The Wayro route from Tlaxcala to Xico is 121 miles (195 km), about 2 h 23 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 121 mi (195 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 2 h 23 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-117D → MEX-136 → MEX-140D → VER 7 |
| Mexican states on the route | Tlaxcala (Level 2), Puebla (Level 2), Veracruz (Level 2) |
| Toll roads | MEX-117D, MEX-140D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 4.8 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
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 Tlaxcala to Xico is like
MEX-140D (66 mi) and MEX-136 (28 mi) carry about 78% of the 121 miles. MEX-117D, MEX-140D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-136 is a free federal road (libre). It runs through 3 states: Tlaxcala, Puebla, Veracruz. Of the 9 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Tlaxcala to Xico, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–2 | 2 | Tlaxcala |
| MEX-117D | 2–7 | 5 | Tlaxcala |
| connecting roads | 7–8 | 1 | Tlaxcala |
| MEX-136 | 8–36 | 28 | Tlaxcala |
| connecting roads | 36–37 | 1 | Tlaxcala |
| MEX-140D | 37–103 | 66 | Tlaxcala, Puebla, Veracruz |
| connecting roads | 103–106 | 3 | Veracruz |
| local roads | 106–110 | 4 | Veracruz |
| VER 7 | 110–114 | 4 | Veracruz |
| local roads | 114–121 | 7 | Veracruz |
- Mile 45 of this route: Tlaxcala → Puebla (state line)
- Mile 71 of this route: Puebla → Veracruz (state line)
Stops between Tlaxcala and Xico
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Xalapa Museum of Anthropology (mile 107), Pinacoteca Diego Rivera (mile 109), Jardín Botánico Francisco J. Clavijero (mile 111)
- Nature and outdoors: La Malinche National Park (mile 25), Parque Nacional Cofre de Perote (mile 80), Jardín Botánico Francisco J. Clavijero (mile 111)
- Museums and history: Museo Casa de Piedra (mile 11), Basílica de Nuestra Señora de las Misericordias, Apizaco (mile 12), Museo de Sitio de Cantona (mile 62), Cantona (mile 63), Xalapa Museum of Anthropology (mile 107), Pinacoteca Diego Rivera (mile 109)
Museo Casa de Piedra
Apizaco's old railroad station, dating from 1916, now houses the Museo Casa de Piedra. Inside, photographs and documents trace the town's history, especially its long ties to the railroads.
Basílica de Nuestra Señora de las Misericordias, Apizaco
In the city of Apizaco, this Catholic basilica (Basílica de Nuestra Señora de la Misericordia) was begun in the third decade of the 20th century and completed in 1961.
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 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.
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.
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 Tlaxcala to other places in Mexico
- Tlaxcala to Omitlán
- Tlaxcala to Atlatlahucan
- Tlaxcala to Huasca de Ocampo
- Tlaxcala to Actopan
- Tlaxcala to Metepec
- Tlaxcala to Malinalco
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Tlaxcala to Xico?
About 2 h 23 min of driving without stops, over 121 miles.
How far is Xico from Tlaxcala by car?
About 121 miles (195 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 Tlaxcala 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 Tlaxcala 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 Tlaxcala to Xico use?
In order: MEX-117D, 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 Tlaxcala and Xico?
Closest to the road: Xalapa Museum of Anthropology (archaeological museum, mile 107, 0.1 mi from the route); Pinacoteca Diego Rivera (art museum, mile 109, 0.6 mi from the route); Jardín Botánico Francisco J. Clavijero (botanical garden, mile 111, 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.