The Wayro route from Cholula to Balancán is 514 miles (828 km), about 9 h 32 min of driving without stops.
| Distance by road | 514 mi (828 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 9 h 32 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-190 → MEX-150D → MEX-145D → MEX-180D → MEX-180 → MEX-186 |
| Mexican states on the route | Puebla, Veracruz, Tabasco, Chiapas |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-150D, MEX-145D, MEX-180D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 20.6 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 7 |
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.
How the Cholula to Balancán drive plays out
MEX-150D (129 mi) and MEX-186 (96 mi) carry about 44% of the 514 miles. It runs through 4 states: Puebla, Veracruz, Tabasco, Chiapas. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-150D, MEX-145D and MEX-180D. Of the 7 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Cholula to Balancán, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Puebla |
| MEX-190 | 1–5 | 4 | Puebla |
| connecting roads | 5–6 | 1 | Puebla |
| local roads | 6–10 | 4 | Puebla |
| connecting roads | 10–12 | 2 | Puebla |
| MEX-150D | 12–141 | 129 | Puebla, Veracruz |
| local roads | 141–252 | 111 | Veracruz |
| MEX-145D | 252–283 | 31 | Veracruz |
| MEX-180D | 283–304 | 21 | Veracruz |
| MEX-180 | 304–323 | 19 | Veracruz, Tabasco |
| MEX-180D | 323–356 | 33 | Tabasco |
| MEX-180 | 356–396 | 40 | Tabasco |
| local roads | 396–399 | 3 | Tabasco |
| MEX-186 | 399–495 | 96 | Tabasco, Chiapas |
| local roads | 495–514 | 19 | Tabasco |
- Mile 73 of this route: Puebla → Veracruz (state line)
- Mile 321 of this route: Veracruz → Tabasco (state line)
- Mile 446 of this route: Tabasco → Chiapas (state line)
- Mile 488 of this route: Chiapas → Tabasco (state line)
What to see on the way from Cholula to Balancán
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Cañón del Río Blanco National Park (mile 86), Musevi (mile 397), Museo de Historia Natural José Narciso Rovirosa (mile 398)
- Nature and outdoors: Cañón del Río Blanco National Park (mile 86), Museo de Historia Natural José Narciso Rovirosa (mile 398)
- Museums and history: Museo Bello (mile 7), Orizaba Cathedral (mile 94), Huatusco (mile 134), La Venta (mile 323), Musevi (mile 397), Museo de Historia Natural José Narciso Rovirosa (mile 398)
Museo Bello
Puebla's Museo José Luis Bello y González shows the collection of industrialist José Luis Bello y González and his son: paintings, Talavera, featherwork, furniture, porcelain, ivory, glass and metalwork from America, Europe and Asia.
Cañón del Río Blanco National Park
Veracruz is home to Cañón del Río Blanco National Park, a natural area that the Mexican government has set aside for protection.
Orizaba Cathedral
The Cathedral of St. Michael the Archangel is the main Catholic church of Orizaba, in the state of Veracruz, and the seat of the Diocese of Orizaba.
Huatusco
Above the Atoyac River in Carrillo Puerto, Cuauhtochco has a Mexica-era temple that still keeps original surface finishes. Expect no visitor facilities, and consider hiring a local guide.
La Venta
La Venta was an important city of the Olmec civilization, in Tabasco near Huimanguillo. Its site museum displays more than 200 artifacts, including monumental sandstone sculptures found at the foot of the main pyramid.
Musevi
Built for Mexico's independence bicentennial, Musevi is a bridge by Las Ilusiones lagoon and Tomás Garrido Park in Villahermosa, with a museum of regional artists and a coffee shop on top.
Museo de Historia Natural José Narciso Rovirosa
Opened in Villahermosa in 1988, this natural history museum honors José Narciso Rovirosa, the Tabasco naturalist, botanist and mapmaker who explored Tabasco and Chiapas documenting plants, climate and wildlife.
Once you reach Balancán
Museo de Balancán Dr. José Gómez Panaco
Museo de Balancán Dr. José Gómez Panaco is an archaeology museum in the town of Balancán de Domínguez, in the Mexican state of Tabasco.
More drives to Balancán
- Tuxtla to Balancán
- Córdoba, Mexico to Balancán
- Orizaba to Balancán
- Xico to Balancán
- Puebla to Balancán
- Zacatelco to Balancán
From Cholula to other places in Mexico
- Cholula to Apizaco
- Cholula to Calpulalpan
- Cholula to Otumba
- Cholula to Omitlán
- Cholula to Tepotzotlán
- Cholula to Huasca de Ocampo
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Cholula to Balancán?
About 9 h 32 min of driving without stops, over 514 miles.
How far is Balancán from Cholula by car?
About 514 miles (828 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 Cholula to Balancán?
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 Cholula to Balancán?
The U.S. State Department rates Puebla Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Veracruz Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Tabasco Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Chiapas Level 3: Reconsider Travel (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Cholula to Balancán?
In order: MEX-190, MEX-150D, MEX-145D, MEX-180D, MEX-180 and MEX-186. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Cholula to Balancán?
Closest to the road: Cañón del Río Blanco National Park (national park, mile 86, 0.4 mi from the route); Musevi (museum, mile 397, 0.3 mi from the route); Museo de Historia Natural José Narciso Rovirosa (museum, mile 398, 0.9 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 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: at least one strong stop for each stretch of the drive, then the best-known places nearest the road, up to nine in all. Places that are closed, private or not open to visitors are removed. Place 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.