The Wayro route from Oaxtepec to Cuanajo is 253 miles (407 km), about 4 h 53 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 253 mi (407 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 4 h 53 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-160D → MEX-95D → MEX-106 → MEX-200 → EM 44 → MEX-55 → MEX-55D → MEX-15D → MEX-37D → MEX-14 |
| Mexican states on the route | Morelos (Level 3), State of Mexico (Level 2), Michoacán (Level 4) |
| Toll roads | MEX-160D, MEX-95D, MEX-55D, MEX-15D, MEX-37D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 10.1 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.
What the drive from Oaxtepec to Cuanajo is like
MEX-15D (89 mi) and MEX-37D (37 mi) carry about 50% of the 253 miles. MEX-160D, MEX-95D, MEX-55D, MEX-15D, MEX-37D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-106, MEX-200, MEX-55, MEX-14 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 3 states: Morelos, State of Mexico, Michoacán. Of the 9 stops listed below, 4 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Oaxtepec to Cuanajo, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Morelos |
| MEX-160D | 1–17 | 16 | Morelos |
| MEX-95D | 17–28 | 11 | Morelos |
| connecting roads | 28–29 | 1 | Morelos |
| MEX-106 | 29–47 | 18 | Morelos, State of Mexico |
| MEX-200 | 47–51 | 4 | State of Mexico |
| local roads | 51–55 | 4 | State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 55–58 | 3 | State of Mexico |
| EM 44 | 58–66 | 8 | State of Mexico |
| local roads | 66–72 | 6 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-55 | 72–83 | 11 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-55D | 83–112 | 29 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-55 | 112–115 | 3 | State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 115–116 | 1 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-15D | 116–205 | 89 | State of Mexico, Michoacán |
| connecting roads | 205–206 | 1 | Michoacán |
| MEX-37D | 206–243 | 37 | Michoacán |
| connecting roads | 243–244 | 1 | Michoacán |
| MEX-14 | 244–249 | 5 | Michoacán |
| local roads | 249–253 | 4 | Michoacán |
- Mile 37 of this route: Morelos → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 134 of this route: State of Mexico → Michoacán (state line)
Stops between Oaxtepec and Cuanajo
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Tepoztlán Ex Convento Museum (mile 12), Lagunas de Zempoala National Park (mile 38), Museo Galería de Arte Mexiquense Torres Bicentenario (mile 73), Cathedral of Atlacomulco (mile 113)
- Nature and outdoors: El Tepozteco National Park (mile 12), Lagunas de Zempoala National Park (mile 38), Cumbres del Ajusco National Park (mile 39), Rayón National Park (mile 136)
- Museums and history: Tepoztlán Ex Convento Museum (mile 12), Toluca Cathedral (mile 73), Museo Galería de Arte Mexiquense Torres Bicentenario (mile 73), Cathedral of Atlacomulco (mile 113)
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.
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.
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.
Toluca Cathedral
Begun in 1867 and finished only in 1978, Toluca's Cathedral of Saint Joseph has a neoclassical facade and a bronze statue of the saint on its dome. It also preserves the 18th-century baroque front of the former San Elzeario church.
Museo Galería de Arte Mexiquense Torres Bicentenario
Set in Toluca's Torres Bicentenario complex, built to celebrate Mexican independence, this gallery shows paintings, prints and sculpture by artists from the State of Mexico, and many works are for sale.
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.
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.
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 Oaxtepec to other places in Mexico
- Oaxtepec to Tonatico
- Oaxtepec to Omitlán
- Oaxtepec to El Oro
- Oaxtepec to Huasca de Ocampo
- Oaxtepec to Tetela de Ocampo
- Oaxtepec to Metztitlán
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Oaxtepec to Cuanajo?
About 4 h 53 min of driving without stops, over 253 miles.
How far is Cuanajo from Oaxtepec by car?
About 253 miles (407 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 Oaxtepec 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 Oaxtepec to Cuanajo?
The U.S. State Department rates Morelos Level 3: Reconsider Travel; 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 Oaxtepec to Cuanajo use?
In order: MEX-160D, MEX-95D, MEX-106, MEX-200, EM 44, MEX-55, MEX-55D, MEX-15D, MEX-37D and MEX-14. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Oaxtepec and Cuanajo?
Closest to the road: Tepoztlán Ex Convento Museum (museum, mile 12, 0.6 mi from the route); Lagunas de Zempoala National Park (National Park of Mexico, mile 38, 0.4 mi from the route); Cathedral of Atlacomulco (catholic cathedral, mile 113, 0.2 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.