Malinalco to Amealco Road Trip: Distance, Time & Stops

By admin, 3 October, 2026

The Wayro route from Malinalco to Amealco is 121 miles (195 km), about 2 h 57 min of driving without stops.

U.S. State Department travel advisory: State of Mexico — Level 2, Exercise Increased Caution; Querétaro — Level 2, Exercise Increased CautionAdvisory issued May 29, 2026; checked September 29, 2026. Querétaro is the Mexican state that contains Amealco. See the full advisory for current details.
Nevado de Toluca National ParkMuseo de Ciencias Naturales del Estado de MéxicoTeatro MorelosParque Estatal Sierra MorelosCalixtlahuacaCathedral of AtlacomulcoMalinalcoAmealco
Route from Malinalco to Amealco with the 6 stops listed below (blue dots).
Distance121 mi (195 km)
Driving time, no stops2 h 57 min
Main roads, in orderMEX-55 → MEX-55D → MEX-M40D → QRO 300
Mexican states on the routeState of Mexico (Level 2), Querétaro (Level 2)
Toll roadsMEX-A10D, MEX-55D, MEX-M40D
Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg)about 4.9 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic
Stops listed below6

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 insuranceRequired 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 Malinalco to Amealco is like

MEX-55D (29 mi) and MEX-55 (17 mi) carry about 38% of the 121 miles. MEX-55D, MEX-M40D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-55 is a free federal road (libre). It runs through 2 states: State of Mexico, Querétaro. Of the 6 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.

The route from Malinalco to Amealco, road by road

RoadRoute miles (from–to)Length, miState
local roads0–3434State of Mexico
MEX-5534–4511State of Mexico
MEX-55D45–7429State of Mexico
connecting roads74–762State of Mexico
MEX-M40D76–859State of Mexico
connecting roads85–861State of Mexico
MEX-5586–926State of Mexico
local roads92–10816State of Mexico, Querétaro
QRO 300108–12113Querétaro
  • Mile 107 of this route: State of Mexico → Querétaro (state line)

Stops between Malinalco and Amealco

  • Right off the route (under 1 mile): Cathedral of Atlacomulco (mile 75)
  • Nature and outdoors: Nevado de Toluca National Park (mile 24), Museo de Ciencias Naturales del Estado de México (mile 35), Parque Estatal Sierra Morelos (mile 39)
  • Museums and history: Museo de Ciencias Naturales del Estado de México (mile 35), Calixtlahuaca (mile 40), Cathedral of Atlacomulco (mile 75)

Nevado de Toluca National Park

Mile 24 · Flora and fauna protection area · 12 mi from the route · side trip; actual detour depends on access roads

The Nevado de Toluca volcano was declared a flora and fauna protection area in 2013, a protected zone spanning ten municipalities of the State of Mexico, including Toluca, Zinacantepec and Temascaltepec.

Museo de Ciencias Naturales del Estado de México

Mile 35 · Museum · 1 mi from the route

Set in the Parque de los Matlatzincas on Cerro del Calvario, the Natural Sciences Museum of the State of Mexico explores biology, geology and the preservation of natural resources.

Teatro Morelos

Mile 35 · Theatre building · 1 mi from the route

In Toluca's historic center, just west of the State of Mexico's Palace of Justice, Teatro Morelos stages plays along with other shows and cultural events.

Parque Estatal Sierra Morelos

Mile 39 · Park · 3 mi from the route · side trip; actual detour depends on access roads

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.

Calixtlahuaca

Mile 40 · Archaeological site · 1 mi from the route

Spread over the slopes of Cerro Tenismó near Toluca, this site's standout is the round Temple of Ehécatl-Quetzalcóatl, rebuilt in four phases. Nearby, a Mexica-era skull rack displays stone skulls set into cross-shaped walls.

Cathedral of Atlacomulco

Mile 75 · Catholic cathedral · 0.1 mi from the route

Atlacomulco's cathedral, the Catedral de la Divina Providencia, is the seat of the Diocese of Atlacomulco and is dedicated to Divine Providence, making it the town's principal Catholic church.

More drives to Amealco

From Malinalco to other places in Mexico

Frequently asked questions

How long is the drive from Malinalco to Amealco?

About 2 h 57 min of driving without stops, over 121 miles.

How far is Amealco from Malinalco by car?

About 121 miles (195 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 Malinalco to Amealco?

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 Malinalco to Amealco?

The U.S. State Department rates State of Mexico Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Querétaro Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.

What roads does the drive from Malinalco to Amealco use?

In order: MEX-55, MEX-55D, MEX-M40D and QRO 300. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.

What are good stops between Malinalco and Amealco?

Closest to the road: Museo de Ciencias Naturales del Estado de México (museum, mile 35, 1 mi from the route); Teatro Morelos (theatre building, mile 35, 1 mi from the route); Cathedral of Atlacomulco (catholic cathedral, mile 75, 0.1 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.