The Wayro route from Malinalco to Temacapulín is 342 miles (550 km), about 6 h 42 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 342 mi (550 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 6 h 42 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-55 → MEX-55D → MEX-M40D → MEX-47D → MEX-45D → MEX-80 → MEX-80D |
| Mexican states on the route | State of Mexico (Level 2), Querétaro (Level 2), Guanajuato (Level 3), Jalisco (Level 3) |
| Toll roads | MEX-A10D, MEX-55D, MEX-M40D, MEX-47D, MEX-45D, MEX-80D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 13.7 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.
What the drive from Malinalco to Temacapulín is like
MEX-45D (113 mi) and MEX-47D (52 mi) carry about 48% of the 342 miles. MEX-55D, MEX-M40D, MEX-47D, MEX-45D, MEX-80D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-55, MEX-80 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 4 states: State of Mexico, Querétaro, Guanajuato, Jalisco. Of the 9 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Malinalco to Temacapulín, 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-47D | 116–168 | 52 | Querétaro, Guanajuato |
| MEX-45D | 168–281 | 113 | Guanajuato, Jalisco |
| MEX-80 | 281–296 | 15 | Jalisco |
| MEX-80D | 296–322 | 26 | Jalisco |
| connecting roads | 322–325 | 3 | Jalisco |
| local roads | 325–342 | 17 | Jalisco |
- Mile 114 of this route: State of Mexico → Querétaro (state line)
- Mile 155 of this route: Querétaro → Guanajuato (state line)
- Mile 265 of this route: Guanajuato → Jalisco (state line)
Stops between Malinalco and Temacapulín
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Cosmovitral (mile 36), 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), Cerro de las Campanas (mile 156)
- Museums and history: Museo de Ciencias Naturales del Estado de México (mile 35), Cosmovitral (mile 36), Calixtlahuaca (mile 40), Cathedral of Atlacomulco (mile 75), Celaya Cathedral (mile 180), Cathedral Basilica of San Juan de los Lagos (mile 301), Teocaltitan Archaeological Site (mile 308)
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.
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.
Cosmovitral
Toluca's Cosmovitral wraps a botanical garden of more than 500 plant species in a huge stained-glass work designed by artist Leopoldo Flores. Light filtering through the colored glass sets the mood as you walk the garden paths.
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.
Cerro de las Campanas
Rising within Querétaro City, the Cerro de las Campanas is a hill that is protected as a Mexican national park.
Celaya Cathedral
Celaya's main Catholic church, the Immaculate Conception Cathedral, occupies the space of a former chapel that was annexed to the neighboring Temple of St. Francis.
Cathedral Basilica of San Juan de los Lagos
Pilgrims come from far and wide to San Juan de los Lagos to see the small image of the Virgin kept in this cathedral basilica, built between 1732 and 1769. Inside are Gothic-style ribbed vaults and a silver-framed Way of the Cross.
Teocaltitan Archaeological Site
Near Jalostotitlán in the Los Altos region, the Teocaltitán site holds pyramids, sunken patios and a ball court spread across about nine hectares, built by a people who dominated much of the area from AD 400 to 900.
More drives to Temacapulín
- Pabellón de Arteaga to Temacapulín
- Pabellón de Hidalgo to Temacapulín
- San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes to Temacapulín
- Real de Asientos to Temacapulín
- Pinos to Temacapulín
- Guadalupe, Zacatecas to Temacapulín
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 Temacapulín?
About 6 h 42 min of driving without stops, over 342 miles.
How far is Temacapulín from Malinalco by car?
About 342 miles (550 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 Temacapulín?
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 Temacapulín?
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; Jalisco Level 3: Reconsider Travel (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Malinalco to Temacapulín use?
In order: MEX-55, MEX-55D, MEX-M40D, MEX-47D, MEX-45D, MEX-80 and MEX-80D. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Malinalco and Temacapulín?
Closest to the road: Museo de Ciencias Naturales del Estado de México (museum, mile 35, 1 mi from the route); Cosmovitral (museum, mile 36, 0.8 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.