The Wayro route from Atlixco to Xico is 142 miles (228 km), about 2 h 45 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 142 mi (228 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 2 h 45 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-190D → MEX-190 → MEX-140D → VER 7 |
| Mexican states on the route | Puebla (Level 2), Tlaxcala (Level 2), Veracruz (Level 2) |
| Toll roads | MEX-190D, MEX-150D, MEX-140D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 5.7 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 Atlixco to Xico is like
MEX-140D (66 mi) and MEX-190 (14 mi) carry about 56% of the 142 miles. MEX-190D, MEX-140D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-190 is a free federal road (libre). It runs through 3 states: Puebla, Tlaxcala, Veracruz. Of the 8 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Atlixco to Xico, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–3 | 3 | Puebla |
| MEX-190D | 3–15 | 12 | Puebla |
| connecting roads | 15–16 | 1 | Puebla |
| MEX-190 | 16–30 | 14 | Puebla |
| connecting roads | 30–32 | 2 | Puebla |
| local roads | 32–58 | 26 | Puebla, Tlaxcala |
| MEX-140D | 58–124 | 66 | Tlaxcala, Puebla, Veracruz |
| connecting roads | 124–127 | 3 | Veracruz |
| local roads | 127–131 | 4 | Veracruz |
| VER 7 | 131–135 | 4 | Veracruz |
| local roads | 135–142 | 7 | Veracruz |
- Mile 43 of this route: Puebla → Tlaxcala (state line)
- Mile 51 of this route: Tlaxcala → Puebla (state line)
- Mile 57 of this route: Puebla → Tlaxcala (state line)
- Mile 66 of this route: Tlaxcala → Puebla (state line)
- Mile 92 of this route: Puebla → Veracruz (state line)
Stops between Atlixco and Xico
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Pinacoteca Diego Rivera (mile 130)
- Nature and outdoors: Jardín Botánico Universitario de la Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla (mile 22), La Malinche National Park (mile 42), Parque Nacional Cofre de Perote (mile 101)
- Museums and history: International Museum of the Baroque (mile 16), Convent Church of Santo Domingo, Puebla (mile 25), Cantona (mile 84), Pinacoteca Diego Rivera (mile 130)
Historic centre of Puebla
Laid out from scratch in 1531, Puebla's UNESCO-listed core is a grid of tile-covered houses, colonial churches and the 16th–17th-century cathedral, with the old archbishop's palace that houses the Palafox Library, established in 1646.
International Museum of the Baroque
Designed by Japanese architect Toyo Ito and opened in 2016, Puebla's baroque museum wraps its galleries in curving white concrete walls beside a reflecting pond. Exhibits cover baroque painting, sculpture, architecture, music, theater and literature.
Jardín Botánico Universitario de la Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla
On the Ciudad Universitaria campus of BUAP in Puebla, the university botanical garden covers about 10.7 hectares and was formerly named after Ignacio Rodríguez Alconedo.
Convent Church of Santo Domingo, Puebla
Behind the facade of Puebla's Santo Domingo church hides the Capilla del Rosario, inaugurated in 1690. Gold covers its walls, pilasters and vaults, and contemporaries hailed it as the eighth wonder of the New World.
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.
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.
Pinacoteca Diego Rivera
In downtown Xalapa, the Pinacoteca Diego Rivera is an art museum with a large collection of works by the muralist Diego Rivera.
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 Atlixco to other places in Mexico
- Atlixco to Zacatelco
- Atlixco to Tlaxcala
- Atlixco to Apizaco
- Atlixco to Ixtenco
- Atlixco to Tlaxco
- Atlixco to Calpulalpan
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Atlixco to Xico?
About 2 h 45 min of driving without stops, over 142 miles.
How far is Xico from Atlixco by car?
About 142 miles (228 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 Atlixco 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 Atlixco to Xico?
The U.S. State Department rates Puebla Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Tlaxcala 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 Atlixco to Xico use?
In order: MEX-190D, MEX-190, 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 Atlixco and Xico?
Closest to the road: International Museum of the Baroque (art museum, mile 16, 1 mi from the route); Jardín Botánico Universitario de la Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla (botanical garden, mile 22, 2 mi from the route); Pinacoteca Diego Rivera (art museum, mile 130, 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.