The Wayro route from Zacualpan de Amilpas to Bernal is 199 miles (320 km), about 4 h 32 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 199 mi (320 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 4 h 32 min |
| Main roads, in order | MOR 17 → MEX-115 → MEX-57D → MEX-120 → QRO 5 |
| Mexican states on the route | Morelos (Level 3), State of Mexico (Level 2), Hidalgo (Level 2), Querétaro (Level 2) |
| Toll roads | MEX-57D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 8.0 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 Zacualpan de Amilpas to Bernal is like
MEX-57D (65 mi) and MEX-120 (23 mi) carry about 44% of the 199 miles. MEX-57D is a toll highway (cuota); MEX-115, MEX-120 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 4 states: Morelos, State of Mexico, Hidalgo, Querétaro. Of the 9 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Zacualpan de Amilpas to Bernal, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Morelos |
| MOR 17 | 1–4 | 3 | Morelos |
| local roads | 4–28 | 24 | Morelos, State of Mexico |
| MEX-115 | 28–48 | 20 | State of Mexico |
| local roads | 48–103 | 55 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-57D | 103–168 | 65 | State of Mexico, Hidalgo, Querétaro |
| MEX-120 | 168–191 | 23 | Querétaro |
| QRO 5 | 191–195 | 4 | Querétaro |
| local roads | 195–199 | 4 | Querétaro |
- Mile 19 of this route: Morelos → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 107 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 126 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 159 of this route: State of Mexico → Querétaro (state line)
Stops between Zacualpan de Amilpas and Bernal
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Sacred Heart of Jesus Cathedral, Ecatepec (mile 81), Galería Libertad (mile 180)
- Nature and outdoors: Iztaccíhuatl–Popocatépetl National Park (mile 34), Molino de Flores Nezahualcóyotl National Park (mile 60), Cerro de la Estrella National Park (mile 68), Tula National Park (mile 121)
- Museums and history: Acozac (mile 50), Luis Barragán House and Studio (mile 72), Sacred Heart of Jesus Cathedral, Ecatepec (mile 81), Galería Libertad (mile 180)
Iztaccíhuatl–Popocatépetl National Park
Iztaccíhuatl–Popocatépetl National Park, also called Izta-Popo Zoquiapan, protects the land around Popocatépetl and Iztaccíhuatl, Mexico's second- and third-highest peaks, where the states of México, Puebla and Morelos meet.
Acozac
Acozac is an archaeological site in the municipality of Ixtapaluca, State of Mexico, located at kilometer 30 of the federal Mexico City–Puebla road, heading toward Ixtapaluca.
Molino de Flores Nezahualcóyotl National Park
Named for Antonio Flores de Valdés, who inherited the estate in 1642, this former hacienda and mill near Texcoco became a national park in 1937. Visitors walk among its ruins, the San Joaquín church remains and a chapel built on rock.
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.
Historic center of Mexico City
Built by the Spanish in the 16th century on the ruins of Tenochtitlan, Mexico City's Centro Histórico holds the Metropolitan Cathedral, the excavated Aztec Templo Mayor and the Palacio de Bellas Artes. UNESCO added it to the World Heritage List in 1987.
Luis Barragán House and Studio
Luis Barragán built his own house and studio in Mexico City in 1948, blending modern design with Mexican vernacular touches. The concrete house and its private garden joined UNESCO's World Heritage List in 2004.
Sacred Heart of Jesus Cathedral, Ecatepec
The Sacred Heart of Jesus Cathedral, also called Ecatepec Cathedral, is the main Catholic church and seat of the Diocese of Ecatepec in Mexico, dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
Tula National Park
This park protects the ruins of Tula, ancient capital of the Toltecs. Walk up to the main pyramid to stand beside the Atlantes, basalt warrior figures more than four meters tall, and look for the Coatepantli wall's reliefs of snakes devouring skeletons.
Galería Libertad
Run by Querétaro's state culture department, Galería Libertad is a public gallery in the historic center of Santiago de Querétaro devoted to exhibiting, promoting and teaching the visual arts.
More drives to Bernal
- Celaya to Bernal
- Salamanca to Bernal
- Irapuato to Bernal
- Guanajuato to Bernal
- Pénjamo to Bernal
- León to Bernal
From Zacualpan de Amilpas to other places in Mexico
- Zacualpan de Amilpas to Ixtenco
- Zacualpan de Amilpas to Omitlán
- Zacualpan de Amilpas to Tetela de Ocampo
- Zacualpan de Amilpas to Huasca de Ocampo
- Zacualpan de Amilpas to El Oro
- Zacualpan de Amilpas to Metztitlán
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Zacualpan de Amilpas to Bernal?
About 4 h 32 min of driving without stops, over 199 miles.
How far is Bernal from Zacualpan de Amilpas by car?
About 199 miles (320 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 Zacualpan de Amilpas to Bernal?
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 Zacualpan de Amilpas to Bernal?
The U.S. State Department rates Morelos Level 3: Reconsider Travel; State of Mexico Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Hidalgo Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Querétaro Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Zacualpan de Amilpas to Bernal use?
In order: MOR 17, MEX-115, MEX-57D, MEX-120 and QRO 5. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Zacualpan de Amilpas and Bernal?
Closest to the road: Acozac (archaeological site, mile 50, 2 mi from the route); Sacred Heart of Jesus Cathedral, Ecatepec (cathedral, mile 81, 0.7 mi from the route); Galería Libertad (art museum, mile 180, 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.