The Wayro route from Apizaco to Xico is 111 miles (178 km), about 2 h 9 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 111 mi (178 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 2 h 9 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-136 → MEX-140D → VER 7 |
| Mexican states on the route | Tlaxcala (Level 2), Puebla (Level 2), Veracruz (Level 2) |
| Toll roads | MEX-140D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 4.4 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 8 |
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 Apizaco to Xico is like
MEX-140D (66 mi) and MEX-136 (24 mi) carry about 81% of the 111 miles. MEX-140D is a toll highway (cuota); MEX-136 is a free federal road (libre). It runs through 3 states: Tlaxcala, Puebla, Veracruz. Of the 8 stops listed below, 4 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Apizaco to Xico, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Tlaxcala |
| MEX-136 | 1–25 | 24 | Tlaxcala |
| connecting roads | 25–26 | 1 | Tlaxcala |
| MEX-140D | 26–92 | 66 | Tlaxcala, Puebla, Veracruz |
| connecting roads | 92–95 | 3 | Veracruz |
| local roads | 95–99 | 4 | Veracruz |
| VER 7 | 99–104 | 5 | Veracruz |
| local roads | 104–111 | 7 | Veracruz |
- Mile 35 of this route: Tlaxcala → Puebla (state line)
- Mile 61 of this route: Puebla → Veracruz (state line)
Stops between Apizaco and Xico
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museo Nacional del Títere (mile 18), Xalapa Museum of Anthropology (mile 96), Xalapa Cathedral (mile 98), Jardín Botánico Francisco J. Clavijero (mile 100)
- Nature and outdoors: La Malinche National Park (mile 14), Parque Nacional Cofre de Perote (mile 70), Jardín Botánico Francisco J. Clavijero (mile 100)
- Museums and history: Museo Nacional del Títere (mile 18), Museo de Sitio de Cantona (mile 51), Cantona (mile 53), Xalapa Museum of Anthropology (mile 96), Xalapa Cathedral (mile 98)
La Malinche National Park
Tlaxcala's La Malinche National Park surrounds the inactive Matlalcuéyetl volcano, with pine, oak and fir forests on its slopes, hiking trails, birdwatching, and stone cabins and campsites at the Malintzi Vacation Center.
Museo Nacional del Títere
On the main square of Huamantla, the National Puppet Museum (Museo Nacional del Títere) fills eight galleries with puppets from Mexico and abroad, including pieces tied to the Rosete Aranda family, whose company toured Mexico for generations.
Museo de Sitio de Cantona
At the Cantona archaeological zone in Tepeyahualco, this site museum shows finds from more than 20 years of digs: pottery, obsidian and stone tools, musical instruments, greenstone and shell ornaments, and burial remains.
Cantona
High on the Puebla plateau near the Veracruz line, Cantona was a fortified pre-Hispanic city that controlled trade toward the Gulf; its explored southern section reveals interconnected streets, walled residential units and more than two dozen ballgame courts.
Parque Nacional Cofre de Perote
Cofre de Perote National Park protects the forested slopes of the mountain, and its role is practical as well as scenic: a little over 40 percent of the water used in Xalapa comes from here.
Xalapa Museum of Anthropology
Run by the Universidad Veracruzana in a building designed by Edward Durell Stone, the Xalapa Museum of Anthropology displays more than 1,500 pieces from Olmec, central Veracruz and Huastec cultures, including several Olmec colossal heads, amid subtropical gardens.
Xalapa Cathedral
One of Xalapa's oldest buildings, the Metropolitan Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception mixes a baroque core with neo-Gothic touches added in 1895, and holds the remains of Bishop Rafael Guízar y Valencia.
Jardín Botánico Francisco J. Clavijero
Opened in 1977 by the Instituto de Ecología near Xalapa, this botanical garden sits in native cloud forest beside a 30-hectare forest sanctuary and keeps notable collections of Mexican cycads, bamboo and carnivorous butterworts.
When you get to Xico
Cascada de Texolo
Two waterfalls on the Matlacobatl River, Texolo with a 20-meter drop and La Monja with about 8 meters, sit roughly 3 kilometers from Xico amid cloud forest included in a Ramsar wetland site.
More drives to Xico
From Apizaco to other places in Mexico
- Apizaco to Omitlán
- Apizaco to Huasca de Ocampo
- Apizaco to Atlatlahucan
- Apizaco to Metepec
- Apizaco to Jilotepec
- Apizaco to Malinalco
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Apizaco to Xico?
About 2 h 9 min of driving without stops, over 111 miles.
How far is Xico from Apizaco by car?
About 111 miles (178 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 Apizaco to Xico?
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 Apizaco to Xico?
The U.S. State Department rates Tlaxcala Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Puebla Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Veracruz Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Apizaco to Xico use?
In order: MEX-136, MEX-140D and VER 7. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Apizaco and Xico?
Closest to the road: Xalapa Museum of Anthropology (archaeological museum, mile 96, 0.1 mi from the route); Xalapa Cathedral (cathedral, mile 98, 0.7 mi from the route); Jardín Botánico Francisco J. Clavijero (botanical garden, mile 100, 0.6 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.