The Wayro route from Cuernavaca to Pénjamo is 270 miles (434 km), about 5 h 9 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 270 mi (434 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 5 h 9 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-95D → Periférico → MEX-57 → MEX-47D → MEX-45D → MEX-90 |
| Mexican states on the route | Morelos (Level 3), Mexico City (Level 2), State of Mexico (Level 2), Hidalgo (Level 2), Querétaro (Level 2), Guanajuato (Level 3) |
| Toll roads | MEX-95D, MEX-57D, MEX-47D, MEX-45D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 10.8 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 Pénjamo is like
MEX-57 (70 mi) and MEX-47D (54 mi) carry about 46% of the 270 miles. MEX-95D, MEX-47D, MEX-45D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-57, MEX-90 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 6 states: Morelos, Mexico City, State of Mexico, Hidalgo, Querétaro, Guanajuato. Of the 9 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Cuernavaca to Pénjamo, 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 |
| connecting roads | 135–136 | 1 | Querétaro |
| MEX-47D | 136–190 | 54 | Querétaro, Guanajuato |
| MEX-45D | 190–239 | 49 | Guanajuato |
| connecting roads | 239–240 | 1 | Guanajuato |
| MEX-90 | 240–268 | 28 | Guanajuato |
| local roads | 268–270 | 2 | Guanajuato |
- 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 177 of this route: Querétaro → Guanajuato (state line)
Stops between Cuernavaca and Pénjamo
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museo Casa Estudio Diego Rivera y Frida Kahlo (mile 43), Museo Casa de la Bola (mile 48), Parque Naucalli (mile 55)
- Nature and outdoors: Parque Tezozómoc (mile 55), Parque Naucalli (mile 55), Tula National Park (mile 98), Cerro de las Campanas (mile 178)
- Museums and history: Museo Casa Estudio Diego Rivera y Frida Kahlo (mile 43), Museo Casa de la Bola (mile 48), Monumento a la Madre, Mexico City (mile 49), Celaya Cathedral (mile 201)
Museo Casa Estudio Diego Rivera y Frida Kahlo
Juan O'Gorman designed these two functionalist houses in 1931 for Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo, one red and white, one blue, joined by a small rooftop bridge. Since 1986 they've been a museum about the couple and their generation.
Museo Casa de la Bola
The Museo Casa de la Bola is a museum in Mexico City, located in the city's Tacubaya neighborhood.
Monumento a la Madre, Mexico City
Inaugurated on May 10, 1949, the Monumento a la Madre in Mexico City is a monument honoring and commemorating Mexican mothers.
Parque Tezozómoc
A large park in the Azcapotzalco borough, Parque Tezozómoc offers open green space in the northwestern part of Mexico City.
Parque Naucalli
Parque Naucalli is a park just outside Mexico City, in the municipality of Naucalpan de Juárez, where planning for the park began in 1975.
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.
Cerro de las Campanas
Rising within Querétaro City, the Cerro de las Campanas is a hill that is protected as a Mexican national park.
Celaya Cathedral
Celaya's main Catholic church, the Immaculate Conception Cathedral, occupies the space of a former chapel that was annexed to the neighboring Temple of St. Francis.
Tequila Corralejo
Tequila Corralejo is distilled in Pénjamo, Guanajuato, at the historic Hacienda de Corralejo, where the brand, established in 1996, offers guided tours and hosts social events.
More drives to Pénjamo
- Guadalupe, Zacatecas to Pénjamo
- Zacatecas to Pénjamo
- Jerez, Zacatecas to Pénjamo
- Fresnillo to Pénjamo
- Durango to Pénjamo
- Mazatlán to Pénjamo
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 Pénjamo?
About 5 h 9 min of driving without stops, over 270 miles.
How far is Pénjamo from Cuernavaca by car?
About 270 miles (434 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 Pénjamo?
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 Pénjamo?
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 (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Cuernavaca to Pénjamo use?
In order: MEX-95D, Periférico, MEX-57, MEX-47D, MEX-45D and MEX-90. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Cuernavaca and Pénjamo?
Closest to the road: Museo Casa Estudio Diego Rivera y Frida Kahlo (museum, mile 43, 0.3 mi from the route); Museo Casa de la Bola (museum, mile 48, 0.2 mi from the route); Parque Naucalli (park, mile 55, 0.4 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.