The Wayro route from Zitácuaro to Malinalco is 91 miles (146 km), about 2 h 0 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 91 mi (146 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 2 h 0 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-15 → MEX-15D → MEX-A7D → MEX-55 |
| Mexican states on the route | Michoacán (Level 4), State of Mexico (Level 2) |
| Toll roads | MEX-15D, MEX-A7D, MEX-A10D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 3.6 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 Zitácuaro to Malinalco is like
MEX-A7D (34 mi) and MEX-55 (8 mi) carry about 46% of the 91 miles. MEX-15D, MEX-A7D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-15, MEX-55 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 2 states: Michoacán, State of Mexico. Of the 7 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Zitácuaro to Malinalco, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–2 | 2 | Michoacán |
| MEX-15 | 2–6 | 4 | Michoacán |
| MEX-15D | 6–13 | 7 | Michoacán |
| MEX-A7D | 13–47 | 34 | Michoacán, State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 47–48 | 1 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-55 | 48–56 | 8 | State of Mexico |
| local roads | 56–91 | 35 | State of Mexico |
- Mile 16 of this route: Michoacán → State of Mexico (state line)
Stops between Zitácuaro and Malinalco
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Bosencheve National Park (mile 19)
- Nature and outdoors: Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve (mile 9), Bosencheve National Park (mile 19), Parque Estatal Sierra Morelos (mile 52), Nevado de Toluca National Park (mile 67)
- Museums and history: Calixtlahuaca (mile 50), Museo Felipe Santiago Gutiérrez (mile 55)
Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve
Every fall, millions of monarch butterflies from across North America return to the oyamel fir forests about 100 km northwest of Mexico City, clustering so densely they bend branches. The reserve became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2008.
Bosencheve National Park
Straddling Michoacán and the State of Mexico, Bosencheve National Park was established in 1940 and protects roughly 146 square kilometers of land.
Calixtlahuaca
Spread over the slopes of Cerro Tenismó near Toluca, this site's standout is the round Temple of Ehécatl-Quetzalcóatl, rebuilt in four phases. Nearby, a Mexica-era skull rack displays stone skulls set into cross-shaped walls.
Parque Estatal Sierra Morelos
This Toluca park, one of the State of Mexico's protected natural areas, is home to more than 500 species of plants and animals. Families come for the axolotl center, bat house, small farm and jogging track.
Museo Felipe Santiago Gutiérrez
In Toluca's historic center, a building from the late 18th and early 19th centuries holds about 225 watercolors, oils and drawings tracing the work of painter Felipe Santiago Gutiérrez. It opened in December 1992.
Teatro Morelos
In Toluca's historic center, just west of the State of Mexico's Palace of Justice, Teatro Morelos stages plays along with other shows and cultural events.
Nevado de Toluca National Park
The Nevado de Toluca volcano was declared a flora and fauna protection area in 2013, a protected zone spanning ten municipalities of the State of Mexico, including Toluca, Zinacantepec and Temascaltepec.
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
- Tlalpujahua to Malinalco
- San Juan del Río to Malinalco
- Tequisquiapan to Malinalco
- Salvatierra to Malinalco
- Zimapán to Malinalco
From Zitácuaro to other places in Mexico
- Zitácuaro to Amealco
- Zitácuaro to Cuanajo
- Zitácuaro to Ezequiel Montes
- Zitácuaro to Bernal
- Zitácuaro to Mineral de Pozos
- Zitácuaro to Pabellón de Arteaga
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Zitácuaro to Malinalco?
About 2 h 0 min of driving without stops, over 91 miles.
How far is Malinalco from Zitácuaro by car?
About 91 miles (146 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 Zitácuaro 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 Zitácuaro to Malinalco?
The U.S. State Department rates Michoacán Level 4: Do Not Travel; State of Mexico Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Zitácuaro to Malinalco use?
In order: MEX-15, MEX-15D, MEX-A7D and MEX-55. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Zitácuaro and Malinalco?
Closest to the road: Bosencheve National Park (National Park of Mexico, mile 19, 0.9 mi from the route); Museo Felipe Santiago Gutiérrez (art museum, mile 55, 1 mi from the route); Teatro Morelos (theatre building, mile 55, 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.