The Wayro route from Malinalco to Oaxtepec is 60 miles (97 km), about 1 h 41 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 60 mi (97 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 1 h 41 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-200 → MEX-95D → MEX-160D |
| Mexican states on the route | State of Mexico (Level 2), Morelos (Level 3) |
| Toll roads | MEX-95D, MEX-160D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 2.4 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 6 |
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 Malinalco to Oaxtepec is like
MEX-160D (16 mi) and MEX-200 (6 mi) carry about 37% of the 60 miles. MEX-95D, MEX-160D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-200 is a free federal road (libre). It runs through 2 states: State of Mexico, Morelos. Of the 6 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Malinalco to Oaxtepec, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–10 | 10 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-200 | 10–16 | 6 | State of Mexico |
| local roads | 16–30 | 14 | State of Mexico, Morelos |
| connecting roads | 30–37 | 7 | Morelos |
| MEX-95D | 37–43 | 6 | Morelos |
| MEX-160D | 43–59 | 16 | Morelos |
| local roads | 59–60 | 1 | Morelos |
- Mile 24 of this route: State of Mexico → Morelos (state line)
Stops between Malinalco and Oaxtepec
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Lagunas de Zempoala National Park (mile 24), Tepoztlán Ex Convento Museum (mile 48)
- Nature and outdoors: Cumbres del Ajusco National Park (mile 22), Lagunas de Zempoala National Park (mile 24), El Tepozteco National Park (mile 48)
- Museums and history: Cuernavaca Cathedral (mile 37), Museo Fotográfico de Cuernavaca (mile 37), Tepoztlán Ex Convento Museum (mile 48)
Cumbres del Ajusco National Park
Pine and oak forests climb toward alpine meadows in Cumbres del Ajusco National Park, on Mexico City's southern edge. It draws hikers, climbers and cyclists, and it gets occasional snow, a rarity for the region.
Lagunas de Zempoala National Park
Seven lagoons, three of them permanent, sit among pine, oak and fir forest above 3,000 meters in this park, decreed in 1936 on the Morelos–State of Mexico line. Hiking, horseback riding, camping and rowboats are popular here.
Cuernavaca Cathedral
Franciscans built this 16th-century convent church, now Cuernavaca's cathedral and part of the UNESCO-listed monasteries on the slopes of Popocatépetl; visitors can see its murals, side chapels and a sacred art museum.
Museo Fotográfico de Cuernavaca
The Museo Fotográfico de Cuernavaca is a photography museum in Cuernavaca, Morelos, housed in a building that resembles a French-style castle.
El Tepozteco National Park
Eroded volcanic hills of the Sierra de Tepoztlán fill this national park, about half of which lies in Mexico City's Milpa Alta borough. A short, steep climb leads to the Tepozteco archaeological zone; wear good shoes, since the rocks get slippery.
Tepoztlán Ex Convento Museum
Tepoztlán's Dominican monastery, built between 1555 and 1580, keeps original 16th-century murals in its cloister. Upstairs, the museum covers local daily life, faith, festivals and dances, and the complex is part of a UNESCO World Heritage listing.
When you get to Oaxtepec
Former convent of Saint Dominic de Guzmán
In Oaxtepec, the Exconvento de Santo Domingo de Guzmán is among the first convents the Dominicans built in Mexico, and its walls preserve extensive fresco painting from the colonial era.
Templo y Exconvento de San Juan Bautista de Tlayacapan
Augustinian friars began this fortress-like church and monastery in the 16th century. Part of the UNESCO-listed group of monasteries on the slopes of Popocatépetl, its former cloister now holds a museum with 17th-century murals and religious art.
More drives to Oaxtepec
- Mexico City to Oaxtepec
- Metepec to Oaxtepec
- Toluca to Oaxtepec
- Otumba to Oaxtepec
- Taxco to Oaxtepec
- Tepotzotlán to Oaxtepec
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 Oaxtepec?
About 1 h 41 min of driving without stops, over 60 miles.
How far is Oaxtepec from Malinalco by car?
About 60 miles (97 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 Oaxtepec?
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 Oaxtepec?
The U.S. State Department rates State of Mexico Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Morelos Level 3: Reconsider Travel (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Malinalco to Oaxtepec use?
In order: MEX-200, MEX-95D and MEX-160D. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Malinalco and Oaxtepec?
Closest to the road: Lagunas de Zempoala National Park (National Park of Mexico, mile 24, 0.4 mi from the route); El Tepozteco National Park (National Park of Mexico, mile 48, 1 mi from the route); Tepoztlán Ex Convento Museum (museum, mile 48, 0.6 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.