The Wayro route from Tequila to Malinalco is 367 miles (591 km), about 6 h 22 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 367 mi (591 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 6 h 22 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-15D → MEX-15 → MEX-55D → MEX-55 |
| Mexican states on the route | Jalisco (Level 3), Michoacán (Level 4), State of Mexico (Level 2) |
| Toll roads | MEX-15D, MEX-M40D, MEX-55D, MEX-A10D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 14.7 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 Tequila to Malinalco is like
MEX-15D (275 mi) and MEX-55D (34 mi) carry about 84% of the 367 miles. MEX-15D, MEX-55D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-15, MEX-55 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 3 states: Jalisco, Michoacán, State of Mexico. Of the 9 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Tequila to Malinalco, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–4 | 4 | Jalisco |
| MEX-15D | 4–25 | 21 | Jalisco |
| MEX-15 | 25–36 | 11 | Jalisco |
| MEX-15D | 36–290 | 254 | Jalisco, Michoacán, State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 290–293 | 3 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-55D | 293–327 | 34 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-55 | 327–332 | 5 | State of Mexico |
| local roads | 332–367 | 35 | State of Mexico |
- Mile 104 of this route: Jalisco → Michoacán (state line)
- Mile 272 of this route: Michoacán → State of Mexico (state line)
Stops between Tequila and Malinalco
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Cathedral of Atlacomulco (mile 291), José María Morelos y Pavón University History Museum (mile 332)
- Nature and outdoors: Rayón National Park (mile 268), Parque Estatal Sierra Morelos (mile 327), Nevado de Toluca National Park (mile 343), Lagunas de Zempoala National Park (mile 358)
- Museums and history: Guadalajara Cathedral (mile 40), Museo Regional de Guadalajara (mile 40), Cathedral of Atlacomulco (mile 291), José María Morelos y Pavón University History Museum (mile 332)
Guadalajara Cathedral
In the Centro of Guadalajara, the Cathedral of the Assumption of Our Lady is the seat of the Archdiocese of Guadalajara and a minor basilica.
Museo Regional de Guadalajara
Facing the Rotonda de los Jaliscienses Ilustres in downtown Guadalajara, the Museo Regional de Guadalajara fills a full city block bounded by Hidalgo, Pino Suárez, Liceo and Independencia streets.
Rayón National Park
Just outside Tlalpujahua, Rayón National Park (Parque Nacional Rayón) marks the start of the area's famous butterfly reserve country, which stretches south and west from here.
Cathedral of Atlacomulco
Atlacomulco's cathedral, the Catedral de la Divina Providencia, is the seat of the Diocese of Atlacomulco and is dedicated to Divine Providence, making it the town's principal Catholic church.
Parque Estatal Sierra Morelos
This Toluca park, one of the State of Mexico's protected natural areas, is home to more than 500 species of plants and animals. Families come for the axolotl center, bat house, small farm and jogging track.
Teatro Morelos
In Toluca's historic center, just west of the State of Mexico's Palace of Justice, Teatro Morelos stages plays along with other shows and cultural events.
José María Morelos y Pavón University History Museum
The Museo de Historia Universitaria José María Morelos y Pavón is a history museum located in the city of Toluca de Lerdo.
Nevado de Toluca National Park
The Nevado de Toluca volcano was declared a flora and fauna protection area in 2013, a protected zone spanning ten municipalities of the State of Mexico, including Toluca, Zinacantepec and Temascaltepec.
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.
When you get to Malinalco
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.
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.
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 Tequila to other places in Mexico
- Tequila to Temacapulín
- Tequila to Pabellón de Hidalgo
- Tequila to San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes
- Tequila to Calvillo
- Tequila to Real de Asientos
- Tequila to El Rosario, Sinaloa
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Tequila to Malinalco?
About 6 h 22 min of driving without stops, over 367 miles.
How far is Malinalco from Tequila by car?
About 367 miles (591 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 Tequila 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 Tequila to Malinalco?
The U.S. State Department rates Jalisco Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Michoacán Level 4: Do Not 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 Tequila to Malinalco use?
In order: MEX-15D, MEX-15, MEX-55D and MEX-55. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Tequila and Malinalco?
Closest to the road: Cathedral of Atlacomulco (catholic cathedral, mile 291, 0.4 mi from the route); Teatro Morelos (theatre building, mile 331, 1 mi from the route); José María Morelos y Pavón University History Museum (history museum, mile 332, 0.8 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.