The Wayro route from Pachuca to Malinalco is 116 miles (186 km), about 2 h 41 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 116 mi (186 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 2 h 41 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-85 → MEX-85D → Circuito Interior → MEX-15 → MEX-15D → EM 6 |
| Mexican states on the route | Hidalgo (Level 2), State of Mexico (Level 2), Mexico City (Level 2) |
| Toll roads | MEX-85D, MEX-15D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 4.6 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 Malinalco is like
MEX-85D (31 mi) and EM 6 (20 mi) carry about 44% of the 116 miles. MEX-85D, MEX-15D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-85, MEX-15 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 3 states: Hidalgo, State of Mexico, Mexico City. Of the 9 stops listed below, 4 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Pachuca to Malinalco, 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 | 21–52 | 31 | Hidalgo, State of Mexico, Mexico City |
| connecting roads | 52–55 | 3 | Mexico City |
| Circuito Interior | 55–61 | 6 | Mexico City |
| MEX-15 | 61–66 | 5 | Mexico City |
| MEX-15D | 66–77 | 11 | Mexico City, State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 77–78 | 1 | State of Mexico |
| EM 6 | 78–98 | 20 | State of Mexico |
| local roads | 98–116 | 18 | State of Mexico |
- Mile 27 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 51 of this route: State of Mexico → Mexico City (state line)
- Mile 73 of this route: Mexico City → State of Mexico (state line)
Stops between Pachuca and Malinalco
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe (mile 53), Museo de Arte Moderno (mile 60), Museo de Historia Natural (mile 62), Desierto de los Leones National Park (mile 73)
- Nature and outdoors: Museo de Historia Natural (mile 62), Fuentes Brotantes de Tlalpan National Park (mile 68), Desierto de los Leones National Park (mile 73), Cumbres del Ajusco National Park (mile 83)
- Museums and history: Mexican Air Force Museum (mile 34), Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe (mile 53), Tlatelolco (mile 56), Porta Coeli Cathedral (mile 58), Museo de Arte Moderno (mile 60), Museo de Historia Natural (mile 62)
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.
Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe
The Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe, at the foot of Tepeyac Hill in Mexico City's Gustavo A. Madero borough, is a Catholic basilica dedicated to the Virgin of Guadalupe within the Primate Archdiocese of Mexico.
Tlatelolco
Centered on the Plaza de las Tres Culturas, Tlatelolco is an archaeological excavation site in Mexico City with remains of the pre-Columbian city-state of the same name.
Porta Coeli Cathedral
Porta Coeli Cathedral, also called the Church of the Gate of Heaven, is the Mexico City cathedral of the Melkite Greek Catholic Church, in communion with Rome.
Museo de Arte Moderno
In Chapultepec Park, the Museo de Arte Moderno is part of Mexico's national fine arts institute (INBAL) and shows modern Mexican art along with exhibitions by Mexican and international artists.
Museo de Historia Natural
In the second section of Chapultepec Park, the Museo de Historia Natural y Cultura Ambiental displays mounted animals, fossils, rocks, minerals, sculptures and models about life on Earth and Mexico's biodiversity.
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.
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.
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 Pachuca to other places in Mexico
- Pachuca to Jilotepec
- Pachuca to Metepec
- Pachuca to Atlatlahucan
- Pachuca to Amealco
- Pachuca to Cuautla
- Pachuca to Pedro Escobedo
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Pachuca to Malinalco?
About 2 h 41 min of driving without stops, over 116 miles.
How far is Malinalco from Pachuca by car?
About 116 miles (186 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 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 Pachuca to Malinalco?
The U.S. State Department rates Hidalgo Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; State of Mexico Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Mexico City Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Pachuca to Malinalco use?
In order: MEX-85, MEX-85D, Circuito Interior, 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 Pachuca and Malinalco?
Closest to the road: Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe (catholic parish church, mile 53, 0.4 mi from the route); Museo de Arte Moderno (museum of modern art, mile 60, 0.3 mi from the route); Museo de Historia Natural (museum, mile 62, 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.