The Wayro route from Xico to Metepec is 229 miles (368 km), about 4 h 18 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 229 mi (368 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 4 h 18 min |
| Main roads, in order | VER 7 → MEX-140 → MEX-140D → MEX-136 → MEX-117D → MEX-150D → Viaducto → MEX-15D → MEX-15 |
| Mexican states on the route | Veracruz (Level 2), Puebla (Level 2), Tlaxcala (Level 2), State of Mexico (Level 2), Mexico City (Level 2) |
| Toll roads | MEX-140D, MEX-117D, MEX-M40D, MEX-150D, MEX-15D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 9.1 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 8 |
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 Metepec is like
MEX-140D (66 mi) and MEX-150D (48 mi) carry about 50% of the 229 miles. MEX-140D, MEX-117D, MEX-150D, MEX-15D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-140, MEX-136, MEX-15 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 5 states: Veracruz, Puebla, Tlaxcala, State of Mexico, Mexico City. Of the 8 stops listed below, 4 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Xico to Metepec, 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 | 85–114 | 29 | Tlaxcala |
| MEX-117D | 114–133 | 19 | Tlaxcala, Puebla |
| connecting roads | 133–135 | 2 | Puebla |
| MEX-150D | 135–183 | 48 | Puebla, State of Mexico |
| local roads | 183–188 | 5 | State of Mexico, Mexico City |
| Viaducto | 188–195 | 7 | Mexico City |
| connecting roads | 195–200 | 5 | Mexico City |
| MEX-15D | 200–220 | 20 | Mexico City, State of Mexico |
| MEX-15 | 220–225 | 5 | State of Mexico |
| local roads | 225–229 | 4 | State of Mexico |
- Mile 51 of this route: Veracruz → Puebla (state line)
- Mile 76 of this route: Puebla → Tlaxcala (state line)
- Mile 132 of this route: Tlaxcala → Puebla (state line)
- Mile 153 of this route: Puebla → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 186 of this route: State of Mexico → Mexico City (state line)
- Mile 208 of this route: Mexico City → State of Mexico (state line)
Stops between Xico and Metepec
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Xalapa Cathedral (mile 12), Teatro Xicohténcatl (mile 121), Museo Casa de la Bola (mile 196), Los Pinos (mile 196)
- Nature and outdoors: Lomas de Padierna National Park (mile 203)
- Museums and history: Xalapa Cathedral (mile 12), Cantona (mile 58), Acozac (mile 173), Centro Cultural de España, Mexico City (mile 191), Museo Casa de la Bola (mile 196), Los Pinos (mile 196)
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.
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.
Teatro Xicohténcatl
Tlaxcala's Teatro Xicohténcatl opened in 1873 and was reopened in 1888 after remodeling. Look up to see John Fulton's ceiling mural of the nine muses, painted in Art Nouveau style against a Tlaxcalan landscape.
Acozac
Acozac is an archaeological site in the municipality of Ixtapaluca, State of Mexico, located at kilometer 30 of the federal Mexico City–Puebla road, heading toward Ixtapaluca.
Centro Cultural de España, Mexico City
The Centro Cultural de España is at 18 Guatemala Street, just behind the Cathedral in Mexico City's historic center. In the late 1990s this old mansion was in ruins when the city ceded it to Spain.
Museo Casa de la Bola
The Museo Casa de la Bola is a museum in Mexico City, located in the city's Tacubaya neighborhood.
Los Pinos
In Chapultepec Forest, Los Pinos served as the official residence and office of Mexico's presidents from 1934 to 2018.
Lomas de Padierna National Park
Lomas de Padierna National Park lies in the Cerro del Judío ecological reserve in La Magdalena Contreras, on the southwest side of Mexico City.
When you get to Metepec
Museo Galería de Arte Mexiquense Torres Bicentenario
Set in Toluca's Torres Bicentenario complex, built to celebrate Mexican independence, this gallery shows paintings, prints and sculpture by artists from the State of Mexico, and many works are for sale.
Museo Felipe Santiago Gutiérrez
In Toluca's historic center, a building from the late 18th and early 19th centuries holds about 225 watercolors, oils and drawings tracing the work of painter Felipe Santiago Gutiérrez. It opened in December 1992.
Museum José María Velasco
In Toluca's historic center, the Museo José María Velasco shares the work of 19th-century Mexican painter José María Velasco, with Plaza de los Mártires to the south and the Government Palace to the east.
More drives to Metepec
- Zitácuaro to Metepec
- Salvatierra to Metepec
- Celaya to Metepec
- San Miguel de Allende to Metepec
- Uruapan to Metepec
- Pénjamo to Metepec
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 Metepec?
About 4 h 18 min of driving without stops, over 229 miles.
How far is Metepec from Xico by car?
About 229 miles (368 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 Metepec?
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 Metepec?
The U.S. State Department rates Veracruz Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Puebla Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Tlaxcala Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; State of Mexico Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Mexico City Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Xico to Metepec use?
In order: VER 7, MEX-140, MEX-140D, MEX-136, MEX-117D, MEX-150D, Viaducto, MEX-15D and MEX-15. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Xico and Metepec?
Closest to the road: Xalapa Cathedral (cathedral, mile 12, 0.9 mi from the route); Teatro Xicohténcatl (theatre building, mile 121, 0.9 mi from the route); Museo Casa de la Bola (museum, mile 196, 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 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.