The Wayro route from Malinalco to General Zaragoza is 464 miles (746 km), about 10 h 26 min of driving without stops.
| Total distance | 464 mi (746 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 10 h 26 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-55 → MEX-55D → MEX-M40D → MEX-57D → MEX-57 → SLP 29 → NL 3 |
| Mexican states on the route | State of Mexico, Querétaro, Guanajuato, San Luis Potosí, Nuevo León |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-A10D, MEX-55D, MEX-M40D, MEX-57D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 18.5 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.
The Malinalco–General Zaragoza drive in a few lines
MEX-57 (173 mi) and MEX-57D (98 mi) carry about 58% of the 464 miles. It runs through 5 states: State of Mexico, Querétaro, Guanajuato, San Luis Potosí, Nuevo León. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-A10D, MEX-55D and MEX-M40D. Of the 9 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
Malinalco to General Zaragoza: the road sequence
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–34 | 34 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-55 | 34–45 | 11 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-55D | 45–74 | 29 | State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 74–76 | 2 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-M40D | 76–85 | 9 | State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 85–86 | 1 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-55 | 86–116 | 30 | State of Mexico, Querétaro |
| MEX-57D | 116–167 | 51 | Querétaro |
| MEX-57 | 167–264 | 97 | Querétaro, Guanajuato, San Luis Potosí |
| connecting roads | 264–265 | 1 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-57D | 265–306 | 41 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-57 | 306–382 | 76 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-57D | 382–388 | 6 | San Luis Potosí |
| SLP 29 | 388–416 | 28 | San Luis Potosí, Nuevo León |
| NL 3 | 416–423 | 7 | Nuevo León |
| local roads | 423–464 | 41 | Nuevo León |
- Mile 114 of this route: State of Mexico → Querétaro (state line)
- Mile 174 of this route: Querétaro → Guanajuato (state line)
- Mile 227 of this route: Guanajuato → San Luis Potosí (state line)
- Mile 396 of this route: San Luis Potosí → Nuevo León (state line)
Where to stop on the way to General Zaragoza
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Cathedral of Atlacomulco (mile 75)
- Nature and outdoors: Museo de Ciencias Naturales del Estado de México (mile 35), Parque Estatal Sierra Morelos (mile 39), El Gogorrón National Park (mile 254)
- Museums and history: Museo de Ciencias Naturales del Estado de México (mile 35), Museo Felipe Santiago Gutiérrez (mile 36), Cathedral of Atlacomulco (mile 75), Former hacienda of Chichimequillas (mile 158), San Luis Potosí Cathedral (mile 273), Matehuala Cathedral (mile 387)
Museo de Ciencias Naturales del Estado de México
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.
Museo Felipe Santiago Gutiérrez
In Toluca's historic center, a building from the late 18th and early 19th centuries holds about 225 watercolors, oils and drawings tracing the work of painter Felipe Santiago Gutiérrez. It opened in December 1992.
Parque Estatal Sierra Morelos
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.
Cathedral of Atlacomulco
Dedicated to Divine Providence, the cathedral in Atlacomulco is the principal Catholic church in town and the seat of the local diocese.
Historic Monuments Zone of Querétaro
UNESCO listed Querétaro's historic center in 1996. Here, the Spanish grid of streets meets the winding lanes of the old Indigenous quarters, with Baroque churches and mansions throughout.
Former hacienda of Chichimequillas
Discalced Carmelite friars founded this hacienda around 1690 to shelter travelers on the Camino Real de Tierra Adentro and to farm. Its two-story stone and lime main house, finished in 1813, wraps around a central courtyard beside a chapel.
El Gogorrón National Park
Straddling San Luis Potosí and Guanajuato near Villa de Reyes, this national park offers rugged rock formations, mountain scenery and thermal springs, with camping, hiking and mountain biking.
San Luis Potosí Cathedral
Look closely at the two towers of San Luis Potosí's cathedral: one is built of mortar, the other of quarried cantera stone. The Baroque church is the seat of the archdiocese.
Matehuala Cathedral
Matehuala's Immaculate Conception Cathedral is the seat of the Diocese of Matehuala; it is open for worship though still under construction.
More drives to General Zaragoza
- Jerez, Zacatecas to General Zaragoza
- Pabellón de Hidalgo to General Zaragoza
- Celaya to General Zaragoza
- Salvatierra to General Zaragoza
- Tlalpujahua to General Zaragoza
- Angangueo to General Zaragoza
From Malinalco to other places in Mexico
- Malinalco to El Oro
- Malinalco to Amealco
- Malinalco to Bernal
- Malinalco to Mineral de Pozos
- Malinalco to Santa Fe de la Laguna
- Malinalco to Ihuatzio
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Malinalco to General Zaragoza?
About 10 h 26 min of driving without stops, over 464 miles.
How far is General Zaragoza from Malinalco by car?
About 464 miles (746 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 General Zaragoza?
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 General Zaragoza?
The U.S. State Department rates State of Mexico Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Querétaro Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Guanajuato Level 3: Reconsider Travel; San Luis Potosí Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Nuevo León Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Malinalco to General Zaragoza?
In order: MEX-55, MEX-55D, MEX-M40D, MEX-57D, MEX-57, SLP 29 and NL 3. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Malinalco and General Zaragoza?
Closest to the road: Museo de Ciencias Naturales del Estado de México (museum, mile 35, 1 mi from the route); Museo Felipe Santiago Gutiérrez (art museum, mile 36, 1 mi from the route); Cathedral of Atlacomulco (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 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: at least one strong stop for each stretch of the drive, then the best-known places nearest the road, up to nine in all. Places that are closed, private or not open to visitors are removed. Place 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.