The Wayro route from Xalapa to Celaya is 314 miles (506 km), about 5 h 15 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 314 mi (506 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 5 h 15 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-140D → MEX-136 → MEX-M40D → MEX-57D → MEX-47D → MEX-45D → MEX-45 |
| Mexican states on the route | Veracruz (Level 2), Puebla (Level 2), Tlaxcala (Level 2), Hidalgo (Level 2), State of Mexico (Level 2), Querétaro (Level 2), Guanajuato (Level 3) |
| Toll roads | MEX-140D, MEX-M40D, MEX-57D, MEX-47D, MEX-45D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 12.6 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 Xalapa to Celaya is like
MEX-M40D (88 mi) and MEX-140D (66 mi) carry about 49% of the 314 miles. MEX-140D, MEX-M40D, MEX-57D, MEX-47D, MEX-45D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-136, MEX-45 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 7 states: Veracruz, Puebla, Tlaxcala, Hidalgo, State of Mexico, Querétaro, Guanajuato. None of the 9 stops below is right on the road, so plan each as a short side trip.
The route from Xalapa to Celaya, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–6 | 6 | Veracruz |
| MEX-140D | 6–72 | 66 | Veracruz, Puebla, Tlaxcala |
| connecting roads | 72–73 | 1 | Tlaxcala |
| MEX-136 | 73–124 | 51 | Tlaxcala |
| MEX-M40D | 124–212 | 88 | Tlaxcala, Hidalgo, State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 212–213 | 1 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-57D | 213–247 | 34 | State of Mexico, Querétaro |
| MEX-47D | 247–301 | 54 | Querétaro, Guanajuato |
| MEX-45D | 301–305 | 4 | Guanajuato |
| connecting roads | 305–306 | 1 | Guanajuato |
| MEX-45 | 306–313 | 7 | Guanajuato |
| local roads | 313–314 | 1 | Guanajuato |
- Mile 38 of this route: Veracruz → Puebla (state line)
- Mile 64 of this route: Puebla → Tlaxcala (state line)
- Mile 133 of this route: Tlaxcala → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 140 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 153 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 170 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 184 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 213 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 246 of this route: State of Mexico → Querétaro (state line)
- Mile 288 of this route: Querétaro → Guanajuato (state line)
Stops between Xalapa and Celaya
- Nature and outdoors: Parque Nacional Cofre de Perote (mile 29), La Malinche National Park (mile 84), El Cimatario National Park (mile 283)
- Museums and history: Cantona (mile 45), Museo de Sitio de Cantona (mile 47), Basílica de Nuestra Señora de las Misericordias, Apizaco (mile 96), Teotihuacan (mile 152), Tula (mile 201)
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Ex Convento de Santa María de la Concepción Atlihuetzia
The ruined walls of this 16th-century Franciscan convent in Atlihuetzia rise as high as 21 meters beside the 17th-century Purísima Concepción church. The site also holds a sanctuary to Cristóbal, honored as the first Catholic child martyr in the Americas.
Teotihuacan
Built between the 1st and 7th centuries AD, this UNESCO-listed ancient city lines the Avenue of the Dead, where you can walk between the Pyramid of the Sun, the Pyramid of the Moon and the Temple of the Feathered Serpent.
Tula
Once the Toltec capital, the Tula archaeological zone is best known for its Atlantes, basalt warrior figures over four meters (13 feet) tall crowning the main pyramid. Visitors also see a ball court, the Burnt Palace and the Coatepantli wall, carved with snakes devouring skeletons.
El Cimatario National Park
El Cimatario National Park protects about 24 square kilometers of land just south of the city of Santiago de Querétaro.
When you get to Celaya
Celaya Cathedral
Celaya's main Catholic church, the Immaculate Conception Cathedral, occupies the space of a former chapel that was annexed to the neighboring Temple of St. Francis.
More drives to Celaya
- Durango to Celaya
- Mazatlán to Celaya
- Toluca to Celaya
- Mexico City to Celaya
- Puebla to Celaya
- San Luis Potosí to Celaya
From Xalapa to other places in Mexico
- Xalapa to Huamantla
- Xalapa to Apizaco
- Xalapa to Chiautempan
- Xalapa to Cholula
- Xalapa to Zacatelco
- Xalapa to Huejotzingo
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Xalapa to Celaya?
About 5 h 15 min of driving without stops, over 314 miles.
How far is Celaya from Xalapa by car?
About 314 miles (506 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 Xalapa to Celaya?
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 Xalapa to Celaya?
The U.S. State Department rates Veracruz Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Puebla Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Tlaxcala Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Hidalgo Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; State of Mexico Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Querétaro Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Guanajuato Level 3: Reconsider Travel (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Xalapa to Celaya use?
In order: MEX-140D, MEX-136, MEX-M40D, MEX-57D, MEX-47D, MEX-45D and MEX-45. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Xalapa and Celaya?
Closest to the road: Basílica de Nuestra Señora de las Misericordias, Apizaco (basilica, mile 96, 2 mi from the route); Ex Convento de Santa María de la Concepción Atlihuetzia (convent, mile 99, 1 mi from the route); Tula (archaeological site, mile 201, 1 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.