The Wayro route from Xico to Tequisquiapan is 281 miles (453 km), about 5 h 4 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 281 mi (453 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 5 h 4 min |
| Main roads, in order | VER 7 → MEX-140 → MEX-140D → MEX-136 → MEX-M40D → MEX-57D → MEX-120 |
| 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) |
| Toll roads | MEX-140D, MEX-M40D, MEX-57D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 11.2 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 Tequisquiapan is like
MEX-M40D (87 mi) and MEX-140D (66 mi) carry about 54% of the 281 miles. MEX-140D, MEX-M40D, MEX-57D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-140, MEX-136, MEX-120 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 6 states: Veracruz, Puebla, Tlaxcala, Hidalgo, State of Mexico, Querétaro. Of the 8 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Xico to Tequisquiapan, 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 | 225–268 | 43 | Hidalgo, State of Mexico, Querétaro |
| MEX-120 | 268–281 | 13 | Querétaro |
- 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)
Stops between Xico and Tequisquiapan
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museo Casa Xalapa (mile 11), Xalapa Museum of Anthropology (mile 15)
- Nature and outdoors: Parque Nacional Cofre de Perote (mile 42), La Malinche National Park (mile 96)
- Museums and history: Museo Casa Xalapa (mile 11), Xalapa Museum of Anthropology (mile 15), Cantona (mile 58), Museo de Sitio de Cantona (mile 60), Teotihuacan (mile 165)
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.
Xalapa Museum of Anthropology
Run by the Universidad Veracruzana in a building designed by Edward Durell Stone, the Xalapa Museum of Anthropology displays more than 1,500 pieces from Olmec, central Veracruz and Huastec cultures, including several Olmec colossal heads, amid subtropical gardens.
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.
Museo de Sitio de Cantona
At the Cantona archaeological zone in Tepeyahualco, this site museum shows finds from more than 20 years of digs: pottery, obsidian and stone tools, musical instruments, greenstone and shell ornaments, and burial remains.
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.
When you get to Tequisquiapan
Galería Libertad
Run by Querétaro's state culture department, Galería Libertad is a public gallery in the historic center of Santiago de Querétaro devoted to exhibiting, promoting and teaching the visual arts.
More drives to Tequisquiapan
- Salvatierra to Tequisquiapan
- Salamanca to Tequisquiapan
- Irapuato to Tequisquiapan
- Moroleón to Tequisquiapan
- Guanajuato to Tequisquiapan
- Pénjamo to Tequisquiapan
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 Tequisquiapan?
About 5 h 4 min of driving without stops, over 281 miles.
How far is Tequisquiapan from Xico by car?
About 281 miles (453 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 Tequisquiapan?
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 Tequisquiapan?
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 (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Xico to Tequisquiapan use?
In order: VER 7, MEX-140, MEX-140D, MEX-136, MEX-M40D, MEX-57D and MEX-120. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Xico and Tequisquiapan?
Closest to the road: Museo Casa Xalapa (museum, mile 11, 0.9 mi from the route); Xalapa Museum of Anthropology (archaeological museum, mile 15, 0.9 mi from the route); Atlantean figures (atlantean figures, mile 214, 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.