Malinalco to Maruata Road Trip: Stops, Tolls & Drive Time

By admin, 3 October, 2026

The Wayro route from Malinalco to Maruata is 473 miles (761 km), about 8 h 17 min of driving without stops.

U.S. State Department travel advisory: State of Mexico — Level 2, Exercise Increased Caution; Michoacán — Level 4, Do Not Travel; Guerrero — Level 4, Do Not TravelAdvisory issued May 29, 2026; checked September 29, 2026. Michoacán is the Mexican state that contains Maruata. This route passes through a state at the advisory's highest level. Read the full advisory before you plan this drive.
Nevado de Toluca National ParkMuseo de Ciencias Naturales del Estado de MéxicoTeatro MorelosParque Estatal Sierra MorelosCalixtlahuacaCathedral of AtlacomulcoTeatro Morelos de MaravatíoMuseo de Artes e Industrias PopularesBarranca del Cupatitzio National ParkMalinalcoMaruata
Route from Malinalco to Maruata with the 9 stops listed below (blue dots).
Distance473 mi (761 km)
Driving time, no stops8 h 17 min
Main roads, in orderMEX-55 → MEX-55D → MEX-15D → MEX-37D → MEX-14D → MEX-200
Mexican states on the routeState of Mexico (Level 2), Michoacán (Level 4), Guerrero (Level 4)
Toll roadsMEX-A10D, MEX-55D, MEX-15D, MEX-37D, MEX-14D
Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg)about 18.9 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic
Stops listed below9

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 Maruata is like

MEX-37D (171 mi) and MEX-200 (101 mi) carry about 58% of the 473 miles. MEX-55D, MEX-15D, MEX-37D, MEX-14D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-55, MEX-200 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 3 states: State of Mexico, Michoacán, Guerrero. Of the 9 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.

The route from Malinalco to Maruata, road by road

RoadRoute miles (from–to)Length, miState
local roads0–3434State of Mexico
MEX-5534–4511State of Mexico
MEX-55D45–7429State of Mexico
MEX-5574–784State of Mexico
MEX-15D78–16890State of Mexico, Michoacán
MEX-37D168–20638Michoacán
MEX-14D206–23428Michoacán
connecting roads234–2351Michoacán
MEX-37D235–368133Michoacán, Guerrero
connecting roads368–3724Michoacán
MEX-200372–473101Michoacán
  • Mile 96 of this route: State of Mexico → Michoacán (state line)
  • Mile 332 of this route: Michoacán → Guerrero (state line)
  • Mile 367 of this route: Guerrero → Michoacán (state line)

Stops between Malinalco and Maruata

  • 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), Barranca del Cupatitzio National Park (mile 236)
  • Museums and history: Museo de Ciencias Naturales del Estado de México (mile 35), Calixtlahuaca (mile 40), Cathedral of Atlacomulco (mile 75), Teatro Morelos de Maravatío (mile 116), Museo de Artes e Industrias Populares (mile 210)

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.

Teatro Morelos de Maravatío

Mile 116 · Opera house · 1 mi from the route

Maravatío's Teatro Morelos is a late-19th-century theater in a French-influenced neoclassical style, designed by architect Rafael Guerrero Torres. It opened on January 11, 1879, with a performance by opera singer Ángela Peralta.

Museo de Artes e Industrias Populares

Mile 210 · Museum · 1 mi from the route

Housed in an 18th-century building adapted from the Colegio de San Nicolás, which Vasco de Quiroga founded in the 16th century, this INAH museum in Pátzcuaro shows Purépecha pottery, textiles, woodwork and lacquerware.

Barranca del Cupatitzio National Park

Mile 236 · National Park of Mexico · 8 mi from the route · side trip; actual detour depends on access roads

In Michoacán, Barranca del Cupatitzio National Park follows the headwaters of the Cupatitzio River, which bubbles up from an underground spring and carves a small ravine as it starts to flow.

More drives to Maruata

From Malinalco to other places in Mexico

Frequently asked questions

How long is the drive from Malinalco to Maruata?

About 8 h 17 min of driving without stops, over 473 miles.

How far is Maruata from Malinalco by car?

About 473 miles (761 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 Maruata?

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 Maruata?

The U.S. State Department rates State of Mexico Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Michoacán Level 4: Do Not Travel; Guerrero Level 4: Do Not Travel (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.

What roads does the drive from Malinalco to Maruata use?

In order: MEX-55, MEX-55D, MEX-15D, MEX-37D, MEX-14D and MEX-200. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.

What are good stops between Malinalco and Maruata?

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.