The Wayro route from Toluca to Cuernavaca is 52 miles (84 km), about 1 h 35 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 52 mi (84 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 1 h 35 min |
| Main roads, in order | EM 44 → MEX-200 |
| Mexican states on the route | State of Mexico (Level 2), Morelos (Level 3) |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 2.1 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 4 |
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 Toluca to Cuernavaca is like
EM 44 (9 mi) and MEX-200 (4 mi) carry about 25% of the 52 miles. The route stays on free federal roads (libre): MEX-200. It runs through 2 states: State of Mexico, Morelos. Of the 4 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Toluca to Cuernavaca, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–7 | 7 | State of Mexico |
| EM 44 | 7–16 | 9 | State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 16–19 | 3 | State of Mexico |
| local roads | 19–23 | 4 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-200 | 23–27 | 4 | State of Mexico |
| local roads | 27–52 | 25 | State of Mexico, Morelos |
- Mile 37 of this route: State of Mexico → Morelos (state line)
Stops between Toluca and Cuernavaca
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Lagunas de Zempoala National Park (mile 36)
- Nature and outdoors: La Marquesa National Park (mile 16), Cumbres del Ajusco National Park (mile 35), Lagunas de Zempoala National Park (mile 36)
Ciénegas del Lerma
These marshes in the Toluca Valley are three lakes left from a wetland of about 27,000 hectares in the late 19th century. A Ramsar site since 2004, they hold dozens of endemic and threatened species and are a key stop for migratory species.
La Marquesa National Park
Set in high-altitude conifer forest along the Mexico City–Toluca highway, La Marquesa National Park offers roadside eateries, horse and ATV rentals, mountain biking and camping, and marks the site of the 1810 Battle of Monte de las Cruces.
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.
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 Cuernavaca
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.
Cuernavaca Cathedral
Franciscans built this 16th-century convent church, now Cuernavaca's cathedral and part of the UNESCO-listed monasteries on the slopes of Popocatépetl; visitors can see its murals, side chapels and a sacred art museum.
Palace of Cortés, Cuernavaca
Begun in the 16th century, the Palace of Cortés in Cuernavaca now holds the Museo Regional de los Pueblos de Morelos, reopened in 2023. Out on the east terrace, Diego Rivera's mural on the history of Morelos is back on view.
More drives to Cuernavaca
- Querétaro to Cuernavaca
- Morelia to Cuernavaca
- Celaya to Cuernavaca
- Irapuato to Cuernavaca
- León to Cuernavaca
- Guadalajara to Cuernavaca
From Toluca to other places in Mexico
- Toluca to Salvatierra
- Toluca to Celaya
- Toluca to Santa Fe de la Laguna
- Toluca to Tócuaro
- Toluca to Pénjamo
- Toluca to Cotija
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Toluca to Cuernavaca?
About 1 h 35 min of driving without stops, over 52 miles.
How far is Cuernavaca from Toluca by car?
About 52 miles (84 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 Toluca to Cuernavaca?
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 Toluca to Cuernavaca?
The U.S. State Department rates State of Mexico Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Morelos Level 3: Reconsider Travel (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Toluca to Cuernavaca use?
In order: EM 44 and MEX-200. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Toluca and Cuernavaca?
Closest to the road: Ciénegas del Lerma (flora and fauna protection area, mile 14, 2 mi from the route); La Marquesa National Park (National Park of Mexico, mile 16, 11 mi from the route); Lagunas de Zempoala National Park (National Park of Mexico, mile 36, 0.4 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.