The Wayro route from Xico to Jalpa is 529 miles (852 km), about 9 h 23 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 529 mi (852 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 9 h 23 min |
| Main roads, in order | VER 7 → MEX-140 → MEX-140D → MEX-136 → MEX-M40D → MEX-57D → MEX-47D → MEX-45D → MEX-45 → MEX-70 |
| 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), Jalisco (Level 3), Aguascalientes (Level 2), Zacatecas (Level 4) |
| Toll roads | MEX-140D, MEX-M40D, MEX-57D, MEX-47D, MEX-45D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 21.2 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 is like
MEX-45D (142 mi) and MEX-M40D (87 mi) carry about 43% of the 529 miles. MEX-140D, MEX-M40D, MEX-57D, MEX-47D, MEX-45D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-140, MEX-136, MEX-45, MEX-70 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 10 states: Veracruz, Puebla, Tlaxcala, Hidalgo, State of Mexico, Querétaro, Guanajuato, Jalisco, Aguascalientes, Zacatecas. Of the 9 stops listed below, 4 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Xico to Jalpa, 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 | 313–455 | 142 | Guanajuato, Jalisco |
| MEX-45 | 455–470 | 15 | Jalisco, Aguascalientes |
| local roads | 470–477 | 7 | Aguascalientes |
| MEX-70 | 477–528 | 51 | Aguascalientes, Zacatecas |
| local roads | 528–529 | 1 | Zacatecas |
- 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)
- Mile 410 of this route: Guanajuato → Jalisco (state line)
- Mile 459 of this route: Jalisco → Aguascalientes (state line)
- Mile 513 of this route: Aguascalientes → Zacatecas (state line)
Stops between Xico and Jalpa
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Xalapa Cathedral (mile 12), Teatro Aguascalientes (mile 471), Parque Rodolfo Landeros (mile 471), La Santa Cruz (mile 505)
- Nature and outdoors: La Malinche National Park (mile 96), El Cimatario National Park (mile 296), Parque Rodolfo Landeros (mile 471)
- Museums and history: Xalapa Cathedral (mile 12), Kaná, Museo de Ciencia y Tecnología (mile 12), Teotihuacan (mile 165), Teatro Aguascalientes (mile 471), La Santa Cruz (mile 505)
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.
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.
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.
Teotihuacan
Built between the 1st and 7th centuries AD, this UNESCO-listed ancient city lines the Avenue of the Dead, where you can walk between the Pyramid of the Sun, the Pyramid of the Moon and the Temple of the Feathered Serpent.
Atlantean figures
Crowning the main pyramid at the Tula archaeological zone, these basalt sculptures of Toltec warriors stand more than four meters tall in what was once the Toltec capital; the nearby Wall of Snakes shows carved serpents 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.
Teatro Aguascalientes
Teatro Aguascalientes is the city's main opera house, a modern building by architect Abraham Zabludovsky with seating for about 1,650 people.
Parque Rodolfo Landeros
Also called Parque Héroes, this environmental and recreation park on Avenida José María Chávez in Aguascalientes has an artificial lake, bike rentals and several other attractions.
La Santa Cruz
In Calvillo's town center, La Santa Cruz is a cultural and monumental complex with Catholic and historical themes devoted to Calvillo's role in the Cristero War of 1926; it opened in 2021.
When you get to Jalpa
Museo Comunitario Profr. Arturo Reyes Viramontes
The Museo Comunitario Profr. Arturo Reyes Viramontes is a community museum in the municipality of Jalpa, in the Mexican state of Zacatecas, named for teacher Arturo Reyes Viramontes.
More drives to Jalpa
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?
About 9 h 23 min of driving without stops, over 529 miles.
How far is Jalpa from Xico by car?
About 529 miles (852 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?
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?
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; Jalisco Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Aguascalientes Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Zacatecas Level 4: Do Not Travel (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Xico to Jalpa use?
In order: VER 7, MEX-140, MEX-140D, MEX-136, MEX-M40D, MEX-57D, MEX-47D, MEX-45D, MEX-45 and MEX-70. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Xico and Jalpa?
Closest to the road: Xalapa Cathedral (cathedral, mile 12, 0.9 mi from the route); Parque Rodolfo Landeros (park, mile 471, 0.5 mi from the route); La Santa Cruz (museum, mile 505, 0.2 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.