The Wayro route from Cuernavaca to San Juan del Río is 146 miles (235 km), about 3 h 4 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 146 mi (235 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 3 h 4 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-95D → Periférico → MEX-57 → MEX-57D |
| Mexican states on the route | Morelos (Level 3), Mexico City (Level 2), State of Mexico (Level 2), Hidalgo (Level 2), Querétaro (Level 2) |
| Toll roads | MEX-95D, MEX-57D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 5.8 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 San Juan del Río is like
MEX-57 (70 mi) and Periférico (30 mi) carry about 68% of the 146 miles. MEX-95D, MEX-57D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-57 is a free federal road (libre). It runs through 5 states: Morelos, Mexico City, State of Mexico, Hidalgo, Querétaro. Of the 9 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Cuernavaca to San Juan del Río, 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 | 135–144 | 9 | Querétaro |
| local roads | 144–146 | 2 | Querétaro |
- 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)
Stops between Cuernavaca and San Juan del Río
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Cuicuilco (mile 38), National Museum of Anthropology (mile 49), Torres de Satélite (mile 55)
- Nature and outdoors: Fuentes Brotantes de Tlalpan National Park (mile 34), Cerro de la Estrella National Park (mile 36), Los Remedios National Park (mile 54), Tula National Park (mile 98)
- Museums and history: Cuicuilco (mile 38), Frida Kahlo Museum (mile 45), National Museum of Anthropology (mile 49)
Fuentes Brotantes de Tlalpan National Park
In southern Mexico City's Tlalpan borough, Fuentes Brotantes de Tlalpan was declared a national park on September 28, 1936, on land once called the Barranca de los Manantiales.
Cerro de la Estrella National Park
Rising in eastern Mexico City's Iztapalapa borough, Cerro de la Estrella is where the Mexica lit the New Fire every 52 years; trails lead up to a pyramid-shaped site museum near the summit and to caves with traces of pre-Hispanic use.
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.
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.
National Museum of Anthropology
Mexico's National Museum of Anthropology in Mexico City is the country's national museum devoted to anthropology.
Historic center of Mexico City
Built by the Spanish in the 16th century on the ruins of Tenochtitlan, Mexico City's Centro Histórico holds the Metropolitan Cathedral, the excavated Aztec Templo Mayor and the Palacio de Bellas Artes. UNESCO added it to the World Heritage List in 1987.
Los Remedios National Park
Los Remedios National Park, created by federal decree in 1938, covers about 400 hectares on the far western side of Naucalpan, just northwest of Mexico City.
Torres de Satélite
The Torres de Satélite are giant sculptures in Ciudad Satélite, Naucalpan, conceived from 1957 by architect Luis Barragán, painter Jesús Reyes Ferreira and sculptor Mathias Goeritz.
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.
More drives to San Juan del Río
- Celaya to San Juan del Río
- Salamanca to San Juan del Río
- Irapuato to San Juan del Río
- León to San Juan del Río
- Uruapan to San Juan del Río
- Durango to San Juan del Río
From Cuernavaca to other places in Mexico
- Cuernavaca to Valle de Bravo
- Cuernavaca to Zitácuaro
- Cuernavaca to El Oro
- Cuernavaca to Tlalpujahua
- Cuernavaca to Amealco
- Cuernavaca to Tequisquiapan
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Cuernavaca to San Juan del Río?
About 3 h 4 min of driving without stops, over 146 miles.
How far is San Juan del Río from Cuernavaca by car?
About 146 miles (235 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 San Juan del Río?
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 San Juan del Río?
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 (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Cuernavaca to San Juan del Río use?
In order: MEX-95D, Periférico, MEX-57 and MEX-57D. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Cuernavaca and San Juan del Río?
Closest to the road: Cuicuilco (archaeological site, mile 38, 0.1 mi from the route); National Museum of Anthropology (National museum, mile 49, 0.7 mi from the route); Torres de Satélite (sculpture, mile 55, 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 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.