Xico to Tequila Road Trip: Route, Stops & Safety

By admin, 3 October, 2026

The Wayro route from Xico to Tequila is 548 miles (882 km), about 9 h 3 min of driving without stops.

U.S. State Department travel advisory: 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; Michoacán — Level 4, Do Not Travel; Jalisco — Level 3, Reconsider TravelAdvisory issued May 29, 2026; checked September 29, 2026. Jalisco is the Mexican state that contains Tequila. This route passes through a state at the advisory's highest level. Read the full advisory before you plan this drive.
Jardín de EsculturasLa Malinche National ParkTeotihuacanSala Histórica QuetzalcóatlRayón National ParkParque Walt DisneyDiana TheatreStatue of Minerva, GuadalajaraXicoTequila
Route from Xico to Tequila with the 8 stops listed below (blue dots).
Distance548 mi (882 km)
Driving time, no stops9 h 3 min
Main roads, in orderVER 7 → MEX-140 → MEX-140D → MEX-136 → MEX-M40D → MEX-15D → MEX-15
Mexican states on the routeVeracruz (Level 2), Puebla (Level 2), Tlaxcala (Level 2), Hidalgo (Level 2), State of Mexico (Level 2), Michoacán (Level 4), Jalisco (Level 3)
Toll roadsMEX-140D, MEX-M40D, MEX-15D
Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg)about 21.9 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic
Stops listed below8

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 insuranceRequired 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 Tequila is like

MEX-15D (278 mi) and MEX-M40D (121 mi) carry about 73% of the 548 miles. MEX-140D, MEX-M40D, MEX-15D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-140, MEX-136, MEX-15 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 7 states: Veracruz, Puebla, Tlaxcala, Hidalgo, State of Mexico, Michoacán, Jalisco. Of the 8 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.

The route from Xico to Tequila, road by road

RoadRoute miles (from–to)Length, miState
local roads0–66Veracruz
VER 76–104Veracruz
connecting roads10–133Veracruz
MEX-14013–185Veracruz
connecting roads18–191Veracruz
MEX-140D19–8566Veracruz, Puebla, Tlaxcala
MEX-13685–13752Tlaxcala
MEX-M40D137–258121Tlaxcala, Hidalgo, State of Mexico
MEX-15D258–514256State of Mexico, Michoacán, Jalisco
MEX-15514–52410Jalisco
MEX-15D524–54622Jalisco
local roads546–5482Jalisco
  • 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 227 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
  • Mile 277 of this route: State of Mexico → Michoacán (state line)
  • Mile 444 of this route: Michoacán → Jalisco (state line)

Stops between Xico and Tequila

  • Right off the route (under 1 mile): Jardín de Esculturas (mile 12), Statue of Minerva, Guadalajara (mile 510)
  • Nature and outdoors: La Malinche National Park (mile 96), Rayón National Park (mile 280), Parque Walt Disney (mile 506)
  • Museums and history: Jardín de Esculturas (mile 12), Teotihuacan (mile 165), Sala Histórica Quetzalcóatl (mile 214)

Jardín de Esculturas

Mile 12 · Museum · 0.9 mi from the route

Xalapa's Jardín de Esculturas is an open-air sculpture garden and museum displaying works by nationally and internationally recognized artists.

La Malinche National Park

Mile 96 · National Park of Mexico · 10 mi from the route · side trip; actual detour depends on access roads

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

Mile 165 · Historic site · 13 mi from the route · side trip; actual detour depends on access roads

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.

Sala Histórica Quetzalcóatl

Mile 214 · Museum · 1 mi from the route

The Sala Histórica Quetzalcóatl is an archaeological museum located in Tula de Allende, in the Mexican state of Hidalgo.

Rayón National Park

Mile 280 · National Park of Mexico · 5 mi from the route · side trip; actual detour depends on access roads

Just outside Tlalpujahua, Rayón National Park (Parque Nacional Rayón) marks the start of the area's famous butterfly reserve country, which stretches south and west from here.

Parque Walt Disney

Mile 506 · Park · 1 mi from the route

Despite sharing a name with Walt Disney, this recreational space in Guadalajara's Colonia Olímpica has no direct theme tied to Disney's amusement parks.

Diana Theatre

Mile 508 · Venue · 1 mi from the route

The Diana Theatre, or Teatro Diana, is an indoor theater in Guadalajara, in the state of Jalisco, with seating for 2,345 people.

Statue of Minerva, Guadalajara

Mile 510 · Statue · 0.8 mi from the route

At a roundabout fountain in Guadalajara, a bronze statue of Minerva, Roman goddess of wisdom, stands on a large pedestal inscribed with the names of 18 notable citizens.

When you get to Tequila

National Museum of Tequila

Museum · in Tequila

The National Museum of Tequila (MUNAT) in the town of Tequila tells the story of the spirit that put this corner of Jalisco on the map. The state government took it back in 2026 and announced a reopening with refreshed exhibits.

More drives to Tequila

From Xico to other places in Mexico

Frequently asked questions

How long is the drive from Xico to Tequila?

About 9 h 3 min of driving without stops, over 548 miles.

How far is Tequila from Xico by car?

About 548 miles (882 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 Tequila?

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 Tequila?

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; Michoacán Level 4: Do Not Travel; Jalisco Level 3: Reconsider Travel (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.

What roads does the drive from Xico to Tequila use?

In order: VER 7, MEX-140, MEX-140D, MEX-136, MEX-M40D, 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 Tequila?

Closest to the road: Jardín de Esculturas (museum, mile 12, 0.9 mi from the route); Parque Walt Disney (park, mile 506, 1 mi from the route); Statue of Minerva, Guadalajara (statue, mile 510, 0.8 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.