The Wayro route from Tlaltizapán to Malinalco is 45 miles (73 km), about 1 h 29 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 45 mi (73 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 1 h 29 min |
| Main roads, in order | MOR 4 → MOR 21 → MEX-185 → MEX-181 |
| Mexican states on the route | Morelos (Level 3), State of Mexico (Level 2) |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 1.8 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 Tlaltizapán to Malinalco is like
MOR 4 (8 mi) and MOR 21 (8 mi) carry about 36% of the 45 miles. The route stays on free federal roads (libre): MEX-185, MEX-181. It runs through 2 states: Morelos, State of Mexico. None of the 3 stops below is right on the road, so plan each as a short side trip.
The route from Tlaltizapán to Malinalco, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| MOR 4 | 0–8 | 8 | Morelos |
| MOR 21 | 8–16 | 8 | Morelos |
| local roads | 16–36 | 20 | Morelos, State of Mexico |
| MEX-185 | 36–40 | 4 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-181 | 40–45 | 5 | State of Mexico |
- Mile 34 of this route: Morelos → State of Mexico (state line)
Stops between Tlaltizapán and Malinalco
- Nature and outdoors: Grutas de Cacahuamilpa National Park (mile 26)
- Museums and history: Xochicalco (mile 21), Museo de sitio de Xochicalco (mile 21)
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 de sitio de Xochicalco
Next to the Xochicalco archaeological zone in Morelos, the site museum sits along the Xochicalco–Tetlama federal road.
Grutas de Cacahuamilpa National Park
Protected as a national park since 1936, this area near Taxco centers on the Cacahuamilpa caverns, where a guided route of about 4 km passes chambers up to 80 meters high, decorated with flowstone and floor-to-ceiling columns.
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 Tlaltizapán to other places in Mexico
- Tlaltizapán to Ocuituco
- Tlaltizapán to Otumba
- Tlaltizapán to Ixtenco
- Tlaltizapán to El Oro
- Tlaltizapán to Omitlán
- Tlaltizapán to Huasca de Ocampo
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Tlaltizapán to Malinalco?
About 1 h 29 min of driving without stops, over 45 miles.
How far is Malinalco from Tlaltizapán by car?
About 45 miles (73 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 Tlaltizapán 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 Tlaltizapán 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 Tlaltizapán to Malinalco use?
In order: MOR 4, MOR 21, MEX-185 and MEX-181. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Tlaltizapán and Malinalco?
Closest to the road: Museo de sitio de Xochicalco (museum, mile 21, 2 mi from the route); Xochicalco (archaeological site, mile 21, 2 mi from the route); Grutas de Cacahuamilpa National Park (National Park of Mexico, mile 26, 12 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.