state line)
- Mile 249 of this route: Guanajuato → San Luis Potosí (state line)
- Mile 418 of this route: San Luis Potosí → Nuevo León (state line)
Stops between Cuernavaca and General Zaragoza
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Universum (mile 38), Petrogravures of Cerro de Chapultepec (mile 49)
- Museums and history: Universum (mile 38), Museo Universitario de Ciencias y Artes (mile 43), Frida Kahlo Museum (mile 45), Museo Nacional de la Revolución (mile 49), Tenayuca (mile 60), San Luis Potosí Cathedral (mile 295), Matehuala Cathedral (mile 409)
Universum
Universum is a museum that promotes science and technology to the public and supports the university's science missions. It opened in 1992 at Ciudad Universitaria in Mexico City.
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.
Frida Kahlo Museum
Known as the Blue House for its cobalt-blue walls, the Frida Kahlo Museum in Coyoacán is a historic house and art museum devoted to the life and work of the painter.
Petrogravures of Cerro de Chapultepec
On the east slope of Chapultepec Hill, inside the forest park, is a group of rock carvings made by the Mexica (Petrograbados del Cerro de Chapultepec).
Museo Nacional de la Revolución
Opened on November 20, 1986, the National Museum of the Revolution sits in the basement of the Monument to the Revolution in Mexico City.
Tenayuca
Tenayuca is a pre-Hispanic archaeological site in the Valley of Mexico. In the Postclassic period it was a settlement on the old western shore of Lake Texcoco.
Historic Monuments Zone of Querétaro
Baroque churches and mansions from the 17th and 18th centuries line the streets of Querétaro's historic center, along with the city's landmark aqueduct.
San Luis Potosí Cathedral
A parish church from 1609 once stood where San Luis Potosí's cathedral rose between 1701 and 1728. Today the Baroque building serves as the seat of the archdiocese.
Matehuala Cathedral
In Matehuala, San Luis Potosí, the Diocese of Matehuala has its seat at the Immaculate Conception Cathedral, a Catholic church that remains open to worshippers.
More drives to General Zaragoza
- Jerez, Zacatecas to General Zaragoza
- Pabellón de Hidalgo to General Zaragoza
- Celaya to General Zaragoza
- Salvatierra to General Zaragoza
- Tlalpujahua to General Zaragoza
- Angangueo to General Zaragoza
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 does it take to drive from Cuernavaca to General Zaragoza?
About 10 h 36 min of driving without stops, over 485 miles.
How far is General Zaragoza from Cuernavaca by car?
About 485 miles (781 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 General Zaragoza?
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 General Zaragoza?
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; Guanajuato Level 3: Reconsider Travel; San Luis Potosí Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Nuevo León 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 General Zaragoza use?
In order: MEX-95D, Periférico, MEX-57, MEX-57D, SLP 29 and NL 3. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Cuernavaca and General Zaragoza?
Closest to the road: Universum (museum, mile 38, 0.6 mi from the route); Museo Universitario de Ciencias y Artes (museum, mile 43, 1 mi from the route); Petrogravures of Cerro de Chapultepec (petroglyph, mile 49, 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 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: at least one strong stop for each stretch of the drive, then the best-known places nearest the road, up to nine in all. Places that are closed, private or not open to visitors are removed. Place 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.