By road, Xico and Balancán are about 475 miles (765 km) apart, or roughly 8 h 55 min of driving.
| Distance | 475 mi (765 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 8 h 55 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-140 → MEX-140D → MEX-180 → MEX-150D → MEX-145D → MEX-180D → MEX-186 |
| Mexican states on the route | Veracruz, Tabasco, Chiapas |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-140D, MEX-150D, MEX-145D, MEX-180D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 19.0 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 3 |
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 Xico to Balancán: the shape of the trip
MEX-145D (141 mi) and MEX-186 (95 mi) carry about 50% of the 475 miles. It runs through 3 states: Veracruz, Tabasco, Chiapas. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-140D, MEX-150D and MEX-145D. Of the 3 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
Roads you'll take from Xico to Balancán
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–19 | 19 | Veracruz |
| MEX-140 | 19–24 | 5 | Veracruz |
| MEX-140D | 24–32 | 8 | Veracruz |
| MEX-140 | 32–40 | 8 | Veracruz |
| MEX-180 | 40–75 | 35 | Veracruz |
| MEX-150D | 75–101 | 26 | Veracruz |
| connecting roads | 101–103 | 2 | Veracruz |
| MEX-145D | 103–244 | 141 | Veracruz |
| MEX-180D | 244–265 | 21 | Veracruz |
| MEX-180 | 265–283 | 18 | Veracruz, Tabasco |
| MEX-180D | 283–317 | 34 | Tabasco |
| MEX-180 | 317–356 | 39 | Tabasco |
| local roads | 356–360 | 4 | Tabasco |
| MEX-186 | 360–455 | 95 | Tabasco, Chiapas |
| local roads | 455–475 | 20 | Tabasco |
- Mile 282 of this route: Veracruz → Tabasco (state line)
- Mile 406 of this route: Tabasco → Chiapas (state line)
- Mile 449 of this route: Chiapas → Tabasco (state line)
Stops between Xico and Balancán
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Casa Museo Carlos Pellicer Cámara (mile 359)
- Museums and history: La Venta (mile 284), Museo de Antropología Carlos Pellicer (mile 359), Casa Museo Carlos Pellicer Cámara (mile 359)
La Venta
More than 200 artifacts fill the site museum at La Venta, among them massive sandstone sculptures discovered at the base of the main pyramid. The once-important Olmec city lies in Tabasco, near Huimanguillo.
Museo de Antropología Carlos Pellicer
Villahermosa's regional anthropology museum, named for poet Carlos Pellicer Cámara, displays Olmec and Maya pieces found across Tabasco, along with loans from other parts of Mexico such as Teotihuacan. It opened in 1980.
Casa Museo Carlos Pellicer Cámara
Poet Carlos Pellicer Cámara, a major voice of 20th-century Mexican poetry, was born in this house in Villahermosa's historic center, now a museum since 1985.
Arriving in Balancán
Museo de Balancán Dr. José Gómez Panaco
Museo de Balancán Dr. José Gómez Panaco is an archaeology museum in the town of Balancán de Domínguez, in the Mexican state of Tabasco.
More drives to Balancán
- Tuxtla to Balancán
- Córdoba, Mexico to Balancán
- Orizaba to Balancán
- Puebla to Balancán
- Cholula to Balancán
- Zacatelco to Balancán
From Xico to other places in Mexico
- Xico to Naolinco
- Xico to Huejotzingo
- Xico to Tecolutla
- Xico to Calpulalpan
- Xico to San Miguel, Morelos
- Xico to Otumba
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Xico to Balancán?
About 8 h 55 min of driving without stops, over 475 miles.
What is the driving distance from Xico to Balancán?
About 475 miles (765 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 Xico to Balancán?
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 Xico to Balancán?
The U.S. State Department rates Veracruz Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Tabasco Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Chiapas Level 3: Reconsider Travel (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Xico to Balancán?
In order: MEX-140, MEX-140D, MEX-180, MEX-150D, MEX-145D, MEX-180D and MEX-186. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Xico to Balancán?
Closest to the road: La Venta (archaeological site, mile 284, 3 mi from the route); Casa Museo Carlos Pellicer Cámara (museum, mile 359, 0.7 mi from the route); Museo de Antropología Carlos Pellicer (museum, mile 359, 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 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.