Malinalco to Xilitla is about 275 road miles (443 km): roughly 7 h 18 min at the wheel if you don't stop.
| Distance | 275 mi (443 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 7 h 18 min |
| Main roads, in order | EM 6 → MEX-15 → MEX-15D → Circuito Interior → MEX-85 → MEX-105 → MEX-102 → MEX-120 |
| Mexican states on the route | State of Mexico, Mexico City, Hidalgo, San Luis Potosí |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-15D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 11.0 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.
The Malinalco–Xilitla drive in a few lines
MEX-105 (95 mi) and MEX-85 (72 mi) carry about 61% of the 275 miles. It runs through 4 states: State of Mexico, Mexico City, Hidalgo, San Luis Potosí. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-15D. Of the 9 stops listed below, 7 are within a mile of the road.
Roads you'll take from Malinalco to Xilitla
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–18 | 18 | State of Mexico |
| EM 6 | 18–38 | 20 | State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 38–39 | 1 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-15 | 39–44 | 5 | State of Mexico, Mexico City |
| MEX-15D | 44–51 | 7 | Mexico City |
| MEX-15 | 51–55 | 4 | Mexico City |
| Circuito Interior | 55–60 | 5 | Mexico City |
| MEX-85 | 60–110 | 50 | Mexico City, State of Mexico, Hidalgo |
| local roads | 110–118 | 8 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-105 | 118–134 | 16 | Hidalgo |
| local roads | 134–137 | 3 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-105 | 137–216 | 79 | Hidalgo |
| local roads | 216–240 | 24 | Hidalgo, San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-102 | 240–245 | 5 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-85 | 245–267 | 22 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-120 | 267–275 | 8 | San Luis Potosí |
- Mile 43 of this route: State of Mexico → Mexico City (state line)
- Mile 66 of this route: Mexico City → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 89 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 238 of this route: Hidalgo → San Luis Potosí (state line)
Places worth a stop between Malinalco and Xilitla
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Desierto de los Leones National Park (mile 43), Kurimanzutto (mile 55), Monumento a los Niños Héroes (mile 56), Museo de Geología de la UNAM (mile 58), Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe (mile 63), Acueducto de Guadalupe (mile 63), Barranca de Metztitlán (mile 153)
- Nature and outdoors: Desierto de los Leones National Park (mile 43), Fuentes Brotantes de Tlalpan National Park (mile 48), Barranca de Metztitlán (mile 153)
- Museums and history: Kurimanzutto (mile 55), Monumento a los Niños Héroes (mile 56), Museo de Geología de la UNAM (mile 58), Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe (mile 63), Acueducto de Guadalupe (mile 63), Monumental Clock of Pachuca (mile 119)
Desierto de los Leones National Park
Declared a national park in 1917, this fir, ash and oak forest in Mexico City's Cuajimalpa and Álvaro Obregón boroughs surrounds a former Carmelite monastery. Locals come to hike, run and cycle, and more than 100 bird species live here.
Fuentes Brotantes de Tlalpan National Park
In southern Mexico City's Tlalpan borough, Fuentes Brotantes de Tlalpan was declared a national park on September 28, 1936, on land once called the Barranca de los Manantiales.
Kurimanzutto
Founded in 1999 by Mónica Manzutto and José Kuri, Kurimanzutto is a Mexico City contemporary art gallery that represents artists from around the world.
Monumento a los Niños Héroes
Officially called Altar a la Patria, this monument in Mexico City's Chapultepec park honors the Niños Héroes, six mostly teenage cadets killed defending the city during the Battle of Chapultepec on September 13, 1847.
Museo de Geología de la UNAM
In the Santa María la Ribera neighborhood, UNAM's Museo de Geología displays the geological collections of the university's Institute of Geology.
Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe
The Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe, at the foot of Tepeyac Hill in Mexico City's Gustavo A. Madero borough, is a Catholic basilica dedicated to the Virgin of Guadalupe within the Primate Archdiocese of Mexico.
Acueducto de Guadalupe
Built in the mid-18th century to carry drinking water from Santa María Tlalnepantla to the Villa de Guadalupe, this colonial aqueduct in northern Mexico City now stands as a historic monument.
Monumental Clock of Pachuca
Rising over Plaza Independencia in Pachuca's historic center, the Monumental Clock tower was built between 1904 and 1910 to mark the centennial of Mexico's War of Independence.
Barranca de Metztitlán
Barranca de Metztitlán is a biosphere reserve in Hidalgo, protected for its steep cliffs, deep winding canyons and distinctive plants and wildlife.
Once you reach Xilitla
Las Pozas
Created by Edward James in the Sierra Gorda, Las Pozas is a surrealist sculpture garden where concrete structures stand among waterfalls and pools in subtropical forest.
More drives to Xilitla
- Pedro Escobedo to Xilitla
- Tulancingo to Xilitla
- Actopan to Xilitla
- Otumba to Xilitla
- Celaya to Xilitla
- San Miguel de Allende to Xilitla
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 Xilitla?
About 7 h 18 min of driving without stops, over 275 miles.
What is the driving distance from Malinalco to Xilitla?
About 275 miles (443 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 Xilitla?
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 Xilitla?
The U.S. State Department rates State of Mexico Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Mexico City Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Hidalgo Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; San Luis Potosí 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 Xilitla use?
In order: EM 6, MEX-15, MEX-15D, Circuito Interior, MEX-85, MEX-105, MEX-102 and MEX-120. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Malinalco and Xilitla?
Closest to the road: Kurimanzutto (art museum, mile 55, 0.2 mi from the route); Monumento a los Niños Héroes (monument, mile 56, 0.2 mi from the route); Barranca de Metztitlán (canyon, mile 153, 0.0 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 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: at least one strong stop for each stretch of the drive, then the best-known places nearest the road, up to nine in all. Places that are closed, private or not open to visitors are removed. Place 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.