The Wayro route from Xico to San Miguel, Morelos is 167 miles (268 km), about 3 h 13 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 167 mi (268 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 3 h 13 min |
| Main roads, in order | VER 7 → MEX-140 → MEX-140D → MEX-190 → PUE 438D |
| Mexican states on the route | Veracruz (Level 2), Puebla (Level 2), Tlaxcala (Level 2), Morelos (Level 3) |
| Toll roads | MEX-140D, MEX-150D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 6.7 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 San Miguel, Morelos is like
MEX-140D (91 mi) and PUE 438D (22 mi) carry about 68% of the 167 miles. MEX-140D is a toll highway (cuota); MEX-140, MEX-190 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 4 states: Veracruz, Puebla, Tlaxcala, Morelos. Of the 8 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Xico to San Miguel, Morelos, 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 | 19–110 | 91 | Veracruz, Puebla, Tlaxcala |
| connecting roads | 110–112 | 2 | Puebla |
| MEX-190 | 112–127 | 15 | Puebla |
| local roads | 127–138 | 11 | Puebla |
| PUE 438D | 138–160 | 22 | Puebla |
| local roads | 160–167 | 7 | Puebla, Morelos |
- Mile 51 of this route: Veracruz → Puebla (state line)
- Mile 76 of this route: Puebla → Tlaxcala (state line)
- Mile 86 of this route: Tlaxcala → Puebla (state line)
- Mile 92 of this route: Puebla → Tlaxcala (state line)
- Mile 99 of this route: Tlaxcala → Puebla (state line)
- Mile 165 of this route: Puebla → Morelos (state line)
Stops between Xico and San Miguel, Morelos
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Jardín de Esculturas (mile 12)
- Nature and outdoors: Parque Nacional Cofre de Perote (mile 42), La Malinche National Park (mile 101), Jardín Botánico Universitario de la Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla (mile 123)
- Museums and history: Jardín de Esculturas (mile 12), Cantona (mile 58), Convent Church of Santo Domingo, Puebla (mile 117), International Museum of the Baroque (mile 127)
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.
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.
Convent Church of Santo Domingo, Puebla
Behind the facade of Puebla's Santo Domingo church hides the Capilla del Rosario, inaugurated in 1690. Gold covers its walls, pilasters and vaults, and contemporaries hailed it as the eighth wonder of the New World.
Jardín Botánico Universitario de la Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla
On the Ciudad Universitaria campus of BUAP in Puebla, the university botanical garden covers about 10.7 hectares and was formerly named after Ignacio Rodríguez Alconedo.
Historic centre of Puebla
Laid out from scratch in 1531, Puebla's UNESCO-listed core is a grid of tile-covered houses, colonial churches and the 16th–17th-century cathedral, with the old archbishop's palace that houses the Palafox Library, established in 1646.
International Museum of the Baroque
Designed by Japanese architect Toyo Ito and opened in 2016, Puebla's baroque museum wraps its galleries in curving white concrete walls beside a reflecting pond. Exhibits cover baroque painting, sculpture, architecture, music, theater and literature.
When you get to San Miguel, Morelos
Former convent of Saint Dominic de Guzmán
In the town of Hueyapan, the 16th-century church and former convent of Santo Domingo de Guzmán keeps original frescoes and moldings inside, around a modest cloister typical of its era.
Convento de San Juan Bautista
This convent in Tetela del Volcán, known for its carved wooden sacristy and light-filled cloister walks, was cleaned of soot left from its use as a barracks during the Mexican Revolution in a conservation project completed in 2009.
More drives to San Miguel, Morelos
- Cuernavaca to San Miguel, Morelos
- Zacatelco to San Miguel, Morelos
- Mexico City to San Miguel, Morelos
- Tlaxcala to San Miguel, Morelos
- Chiautempan to San Miguel, Morelos
- Apizaco to San Miguel, Morelos
From Xico to other places in Mexico
- Xico to Naolinco
- Xico to Huejotzingo
- Xico to Tecolutla
- Xico to Calpulalpan
- Xico to Otumba
- Xico to Oaxtepec
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Xico to San Miguel, Morelos?
About 3 h 13 min of driving without stops, over 167 miles.
How far is San Miguel, Morelos from Xico by car?
About 167 miles (268 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 San Miguel, Morelos?
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 San Miguel, Morelos?
The U.S. State Department rates Veracruz Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Puebla Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Tlaxcala Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Morelos Level 3: Reconsider Travel (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Xico to San Miguel, Morelos use?
In order: VER 7, MEX-140, MEX-140D, MEX-190 and PUE 438D. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Xico and San Miguel, Morelos?
Closest to the road: Jardín de Esculturas (museum, mile 12, 0.9 mi from the route); Jardín Botánico Universitario de la Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla (botanical garden, mile 123, 2 mi from the route); International Museum of the Baroque (art museum, mile 127, 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.