The Wayro route from Iguala to Malinalco is 71 miles (115 km), about 1 h 44 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 71 mi (115 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 1 h 44 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-91D → MEX-185 → MEX-181 |
| Mexican states on the route | Guerrero (Level 4), Morelos (Level 3), State of Mexico (Level 2) |
| Toll roads | MEX-91D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 2.9 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 3 |
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 Iguala to Malinalco is like
MEX-91D (37 mi) and MEX-181 (5 mi) carry about 59% of the 71 miles. MEX-91D is a toll highway (cuota); MEX-185, MEX-181 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 3 states: Guerrero, Morelos, State of Mexico. None of the 3 stops below is right on the road, so plan each as a short side trip.
The route from Iguala to Malinalco, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–2 | 2 | Guerrero |
| MEX-91D | 2–39 | 37 | Guerrero, Morelos |
| local roads | 39–62 | 23 | Morelos, State of Mexico |
| MEX-185 | 62–66 | 4 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-181 | 66–71 | 5 | State of Mexico |
- Mile 29 of this route: Guerrero → Morelos (state line)
- Mile 60 of this route: Morelos → State of Mexico (state line)
Stops between Iguala and Malinalco
- Nature and outdoors: Grutas de Cacahuamilpa National Park (mile 28)
- Museums and history: Coatetelco archaeological site (mile 47), Xochicalco (mile 51)
Grutas de Cacahuamilpa National Park
Protected as a national park since 1936, this area near Taxco centers on the Cacahuamilpa caverns, where a guided route of about 4 km passes chambers up to 80 meters high, decorated with flowstone and floor-to-ceiling columns.
Coatetelco archaeological site
Beside the Coatetelco Lagoon, two kilometers from Alpuyeca in the Miacatlán municipality, Coatetelco is a pre-Hispanic archaeological site near Xochicalco in Morelos.
Xochicalco
A fortified hilltop city that thrived between about 650 and 900, Xochicalco is a UNESCO World Heritage site where you can see the Pyramid of the Plumed Serpent with its carved reliefs, ball courts, an underground observatory and a site museum.
When you get to Malinalco
Malinalco
Carved straight into the hillside above Malinalco, the Cuauhcalli is a rock-cut temple at the heart of this archaeological zone. The Mexica took the Matlatzinca town around 1476 and used it to train and consecrate elite warriors.
Desierto del Carmen National Park
Declared a national park on October 10, 1942, Desierto del Carmen is a protected area in the municipality of Tenancingo, in the State of Mexico.
More drives to Malinalco
- Valle de Bravo to Malinalco
- Zitácuaro to Malinalco
- Tlalpujahua to Malinalco
- San Juan del Río to Malinalco
- Tequisquiapan to Malinalco
- Salvatierra to Malinalco
From Iguala to other places in Mexico
- Iguala to Tonatico
- Iguala to Metepec
- Iguala to Atlixco
- Iguala to Tepotzotlán
- Iguala to Valle de Bravo
- Iguala to Zacatelco
Continue Your Adventure
- Malinalco to Tetela de Ocampo Road Trip: Route, Stops & Safety
- Malinalco to Pinos Road Trip: Where to Stop on the Way
- Malinalco to Santa Fe de la Laguna Road Trip: Route & Stops
- Malinalco to Nombre de Dios Road Trip: Distance, Time & Stops
- Malinalco to Real de Asientos Road Trip: Route, Tolls & Stops
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Iguala to Malinalco?
About 1 h 44 min of driving without stops, over 71 miles.
How far is Malinalco from Iguala by car?
About 71 miles (115 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 Iguala to Malinalco?
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 Iguala to Malinalco?
The U.S. State Department rates Guerrero Level 4: Do Not Travel; Morelos Level 3: Reconsider Travel; State of Mexico Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Iguala to Malinalco use?
In order: MEX-91D, MEX-185 and MEX-181. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Iguala and Malinalco?
Closest to the road: Grutas de Cacahuamilpa National Park (National Park of Mexico, mile 28, 9 mi from the route); Coatetelco archaeological site (archaeological site, mile 47, 2 mi from the route); Xochicalco (archaeological site, mile 51, 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.