The Wayro route from Mexico City to Malinalco is 59 miles (95 km), about 1 h 40 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 59 mi (95 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 1 h 40 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-15 → MEX-15D → EM 6 |
| Mexican states on the route | Mexico City (Level 2), State of Mexico (Level 2) |
| Toll roads | MEX-15D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 2.4 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 7 |
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 Malinalco is like
EM 6 (20 mi) and MEX-15D (12 mi) carry about 54% of the 59 miles. MEX-15D is a toll highway (cuota); MEX-15 is a free federal road (libre). It runs through 2 states: Mexico City, State of Mexico. Of the 7 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Mexico City to Malinalco, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–4 | 4 | Mexico City |
| MEX-15 | 4–9 | 5 | Mexico City |
| MEX-15D | 9–21 | 12 | Mexico City, State of Mexico |
| EM 6 | 21–41 | 20 | State of Mexico |
| local roads | 41–59 | 18 | State of Mexico |
- Mile 17 of this route: Mexico City → State of Mexico (state line)
Stops between Mexico City and Malinalco
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Parque de Cultura Urbana (mile 7), Desierto de los Leones National Park (mile 16), La Marquesa National Park (mile 19)
- Nature and outdoors: Parque de Cultura Urbana (mile 7), Fuentes Brotantes de Tlalpan National Park (mile 11), Desierto de los Leones National Park (mile 16), La Marquesa National Park (mile 19), Cumbres del Ajusco National Park (mile 26)
- Museums and history: Axolotitlán (mile 9)
Parque de Cultura Urbana
Skaters and free runners use the Parque de Cultura Urbana, an outdoor space for skateboarding, parkour and extreme sports in the third section of Chapultepec Forest.
Axolotitlán
Also known as the Museo Nacional del Ajolote, Axolotitlán is an axolotl museum in the Ectágono natural area of Segundo Parque Las Águilas, in Álvaro Obregón, Mexico City.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Ciénegas del Lerma
These marshes in the Toluca Valley are three lakes left from a wetland of about 27,000 hectares in the late 19th century. A Ramsar site since 2004, they hold dozens of endemic and threatened species and are a key stop for migratory species.
When you get to Malinalco
Malinalco
Carved straight into the hillside above Malinalco, the Cuauhcalli is a rock-cut temple at the heart of this archaeological zone. The Mexica took the Matlatzinca town around 1476 and used it to train and consecrate elite warriors.
Desierto del Carmen National Park
Declared a national park on October 10, 1942, Desierto del Carmen is a protected area in the municipality of Tenancingo, in the State of Mexico.
More drives to Malinalco
- Valle de Bravo to Malinalco
- Zitácuaro to Malinalco
- Tlalpujahua to Malinalco
- San Juan del Río to Malinalco
- Tequisquiapan to Malinalco
- Salvatierra to Malinalco
From Mexico City to other places in Mexico
- Mexico City to Metepec
- Mexico City to Toluca
- Mexico City to Cuernavaca
- Mexico City to Atlatlahucan
- Mexico City to Cuautla
- Mexico City to Tonatico
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Mexico City to Malinalco?
About 1 h 40 min of driving without stops, over 59 miles.
How far is Malinalco from Mexico City by car?
About 59 miles (95 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 Malinalco?
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 Malinalco?
The U.S. State Department rates Mexico City Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; State of Mexico Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Mexico City to Malinalco use?
In order: MEX-15, MEX-15D and EM 6. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Mexico City and Malinalco?
Closest to the road: Parque de Cultura Urbana (parkour park, mile 7, 0.2 mi from the route); Desierto de los Leones National Park (National Park of Mexico, mile 16, 1 mi from the route); La Marquesa National Park (National Park of Mexico, mile 19, 0.9 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.