The Wayro route from Querétaro to Cuautla is 196 miles (316 km), about 3 h 29 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 196 mi (316 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 3 h 29 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-57D → MEX-5D → MEX-115 |
| Mexican states on the route | Querétaro (Level 2), State of Mexico (Level 2), Hidalgo (Level 2), Morelos (Level 3) |
| Toll roads | MEX-45D, MEX-57D, MEX-5D, MEX-115D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 7.8 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 Querétaro to Cuautla is like
MEX-57D (96 mi) and MEX-5D (54 mi) carry about 77% of the 196 miles. MEX-57D, MEX-5D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-115 is a free federal road (libre). It runs through 4 states: Querétaro, State of Mexico, Hidalgo, Morelos. Of the 9 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Querétaro to Cuautla, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–2 | 2 | Querétaro |
| MEX-57D | 2–98 | 96 | Querétaro, State of Mexico, Hidalgo |
| MEX-5D | 98–152 | 54 | State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 152–153 | 1 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-115 | 153–168 | 15 | State of Mexico |
| local roads | 168–183 | 15 | State of Mexico, Morelos |
| MEX-115 | 183–196 | 13 | Morelos |
- Mile 43 of this route: Querétaro → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 76 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 96 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 176 of this route: State of Mexico → Morelos (state line)
Stops between Querétaro and Cuautla
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Templo y exconvento de San Francisco (mile 88), Sacred Heart of Jesus Cathedral, Ecatepec (mile 120)
- Nature and outdoors: Cerro de la Estrella National Park (mile 133), Molino de Flores Nezahualcóyotl National Park (mile 141), Iztaccíhuatl–Popocatépetl National Park (mile 167)
- Museums and history: Teotihuacan (mile 119), Sacred Heart of Jesus Cathedral, Ecatepec (mile 120)
Templo y exconvento de San Francisco
The Templo y Exconvento de San Francisco is a church and former convent located in the city of Tepeji del Río, in the Mexican state of Hidalgo.
Teotihuacan
Built between the 1st and 7th centuries AD, this UNESCO-listed ancient city lines the Avenue of the Dead, where you can walk between the Pyramid of the Sun, the Pyramid of the Moon and the Temple of the Feathered Serpent.
Sacred Heart of Jesus Cathedral, Ecatepec
The Sacred Heart of Jesus Cathedral, also called Ecatepec Cathedral, is the main Catholic church and seat of the Diocese of Ecatepec in Mexico, dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
Historic center of Mexico City
Built by the Spanish in the 16th century on the ruins of Tenochtitlan, Mexico City's Centro Histórico holds the Metropolitan Cathedral, the excavated Aztec Templo Mayor and the Palacio de Bellas Artes. UNESCO added it to the World Heritage List in 1987.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Templo y Exconvento de San Juan Bautista de Tlayacapan
Augustinian friars began this fortress-like church and monastery in the 16th century. Part of the UNESCO-listed group of monasteries on the slopes of Popocatépetl, its former cloister now holds a museum with 17th-century murals and religious art.
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
- Morelia to Cuautla
- Celaya to Cuautla
- Salamanca to Cuautla
From Querétaro to other places in Mexico
- Querétaro to Pinos
- Querétaro to Pabellón de Hidalgo
- Querétaro to San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes
- Querétaro to Real de Asientos
- Querétaro to Guadalupe, Zacatecas
- Querétaro to Amatitán
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Querétaro to Cuautla?
About 3 h 29 min of driving without stops, over 196 miles.
How far is Cuautla from Querétaro by car?
About 196 miles (316 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 Querétaro 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 Querétaro to Cuautla?
The U.S. State Department rates Querétaro Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; State of Mexico Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Hidalgo 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 Querétaro to Cuautla use?
In order: MEX-57D, 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 Querétaro and Cuautla?
Closest to the road: Templo y exconvento de San Francisco (convent, mile 88, 0.6 mi from the route); Sacred Heart of Jesus Cathedral, Ecatepec (cathedral, mile 120, 0.7 mi from the route); Molino de Flores Nezahualcóyotl National Park (National Park of Mexico, mile 141, 6 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.