The Wayro route from Cuernavaca to Zimapán is 163 miles (263 km), about 3 h 58 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 163 mi (263 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 3 h 58 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-95D → Periférico → MEX-57 → MEX-11 → MEX-45 → MEX-85 |
| Mexican states on the route | Morelos (Level 3), Mexico City (Level 2), State of Mexico (Level 2), Hidalgo (Level 2) |
| Toll roads | MEX-95D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 6.5 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 Zimapán is like
Periférico (30 mi) and MEX-57 (23 mi) carry about 33% of the 163 miles. MEX-95D is a toll highway (cuota); MEX-57, MEX-11, MEX-45, MEX-85 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 4 states: Morelos, Mexico City, State of Mexico, Hidalgo. Of the 9 stops listed below, 4 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Cuernavaca to Zimapán, 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 | 65–88 | 23 | State of Mexico, Hidalgo |
| MEX-11 | 88–91 | 3 | Hidalgo |
| local roads | 91–134 | 43 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-45 | 134–139 | 5 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-85 | 139–159 | 20 | Hidalgo |
| local roads | 159–163 | 4 | Hidalgo |
- 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)
Stops between Cuernavaca and Zimapán
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Centro Cultural Isidro Fabela (mile 43), Luis Barragán House and Studio (mile 48), Parque Naucalli (mile 55), Templo y exconvento de San Francisco (mile 89)
- Nature and outdoors: Cerro de la Estrella National Park (mile 36), Parque Tezozómoc (mile 55), Parque Naucalli (mile 55)
- Museums and history: Centro Cultural Isidro Fabela (mile 43), Frida Kahlo Museum (mile 45), Luis Barragán House and Studio (mile 48), Museo de Arte Moderno (mile 49)
- With kids: Zoológico Los Coyotes (mile 36)
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.
Zoológico Los Coyotes
Opened on February 2, 1999, Los Coyotes is Mexico City's third zoo, created to complement the capital's other zoos.
Centro Cultural Isidro Fabela
Facing Plaza San Jacinto in San Ángel, the Casa del Risco houses the Centro Cultural Isidro Fabela, a museum opened in 1963 after Isidro Fabela and his wife donated the house.
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.
Luis Barragán House and Studio
Luis Barragán built his own house and studio in Mexico City in 1948, blending modern design with Mexican vernacular touches. The concrete house and its private garden joined UNESCO's World Heritage List in 2004.
Museo de Arte Moderno
In Chapultepec Park, the Museo de Arte Moderno is part of Mexico's national fine arts institute (INBAL) and shows modern Mexican art along with exhibitions by Mexican and international artists.
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.
Templo y exconvento de San Francisco
The Templo y Exconvento de San Francisco is a church and former convent located in the city of Tepeji del Río, in the Mexican state of Hidalgo.
More drives to Zimapán
- Celaya to Zimapán
- Tlalpujahua to Zimapán
- Moroleón to Zimapán
- Pénjamo to Zimapán
- Zitácuaro to Zimapán
- Cuitzeo to Zimapán
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 Zimapán?
About 3 h 58 min of driving without stops, over 163 miles.
How far is Zimapán from Cuernavaca by car?
About 163 miles (263 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 Zimapán?
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 Zimapán?
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 (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Cuernavaca to Zimapán use?
In order: MEX-95D, Periférico, MEX-57, MEX-11, MEX-45 and MEX-85. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Cuernavaca and Zimapán?
Closest to the road: Luis Barragán House and Studio (museum, mile 48, 0.1 mi from the route); Parque Naucalli (park, mile 55, 0.4 mi from the route); Templo y exconvento de San Francisco (convent, mile 89, 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.