The Wayro route from Cuernavaca to Zacualpan de Amilpas is 48 miles (77 km), about 1 h 1 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 48 mi (77 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 1 h 1 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-95D → MEX-160D → MEX-160 |
| Mexican states on the route | Morelos (Level 3) |
| Toll roads | MEX-95D, MEX-160D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 1.9 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 6 |
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 Zacualpan de Amilpas is like
MEX-160D (21 mi) and MEX-160 (11 mi) carry about 67% of the 48 miles. MEX-95D, MEX-160D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-160 is a free federal road (libre). Of the 6 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Cuernavaca to Zacualpan de Amilpas, 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 | 30–41 | 11 | Morelos |
| local roads | 41–48 | 7 | Morelos |
Stops between Cuernavaca and Zacualpan de Amilpas
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Tepoztlán Ex Convento Museum (mile 15), Former convent of Saint Dominic de Guzmán (mile 26)
- Museums and history: El Tepozteco (mile 14), Tepoztlán Ex Convento Museum (mile 15), Museo Histórico del Oriente de Morelos "Casa de Morelos" (mile 32)
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.
Tepoztlán Ex Convento Museum
Tepoztlán's Dominican monastery, built between 1555 and 1580, keeps original 16th-century murals in its cloister. Upstairs, the museum covers local daily life, faith, festivals and dances, and the complex is part of a UNESCO World Heritage listing.
Templo y Exconvento de San Juan Bautista de Tlayacapan
Augustinian friars began this fortress-like church and monastery in the 16th century. Part of the UNESCO-listed group of monasteries on the slopes of Popocatépetl, its former cloister now holds a museum with 17th-century murals and religious art.
Former convent of Saint Dominic de Guzmán
In Oaxtepec, the Exconvento de Santo Domingo de Guzmán is among the first convents the Dominicans built in Mexico, and its walls preserve extensive fresco painting from the colonial era.
Templo y Exconvento de San Juan Bautista de Yecapixtla
The 16th-century church and former monastery of San Juan Bautista in Yecapixtla belongs to the Monasteries on the Slopes of Popocatepetl, inscribed by UNESCO in 1994 as early missionary architecture with large open courtyards.
Museo Histórico del Oriente de Morelos "Casa de Morelos"
In this 18th-century house in Cuautla, José María Morelos lived during the 1812 Siege of Cuautla. Its INAH galleries trace regional history through Morelos and Emiliano Zapata and display "El Niño," his first cannon, a gift from the Galeana family.
More drives to Zacualpan de Amilpas
- Puebla to Zacualpan de Amilpas
- Zacatelco to Zacualpan de Amilpas
- Mexico City to Zacualpan de Amilpas
- Chiautempan to Zacualpan de Amilpas
- Apizaco to Zacualpan de Amilpas
- Calpulalpan to Zacualpan de Amilpas
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 Zacualpan de Amilpas?
About 1 h 1 min of driving without stops, over 48 miles.
How far is Zacualpan de Amilpas from Cuernavaca by car?
About 48 miles (77 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 Zacualpan de Amilpas?
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 Zacualpan de Amilpas?
The U.S. State Department rates Morelos Level 3: Reconsider Travel (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Cuernavaca to Zacualpan de Amilpas use?
In order: MEX-95D, MEX-160D and MEX-160. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Cuernavaca and Zacualpan de Amilpas?
Closest to the road: El Tepozteco (archaeological site, mile 14, 1 mi from the route); Tepoztlán Ex Convento Museum (museum, mile 15, 0.6 mi from the route); Former convent of Saint Dominic de Guzmán (convent, mile 26, 0.8 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.