The Wayro route from Cuernavaca to Santa Clara del Cobre is 235 miles (378 km), about 4 h 39 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 235 mi (378 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 4 h 39 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-106 → MEX-200 → EM 44 → MEX-55 → MEX-55D → MEX-15D → MEX-37D → MEX-120 |
| Mexican states on the route | Morelos (Level 3), State of Mexico (Level 2), Michoacán (Level 4) |
| Toll roads | MEX-55D, MEX-15D, MEX-37D, MEX-14D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 9.4 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 Santa Clara del Cobre is like
MEX-15D (90 mi) and MEX-37D (38 mi) carry about 54% of the 235 miles. MEX-55D, MEX-15D, MEX-37D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-106, MEX-200, MEX-55, MEX-120 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 3 states: Morelos, State of Mexico, Michoacán. Of the 9 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Cuernavaca to Santa Clara del Cobre, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–9 | 9 | Morelos |
| MEX-106 | 9–24 | 15 | Morelos, State of Mexico |
| MEX-200 | 24–29 | 5 | State of Mexico |
| local roads | 29–34 | 5 | State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 34–37 | 3 | State of Mexico |
| EM 44 | 37–44 | 7 | State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 44–45 | 1 | State of Mexico |
| local roads | 45–50 | 5 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-55 | 50–61 | 11 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-55D | 61–89 | 28 | State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 89–90 | 1 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-55 | 90–93 | 3 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-15D | 93–183 | 90 | State of Mexico, Michoacán |
| connecting roads | 183–184 | 1 | Michoacán |
| MEX-37D | 184–222 | 38 | Michoacán |
| connecting roads | 222–226 | 4 | Michoacán |
| MEX-120 | 226–235 | 9 | Michoacán |
- Mile 15 of this route: Morelos → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 111 of this route: State of Mexico → Michoacán (state line)
Stops between Cuernavaca and Santa Clara del Cobre
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Lagunas de Zempoala National Park (mile 16), José María Morelos y Pavón University History Museum (mile 51)
- Nature and outdoors: Lagunas de Zempoala National Park (mile 16), Cumbres del Ajusco National Park (mile 17), La Marquesa National Park (mile 37), Parque Estatal Sierra Morelos (mile 55), Rayón National Park (mile 114)
- Museums and history: José María Morelos y Pavón University History Museum (mile 51), Toluca Cathedral (mile 52), Basilica of Nuestra Señora de la Salud, Pátzcuaro (mile 226)
Lagunas de Zempoala National Park
Seven lagoons, three of them permanent, sit among pine, oak and fir forest above 3,000 meters in this park, decreed in 1936 on the Morelos–State of Mexico line. Hiking, horseback riding, camping and rowboats are popular here.
Cumbres del Ajusco National Park
Pine and oak forests climb toward alpine meadows in Cumbres del Ajusco National Park, on Mexico City's southern edge. It draws hikers, climbers and cyclists, and it gets occasional snow, a rarity for the region.
La Marquesa National Park
Set in high-altitude conifer forest along the Mexico City–Toluca highway, La Marquesa National Park offers roadside eateries, horse and ATV rentals, mountain biking and camping, and marks the site of the 1810 Battle of Monte de las Cruces.
Ciénegas del Lerma
These marshes in the Toluca Valley are three lakes left from a wetland of about 27,000 hectares in the late 19th century. A Ramsar site since 2004, they hold dozens of endemic and threatened species and are a key stop for migratory species.
José María Morelos y Pavón University History Museum
The Museo de Historia Universitaria José María Morelos y Pavón is a history museum located in the city of Toluca de Lerdo.
Toluca Cathedral
Begun in 1867 and finished only in 1978, Toluca's Cathedral of Saint Joseph has a neoclassical facade and a bronze statue of the saint on its dome. It also preserves the 18th-century baroque front of the former San Elzeario church.
Parque Estatal Sierra Morelos
This Toluca park, one of the State of Mexico's protected natural areas, is home to more than 500 species of plants and animals. Families come for the axolotl center, bat house, small farm and jogging track.
Rayón National Park
Just outside Tlalpujahua, Rayón National Park (Parque Nacional Rayón) marks the start of the area's famous butterfly reserve country, which stretches south and west from here.
Basilica of Nuestra Señora de la Salud, Pátzcuaro
Pátzcuaro's basilica (Basílica de Nuestra Señora de la Salud) rises on pre-Hispanic platforms beside its own plaza. Bishop Vasco de Quiroga planned it as a five-nave cathedral, only one nave was finished, and his remains rest inside.
More drives to Santa Clara del Cobre
- Tepatitlán to Santa Clara del Cobre
- Tequila to Santa Clara del Cobre
- Pabellón de Arteaga to Santa Clara del Cobre
- Guadalupe, Zacatecas to Santa Clara del Cobre
- Zacatecas to Santa Clara del Cobre
- Jerez, Zacatecas to Santa Clara del Cobre
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 Santa Clara del Cobre?
About 4 h 39 min of driving without stops, over 235 miles.
How far is Santa Clara del Cobre from Cuernavaca by car?
About 235 miles (378 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 Santa Clara del Cobre?
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 Santa Clara del Cobre?
The U.S. State Department rates Morelos Level 3: Reconsider Travel; State of Mexico Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Michoacán Level 4: Do Not Travel (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Cuernavaca to Santa Clara del Cobre use?
In order: MEX-106, MEX-200, EM 44, MEX-55, MEX-55D, MEX-15D, MEX-37D and MEX-120. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Cuernavaca and Santa Clara del Cobre?
Closest to the road: Lagunas de Zempoala National Park (National Park of Mexico, mile 16, 0.4 mi from the route); José María Morelos y Pavón University History Museum (history museum, mile 51, 0.8 mi from the route); Toluca Cathedral (catholic cathedral, mile 52, 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.