The Wayro route from Zacatelco to Xico is 128 miles (206 km), about 2 h 30 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 128 mi (206 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 2 h 30 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-119 → MEX-150D → MEX-140D → VER 7 |
| Mexican states on the route | Tlaxcala (Level 2), Puebla (Level 2), Veracruz (Level 2) |
| Toll roads | MEX-150D, MEX-140D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 5.1 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 Zacatelco to Xico is like
MEX-140D (65 mi) and MEX-119 (9 mi) carry about 58% of the 128 miles. MEX-150D, MEX-140D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-119 is a free federal road (libre). It runs through 3 states: Tlaxcala, Puebla, Veracruz. Of the 8 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Zacatelco to Xico, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| MEX-119 | 0–9 | 9 | Tlaxcala, Puebla |
| connecting roads | 9–11 | 2 | Puebla |
| MEX-150D | 11–18 | 7 | Puebla |
| local roads | 18–44 | 26 | Puebla, Tlaxcala |
| MEX-140D | 44–109 | 65 | Tlaxcala, Puebla, Veracruz |
| connecting roads | 109–113 | 4 | Veracruz |
| local roads | 113–117 | 4 | Veracruz |
| VER 7 | 117–121 | 4 | Veracruz |
| local roads | 121–128 | 7 | Veracruz |
- Mile 8 of this route: Tlaxcala → Puebla (state line)
- Mile 30 of this route: Puebla → Tlaxcala (state line)
- Mile 37 of this route: Tlaxcala → Puebla (state line)
- Mile 43 of this route: Puebla → Tlaxcala (state line)
- Mile 53 of this route: Tlaxcala → Puebla (state line)
- Mile 78 of this route: Puebla → Veracruz (state line)
Stops between Zacatelco and Xico
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Xalapa Cathedral (mile 116), Museo Casa Xalapa (mile 116)
- Nature and outdoors: La Malinche National Park (mile 28), Parque Nacional Cofre de Perote (mile 87)
- Museums and history: Museo Nacional de los Ferrocarriles Mexicanos (mile 11), Museo de Sitio de Cantona (mile 69), Cantona (mile 70), Xalapa Cathedral (mile 116), Museo Casa Xalapa (mile 116)
Museo Nacional de los Ferrocarriles Mexicanos
In Puebla's historic center, this national railway museum studies, preserves and shares Mexico's railroad heritage through exhibits on the history of the trains.
Teatro de la Ciudad de Puebla
The Teatro de la Ciudad is a performance venue on the Portal Hidalgo, in the historic center of the city of Puebla.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
When you get to Xico
Cascada de Texolo
Two waterfalls on the Matlacobatl River, Texolo with a 20-meter drop and La Monja with about 8 meters, sit roughly 3 kilometers from Xico amid cloud forest included in a Ramsar wetland site.
More drives to Xico
From Zacatelco to other places in Mexico
- Zacatelco to Tlaxco
- Zacatelco to Calpulalpan
- Zacatelco to Otumba
- Zacatelco to Atlatlahucan
- Zacatelco to Omitlán
- Zacatelco to Huasca de Ocampo
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Zacatelco to Xico?
About 2 h 30 min of driving without stops, over 128 miles.
How far is Xico from Zacatelco by car?
About 128 miles (206 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 Zacatelco to Xico?
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 Zacatelco to Xico?
The U.S. State Department rates Tlaxcala Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Puebla Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Veracruz Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Zacatelco to Xico use?
In order: MEX-119, MEX-150D, MEX-140D and VER 7. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Zacatelco and Xico?
Closest to the road: Museo Nacional de los Ferrocarriles Mexicanos (railway museum, mile 11, 2 mi from the route); Museo Casa Xalapa (museum, mile 116, 0.7 mi from the route); Xalapa Cathedral (cathedral, mile 116, 0.7 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.