The Wayro route from Malinalco to Tlacotalpan is 342 miles (551 km), about 6 h 41 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 342 mi (551 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 6 h 41 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-181 → MEX-185 → MEX-166 → MOR 21 → MEX-94D → PUE 438D → MEX-190D → MEX-190 → MEX-150D → MEX-175 |
| Mexican states on the route | State of Mexico (Level 2), Morelos (Level 3), Puebla (Level 2), Veracruz (Level 2) |
| Toll roads | MEX-94D, MEX-190D, MEX-150D, MEX-145D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 13.7 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 Tlacotalpan is like
MEX-150D (125 mi) and PUE 438D (35 mi) carry about 47% of the 342 miles. MEX-94D, MEX-190D, MEX-150D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-181, MEX-185, MEX-166, MEX-190, MEX-175 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 4 states: State of Mexico, Morelos, Puebla, Veracruz. Of the 8 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Malinalco to Tlacotalpan, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-181 | 1–5 | 4 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-185 | 5–9 | 4 | State of Mexico |
| local roads | 9–21 | 12 | State of Mexico, Morelos |
| MEX-166 | 21–30 | 9 | Morelos |
| MOR 21 | 30–40 | 10 | Morelos |
| connecting roads | 40–42 | 2 | Morelos |
| MEX-94D | 42–74 | 32 | Morelos |
| PUE 438D | 74–109 | 35 | Morelos, Puebla |
| MEX-190D | 109–119 | 10 | Puebla |
| MEX-190 | 119–134 | 15 | Puebla |
| connecting roads | 134–135 | 1 | Puebla |
| MEX-150D | 135–260 | 125 | Puebla, Veracruz |
| local roads | 260–312 | 52 | Veracruz |
| connecting roads | 312–313 | 1 | Veracruz |
| MEX-175 | 313–342 | 29 | Veracruz |
- Mile 12 of this route: State of Mexico → Morelos (state line)
- Mile 83 of this route: Morelos → Puebla (state line)
- Mile 193 of this route: Puebla → Veracruz (state line)
Stops between Malinalco and Tlacotalpan
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Cañón del Río Blanco National Park (mile 205)
- Nature and outdoors: Cañón del Río Blanco National Park (mile 205)
- Museums and history: Museo de sitio de Xochicalco (mile 25), Las Pilas archaeological site (mile 72), Convent Church of Santo Domingo, Puebla (mile 129), Orizaba Cathedral (mile 214), Veracruz State Art Museum (mile 215), Cathedral of Córdoba, Veracruz (mile 227)
Museo de sitio de Xochicalco
Next to the Xochicalco archaeological zone in Morelos, the site museum sits along the Xochicalco–Tetlama federal road.
Las Pilas archaeological site
Set inside a bathing park in Jonacatepec, Las Pilas was a ceremonial center devoted to water, where inhabitants built channels to collect and store underground water for irrigation; burials were found within the channel system.
Historic centre of Puebla
Laid out from scratch in 1531, Puebla's UNESCO-listed core is a grid of tile-covered houses, colonial churches and the 16th–17th-century cathedral, with the old archbishop's palace that houses the Palafox Library, established in 1646.
Convent Church of Santo Domingo, Puebla
Behind the facade of Puebla's Santo Domingo church hides the Capilla del Rosario, inaugurated in 1690. Gold covers its walls, pilasters and vaults, and contemporaries hailed it as the eighth wonder of the New World.
Cañón del Río Blanco National Park
Cañón del Río Blanco National Park is a protected natural area in the Mexican state of Veracruz, set aside by the government as a national park.
Orizaba Cathedral
The Cathedral of St. Michael the Archangel is the main Catholic church of Orizaba, in the state of Veracruz, and the seat of the Diocese of Orizaba.
Veracruz State Art Museum
Housed in Orizaba's 18th-century former Oratorio of San Felipe Neri, later a hospital and then a jail, the Veracruz State Art Museum (Museo de Arte del Estado) holds more than 700 works, including 36 by Diego Rivera.
Cathedral of Córdoba, Veracruz
Built in the first half of the 17th century, Córdoba's Immaculate Conception Cathedral is the city's main church; look up to see its octagonal dome covered in tiles, finished in a neoclassical style.
More drives to Tlacotalpan
- Puebla to Tlacotalpan
- Cholula to Tlacotalpan
- Zacatelco to Tlacotalpan
- Chiautempan to Tlacotalpan
- Tlaxcala to Tlacotalpan
- Huejotzingo to Tlacotalpan
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 Tlacotalpan?
About 6 h 41 min of driving without stops, over 342 miles.
How far is Tlacotalpan from Malinalco by car?
About 342 miles (551 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 Tlacotalpan?
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 Tlacotalpan?
The U.S. State Department rates State of Mexico Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Morelos Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Puebla Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Veracruz Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Malinalco to Tlacotalpan use?
In order: MEX-181, MEX-185, MEX-166, MOR 21, MEX-94D, PUE 438D, MEX-190D, MEX-190, MEX-150D and MEX-175. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Malinalco and Tlacotalpan?
Closest to the road: Las Pilas archaeological site (archaeological site, mile 72, 1 mi from the route); Cañón del Río Blanco National Park (National Park of Mexico, mile 205, 0.5 mi from the route); Veracruz State Art Museum (art museum, mile 215, 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.