The Wayro route from Xico to Zimapán is 268 miles (431 km), about 5 h 29 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 268 mi (431 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 5 h 29 min |
| Main roads, in order | VER 7 → MEX-140 → MEX-140D → MEX-136 → MEX-M40D → HGO 30 → MEX-85 |
| Mexican states on the route | Veracruz (Level 2), Puebla (Level 2), Tlaxcala (Level 2), Hidalgo (Level 2), State of Mexico (Level 2) |
| Toll roads | MEX-140D, MEX-M40D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 10.7 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 Zimapán is like
MEX-M40D (67 mi) and MEX-140D (66 mi) carry about 50% of the 268 miles. MEX-140D, MEX-M40D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-140, MEX-136, MEX-85 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 5 states: Veracruz, Puebla, Tlaxcala, Hidalgo, State of Mexico. Of the 8 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Xico to Zimapán, 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 | 137–204 | 67 | Tlaxcala, Hidalgo, State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 204–206 | 2 | Hidalgo |
| HGO 30 | 206–234 | 28 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-85 | 234–263 | 29 | Hidalgo |
| local roads | 263–268 | 5 | Hidalgo |
- 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)
Stops between Xico and Zimapán
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Jardín de Esculturas (mile 12), Church of San Miguel Arcángel (mile 239), Museo de la Cultura Hñähñu y Centro Cultural del Valle del Mezquital (mile 239)
- Nature and outdoors: Parque Nacional Cofre de Perote (mile 42), La Malinche National Park (mile 96)
- Museums and history: Jardín de Esculturas (mile 12), Cantona (mile 58), Museo de la Cultura Hñähñu y Centro Cultural del Valle del Mezquital (mile 239)
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.
Aqueduct of Padre Tembleque
Built by Franciscan friar Francisco de Tembleque between 1554 and 1572, this 16th-century water system runs more than 48 km between Zempoala and Otumba. Its tallest arcade at Tepeyahualco reaches almost 40 meters, and UNESCO listed it in 2015.
Hacienda Demiñho
Near Tunititlán in the Mezquital Valley, Hacienda Demiñho is a former Spanish-era estate that once ran cattle, farmed and rented land, becoming one of the region's important haciendas.
Church of San Miguel Arcángel
Ixmiquilpan's 16th-century Church of San Miguel Arcángel is known for its murals with religious and secular scenes, and for a design that blends European and Indigenous traditions.
Museo de la Cultura Hñähñu y Centro Cultural del Valle del Mezquital
In Ixmiquilpan, Hidalgo, the Museo de la Cultura Hñähñu y Centro Cultural del Valle del Mezquital works as both a museum and a cultural center.
More drives to Zimapán
- Celaya to Zimapán
- Tlalpujahua to Zimapán
- Moroleón to Zimapán
- Pénjamo to Zimapán
- Zitácuaro to Zimapán
- Cuitzeo to Zimapán
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 Zimapán?
About 5 h 29 min of driving without stops, over 268 miles.
How far is Zimapán from Xico by car?
About 268 miles (431 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 Zimapán?
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 Zimapán?
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 (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Xico to Zimapán use?
In order: VER 7, MEX-140, MEX-140D, MEX-136, MEX-M40D, HGO 30 and MEX-85. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Xico and Zimapán?
Closest to the road: Jardín de Esculturas (museum, mile 12, 0.9 mi from the route); Museo de la Cultura Hñähñu y Centro Cultural del Valle del Mezquital (museum, mile 239, 0.1 mi from the route); Church of San Miguel Arcángel (convent, mile 239, 0.4 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.