The Wayro route from Tepoztlán to Malinalco is 50 miles (81 km), about 1 h 28 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 50 mi (81 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 1 h 28 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-160D → MEX-95D → MEX-106 → MEX-200 |
| Mexican states on the route | Morelos (Level 3), State of Mexico (Level 2) |
| Toll roads | MEX-160D, MEX-95D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 2.0 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 3 |
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 Tepoztlán to Malinalco is like
MEX-106 (18 mi) and MEX-95D (10 mi) carry about 56% of the 50 miles. MEX-160D, MEX-95D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-106, MEX-200 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 2 states: Morelos, State of Mexico. Of the 3 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Tepoztlán to Malinalco, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Morelos |
| MEX-160D | 1–5 | 4 | Morelos |
| connecting roads | 5–6 | 1 | Morelos |
| MEX-95D | 6–16 | 10 | Morelos |
| connecting roads | 16–17 | 1 | Morelos |
| MEX-106 | 17–35 | 18 | Morelos, State of Mexico |
| MEX-200 | 35–40 | 5 | State of Mexico |
| local roads | 40–50 | 10 | State of Mexico |
- Mile 29 of this route: Morelos → State of Mexico (state line)
Stops between Tepoztlán and Malinalco
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Lagunas de Zempoala National Park (mile 26)
- Nature and outdoors: Lagunas de Zempoala National Park (mile 26), Cumbres del Ajusco National Park (mile 28)
- Museums and history: Xochicalco (mile 22)
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.
Lagunas de Zempoala National Park
Seven lagoons, three of them permanent, sit among pine, oak and fir forest above 3,000 meters in this park, decreed in 1936 on the Morelos–State of Mexico line. Hiking, horseback riding, camping and rowboats are popular 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 Tepoztlán to other places in Mexico
- Tepoztlán to San Miguel, Morelos
- Tepoztlán to Tonatico
- Tepoztlán to Otumba
- Tepoztlán to Jilotepec
- Tepoztlán to Ixtenco
- Tepoztlán to Omitlán
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Tepoztlán to Malinalco?
About 1 h 28 min of driving without stops, over 50 miles.
How far is Malinalco from Tepoztlán by car?
About 50 miles (81 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 Tepoztlán 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 Tepoztlán to Malinalco?
The U.S. State Department rates Morelos Level 3: Reconsider Travel; State of Mexico Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Tepoztlán to Malinalco use?
In order: MEX-160D, MEX-95D, MEX-106 and MEX-200. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Tepoztlán and Malinalco?
Closest to the road: Xochicalco (archaeological site, mile 22, 15 mi from the route); Lagunas de Zempoala National Park (National Park of Mexico, mile 26, 0.3 mi from the route); Cumbres del Ajusco National Park (National Park of Mexico, mile 28, 11 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.