The Wayro route from Xico to Calpulalpan is 147 miles (236 km), about 2 h 49 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 147 mi (236 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 2 h 49 min |
| Main roads, in order | VER 7 → MEX-140 → MEX-140D → MEX-136 |
| Mexican states on the route | Veracruz (Level 2), Puebla (Level 2), Tlaxcala (Level 2) |
| Toll roads | MEX-140D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 5.9 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 Xico to Calpulalpan is like
MEX-140D (66 mi) and MEX-136 (61 mi) carry about 86% of the 147 miles. MEX-140D is a toll highway (cuota); MEX-140, MEX-136 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 3 states: Veracruz, Puebla, Tlaxcala. Of the 9 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Xico to Calpulalpan, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–6 | 6 | Veracruz |
| VER 7 | 6–10 | 4 | Veracruz |
| connecting roads | 10–13 | 3 | Veracruz |
| MEX-140 | 13–18 | 5 | Veracruz |
| connecting roads | 18–19 | 1 | Veracruz |
| MEX-140D | 19–85 | 66 | Veracruz, Puebla, Tlaxcala |
| MEX-136 | 85–146 | 61 | Tlaxcala |
| local roads | 146–147 | 1 | Tlaxcala |
- Mile 51 of this route: Veracruz → Puebla (state line)
- Mile 76 of this route: Puebla → Tlaxcala (state line)
Stops between Xico and Calpulalpan
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museo Casa Xalapa (mile 11), Xalapa Museum of Anthropology (mile 15)
- Nature and outdoors: Parque Nacional Cofre de Perote (mile 42), La Malinche National Park (mile 96), Parque nacional Xicoténcatl (mile 114)
- Museums and history: Museo Casa Xalapa (mile 11), Kaná, Museo de Ciencia y Tecnología (mile 12), Xalapa Museum of Anthropology (mile 15), Cantona (mile 58), Museo de Sitio de Cantona (mile 60)
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.
Kaná, Museo de Ciencia y Tecnología
Kaná, Museo de Ciencia y Tecnología is a modern interactive science and technology museum in Xalapa, the capital of Veracruz, formerly known as the Museo Interactivo de Xalapa.
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.
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.
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.
Parque nacional Xicoténcatl
Covering roughly 600 hectares in central Tlaxcala, Xicohténcatl National Park takes in the historic center of Tlaxcala city plus Quiahuixtlán, Ocotelulco and Tepeticpac, which correspond to three of the old Tlaxcalan lordships.
When you get to Calpulalpan
Tecoaque
Near Calpulalpan in western Tlaxcala, Tecoaque is a Mesoamerican archaeological site once inhabited by the Acolhua, one of the three groups that made up the Aztec Empire.
More drives to Calpulalpan
- Mexico City to Calpulalpan
- Pachuca to Calpulalpan
- Tepotzotlán to Calpulalpan
- Toluca to Calpulalpan
- Cuautla to Calpulalpan
- Cuernavaca to Calpulalpan
From Xico to other places in Mexico
- Xico to Naolinco
- Xico to Huejotzingo
- Xico to Tecolutla
- Xico to San Miguel, Morelos
- Xico to Otumba
- Xico to Oaxtepec
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Xico to Calpulalpan?
About 2 h 49 min of driving without stops, over 147 miles.
How far is Calpulalpan from Xico by car?
About 147 miles (236 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 Calpulalpan?
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 Calpulalpan?
The U.S. State Department rates Veracruz Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Puebla Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Tlaxcala Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Xico to Calpulalpan use?
In order: VER 7, MEX-140, MEX-140D and MEX-136. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Xico and Calpulalpan?
Closest to the road: Museo Casa Xalapa (museum, mile 11, 0.9 mi from the route); Kaná, Museo de Ciencia y Tecnología (museum, mile 12, 1 mi from the route); Xalapa Museum of Anthropology (archaeological museum, mile 15, 0.9 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.