Plan on about 9 h 42 min of driving for the 488-mile (785 km) trip from Mascota to Oaxtepec, before any stops.
| Total distance | 488 mi (785 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 9 h 42 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-70 → MEX-15 → MEX-15D → MEX-55D → MEX-55 → EM 44 → MEX-200 → MEX-95D → MEX-160D |
| Mexican states on the route | Jalisco, Michoacán, State of Mexico, Morelos |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-15D, MEX-M40D, MEX-55D, MEX-95D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 19.5 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.
How the Mascota to Oaxtepec drive plays out
MEX-15D (253 mi) and MEX-70 (107 mi) carry about 74% of the 488 miles. It runs through 4 states: Jalisco, Michoacán, State of Mexico, Morelos. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-15D, MEX-M40D and MEX-55D. Of the 9 stops listed below, 4 are within a mile of the road.
Which roads connect Mascota and Oaxtepec
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| MEX-70 | 0–107 | 107 | Jalisco |
| MEX-15 | 107–121 | 14 | Jalisco |
| MEX-15D | 121–374 | 253 | Jalisco, Michoacán, State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 374–377 | 3 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-55D | 377–411 | 34 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-55 | 411–416 | 5 | State of Mexico |
| local roads | 416–423 | 7 | State of Mexico |
| EM 44 | 423–431 | 8 | State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 431–434 | 3 | State of Mexico |
| local roads | 434–439 | 5 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-200 | 439–443 | 4 | State of Mexico |
| local roads | 443–457 | 14 | State of Mexico, Morelos |
| connecting roads | 457–465 | 8 | Morelos |
| MEX-95D | 465–470 | 5 | Morelos |
| MEX-160D | 470–487 | 17 | Morelos |
| local roads | 487–488 | 1 | Morelos |
- Mile 188 of this route: Jalisco → Michoacán (state line)
- Mile 356 of this route: Michoacán → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 449 of this route: State of Mexico → Morelos (state line)
Places worth a stop between Mascota and Oaxtepec
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Agave Landscape and Ancient Industrial Facilities of Tequila (mile 93), Cathedral of Atlacomulco (mile 376), Lagunas de Zempoala National Park (mile 452), Tepoztlán Ex Convento Museum (mile 476)
- Nature and outdoors: La Marquesa National Park (mile 431), Lagunas de Zempoala National Park (mile 452), El Tepozteco National Park (mile 475)
- Museums and history: Agave Landscape and Ancient Industrial Facilities of Tequila (mile 93), Cathedral of Atlacomulco (mile 376), Teopanzolco (mile 464), Museo Fotográfico de Cuernavaca (mile 464), Tepoztlán Ex Convento Museum (mile 476)
Agave Landscape and Ancient Industrial Facilities of Tequila
Around the town of Tequila, the Agave Landscape and Ancient Industrial Facilities of Tequila is a UNESCO World Heritage Site of blue agave fields shaped by the plant's use for tequila since the 16th century.
Diana Theatre
The Diana Theatre, or Teatro Diana, is an indoor theater in Guadalajara, in the state of Jalisco, with seating for 2,345 people.
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.
La Marquesa National Park
Set in high-altitude conifer forest along the Mexico City–Toluca highway, La Marquesa National Park offers roadside eateries, horse and ATV rentals, mountain biking and camping, and marks the site of the 1810 Battle of Monte de las Cruces.
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.
Teopanzolco
Now surrounded by the city of Cuernavaca, Teopanzolco preserves a Late Postclassic pyramid base that once carried twin temples to Tlaloc and Huitzilopochtli, a layout closely tied to Tenochtitlan's sacred precinct.
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
- Malinalco to Oaxtepec
- Mexico City to Oaxtepec
- Metepec to Oaxtepec
- Toluca to Oaxtepec
- Otumba to Oaxtepec
- Taxco to Oaxtepec
From Mascota to other places in Mexico
- Mascota to Temacapulín
- Mascota to Jalpa de Cánovas
- Mascota to Boca de Pascuales
- Mascota to Santa Fe de la Laguna
- Mascota to Pabellón de Hidalgo
- Mascota to Tócuaro
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Mascota to Oaxtepec?
About 9 h 42 min of driving without stops, over 488 miles.
How far is Oaxtepec from Mascota by car?
About 488 miles (785 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 Mascota 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 Mascota to Oaxtepec?
The U.S. State Department rates Jalisco Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Michoacán Level 4: Do Not Travel; 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.
Which highways go from Mascota to Oaxtepec?
In order: MEX-70, MEX-15, MEX-15D, MEX-55D, MEX-55, EM 44, MEX-200, MEX-95D and MEX-160D. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Mascota and Oaxtepec?
Closest to the road: Agave Landscape and Ancient Industrial Facilities of Tequila (historic site, mile 93, 0.4 mi from the route); Cathedral of Atlacomulco (cathedral, mile 376, 0.4 mi from the route); Lagunas de Zempoala National Park (national park, mile 452, 0.4 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.