The Wayro route from Zimapán to Malinalco is 167 miles (268 km), about 4 h 9 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 167 mi (268 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 4 h 9 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-85 → MEX-45 → MEX-11 → MEX-57D → MEX-15D → EM 6 |
| Mexican states on the route | Hidalgo (Level 2), State of Mexico (Level 2), Mexico City (Level 2) |
| Toll roads | MEX-57D, MEX-15D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 6.7 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 Zimapán to Malinalco is like
MEX-57D (38 mi) and MEX-85 (20 mi) carry about 35% of the 167 miles. MEX-57D, MEX-15D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-85, MEX-45, MEX-11 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 3 states: Hidalgo, State of Mexico, Mexico City. Of the 9 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Zimapán to Malinalco, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–4 | 4 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-85 | 4–24 | 20 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-45 | 24–29 | 5 | Hidalgo |
| local roads | 29–72 | 43 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-11 | 72–76 | 4 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-57D | 76–114 | 38 | Hidalgo, State of Mexico |
| local roads | 114–122 | 8 | State of Mexico, Mexico City |
| connecting roads | 122–123 | 1 | Mexico City |
| MEX-15D | 123–128 | 5 | Mexico City, State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 128–129 | 1 | State of Mexico |
| EM 6 | 129–149 | 20 | State of Mexico |
| local roads | 149–167 | 18 | State of Mexico |
- Mile 82 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 121 of this route: State of Mexico → Mexico City (state line)
- Mile 125 of this route: Mexico City → State of Mexico (state line)
Stops between Zimapán and Malinalco
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Templo y exconvento de San Francisco (mile 75), Museo Nacional del Virreinato (mile 92), Desierto de los Leones National Park (mile 124)
- Nature and outdoors: Viveros de Coyoacán (mile 120), Desierto de los Leones National Park (mile 124), La Marquesa National Park (mile 127), Cumbres del Ajusco National Park (mile 134)
- Museums and history: Museo Nacional del Virreinato (mile 92), Cuautitlán Cathedral (mile 96), Luis Barragán House and Studio (mile 117)
Templo y exconvento de San Francisco
The Templo y Exconvento de San Francisco is a church and former convent located in the city of Tepeji del Río, in the Mexican state of Hidalgo.
Museo Nacional del Virreinato
Housed in the former Jesuit college of San Francisco Javier in Tepotzotlán, begun in 1606, this national museum covers three centuries of colonial art. Its Baroque church, built 1670-1682, keeps altarpieces designed by Miguel Cabrera and Higinio de Chávez.
Cuautitlán Cathedral
Cuautitlán's St. Bonaventure Cathedral (Catedral de San Buenaventura) is a Catholic church that forms part of the convent of the same name in this State of Mexico municipality.
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.
Viveros de Coyoacán
Part tree nursery, part public park, Viveros de Coyoacán covers 96 acres and was founded in the early 20th century by Miguel Ángel de Quevedo to grow seedlings for reforesting Mexico's forests.
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.
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.
When you get to Malinalco
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.
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.
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 Zimapán to other places in Mexico
- Zimapán to El Oro
- Zimapán to Ihuatzio
- Zimapán to Cuanajo
- Zimapán to Tócuaro
- Zimapán to Pacanda
- Zimapán to Zirahuén
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Zimapán to Malinalco?
About 4 h 9 min of driving without stops, over 167 miles.
How far is Malinalco from Zimapán by car?
About 167 miles (268 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 Zimapán 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 Zimapán 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 Zimapán to Malinalco use?
In order: MEX-85, MEX-45, MEX-11, MEX-57D, 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 Zimapán and Malinalco?
Closest to the road: Templo y exconvento de San Francisco (convent, mile 75, 0.4 mi from the route); Museo Nacional del Virreinato (museum, mile 92, 0.9 mi from the route); Desierto de los Leones National Park (National Park of Mexico, mile 124, 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.