Cholula to Capulalpam de Méndez is about 260 road miles (418 km): roughly 4 h 47 min at the wheel if you don't stop.
| Distance by road | 260 mi (418 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 4 h 47 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-190 → MEX-150D → MEX-135D → MEX-175 |
| Mexican states on the route | Puebla, Oaxaca |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-150D, MEX-135D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 10.4 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.
On the road from Cholula to Capulalpam de Méndez
MEX-135D (151 mi) and MEX-150D (46 mi) carry about 76% of the 260 miles. It runs through 2 states: Puebla, Oaxaca. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-150D and MEX-135D. Of the 7 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
Cholula to Capulalpam de Méndez: the road sequence
| 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 | 12–58 | 46 | Puebla |
| MEX-135D | 58–209 | 151 | Puebla, Oaxaca |
| MEX-190 | 209–220 | 11 | Oaxaca |
| MEX-175 | 220–254 | 34 | Oaxaca |
| local roads | 254–260 | 6 | Oaxaca |
- Mile 111 of this route: Puebla → Oaxaca (state line)
Places worth a stop between Cholula and Capulalpam de Méndez
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museo Nacional de los Ferrocarriles Mexicanos (mile 7), Suchilquitongo (mile 198), Oaxaca Cathedral (mile 216)
- Nature and outdoors: La Malinche National Park (mile 17), Tehuacán-Cuicatlán Biosphere Reserve (mile 102), Benito Juárez National Park (mile 209)
- Museums and history: Museo Nacional de los Ferrocarriles Mexicanos (mile 7), Museo del Valle de Tehuacán (mile 87), Suchilquitongo (mile 198), Oaxaca Cathedral (mile 216)
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.
La Malinche National Park
Hiking trails, birdwatching, and stone cabins and campsites at the Malintzi Vacation Center draw visitors to La Malinche National Park in Tlaxcala.
Museo del Valle de Tehuacán
Inside an 18th-century former Carmelite convent in Tehuacán, the Valley of Tehuacán Museum opened in 2002 and focuses on the history of corn and its ties to the valley's early peoples.
Tehuacán-Cuicatlán Biosphere Reserve
Cactus diversity reaches one of its peaks in the Tehuacán-Cuicatlán Valley, a dry landscape shared by Puebla and Oaxaca. Ancient canals, wells, terraces and dams show how people managed its scarce water.
Suchilquitongo
Locals call this Zapotec hilltop city Cerro de la Campana; it flourished between about 300 and 800 AD in the northern Etla Valley. Tomb 5, excavated in 1985, holds murals and stucco carvings counted among ancient Mexico's finest funerary art.
Benito Juárez National Park
Hikers heading just north of Oaxaca City reach Benito Juárez National Park, where trails cross roughly 2,737 hectares of pine and oak. La Coronilla, a moderate loop, runs about 5 km.
Oaxaca Cathedral
Oaxaca Cathedral, the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption, is the seat of the Catholic Archdiocese of Antequera, Oaxaca. Construction began around 1535, and the church was consecrated on July 12, 1733.
More drives to Capulalpam de Méndez
- Tehuacán to Capulalpam de Méndez
- Orizaba to Capulalpam de Méndez
- Huamantla to Capulalpam de Méndez
- Ixtenco to Capulalpam de Méndez
- Puebla to Capulalpam de Méndez
- Chipilo to Capulalpam de Méndez
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 Capulalpam de Méndez?
About 4 h 47 min of driving without stops, over 260 miles.
What is the driving distance from Cholula to Capulalpam de Méndez?
About 260 miles (418 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 Capulalpam de Méndez?
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 Capulalpam de Méndez?
The U.S. State Department rates Puebla Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Oaxaca Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Cholula to Capulalpam de Méndez use?
In order: MEX-190, MEX-150D, MEX-135D and MEX-175. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Cholula to Capulalpam de Méndez?
Closest to the road: Museo Nacional de los Ferrocarriles Mexicanos (railway museum, mile 7, 0.5 mi from the route); Suchilquitongo (archaeological site, mile 198, 0.4 mi from the route); Oaxaca Cathedral (cathedral, mile 216, 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 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.