The Wayro route from Malinalco to Pinos is 337 miles (543 km), about 7 h 17 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 337 mi (543 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 7 h 17 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-55 → MEX-55D → MEX-M40D → MEX-57D → MEX-57 → MEX-49 → ZAC 291 |
| Mexican states on the route | State of Mexico (Level 2), Querétaro (Level 2), Guanajuato (Level 3), San Luis Potosí (Level 2), Zacatecas (Level 4) |
| Toll roads | MEX-A10D, MEX-55D, MEX-M40D, MEX-57D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 13.5 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 8 |
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 Pinos is like
MEX-57 (108 mi) and MEX-57D (51 mi) carry about 47% of the 337 miles. MEX-55D, MEX-M40D, MEX-57D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-55, MEX-57, MEX-49 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 5 states: State of Mexico, Querétaro, Guanajuato, San Luis Potosí, Zacatecas. Of the 8 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Malinalco to Pinos, road by road
| 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 | 167–275 | 108 | Querétaro, Guanajuato, San Luis Potosí |
| connecting roads | 275–278 | 3 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-49 | 278–321 | 43 | San Luis Potosí, Zacatecas |
| ZAC 291 | 321–336 | 15 | Zacatecas |
| local roads | 336–337 | 1 | Zacatecas |
- 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 309 of this route: San Luis Potosí → Zacatecas (state line)
Stops between Malinalco and Pinos
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Fine Arts Museum of Toluca (mile 36), Cathedral of Atlacomulco (mile 75)
- Nature and outdoors: Nevado de Toluca National Park (mile 24), El Gogorrón National Park (mile 254)
- Museums and history: Toluca Cathedral (mile 35), Fine Arts Museum of Toluca (mile 36), Calixtlahuaca (mile 40), Cathedral of Atlacomulco (mile 75), Former hacienda of Chichimequillas (mile 158), San Luis Potosí Cathedral (mile 275)
Nevado de Toluca National Park
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.
Toluca Cathedral
Begun in 1867 and finished only in 1978, Toluca's Cathedral of Saint Joseph has a neoclassical facade and a bronze statue of the saint on its dome. It also preserves the 18th-century baroque front of the former San Elzeario church.
Fine Arts Museum of Toluca
Toluca's Museo de Bellas Artes has filled a former Carmelite convent since 1945. Its galleries hold colonial-era paintings and sculpture, including an 18th-century funeral catafalque.
Calixtlahuaca
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
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.
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
San Luis Potosí's cathedral anchors the city's historic center, which UNESCO lists as a component of the Camino Real de Tierra Adentro World Heritage Site.
More drives to Pinos
- Calvillo to Pinos
- El Rosario, Sinaloa to Pinos
- Amatitán to Pinos
- Tequila to Pinos
- Paracho to Pinos
- Pátzcuaro to Pinos
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 Pinos?
About 7 h 17 min of driving without stops, over 337 miles.
How far is Pinos from Malinalco by car?
About 337 miles (543 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 Pinos?
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 Pinos?
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; Zacatecas 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 Pinos use?
In order: MEX-55, MEX-55D, MEX-M40D, MEX-57D, MEX-57, MEX-49 and ZAC 291. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Malinalco and Pinos?
Closest to the road: Toluca Cathedral (catholic cathedral, mile 35, 1 mi from the route); Fine Arts Museum of Toluca (museum, mile 36, 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.