Plan on about 5 h 9 min of driving for the 309-mile (497 km) trip from Cuernavaca to Oaxaca, before any stops.
| Distance | 309 mi (497 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 5 h 9 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-95D → MEX-160D → MEX-160 → PUE 438D → MEX-190D → MEX-190 → MEX-150D → MEX-135D |
| Mexican states on the route | Morelos, Puebla, Oaxaca |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-95D, MEX-160D, MEX-190D, MEX-150D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 12.3 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.
On the road from Cuernavaca to Oaxaca
MEX-135D (151 mi) and MEX-150D (43 mi) carry about 63% of the 309 miles. It runs through 3 states: Morelos, Puebla, Oaxaca. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-95D, MEX-160D and MEX-190D. Of the 9 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
Road-by-road breakdown: Cuernavaca to Oaxaca
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–4 | 4 | Morelos |
| MEX-95D | 4–9 | 5 | Morelos |
| MEX-160D | 9–30 | 21 | Morelos |
| MEX-160 | 30–47 | 17 | Morelos |
| PUE 438D | 47–81 | 34 | Morelos, Puebla |
| MEX-190D | 81–91 | 10 | Puebla |
| connecting roads | 91–92 | 1 | Puebla |
| MEX-190 | 92–107 | 15 | Puebla |
| MEX-150D | 107–150 | 43 | Puebla |
| MEX-135D | 150–301 | 151 | Puebla, Oaxaca |
| MEX-190 | 301–306 | 5 | Oaxaca |
| local roads | 306–309 | 3 | Oaxaca |
- Mile 55 of this route: Morelos → Puebla (state line)
- Mile 202 of this route: Puebla → Oaxaca (state line)
Where to stop on the way to Oaxaca
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Suchilquitongo (mile 290)
- Nature and outdoors: El Tepozteco National Park (mile 14), Tehuacán-Cuicatlán Biosphere Reserve (mile 193), Benito Juárez National Park (mile 301)
- Museums and history: El Tepozteco (mile 14), Chalcatzingo (mile 47), Historic centre of Puebla (mile 92), Museo del Valle de Tehuacán (mile 179), Suchilquitongo (mile 290)
El Tepozteco
High on a hill above Tepoztlán, El Tepozteco holds the remains of a shrine to Ometochtli-Tepoztécatl, god of pulque, fertility and the harvest, along with terraced platforms built from around AD 1200.
El Tepozteco National Park
Eroded volcanic hills of the Sierra de Tepoztlán fill this national park, about half of which lies in Mexico City's Milpa Alta borough. A short, steep climb leads to the Tepozteco archaeological zone; wear good shoes, since the rocks get slippery.
Templo y Exconvento de San Mateo Apóstol
Built by Augustinian friars, the Templo y Exconvento de San Mateo Apóstol in Atlatlahucan is well preserved, with murals and decorated vaults, and is associated with the origins of the Chinelo dancers.
Chalcatzingo
At the foot of Cerro Chalcatzingo in eastern Morelos, this early site is known for stone reliefs carved mainly between 700 and 500 BC, some among the region's earliest stone sculpture and several in Olmec style, spread across the hillside.
Historic centre of Puebla
Laid out from scratch in 1531, Puebla's UNESCO-listed core is a grid of tile-covered houses, colonial churches and the 16th–17th-century cathedral, with the old archbishop's palace that houses the Palafox Library, established in 1646.
Museo del Valle de Tehuacán
The history of corn and how it connects to the valley's early peoples is the focus of the Valley of Tehuacán Museum, which opened in 2002 in a former Carmelite convent.
Tehuacán-Cuicatlán Biosphere Reserve
In 2018 UNESCO inscribed the arid Tehuacán-Cuicatlán Valley, which spans Puebla and Oaxaca, as a mixed World Heritage site. A major center of cactus diversity, it also keeps ancient canals, terraces and dams.
Suchilquitongo
From around 300 to 800 AD, a Zapotec city thrived on a hilltop in the northern Etla Valley. Locals know the site as Cerro de la Campana.
Benito Juárez National Park
Pine and oak forest covers about 2,737 hectares in Benito Juárez National Park, a short way north of Oaxaca City. Among its trails is La Coronilla, a loop of around 5 km at moderate difficulty.
When you get to Oaxaca
Monte Albán
Carved into a mountaintop above the Valley of Oaxaca, Monte Albán was a Zapotec capital for some 1,300 years; visitors walk a 300-meter ceremonial plaza lined with temples, a ball court, tombs and carved reliefs. It's a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Basilica of Nuestra Señora de Soledad
Built between 1682 and 1690, the Basilica of Nuestra Señora de Soledad in Oaxaca de Juárez is a sanctuary dedicated to Our Lady of Solitude, patron saint of Oaxaca.
Oaxaca Cathedral
Oaxaca Cathedral, the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption, is the seat of the Catholic Archdiocese of Antequera, Oaxaca. Construction began around 1535, and the church was consecrated on July 12, 1733.
More drives to Oaxaca
- Tehuacán to Oaxaca
- Puebla to Oaxaca
- Veracruz to Oaxaca
- Mexico City to Oaxaca
- Toluca to Oaxaca
- Tuxtla to Oaxaca
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 Oaxaca?
About 5 h 9 min of driving without stops, over 309 miles.
How far is Oaxaca from Cuernavaca by car?
About 309 miles (497 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 Oaxaca?
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 Oaxaca?
The U.S. State Department rates Morelos Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Puebla Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Oaxaca 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 Oaxaca use?
In order: MEX-95D, MEX-160D, MEX-160, PUE 438D, MEX-190D, MEX-190, MEX-150D and MEX-135D. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Cuernavaca to Oaxaca?
Closest to the road: El Tepozteco (archaeological site, mile 14, 1 mi from the route); El Tepozteco National Park (national park, mile 14, 1 mi from the route); Suchilquitongo (archaeological site, mile 290, 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 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.