Plan on about 7 h 53 min of driving for the 415-mile (668 km) trip from Xico to Mazunte, before any stops.
| Distance by road | 415 mi (668 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 7 h 53 min |
| Main roads, in order | VER 7 → MEX-140 → MEX-140D → MEX-135D → MEX-190 → MEX-175 → MEX-175D → MEX-200 |
| Mexican states on the route | Veracruz, Puebla, Oaxaca |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-140D, MEX-150D, MEX-135D, MEX-175D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 16.6 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 Mazunte is like
MEX-135D (151 mi) and MEX-175D (64 mi) carry about 52% of the 415 miles. It runs through 3 states: Veracruz, Puebla, Oaxaca. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-140D, MEX-150D and MEX-135D. Of the 7 stops listed below, 4 are within a mile of the road.
Road-by-road breakdown: Xico to Mazunte
| 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 | 19–48 | 29 | Veracruz |
| MEX-140 | 48–88 | 40 | Veracruz, Puebla |
| local roads | 88–111 | 23 | Puebla |
| connecting roads | 111–112 | 1 | Puebla |
| MEX-135D | 112–263 | 151 | Puebla, Oaxaca |
| MEX-190 | 263–268 | 5 | Oaxaca |
| local roads | 268–274 | 6 | Oaxaca |
| MEX-175 | 274–285 | 11 | Oaxaca |
| local roads | 285–296 | 11 | Oaxaca |
| MEX-175 | 296–307 | 11 | Oaxaca |
| local roads | 307–314 | 7 | Oaxaca |
| connecting roads | 314–318 | 4 | Oaxaca |
| MEX-175D | 318–382 | 64 | Oaxaca |
| MEX-200 | 382–411 | 29 | Oaxaca |
| local roads | 411–415 | 4 | Oaxaca |
- Mile 52 of this route: Veracruz → Puebla (state line)
- Mile 168 of this route: Puebla → Oaxaca (state line)
Where to stop on the way to Mazunte
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museo Casa Xalapa (mile 11), Suchilquitongo (mile 252), Graphic Arts Institute of Oaxaca (mile 270), Museo Estatal de Arte Popular de Oaxaca (mile 278)
- Nature and outdoors: Tehuacán-Cuicatlán Biosphere Reserve (mile 155), Benito Juárez National Park (mile 263)
- Museums and history: Museo Casa Xalapa (mile 11), Suchilquitongo (mile 252), Graphic Arts Institute of Oaxaca (mile 270), Zaachila (mile 278), Museo Estatal de Arte Popular de Oaxaca (mile 278)
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.
Tehuacán-Cuicatlán Biosphere Reserve
In 2018 UNESCO inscribed the arid Tehuacán-Cuicatlán Valley, which spans Puebla and Oaxaca, as a mixed World Heritage site. A major center of cactus diversity, it also keeps ancient canals, terraces and dams.
Suchilquitongo
From around 300 to 800 AD, a Zapotec city thrived on a hilltop in the northern Etla Valley. Locals know the site as Cerro de la Campana.
Benito Juárez National Park
Hikers heading just north of Oaxaca City reach Benito Juárez National Park, where trails cross roughly 2,737 hectares of pine and oak. La Coronilla, a moderate loop, runs about 5 km.
Graphic Arts Institute of Oaxaca
Founded by artist Francisco Toledo, the Graphic Arts Institute of Oaxaca is an art school in Oaxaca de Juárez that holds a large collection of Latin American artwork.
Zaachila
Occupied as far back as about 1500 BC, Zaachila was a Zapotec city, later shared with Mixtecs. People still lived there when the Spanish arrived.
Museo Estatal de Arte Popular de Oaxaca
In San Bartolo Coyotepec, the town known for its black clay pottery (barro negro), this state-run museum traces the history of that craft and shows works by Oaxaca's folk art masters alongside temporary exhibitions.
Arriving in Mazunte
Mermejita
On Oaxaca's central coast just west of Mazunte and San Agustinillo, Mermejita is a small beach village where newcomers have built simple houses from local materials.
More drives to Mazunte
- Capulalpam de Méndez to Mazunte
- Tehuacán to Mazunte
- Tuxtepec to Mazunte
- Córdoba, Mexico to Mazunte
- Huamantla to Mazunte
- Ixtenco to Mazunte
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 Mazunte?
About 7 h 53 min of driving without stops, over 415 miles.
What is the driving distance from Xico to Mazunte?
About 415 miles (668 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 Mazunte?
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 Mazunte?
The U.S. State Department rates Veracruz Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Puebla Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Oaxaca Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Xico to Mazunte?
In order: VER 7, MEX-140, MEX-140D, MEX-135D, MEX-190, MEX-175, MEX-175D and MEX-200. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Xico to Mazunte?
Closest to the road: Museo Casa Xalapa (museum, mile 11, 0.9 mi from the route); Suchilquitongo (archaeological site, mile 252, 0.4 mi from the route); Museo Estatal de Arte Popular de Oaxaca (folk art museum, mile 278, 0.1 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.