Xico to Ciudad Tula is about 437 road miles (703 km): roughly 8 h 60 min at the wheel if you don't stop.
| Distance | 437 mi (703 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 8 h 60 min |
| Main roads, in order | VER 7 → MEX-140 → MEX-140D → MEX-131 → MEX-129 → MEX-180D → MEX-130D → MEX-180 → MEX-80 → MEX-81 → MEX-85 |
| Mexican states on the route | Veracruz, Tamaulipas |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-140D, MEX-180D, MEX-130D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 17.5 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 7 |
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 Ciudad Tula is like
MEX-180D (116 mi) and MEX-80 (77 mi) carry about 44% of the 437 miles. It runs through 2 states: Veracruz, Tamaulipas. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-140D, MEX-180D and MEX-130D. Of the 7 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
Roads you'll take from Xico to Ciudad Tula
| 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 | 19–38 | 19 | Veracruz |
| connecting roads | 38–39 | 1 | Veracruz |
| local roads | 39–43 | 4 | Veracruz |
| MEX-131 | 43–73 | 30 | Veracruz |
| MEX-129 | 73–97 | 24 | Veracruz |
| MEX-180D | 97–150 | 53 | Veracruz |
| MEX-130D | 150–163 | 13 | Veracruz |
| MEX-180D | 163–226 | 63 | Veracruz |
| MEX-180 | 226–270 | 44 | Veracruz, Tamaulipas |
| MEX-80 | 270–311 | 41 | Tamaulipas |
| MEX-81 | 311–326 | 15 | Tamaulipas |
| connecting roads | 326–328 | 2 | Tamaulipas |
| MEX-80 | 328–364 | 36 | Tamaulipas |
| MEX-85 | 364–371 | 7 | Tamaulipas |
| local roads | 371–437 | 66 | Tamaulipas |
- Mile 264 of this route: Veracruz → Tamaulipas (state line)
Stops between Xico and Ciudad Tula
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Pinacoteca Diego Rivera (mile 11), Xalapa Museum of Anthropology (mile 15)
- Nature and outdoors: Parque Nacional Cofre de Perote (mile 39), El Cielo Biosphere Reserve (mile 380)
- Museums and history: Pinacoteca Diego Rivera (mile 11), Xalapa Museum of Anthropology (mile 15), El Tajín (mile 132), Tampico Cathedral (mile 264), Aduana de Tampico (mile 264)
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.
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.
El Tajín
From the early 9th century to the early 13th, El Tajín was at its height. Today this Veracruz site is on UNESCO's World Heritage List, and visitors come for the Pyramid of the Niches and its ballcourts.
Tampico Cathedral
Facing the Plaza de Armas in Tampico's historic center, the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception is the city's main church and a downtown landmark.
Aduana de Tampico
Tampico's old customs house is a Porfirian-era building on the north bank of the Pánuco River mouth that began operating in 1902. Its ground floor now holds a museum on the 1829 Battle of Tampico, with a period cannon, weapons and uniforms.
El Cielo Biosphere Reserve
In the Sierra Madre Oriental near Gómez Farías, Tamaulipas, El Cielo Biosphere Reserve protects the northernmost tropical forest and cloud forest in Mexico.
More drives to Ciudad Tula
- San Miguel de Allende to Ciudad Tula
- Guanajuato to Ciudad Tula
- Querétaro to Ciudad Tula
- Pabellón de Arteaga to Ciudad Tula
- Pedro Escobedo to Ciudad Tula
- Calvillo to Ciudad Tula
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 Ciudad Tula?
About 8 h 60 min of driving without stops, over 437 miles.
What is the driving distance from Xico to Ciudad Tula?
About 437 miles (703 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 Ciudad Tula?
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 Ciudad Tula?
The U.S. State Department rates Veracruz Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Tamaulipas Level 4: Do Not Travel (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Xico to Ciudad Tula?
In order: VER 7, MEX-140, MEX-140D, MEX-131, MEX-129, MEX-180D, MEX-130D, MEX-180, MEX-80, MEX-81 and MEX-85. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Xico to Ciudad Tula?
Closest to the road: Pinacoteca Diego Rivera (art museum, mile 11, 0.9 mi from the route); Xalapa Museum of Anthropology (archaeological museum, mile 15, 0.9 mi from the route); Tampico Cathedral (cathedral, mile 264, 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.