The Wayro route from Querétaro to Cuernavaca is 177 miles (285 km), about 3 h 9 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 177 mi (285 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 3 h 9 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-57D → MEX-57 → Periférico → MEX-95D |
| Mexican states on the route | Querétaro (Level 2), State of Mexico (Level 2), Hidalgo (Level 2), Mexico City (Level 2), Morelos (Level 3) |
| Toll roads | MEX-45D, MEX-57D, MEX-95D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 7.1 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 Querétaro to Cuernavaca is like
MEX-57D (112 mi) and MEX-95D (21 mi) carry about 75% of the 177 miles. MEX-57D, MEX-95D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-57 is a free federal road (libre). It runs through 5 states: Querétaro, State of Mexico, Hidalgo, Mexico City, Morelos. Of the 9 stops listed below, 4 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Querétaro to Cuernavaca, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–2 | 2 | Querétaro |
| MEX-57D | 2–114 | 112 | Querétaro, State of Mexico, Hidalgo |
| MEX-57 | 114–122 | 8 | State of Mexico |
| Periférico | 122–142 | 20 | State of Mexico, Mexico City |
| connecting roads | 142–144 | 2 | Mexico City |
| MEX-95D | 144–165 | 21 | Mexico City, Morelos |
| local roads | 165–177 | 12 | 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 127 of this route: State of Mexico → Mexico City (state line)
- Mile 160 of this route: Mexico City → Morelos (state line)
Stops between Querétaro and Cuernavaca
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Templo y exconvento de San Francisco (mile 88), Museo Hacienda de Santa Mónica (mile 120), Torres de Satélite (mile 122), Carrillo Gil Art Museum (mile 134)
- Nature and outdoors: Viveros de Coyoacán (mile 133), Desierto de los Leones National Park (mile 137)
- Museums and history: Museo Hacienda de Santa Mónica (mile 120), Estela de Luz (mile 129), Salón de la Plástica Mexicana (mile 129), Carrillo Gil Art Museum (mile 134), Anahuacalli Museum (mile 141)
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.
Museo Hacienda de Santa Mónica
Part of the Antonio Haghenbeck Cultural Foundation, the Museo Hacienda de Santa Mónica is a museum in the municipality of Tlalnepantla de Baz, State of Mexico.
Torres de Satélite
The Torres de Satélite are giant sculptures in Ciudad Satélite, Naucalpan, conceived from 1957 by architect Luis Barragán, painter Jesús Reyes Ferreira and sculptor Mathias Goeritz.
Estela de Luz
Built in 2011 for the bicentennial of Mexico's independence, the Estela de Luz is a Mexico City monument that combines quartz with electric lighting.
Salón de la Plástica Mexicana
Established in 1949 to expand the market for Mexican art, the Salón de la Plástica Mexicana is an institution devoted to promoting contemporary Mexican art.
Viveros de Coyoacán
Part tree nursery, part public park, Viveros de Coyoacán covers 96 acres and was founded in the early 20th century by Miguel Ángel de Quevedo to grow seedlings for reforesting Mexico's forests.
Carrillo Gil Art Museum
Named for collector Álvar Carrillo Gil, the Museo de Arte Carrillo Gil in Mexico City centers on his collection, with works by José Clemente Orozco, David Alfaro Siqueiros and Diego Rivera.
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.
Anahuacalli Museum
Designed by muralist Diego Rivera as a temple of the arts, the Anahuacalli Museum is a museum and arts center in the San Pablo de Tepetlapa neighborhood of Coyoacán.
When you get to Cuernavaca
Xochicalco
A fortified hilltop city that thrived between about 650 and 900, Xochicalco is a UNESCO World Heritage site where you can see the Pyramid of the Plumed Serpent with its carved reliefs, ball courts, an underground observatory and a site museum.
Museo Fotográfico de Cuernavaca
The Museo Fotográfico de Cuernavaca is a photography museum in Cuernavaca, Morelos, housed in a building that resembles a French-style castle.
Palace of Cortés, Cuernavaca
Begun in the 16th century, the Palace of Cortés in Cuernavaca now holds the Museo Regional de los Pueblos de Morelos, reopened in 2023. Out on the east terrace, Diego Rivera's mural on the history of Morelos is back on view.
More drives to Cuernavaca
- Toluca to Cuernavaca
- Morelia to Cuernavaca
- Celaya to Cuernavaca
- Irapuato to Cuernavaca
- León to Cuernavaca
- Guadalajara to Cuernavaca
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 Cuernavaca?
About 3 h 9 min of driving without stops, over 177 miles.
How far is Cuernavaca from Querétaro by car?
About 177 miles (285 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 Cuernavaca?
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 Cuernavaca?
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; Mexico City 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 Cuernavaca use?
In order: MEX-57D, MEX-57, Periférico and MEX-95D. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Querétaro and Cuernavaca?
Closest to the road: Templo y exconvento de San Francisco (convent, mile 88, 0.6 mi from the route); Museo Hacienda de Santa Mónica (museum, mile 120, 0.5 mi from the route); Torres de Satélite (sculpture, mile 122, 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.