The Wayro route from Huamantla to Xico is 93 miles (150 km), about 1 h 48 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 93 mi (150 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 1 h 48 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 3.7 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 6 |
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 Huamantla to Xico is like
MEX-140D (66 mi) and MEX-136 (8 mi) carry about 80% of the 93 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 6 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Huamantla to Xico, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| MEX-136 | 0–8 | 8 | Tlaxcala |
| connecting roads | 8–9 | 1 | Tlaxcala |
| MEX-140D | 9–75 | 66 | Tlaxcala, Puebla, Veracruz |
| connecting roads | 75–78 | 3 | Veracruz |
| local roads | 78–82 | 4 | Veracruz |
| VER 7 | 82–86 | 4 | Veracruz |
| local roads | 86–93 | 7 | Veracruz |
- Mile 17 of this route: Tlaxcala → Puebla (state line)
- Mile 43 of this route: Puebla → Veracruz (state line)
Stops between Huamantla and Xico
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Xalapa Museum of Anthropology (mile 79), Museo Casa Xalapa (mile 81), Jardín Botánico Francisco J. Clavijero (mile 83)
- Nature and outdoors: Parque Nacional Cofre de Perote (mile 52), Jardín Botánico Francisco J. Clavijero (mile 83)
- Museums and history: Museo de Sitio de Cantona (mile 34), Cantona (mile 35), Xalapa Museum of Anthropology (mile 79), Museo Casa Xalapa (mile 81)
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.
Museo Casa Xalapa
Also called the Museo de la Ciudad, or MUXA, Museo Casa Xalapa traces the history of the Veracruz capital and state from pre-Hispanic times to today. It opened in 2007 and was renovated in 2016.
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 Huamantla to other places in Mexico
- Huamantla to Huejotzingo
- Huamantla to Otumba
- Huamantla to Omitlán
- Huamantla to Atlatlahucan
- Huamantla to Huasca de Ocampo
- Huamantla to Actopan
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Huamantla to Xico?
About 1 h 48 min of driving without stops, over 93 miles.
How far is Xico from Huamantla by car?
About 93 miles (150 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 Huamantla 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 Huamantla 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 Huamantla 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 Huamantla and Xico?
Closest to the road: Xalapa Museum of Anthropology (archaeological museum, mile 79, 0.2 mi from the route); Museo Casa Xalapa (museum, mile 81, 0.7 mi from the route); Jardín Botánico Francisco J. Clavijero (botanical garden, mile 83, 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.