The Wayro route from Xico to Jalpa de Cánovas is 424 miles (683 km), about 7 h 21 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 424 mi (683 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 7 h 21 min |
| Main roads, in order | VER 7 → MEX-140 → MEX-140D → MEX-136 → MEX-M40D → MEX-57D → MEX-47D → MEX-45D → GTO 87-0 → GTO 37 |
| 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 17.0 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 Jalpa de Cánovas is like
MEX-M40D (87 mi) and MEX-45D (86 mi) carry about 41% of the 424 miles. MEX-140D, MEX-M40D, MEX-57D, MEX-47D, MEX-45D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-140, MEX-136 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 7 states: Veracruz, Puebla, Tlaxcala, Hidalgo, State of Mexico, Querétaro, Guanajuato. Of the 9 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Xico to Jalpa de Cánovas, 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 | 85–137 | 52 | Tlaxcala |
| MEX-M40D | 137–224 | 87 | Tlaxcala, Hidalgo, State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 224–225 | 1 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-57D | 225–260 | 35 | Hidalgo, State of Mexico, Querétaro |
| MEX-47D | 260–313 | 53 | Querétaro, Guanajuato |
| MEX-45D | 313–399 | 86 | Guanajuato |
| connecting roads | 399–400 | 1 | Guanajuato |
| GTO 87-0 | 400–413 | 13 | Guanajuato |
| connecting roads | 413–416 | 3 | Guanajuato |
| GTO 37 | 416–424 | 8 | Guanajuato |
- Mile 51 of this route: Veracruz → Puebla (state line)
- Mile 76 of this route: Puebla → Tlaxcala (state line)
- Mile 146 of this route: Tlaxcala → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 153 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 166 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 183 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 197 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 226 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 259 of this route: State of Mexico → Querétaro (state line)
- Mile 301 of this route: Querétaro → Guanajuato (state line)
Stops between Xico and Jalpa de Cánovas
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museo Casa Xalapa (mile 11), Xalapa Cathedral (mile 12), Xalapa Museum of Anthropology (mile 15)
- Nature and outdoors: Parque Nacional Cofre de Perote (mile 42), La Malinche National Park (mile 96), El Cimatario National Park (mile 296)
- Museums and history: Museo Casa Xalapa (mile 11), Xalapa Cathedral (mile 12), Xalapa Museum of Anthropology (mile 15), Cantona (mile 58), Tula (mile 214)
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
El Cimatario National Park
El Cimatario National Park protects about 24 square kilometers of land just south of the city of Santiago de Querétaro.
More drives to Jalpa de Cánovas
- Pabellón de Arteaga to Jalpa de Cánovas
- Real de Asientos to Jalpa de Cánovas
- Amatitán to Jalpa de Cánovas
- Guadalupe, Zacatecas to Jalpa de Cánovas
- Zacatecas to Jalpa de Cánovas
- Jerez, Zacatecas to Jalpa de Cánovas
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 Jalpa de Cánovas?
About 7 h 21 min of driving without stops, over 424 miles.
How far is Jalpa de Cánovas from Xico by car?
About 424 miles (683 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 Jalpa de Cánovas?
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 Jalpa de Cánovas?
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 Xico to Jalpa de Cánovas use?
In order: VER 7, MEX-140, MEX-140D, MEX-136, MEX-M40D, MEX-57D, MEX-47D, MEX-45D, GTO 87-0 and GTO 37. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Xico and Jalpa de Cánovas?
Closest to the road: Museo Casa Xalapa (museum, mile 11, 0.9 mi from the route); Xalapa Cathedral (cathedral, mile 12, 0.9 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.