The Wayro route from Pachuca to Cuautla is 120 miles (193 km), about 2 h 29 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 120 mi (193 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 2 h 29 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-85 → MEX-85D → MEX-5D → MEX-115 |
| Mexican states on the route | Hidalgo (Level 2), State of Mexico (Level 2), Morelos (Level 3) |
| Toll roads | MEX-85D, MEX-5D, MEX-115D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 4.8 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 Pachuca to Cuautla is like
MEX-5D (33 mi) and MEX-115 (28 mi) carry about 51% of the 120 miles. MEX-85D, MEX-5D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-85, MEX-115 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 3 states: Hidalgo, State of Mexico, Morelos. Of the 9 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Pachuca to Cuautla, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–6 | 6 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-85 | 6–21 | 15 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-85D | 21–42 | 21 | Hidalgo, State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 42–43 | 1 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-5D | 43–76 | 33 | State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 76–77 | 1 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-115 | 77–93 | 16 | State of Mexico |
| local roads | 93–107 | 14 | State of Mexico, Morelos |
| MEX-115 | 107–119 | 12 | Morelos |
| local roads | 119–120 | 1 | Morelos |
- Mile 27 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 100 of this route: State of Mexico → Morelos (state line)
Stops between Pachuca and Cuautla
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Sacromonte National Park (mile 92)
- Nature and outdoors: El Tepeyac National Park (mile 52), Cerro de la Estrella National Park (mile 57), Molino de Flores Nezahualcóyotl National Park (mile 65), Iztaccíhuatl–Popocatépetl National Park (mile 91), Sacromonte National Park (mile 92)
- Museums and history: Mexican Air Force Museum (mile 34), Cathedral of Nezahualcóyotl (mile 57), Acozac (mile 75)
Mexican Air Force Museum
At Santa Lucía Air Base, the Military Aviation Museum, run by the Secretariat of National Defense, displays historical material from the Mexican Air Force.
El Tepeyac National Park
Decreed in 1937 on reforested slopes of the Sierra de Guadalupe, including Cerro del Tepeyac, this national park was created for rest and recreation, with views toward Mexico City and the old Lake Texcoco plain.
Cerro de la Estrella National Park
Rising in eastern Mexico City's Iztapalapa borough, Cerro de la Estrella is where the Mexica lit the New Fire every 52 years; trails lead up to a pyramid-shaped site museum near the summit and to caves with traces of pre-Hispanic use.
Cathedral of Nezahualcóyotl
Consecrated on November 20, 2000, the Cathedral of Nezahualcóyotl, dedicated to Jesús, Señor de la Misericordia, is the seat of the Diocese of Nezahualcóyotl.
Molino de Flores Nezahualcóyotl National Park
Named for Antonio Flores de Valdés, who inherited the estate in 1642, this former hacienda and mill near Texcoco became a national park in 1937. Visitors walk among its ruins, the San Joaquín church remains and a chapel built on rock.
Acozac
Acozac is an archaeological site in the municipality of Ixtapaluca, State of Mexico, located at kilometer 30 of the federal Mexico City–Puebla road, heading toward Ixtapaluca.
Iztaccíhuatl–Popocatépetl National Park
Iztaccíhuatl–Popocatépetl National Park, also called Izta-Popo Zoquiapan, protects the land around Popocatépetl and Iztaccíhuatl, Mexico's second- and third-highest peaks, where the states of México, Puebla and Morelos meet.
Sacromonte National Park
Sacromonte National Park is a national park and protected area in the State of Mexico, established in 1952 and covering roughly 0.44 square kilometers.
Convento de Santiago Apóstol
In the town of Ocuituco, the Temple and Ex-convent of Santiago Apóstol (Templo y Exconvento de Santiago Apóstol) belongs to the UNESCO-listed group of 16th-century monasteries on the slopes of Popocatépetl, inscribed in 1994.
When you get to Cuautla
Museo Histórico del Oriente de Morelos "Casa de Morelos"
In this 18th-century house in Cuautla, José María Morelos lived during the 1812 Siege of Cuautla. Its INAH galleries trace regional history through Morelos and Emiliano Zapata and display "El Niño," his first cannon, a gift from the Galeana family.
More drives to Cuautla
- Cuernavaca to Cuautla
- Toluca to Cuautla
- San Juan del Río to Cuautla
- Querétaro to Cuautla
- Morelia to Cuautla
- Celaya to Cuautla
From Pachuca to other places in Mexico
- Pachuca to Jilotepec
- Pachuca to Metepec
- Pachuca to Atlatlahucan
- Pachuca to Malinalco
- Pachuca to Amealco
- Pachuca to Pedro Escobedo
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Pachuca to Cuautla?
About 2 h 29 min of driving without stops, over 120 miles.
How far is Cuautla from Pachuca by car?
About 120 miles (193 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 Pachuca to Cuautla?
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 Pachuca to Cuautla?
The U.S. State Department rates Hidalgo Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; 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.
What roads does the drive from Pachuca to Cuautla use?
In order: MEX-85, MEX-85D, MEX-5D and MEX-115. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Pachuca and Cuautla?
Closest to the road: Cathedral of Nezahualcóyotl (catholic cathedral, mile 57, 1 mi from the route); Acozac (archaeological site, mile 75, 2 mi from the route); Sacromonte National Park (National Park of Mexico, mile 92, 0.3 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.