Plan on about 7 h 35 min of driving for the 327-mile (526 km) trip from Ciudad Valles to Xico, before any stops.
| Distance by road | 327 mi (526 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 7 h 35 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-85 → MEX-70D → SLP 14 → MEX-127 → MEX-180 → MEX-180D → MEX-130D → MEX-129 → MEX-131 → MEX-140D → VER 7 |
| Mexican states on the route | San Luis Potosí, Veracruz |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-70D, MEX-180D, MEX-130D, MEX-140D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 13.1 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 5 |
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.
Driving Ciudad Valles to Xico: the shape of the trip
MEX-127 (73 mi) and MEX-180D (60 mi) carry about 41% of the 327 miles. It runs through 2 states: San Luis Potosí, Veracruz. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-70D, MEX-180D and MEX-130D. None of the 5 stops below is right on the road, so plan each as a short side trip.
Roads you'll take from Ciudad Valles to Xico
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–2 | 2 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-85 | 2–9 | 7 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-70D | 9–24 | 15 | San Luis Potosí |
| SLP 14 | 24–45 | 21 | San Luis Potosí |
| local roads | 45–63 | 18 | San Luis Potosí, Veracruz |
| MEX-127 | 63–136 | 73 | Veracruz |
| MEX-180 | 136–158 | 22 | Veracruz |
| MEX-180D | 158–165 | 7 | Veracruz |
| MEX-130D | 165–178 | 13 | Veracruz |
| MEX-180D | 178–231 | 53 | Veracruz |
| MEX-129 | 231–255 | 24 | Veracruz |
| MEX-131 | 255–284 | 29 | Veracruz |
| local roads | 284–289 | 5 | Veracruz |
| connecting roads | 289–290 | 1 | Veracruz |
| MEX-140D | 290–308 | 18 | Veracruz |
| connecting roads | 308–311 | 3 | Veracruz |
| local roads | 311–316 | 5 | Veracruz |
| VER 7 | 316–320 | 4 | Veracruz |
| local roads | 320–327 | 7 | Veracruz |
- Mile 55 of this route: San Luis Potosí → Veracruz (state line)
Where to stop on the way to Xico
- Nature and outdoors: Parque Nacional Cofre de Perote (mile 289)
- Museums and history: Tamtoc (mile 19), El Zapotal (mile 71), El Tajín (mile 196), Kaná, Museo de Ciencia y Tecnología (mile 315)
Tamtoc
Tamtoc, also called Tamohí, is an archaeological site of the Huastec culture in Tamuín, San Luis Potosí, studied and restored since 2000 by a team led by archaeologist Estela Martínez Mora.
El Zapotal
In the Ignacio de la Llave municipality of Veracruz, El Zapotal holds the ruins of a Totonac city that flourished from 600 to 900 CE.
El Tajín
Look for elaborately carved reliefs on columns and friezes at El Tajín, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Veracruz, along with the Pyramid of the Niches and some of the site's 17 ballcourts.
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.
Kaná, Museo de Ciencia y Tecnología
Kaná, Museo de Ciencia y Tecnología is a modern interactive science and technology museum in Xalapa, the capital of Veracruz, formerly known as the Museo Interactivo de Xalapa.
Once you reach 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 Ciudad Valles to other places in Mexico
- Ciudad Valles to Tecolutla
- Ciudad Valles to Pedro Escobedo
- Ciudad Valles to Otumba
- Ciudad Valles to Cuetzalan
- Ciudad Valles to Tlaxcala
- Ciudad Valles to Chiautempan
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Ciudad Valles to Xico?
About 7 h 35 min of driving without stops, over 327 miles.
What is the driving distance from Ciudad Valles to Xico?
About 327 miles (526 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 Ciudad Valles 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 Ciudad Valles to Xico?
The U.S. State Department rates San Luis Potosí Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Veracruz Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Ciudad Valles to Xico?
In order: MEX-85, MEX-70D, SLP 14, MEX-127, MEX-180, MEX-180D, MEX-130D, MEX-129, MEX-131, MEX-140D and VER 7. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Ciudad Valles and Xico?
Closest to the road: Tamtoc (archaeological site, mile 19, 2 mi from the route); El Zapotal (archaeological site, mile 71, 1 mi from the route); Kaná, Museo de Ciencia y Tecnología (museum, mile 315, 2 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 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: at least one strong stop for each stretch of the drive, then the best-known places nearest the road, up to nine in all. Places that are closed, private or not open to visitors are removed. Place 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.