The Wayro route from Tulancingo to Malinalco is 131 miles (211 km), about 3 h 3 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 131 mi (211 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 3 h 3 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-130 → MEX-132 → MEX-132D → MEX-85D → Circuito Interior → MEX-15 → MEX-15D → EM 6 |
| Mexican states on the route | Hidalgo (Level 2), State of Mexico (Level 2), Mexico City (Level 2) |
| Toll roads | MEX-132D, MEX-85D, MEX-15D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 5.2 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 7 |
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 Tulancingo to Malinalco is like
MEX-132 (41 mi) and EM 6 (20 mi) carry about 47% of the 131 miles. MEX-132D, MEX-85D, MEX-15D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-130, MEX-132, MEX-15 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 3 states: Hidalgo, State of Mexico, Mexico City. Of the 7 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Tulancingo to Malinalco, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–2 | 2 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-130 | 2–6 | 4 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-132 | 6–47 | 41 | Hidalgo, State of Mexico |
| MEX-132D | 47–58 | 11 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-85D | 58–68 | 10 | State of Mexico, Mexico City |
| connecting roads | 68–71 | 3 | Mexico City |
| Circuito Interior | 71–76 | 5 | Mexico City |
| MEX-15 | 76–81 | 5 | Mexico City |
| MEX-15D | 81–93 | 12 | State of Mexico, Mexico City |
| EM 6 | 93–113 | 20 | State of Mexico |
| local roads | 113–131 | 18 | State of Mexico |
- Mile 29 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 66 of this route: State of Mexico → Mexico City (state line)
- Mile 81 of this route: Mexico City → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 85 of this route: State of Mexico → Mexico City (state line)
- Mile 89 of this route: Mexico City → State of Mexico (state line)
Stops between Tulancingo and Malinalco
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe (mile 69), Papalote Museo del Niño (mile 77), Desierto de los Leones National Park (mile 88)
- Nature and outdoors: Desierto de los Leones National Park (mile 88)
- Museums and history: Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe (mile 69), Planetario Luis Enrique Erro (mile 69), Museo Mural Diego Rivera (mile 73), Papalote Museo del Niño (mile 77)
- With kids: Planetario Luis Enrique Erro (mile 69)
Pyramid of the Moon
In the western part of ancient Teotihuacan, in present-day San Martín de las Pirámides, the Pyramid of the Moon mimics the contours of Cerro Gordo, the mountain just north of the site.
Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe
The Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe, at the foot of Tepeyac Hill in Mexico City's Gustavo A. Madero borough, is a Catholic basilica dedicated to the Virgin of Guadalupe within the Primate Archdiocese of Mexico.
Planetario Luis Enrique Erro
Run by the National Polytechnic Institute, the Planetario Luis Enrique Erro in Mexico City is a planetarium open to the public and one of the longest-running in Latin America.
Teatro Fru Fru
A Mexico City theater, the Teatro Fru Fru opened on January 1, 1899, under the name Teatro Renacimiento.
Museo Mural Diego Rivera
Museo Mural Diego Rivera in Mexico City is where you'll find Diego Rivera's 1946–47 mural Sueño de una Tarde Dominical en la Alameda Central.
Papalote Museo del Niño
In Chapultepec's woods, Papalote Museo del Niño is a children's museum with interactive exhibits on science, technology and art built around learning and teamwork.
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 Tulancingo to other places in Mexico
- Tulancingo to Tepotzotlán
- Tulancingo to Zimapán
- Tulancingo to Metepec
- Tulancingo to Atlatlahucan
- Tulancingo to Tonatico
- Tulancingo to El Oro
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Tulancingo to Malinalco?
About 3 h 3 min of driving without stops, over 131 miles.
How far is Malinalco from Tulancingo by car?
About 131 miles (211 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 Tulancingo 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 Tulancingo to Malinalco?
The U.S. State Department rates Hidalgo 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 Tulancingo to Malinalco use?
In order: MEX-130, MEX-132, MEX-132D, MEX-85D, Circuito Interior, MEX-15, 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 Tulancingo and Malinalco?
Closest to the road: Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe (catholic parish church, mile 69, 0.6 mi from the route); Papalote Museo del Niño (museum building, mile 77, 0.2 mi from the route); Desierto de los Leones National Park (National Park of Mexico, mile 88, 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.