Plan on about 8 h 14 min of driving for the 408-mile (656 km) trip from Cuernavaca to Matehuala, before any stops.
| Total distance | 408 mi (656 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 8 h 14 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-95D → Periférico → MEX-57 → MEX-57D |
| Mexican states on the route | Morelos, Mexico City, State of Mexico, Hidalgo, Querétaro, Guanajuato, San Luis Potosí |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-95D, MEX-57D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 16.3 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.
The Cuernavaca–Matehuala drive in a few lines
MEX-57 (246 mi) and MEX-57D (95 mi) carry about 84% of the 408 miles. It runs through 7 states: Morelos, Mexico City, State of Mexico, Hidalgo, Querétaro, Guanajuato, San Luis Potosí. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-95D and MEX-57D. Of the 9 stops listed below, 4 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Cuernavaca to Matehuala, 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 | 135–188 | 53 | Querétaro |
| MEX-57 | 188–286 | 98 | Querétaro, Guanajuato, San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-57D | 286–328 | 42 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-57 | 328–406 | 78 | San Luis Potosí |
| local roads | 406–408 | 2 | San Luis Potosí |
- 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)
What to see on the way from Cuernavaca to Matehuala
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Cuicuilco (mile 38), Jardín Botánico del Instituto de Biología (mile 39), Centro Cultural Isidro Fabela (mile 43), Archaeological site of Mixcoac (mile 47)
- Nature and outdoors: Jardín Botánico del Instituto de Biología (mile 39), El Pensil Mexicano (mile 50), Tula National Park (mile 98), El Gogorrón National Park (mile 275)
- Museums and history: Cuicuilco (mile 38), Centro Cultural Isidro Fabela (mile 43), Archaeological site of Mixcoac (mile 47), Salón de la Plástica Mexicana (mile 48)
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.
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.
Centro Cultural Isidro Fabela
Facing Plaza San Jacinto in San Ángel, the Casa del Risco houses the Centro Cultural Isidro Fabela, a museum opened in 1963 after Isidro Fabela and his wife donated the house.
Archaeological site of Mixcoac
Once on the shore of Lake Texcoco, Mixcoac is a Mexica archaeological zone that, in its final phase, was under the rule of Tenochtitlan.
Salón de la Plástica Mexicana
Established in 1949 to expand the market for Mexican art, the Salón de la Plástica Mexicana is an institution devoted to promoting contemporary Mexican art.
El Pensil Mexicano
At 80 Lago Chiem street in Mexico City's Colonia Pensil, El Pensil Mexicano is a Baroque-style garden on a 3,000-square-meter lot, one of the last remnants of New Spain's pleasure gardens.
Tula National Park
This park protects the ruins of Tula, ancient capital of the Toltecs. Walk up to the main pyramid to stand beside the Atlantes, basalt warrior figures more than four meters tall, and look for the Coatepantli wall's reliefs of snakes devouring skeletons.
Historic Monuments Zone of Querétaro
UNESCO listed Querétaro's historic center in 1996. Here, the Spanish grid of streets meets the winding lanes of the old Indigenous quarters, with Baroque churches and mansions throughout.
El Gogorrón National Park
Hot-spring balnearios lie within the bounds of Gogorrón National Park, which covers parts of Villa de Reyes and Santa María del Río in San Luis Potosí. Its higher ground carries pine-oak forest.
Arriving in Matehuala
Matehuala Cathedral
Matehuala's Immaculate Conception Cathedral is the seat of the Diocese of Matehuala; it is open for worship though still under construction.
More drives to Matehuala
- Zitácuaro to Matehuala
- Mexico City to Matehuala
- Pachuca to Matehuala
- Tlaxcala to Matehuala
- Cuautla to Matehuala
- Colima to Matehuala
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 Matehuala?
About 8 h 14 min of driving without stops, over 408 miles.
How far is Matehuala from Cuernavaca by car?
About 408 miles (656 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 Matehuala?
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 Matehuala?
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 (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Cuernavaca to Matehuala use?
In order: MEX-95D, Periférico, MEX-57 and MEX-57D. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Cuernavaca and Matehuala?
Closest to the road: Cuicuilco (archaeological site, mile 38, 0.1 mi from the route); Jardín Botánico del Instituto de Biología (botanical garden, mile 39, 0.6 mi from the route); Archaeological site of Mixcoac (archaeological site, mile 47, 0.1 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.