The Wayro route from Tlaxcala to Malinalco is 130 miles (210 km), about 2 h 54 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 130 mi (210 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 2 h 54 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-117D → MEX-150D → Viaducto → MEX-15D → EM 6 |
| Mexican states on the route | Tlaxcala (Level 2), Puebla (Level 2), State of Mexico (Level 2), Mexico City (Level 2) |
| Toll roads | MEX-117D, MEX-M40D, MEX-150D, MEX-15D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 5.2 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 Tlaxcala to Malinalco is like
MEX-150D (47 mi) and EM 6 (19 mi) carry about 51% of the 130 miles. MEX-117D, MEX-150D, MEX-15D are toll highways (cuota). It runs through 4 states: Tlaxcala, Puebla, State of Mexico, Mexico City. Of the 9 stops listed below, 4 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Tlaxcala to Malinalco, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–2 | 2 | Tlaxcala |
| MEX-117D | 2–13 | 11 | Tlaxcala, Puebla |
| connecting roads | 13–16 | 3 | Puebla |
| MEX-150D | 16–63 | 47 | Puebla, State of Mexico |
| local roads | 63–68 | 5 | State of Mexico, Mexico City |
| Viaducto | 68–76 | 8 | Mexico City |
| connecting roads | 76–81 | 5 | Mexico City |
| MEX-15D | 81–92 | 11 | Mexico City, State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 92–93 | 1 | State of Mexico |
| EM 6 | 93–112 | 19 | State of Mexico |
| local roads | 112–130 | 18 | State of Mexico |
- Mile 12 of this route: Tlaxcala → Puebla (state line)
- Mile 34 of this route: Puebla → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 66 of this route: State of Mexico → Mexico City (state line)
- Mile 88 of this route: Mexico City → State of Mexico (state line)
Stops between Tlaxcala and Malinalco
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museo Cabeza de Juárez (mile 65), Los Pinos (mile 76), Museo de Historia Natural (mile 77), Desierto de los Leones National Park (mile 87)
- Nature and outdoors: Cerro de la Estrella National Park (mile 66), Museo de Historia Natural (mile 77), Fuentes Brotantes de Tlalpan National Park (mile 83), Desierto de los Leones National Park (mile 87)
- Museums and history: Museo Cabeza de Juárez (mile 65), Valvanera Cathedral, Mexico City (mile 71), Museo Nacional de la Revolución (mile 73), Los Pinos (mile 76), Museo de Historia Natural (mile 77)
Convento de Huejotzingo
Founded by Franciscans in the 16th century, the former convent of San Miguel Arcángel in Huejotzingo shows colonial Plateresque architecture on the western slopes of Popocatépetl and Iztaccíhuatl. UNESCO declared it a World Heritage Site in 1994.
Museo Cabeza de Juárez
A colossal head of Benito Juárez, the 26th president of Mexico, crowns this museum and monument in Mexico City's Iztapalapa borough.
Cerro de la Estrella National Park
Rising in eastern Mexico City's Iztapalapa borough, Cerro de la Estrella is where the Mexica lit the New Fire every 52 years; trails lead up to a pyramid-shaped site museum near the summit and to caves with traces of pre-Hispanic use.
Valvanera Cathedral, Mexico City
Southeast of the Zócalo at Correo Mayor and República de Uruguay, the Cathedral of Our Lady of Valvanera once belonged to the Convent of Santo Niño Perdido, founded in 1573.
Museo Nacional de la Revolución
Opened on November 20, 1986, the National Museum of the Revolution sits in the basement of the Monument to the Revolution in Mexico City.
Los Pinos
In Chapultepec Forest, Los Pinos served as the official residence and office of Mexico's presidents from 1934 to 2018.
Museo de Historia Natural
In the second section of Chapultepec Park, the Museo de Historia Natural y Cultura Ambiental displays mounted animals, fossils, rocks, minerals, sculptures and models about life on Earth and Mexico's biodiversity.
Fuentes Brotantes de Tlalpan National Park
In southern Mexico City's Tlalpan borough, Fuentes Brotantes de Tlalpan was declared a national park on September 28, 1936, on land once called the Barranca de los Manantiales.
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.
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 Tlaxcala to other places in Mexico
- Tlaxcala to Omitlán
- Tlaxcala to Atlatlahucan
- Tlaxcala to Huasca de Ocampo
- Tlaxcala to Actopan
- Tlaxcala to Metepec
- Tlaxcala to Taxco
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Tlaxcala to Malinalco?
About 2 h 54 min of driving without stops, over 130 miles.
How far is Malinalco from Tlaxcala by car?
About 130 miles (210 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 Tlaxcala 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 Tlaxcala to Malinalco?
The U.S. State Department rates Tlaxcala Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Puebla 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 Tlaxcala to Malinalco use?
In order: MEX-117D, MEX-150D, Viaducto, 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 Tlaxcala and Malinalco?
Closest to the road: Museo Cabeza de Juárez (museum, mile 65, 0.3 mi from the route); Los Pinos (museum, mile 76, 0.9 mi from the route); Museo de Historia Natural (museum, mile 77, 0.6 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.