Xico to General Zaragoza is about 552 road miles (888 km): roughly 12 h 37 min at the wheel if you don't stop.
What the State Department tells travelers on this route:
- Nuevo León: “Those traveling between the U.S. border and Monterrey on highways 85/85D, 54, and 40/40D should exercise caution and avoid travel after dark.”
- Nuevo León: “Armed robberies and carjackings have occurred along these highways even during daylight hours.”
| Distance | 552 mi (888 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 12 h 37 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 → MEX-101 → TAM 79 |
| Mexican states on the route | Veracruz, Tamaulipas, Nuevo León |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-140D, MEX-180D, MEX-130D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 22.1 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.
On the road from Xico to General Zaragoza
MEX-180D (116 mi) and MEX-80 (77 mi) carry about 35% of the 552 miles. It runs through 3 states: Veracruz, Tamaulipas, Nuevo León. 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 General Zaragoza
| 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 |
| MEX-101 | 437–465 | 28 | Tamaulipas |
| TAM 79 | 465–505 | 40 | Tamaulipas |
| local roads | 505–552 | 47 | Nuevo León |
- Mile 264 of this route: Veracruz → Tamaulipas (state line)
- Mile 505 of this route: Tamaulipas → Nuevo León (state line)
Places worth a stop between Xico and General Zaragoza
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Xalapa Cathedral (mile 12), Jardín de Esculturas (mile 12)
- Nature and outdoors: Parque Nacional Cofre de Perote (mile 39), El Cielo Biosphere Reserve (mile 380)
- Museums and history: Xalapa Cathedral (mile 12), Jardín de Esculturas (mile 12), El Tajín (mile 132), Tampico Cathedral (mile 264), Aduana de Tampico (mile 264)
Xalapa Cathedral
One of Xalapa's oldest buildings, the Metropolitan Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception mixes a baroque core with neo-Gothic touches added in 1895, and holds the remains of Bishop Rafael Guízar y Valencia.
Jardín de Esculturas
Xalapa's Jardín de Esculturas is an open-air sculpture garden and museum displaying works by nationally and internationally recognized artists.
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
A UNESCO World Heritage Site in Veracruz, El Tajín peaked from the early 9th to the early 13th century. Look for the Pyramid of the Niches, elaborately carved reliefs on columns and friezes, and some of the site's 17 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 General Zaragoza
- Jerez, Zacatecas to General Zaragoza
- Pabellón de Hidalgo to General Zaragoza
- Celaya to General Zaragoza
- Salvatierra to General Zaragoza
- Tlalpujahua to General Zaragoza
- Angangueo to General Zaragoza
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 is the drive from Xico to General Zaragoza?
About 12 h 37 min of driving without stops, over 552 miles.
How far is General Zaragoza from Xico by car?
About 552 miles (888 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 General Zaragoza?
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 General Zaragoza?
The U.S. State Department rates Veracruz Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Tamaulipas Level 4: Do Not Travel; Nuevo León Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Xico to General Zaragoza?
In order: VER 7, MEX-140, MEX-140D, MEX-131, MEX-129, MEX-180D, MEX-130D, MEX-180, MEX-80, MEX-81, MEX-85, MEX-101 and TAM 79. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Xico and General Zaragoza?
Closest to the road: Xalapa Cathedral (cathedral, mile 12, 0.9 mi from the route); Jardín de Esculturas (museum, mile 12, 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.