The Wayro route from Tlaxco to Malinalco is 155 miles (249 km), about 3 h 23 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 155 mi (249 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 3 h 23 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-119 → 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 6.2 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 8 |
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 Tlaxco to Malinalco is like
MEX-150D (47 mi) and EM 6 (20 mi) carry about 43% of the 155 miles. MEX-117D, MEX-150D, MEX-15D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-119 is a free federal road (libre). It runs through 4 states: Tlaxcala, Puebla, State of Mexico, Mexico City. Of the 8 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Tlaxco to Malinalco, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Tlaxcala |
| MEX-119 | 1–16 | 15 | Tlaxcala |
| connecting roads | 16–18 | 2 | Tlaxcala |
| MEX-117D | 18–37 | 19 | Tlaxcala, Puebla |
| connecting roads | 37–40 | 3 | Puebla |
| MEX-150D | 40–87 | 47 | Puebla, State of Mexico |
| local roads | 87–93 | 6 | State of Mexico, Mexico City |
| Viaducto | 93–100 | 7 | Mexico City |
| connecting roads | 100–105 | 5 | Mexico City |
| MEX-15D | 105–116 | 11 | Mexico City, State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 116–117 | 1 | State of Mexico |
| EM 6 | 117–137 | 20 | State of Mexico |
| local roads | 137–155 | 18 | State of Mexico |
- Mile 36 of this route: Tlaxcala → Puebla (state line)
- Mile 58 of this route: Puebla → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 91 of this route: State of Mexico → Mexico City (state line)
- Mile 112 of this route: Mexico City → State of Mexico (state line)
Stops between Tlaxco and Malinalco
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museo Cabeza de Juárez (mile 90), Desierto de los Leones National Park (mile 112)
- Nature and outdoors: Sacromonte National Park (mile 69), Cerro de la Estrella National Park (mile 91), Lomas de Padierna National Park (mile 107), Desierto de los Leones National Park (mile 112), Cumbres del Ajusco National Park (mile 122)
- Museums and history: Tlaxcala Cathedral (mile 26), Museo Cabeza de Juárez (mile 90)
Tlaxcala Cathedral
Part of a 16th-century Franciscan complex among the earliest in the Americas, Tlaxcala's cathedral is famous for its carved Mudéjar-style wooden ceiling. Look for the freestanding bell tower and the stone font where Tlaxcalan lords were baptized.
Sacromonte National Park
Sacromonte National Park is a national park and protected area in the State of Mexico, established in 1952 and covering roughly 0.44 square kilometers.
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.
How Doth the Little Crocodile
How Doth the Little Crocodile is both a painting and an outdoor bronze sculpture by British-born Mexican artist Leonora Carrington, who first painted it in 1998.
Lomas de Padierna National Park
Lomas de Padierna National Park lies in the Cerro del Judío ecological reserve in La Magdalena Contreras, on the southwest side of Mexico City.
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.
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 Tlaxco to other places in Mexico
- Tlaxco to Chipilo
- Tlaxco to Otumba
- Tlaxco to Omitlán
- Tlaxco to Atlatlahucan
- Tlaxco to Jilotepec
- Tlaxco to Zimapán
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Tlaxco to Malinalco?
About 3 h 23 min of driving without stops, over 155 miles.
How far is Malinalco from Tlaxco by car?
About 155 miles (249 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 Tlaxco 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 Tlaxco 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 Tlaxco to Malinalco use?
In order: MEX-119, 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 Tlaxco and Malinalco?
Closest to the road: Tlaxcala Cathedral (catholic cathedral, mile 26, 1 mi from the route); Museo Cabeza de Juárez (museum, mile 90, 0.3 mi from the route); Desierto de los Leones National Park (National Park of Mexico, mile 112, 1 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.