The Wayro route from Cuernavaca to Tlacotalpan is 315 miles (507 km), about 5 h 39 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 315 mi (507 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 5 h 39 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-95D → MEX-160D → MEX-160 → PUE 438D → MEX-190D → MEX-190 → MEX-150D → MEX-175 |
| Mexican states on the route | Morelos (Level 3), Puebla (Level 2), Veracruz (Level 2) |
| Toll roads | MEX-95D, MEX-160D, MEX-190D, MEX-150D, MEX-145D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 12.6 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 Tlacotalpan is like
MEX-150D (125 mi) and PUE 438D (34 mi) carry about 50% of the 315 miles. MEX-95D, MEX-160D, MEX-190D, MEX-150D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-160, MEX-190, MEX-175 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 3 states: Morelos, Puebla, Veracruz. Of the 9 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Cuernavaca to Tlacotalpan, road by road
| 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 | 107–232 | 125 | Puebla, Veracruz |
| local roads | 232–285 | 53 | Veracruz |
| MEX-175 | 285–315 | 30 | Veracruz |
- Mile 55 of this route: Morelos → Puebla (state line)
- Mile 165 of this route: Puebla → Veracruz (state line)
Stops between Cuernavaca and Tlacotalpan
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Cañón del Río Blanco National Park (mile 178)
- Nature and outdoors: El Tepozteco National Park (mile 14), Cañón del Río Blanco National Park (mile 178)
- Museums and history: El Tepozteco (mile 14), Chalcatzingo (mile 47), Orizaba Cathedral (mile 186), Veracruz State Art Museum (mile 188), Huatusco (mile 226)
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.
Monasteries on the slopes of Popocatépetl
Inscribed by UNESCO in 1994, this World Heritage site groups early 16th-century monasteries that Franciscan, Dominican and Augustinian friars built on the slopes of Popocatépetl, with large open spaces used to evangelize the Indigenous population.
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.
Cañón del Río Blanco National Park
Cañón del Río Blanco National Park is a protected natural area in the Mexican state of Veracruz, set aside by the government as a national park.
Orizaba Cathedral
The Cathedral of St. Michael the Archangel is the main Catholic church of Orizaba, in the state of Veracruz, and the seat of the Diocese of Orizaba.
Veracruz State Art Museum
Housed in Orizaba's 18th-century former Oratorio of San Felipe Neri, later a hospital and then a jail, the Veracruz State Art Museum (Museo de Arte del Estado) holds more than 700 works, including 36 by Diego Rivera.
Huatusco
Above the Atoyac River in Carrillo Puerto, the ruins of Huatusco (Cuauhtochco) include a Mexica-era temple that still keeps original surface finishes. There are no visitor facilities; reaching it means crossing a suspension bridge and climbing a steep trail, ideally with a local guide.
More drives to Tlacotalpan
- Puebla to Tlacotalpan
- Cholula to Tlacotalpan
- Zacatelco to Tlacotalpan
- Chiautempan to Tlacotalpan
- Tlaxcala to Tlacotalpan
- Huejotzingo to Tlacotalpan
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 Tlacotalpan?
About 5 h 39 min of driving without stops, over 315 miles.
How far is Tlacotalpan from Cuernavaca by car?
About 315 miles (507 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 Tlacotalpan?
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 Tlacotalpan?
The U.S. State Department rates Morelos Level 3: Reconsider Travel; 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 Tlacotalpan use?
In order: MEX-95D, MEX-160D, MEX-160, PUE 438D, MEX-190D, MEX-190, MEX-150D and MEX-175. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Cuernavaca and Tlacotalpan?
Closest to the road: El Tepozteco (archaeological site, mile 14, 1 mi from the route); El Tepozteco National Park (National Park of Mexico, mile 14, 1 mi from the route); Cañón del Río Blanco National Park (National Park of Mexico, mile 178, 0.5 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.