The Wayro route from Mexico City to Cuernavaca is 46 miles (74 km), about 1 h 5 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 46 mi (74 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 1 h 5 min |
| Main roads, in order | Viaducto → MEX-95D |
| Mexican states on the route | Mexico City (Level 2), Morelos (Level 3) |
| Toll roads | MEX-95D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 1.8 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 5 |
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 Mexico City to Cuernavaca is like
MEX-95D (22 mi) and Viaducto (3 mi) carry about 54% of the 46 miles. MEX-95D is a toll highway (cuota). It runs through 2 states: Mexico City, Morelos. None of the 5 stops below is right on the road, so plan each as a short side trip.
The route from Mexico City to Cuernavaca, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–9 | 9 | Mexico City |
| Viaducto | 9–12 | 3 | Mexico City |
| MEX-95D | 12–34 | 22 | Mexico City, Morelos |
| local roads | 34–46 | 12 | Morelos |
- Mile 29 of this route: Mexico City → Morelos (state line)
Stops between Mexico City and Cuernavaca
- Nature and outdoors: Cumbres del Ajusco National Park (mile 21), El Tepozteco National Park (mile 28), Lagunas de Zempoala National Park (mile 37)
- Museums and history: Archivo Diseño y Arquitectura (mile 17)
Teatro Juan Ruiz de Alarcón
The Teatro Juan Ruiz de Alarcón is one of the main university theaters in UNAM's Centro Cultural Universitario in Mexico City.
Archivo Diseño y Arquitectura
Founded in 2012 by architect Fernando Romero and Soumaya Slim, Archivo Diseño y Arquitectura in Mexico City exhibits and studies design, with more than 1,500 objects and Enrique del Moral's personal library.
Cumbres del Ajusco National Park
Pine and oak forests climb toward alpine meadows in Cumbres del Ajusco National Park, on Mexico City's southern edge. It draws hikers, climbers and cyclists, and it gets occasional snow, a rarity for the region.
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.
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.
When you get to Cuernavaca
Palace of Cortés, Cuernavaca
Begun in the 16th century, the Palace of Cortés in Cuernavaca now holds the Museo Regional de los Pueblos de Morelos, reopened in 2023. Out on the east terrace, Diego Rivera's mural on the history of Morelos is back on view.
Jardín Borda
Built in the first half of the 18th century for silver miner José de la Borda, this colonial-era house has an artificial lake, fountains and gardens once fed by the hydraulic engineering of its day.
Cuernavaca Cathedral
Franciscans built this 16th-century convent church, now Cuernavaca's cathedral and part of the UNESCO-listed monasteries on the slopes of Popocatépetl; visitors can see its murals, side chapels and a sacred art museum.
More drives to Cuernavaca
- Toluca to Cuernavaca
- Querétaro to Cuernavaca
- Morelia to Cuernavaca
- Celaya to Cuernavaca
- Irapuato to Cuernavaca
- León to Cuernavaca
From Mexico City to other places in Mexico
- Mexico City to Metepec
- Mexico City to Toluca
- Mexico City to Atlatlahucan
- Mexico City to Malinalco
- Mexico City to Cuautla
- Mexico City to Tonatico
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Mexico City to Cuernavaca?
About 1 h 5 min of driving without stops, over 46 miles.
How far is Cuernavaca from Mexico City by car?
About 46 miles (74 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 Mexico City to Cuernavaca?
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 Mexico City to Cuernavaca?
The U.S. State Department rates Mexico City Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Morelos Level 3: Reconsider Travel (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Mexico City to Cuernavaca use?
In order: Viaducto and MEX-95D. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Mexico City and Cuernavaca?
Closest to the road: Teatro Juan Ruiz de Alarcón (theatre building, mile 11, 3 mi from the route); Archivo Diseño y Arquitectura (museum, mile 17, 2 mi from the route); Lagunas de Zempoala National Park (National Park of Mexico, mile 37, 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 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.