The Wayro route from Xalapa to Salamanca is 339 miles (546 km), about 5 h 35 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 339 mi (546 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 5 h 35 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-140D → MEX-136 → MEX-M40D → MEX-57D → MEX-47D → MEX-45D |
| 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 13.6 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 Salamanca is like
MEX-M40D (88 mi) and MEX-140D (66 mi) carry about 45% of the 339 miles. MEX-140D, MEX-M40D, MEX-57D, MEX-47D, MEX-45D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-136 is a free federal road (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 Salamanca, 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 | 301–337 | 36 | Guanajuato |
| local roads | 337–339 | 2 | 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 Salamanca
- Nature and outdoors: Parque Nacional Cofre de Perote (mile 29), La Malinche National Park (mile 84), Cerro de las Campanas (mile 289)
- Museums and history: Cantona (mile 45), Museo de Sitio de Cantona (mile 47), Museo Casa de Piedra (mile 98), Tula (mile 201), Celaya Cathedral (mile 313)
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.
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.
Aqueduct of Padre Tembleque
Built by Franciscan friar Francisco de Tembleque between 1554 and 1572, this 16th-century water system runs more than 48 km between Zempoala and Otumba. Its tallest arcade at Tepeyahualco reaches almost 40 meters, and UNESCO listed it in 2015.
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.
Cerro de las Campanas
Rising within Querétaro City, the Cerro de las Campanas is a hill that is protected as a Mexican national park.
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 Salamanca
- Mazatlán to Salamanca
- Cuernavaca to Salamanca
- Mexico City to Salamanca
- Puebla to Salamanca
- San Luis Potosí to Salamanca
- Tepic to Salamanca
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 Salamanca?
About 5 h 35 min of driving without stops, over 339 miles.
How far is Salamanca from Xalapa by car?
About 339 miles (546 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 Salamanca?
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 Salamanca?
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 Salamanca use?
In order: MEX-140D, MEX-136, MEX-M40D, MEX-57D, MEX-47D and MEX-45D. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Xalapa and Salamanca?
Closest to the road: Museo Casa de Piedra (railway museum, mile 98, 2 mi from the route); Aqueduct of Padre Tembleque (aqueduct, mile 150, 2 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.