The Wayro route from Cuernavaca to Papantla is 227 miles (365 km), about 4 h 35 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 227 mi (365 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 4 h 35 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-95D → MEX-132D → MEX-132 → MEX-130 → MEX-127 |
| Mexican states on the route | Morelos (Level 3), Mexico City (Level 2), State of Mexico (Level 2), Hidalgo (Level 2), Puebla (Level 2), Veracruz (Level 2) |
| Toll roads | MEX-95D, MEX-132D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 9.1 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 Papantla is like
MEX-132D (92 mi) and MEX-132 (40 mi) carry about 58% of the 227 miles. MEX-95D, MEX-132D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-132, MEX-130, MEX-127 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 6 states: Morelos, Mexico City, State of Mexico, Hidalgo, Puebla, Veracruz. Of the 8 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Cuernavaca to Papantla, 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 | 37–43 | 6 | Mexico City |
| connecting roads | 43–49 | 6 | Mexico City |
| local roads | 49–63 | 14 | Mexico City, State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 63–68 | 5 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-132D | 68–73 | 5 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-132 | 73–113 | 40 | State of Mexico, Hidalgo |
| connecting roads | 113–114 | 1 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-132D | 114–201 | 87 | Hidalgo, Puebla, Veracruz |
| MEX-130 | 201–210 | 9 | Veracruz |
| connecting roads | 210–212 | 2 | Veracruz |
| MEX-127 | 212–223 | 11 | Veracruz |
| local roads | 223–227 | 4 | Veracruz |
- Mile 18 of this route: Morelos → Mexico City (state line)
- Mile 52 of this route: Mexico City → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 93 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 139 of this route: Hidalgo → Puebla (state line)
- Mile 194 of this route: Puebla → Veracruz (state line)
Stops between Cuernavaca and Papantla
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Anahuacalli Museum (mile 38), Museo del Ejército y Fuerza Aerea Mexicanos (mile 40)
- Nature and outdoors: Bosque de Tlalpan (mile 34)
- Museums and history: Universum (mile 35), Anahuacalli Museum (mile 38), Museo del Ejército y Fuerza Aerea Mexicanos (mile 40), Museo del Estanquillo (mile 44), Tulancingo Cathedral (mile 120)
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.
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.
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 Estanquillo
Housed in the Museo del Estanquillo in Mexico City's historic center is writer Carlos Monsiváis's personal collection of paintings, photographs, toys, calendars, advertising and books.
Temple of the Feathered Serpent, Teotihuacan
The Temple of the Feathered Serpent is a pyramid at Teotihuacan, a pre-Columbian city in central Mexico that rose around the 1st or 2nd century BC and was occupied into the 600s or 700s.
Pyramid of the Moon
In the western part of ancient Teotihuacan, in present-day San Martín de las Pirámides, the Pyramid of the Moon mimics the contours of Cerro Gordo, the mountain just north of the site.
Tulancingo Cathedral
Tulancingo Cathedral grew from a 16th-century Franciscan mission. The present church, designed by architect José Damián Ortiz de Castro and consecrated in 1806, has an unusual Neoclassical portico with Ionic columns and a triangular pediment.
When you get to Papantla
El Tajín
A UNESCO World Heritage Site in Veracruz, El Tajín peaked from the early 9th to the early 13th century. Look for the Pyramid of the Niches, elaborately carved reliefs on columns and friezes, and some of the site's 17 ballcourts.
Pirámide de los Nichos
The Pyramid of the Niches (Pirámide de los Nichos) stands in the El Tajín archaeological zone in northern Veracruz. Its seven stepped platforms rise to a summit reached by a north-side stairway edged with stepped-fret decoration.
Museo de Sitio de El Tajín
The Museo de Sitio de El Tajín is the museum complex inside the El Tajín archaeological zone in Veracruz, which UNESCO has recognized as cultural heritage since 1992.
More drives to Papantla
- Cholula to Papantla
- Mexico City to Papantla
- Toluca to Papantla
- Cuautla to Papantla
- San Juan del Río to Papantla
- San Miguel de Allende to Papantla
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 Papantla?
About 4 h 35 min of driving without stops, over 227 miles.
How far is Papantla from Cuernavaca by car?
About 227 miles (365 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 Papantla?
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 Papantla?
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; Puebla Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Veracruz 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 Papantla use?
In order: MEX-95D, MEX-132D, MEX-132, MEX-130 and MEX-127. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Cuernavaca and Papantla?
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); Temple of the Feathered Serpent, Teotihuacan (step pyramid, mile 76, 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 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.