The Wayro route from Oaxaca to Cuanajo is 505 miles (813 km), about 8 h 1 min of driving without stops.
| Distance by road | 505 mi (813 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 8 h 1 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-190 → MEX-135D → MEX-150D → MEX-M40D → MEX-15D → MEX-37D → MEX-14 |
| Mexican states on the route | Oaxaca, Puebla, Tlaxcala, Hidalgo, State of Mexico, Michoacán |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-135D, MEX-150D, MEX-M40D, MEX-15D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 20.2 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.
Driving Oaxaca to Cuanajo: the shape of the trip
MEX-135D (151 mi) and MEX-M40D (139 mi) carry about 57% of the 505 miles. It runs through 6 states: Oaxaca, Puebla, Tlaxcala, Hidalgo, State of Mexico, Michoacán. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-135D, MEX-150D and MEX-M40D. None of the 8 stops below is right on the road, so plan each as a short side trip.
Oaxaca to Cuanajo: the road sequence
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–2 | 2 | Oaxaca |
| MEX-190 | 2–7 | 5 | Oaxaca |
| MEX-135D | 7–158 | 151 | Oaxaca, Puebla |
| MEX-150D | 158–227 | 69 | Puebla |
| connecting roads | 227–228 | 1 | Puebla |
| MEX-M40D | 228–367 | 139 | Puebla, Tlaxcala, Hidalgo, State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 367–368 | 1 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-15D | 368–457 | 89 | State of Mexico, Michoacán |
| connecting roads | 457–458 | 1 | Michoacán |
| MEX-37D | 458–495 | 37 | Michoacán |
| connecting roads | 495–496 | 1 | Michoacán |
| MEX-14 | 496–501 | 5 | Michoacán |
| local roads | 501–505 | 4 | Michoacán |
- Mile 107 of this route: Oaxaca → Puebla (state line)
- Mile 233 of this route: Puebla → Tlaxcala (state line)
- Mile 255 of this route: Tlaxcala → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 263 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 276 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 293 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 306 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 336 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 385 of this route: State of Mexico → Michoacán (state line)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Oaxaca and Cuanajo
- Nature and outdoors: Benito Juárez National Park (mile 7), Tehuacán-Cuicatlán Biosphere Reserve (mile 116), Rayón National Park (mile 388)
- Museums and history: Casa del Alfeñique (mile 208), Sala Histórica Quetzalcóatl (mile 323), Teatro Morelos de Maravatío (mile 406), Historic Centre of Morelia (mile 470)
Benito Juárez National Park
Hikers heading just north of Oaxaca City reach Benito Juárez National Park, where trails cross roughly 2,737 hectares of pine and oak. La Coronilla, a moderate loop, runs about 5 km.
Tehuacán-Cuicatlán Biosphere Reserve
Cactus diversity reaches one of its peaks in the Tehuacán-Cuicatlán Valley, a dry landscape shared by Puebla and Oaxaca. Ancient canals, wells, terraces and dams show how people managed its scarce water.
Casa del Alfeñique
Founded in 1926, the Museo Regional Casa de Alfeñique is a museum in the city of Puebla, housed in the building known as the Casa de Alfeñique.
Exconvent of Santa María Magdalena
The former convent of Santa María Magdalena (Exconvento de Santa María Magdalena) is a 17th-century Baroque church built by the Dieguino friars, still in use as a Catholic temple of the Archdiocese of Puebla.
Sala Histórica Quetzalcóatl
The Sala Histórica Quetzalcóatl is an archaeological museum located in Tula de Allende, in the Mexican state of Hidalgo.
Rayón National Park
Just outside Tlalpujahua, Rayón National Park (Parque Nacional Rayón) marks the start of the area's famous butterfly reserve country, which stretches south and west from here.
Teatro Morelos de Maravatío
Opera singer Ángela Peralta performed at the opening of Maravatío's Teatro Morelos on January 11, 1879. Architect Rafael Guerrero Torres designed the building in a neoclassical style with French influence.
Historic Centre of Morelia
Morelia's old core, founded in the 16th century as Valladolid, keeps more than 200 historic buildings in the region's pink stone around its cathedral and checkerboard streets. UNESCO added it to the World Heritage List in 1991.
More drives to Cuanajo
- Zamora to Cuanajo
- Mazamitla to Cuanajo
- Tepatitlán to Cuanajo
- Amatitán to Cuanajo
- Tequila to Cuanajo
- Pabellón de Arteaga to Cuanajo
From Oaxaca to other places in Mexico
- Oaxaca to Orizaba
- Oaxaca to Córdoba, Mexico
- Oaxaca to Cholula
- Oaxaca to Zacatelco
- Oaxaca to Chiautempan
- Oaxaca to Apizaco
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Oaxaca to Cuanajo?
About 8 h 1 min of driving without stops, over 505 miles.
What is the driving distance from Oaxaca to Cuanajo?
About 505 miles (813 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 Oaxaca to Cuanajo?
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 Oaxaca to Cuanajo?
The U.S. State Department rates Oaxaca Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Puebla Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Tlaxcala Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Hidalgo Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; State of Mexico Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Michoacán Level 4: Do Not Travel (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Oaxaca to Cuanajo use?
In order: MEX-190, MEX-135D, MEX-150D, MEX-M40D, MEX-15D, MEX-37D and MEX-14. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Oaxaca and Cuanajo?
Closest to the road: Exconvent of Santa María Magdalena (convent, mile 229, 2 mi from the route); Sala Histórica Quetzalcóatl (archaeological site, mile 323, 1 mi from the route); Teatro Morelos de Maravatío (opera house, mile 406, 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 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.