The Wayro route from Tecolutla to Malinalco is 257 miles (413 km), about 5 h 7 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 257 mi (413 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 5 h 7 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-180 → MEX-180D → MEX-132D → MEX-132 → MEX-85D → Circuito Interior → MEX-15 → MEX-15D → EM 6 |
| Mexican states on the route | Veracruz (Level 2), Puebla (Level 2), Hidalgo (Level 2), State of Mexico (Level 2), Mexico City (Level 2) |
| Toll roads | MEX-180D, MEX-130D, MEX-132D, MEX-85D, MEX-15D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 10.3 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 7 |
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 Tecolutla to Malinalco is like
MEX-132D (100 mi) and MEX-132 (41 mi) carry about 55% of the 257 miles. MEX-180D, MEX-132D, MEX-85D, MEX-15D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-180, MEX-132, MEX-15 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 5 states: Veracruz, Puebla, Hidalgo, State of Mexico, Mexico City. Of the 7 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Tecolutla to Malinalco, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Veracruz |
| MEX-180 | 1–18 | 17 | Veracruz |
| connecting roads | 18–19 | 1 | Veracruz |
| MEX-180D | 19–42 | 23 | Veracruz |
| connecting roads | 42–44 | 2 | Veracruz |
| MEX-132D | 44–132 | 88 | Veracruz, Puebla, Hidalgo |
| MEX-132 | 132–173 | 41 | Hidalgo, State of Mexico |
| MEX-132D | 173–185 | 12 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-85D | 185–193 | 8 | State of Mexico, Mexico City |
| connecting roads | 193–197 | 4 | Mexico City |
| Circuito Interior | 197–202 | 5 | Mexico City |
| connecting roads | 202–203 | 1 | Mexico City |
| MEX-15 | 203–207 | 4 | Mexico City |
| MEX-15D | 207–219 | 12 | Mexico City, State of Mexico |
| EM 6 | 219–239 | 20 | State of Mexico |
| local roads | 239–257 | 18 | State of Mexico |
- Mile 53 of this route: Veracruz → Puebla (state line)
- Mile 107 of this route: Puebla → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 155 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 192 of this route: State of Mexico → Mexico City (state line)
- Mile 215 of this route: Mexico City → State of Mexico (state line)
Stops between Tecolutla and Malinalco
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Huapalcalco (mile 124), Papalote Museo del Niño (mile 203), La Marquesa National Park (mile 217)
- Nature and outdoors: La Marquesa National Park (mile 217)
- Museums and history: El Tajín (mile 24), Huapalcalco (mile 124), Planetario Luis Enrique Erro (mile 195), Palace of Iturbide (mile 199), Papalote Museo del Niño (mile 203)
- With kids: Planetario Luis Enrique Erro (mile 195)
El Tajín
A UNESCO World Heritage Site in Veracruz, El Tajín peaked from the early 9th to the early 13th century. Look for the Pyramid of the Niches, elaborately carved reliefs on columns and friezes, and some of the site's 17 ballcourts.
Huapalcalco
About 5 kilometers north of Tulancingo, the pre-Columbian site of Huapalcalco sits on the western slope of a hill called Tecolote.
Pyramid of the Moon
In the western part of ancient Teotihuacan, in present-day San Martín de las Pirámides, the Pyramid of the Moon mimics the contours of Cerro Gordo, the mountain just north of the site.
Planetario Luis Enrique Erro
Run by the National Polytechnic Institute, the Planetario Luis Enrique Erro in Mexico City is a planetarium open to the public and one of the longest-running in Latin America.
Palace of Iturbide
Built by the Count of San Mateo Valparaíso as a wedding gift for his daughter, the Palace of Iturbide is a grand residence at Madero 17 in Mexico City's historic center.
Papalote Museo del Niño
In Chapultepec's woods, Papalote Museo del Niño is a children's museum with interactive exhibits on science, technology and art built around learning and teamwork.
La Marquesa National Park
Set in high-altitude conifer forest along the Mexico City–Toluca highway, La Marquesa National Park offers roadside eateries, horse and ATV rentals, mountain biking and camping, and marks the site of the 1810 Battle of Monte de las Cruces.
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 Tecolutla to other places in Mexico
- Tecolutla to Huasca de Ocampo
- Tecolutla to Omitlán
- Tecolutla to Otumba
- Tecolutla to Jilotepec
- Tecolutla to Zimapán
- Tecolutla to Atlatlahucan
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Tecolutla to Malinalco?
About 5 h 7 min of driving without stops, over 257 miles.
How far is Malinalco from Tecolutla by car?
About 257 miles (413 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 Tecolutla 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 Tecolutla to Malinalco?
The U.S. State Department rates Veracruz Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Puebla Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; 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 Tecolutla to Malinalco use?
In order: MEX-180, MEX-180D, MEX-132D, MEX-132, 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 Tecolutla and Malinalco?
Closest to the road: Huapalcalco (archaeological site, mile 124, 0.2 mi from the route); Papalote Museo del Niño (museum building, mile 203, 0.2 mi from the route); La Marquesa National Park (National Park of Mexico, mile 217, 0.9 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.