The Wayro route from Cholula to Jerez, Zacatecas is 481 miles (774 km), about 8 h 24 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 481 mi (774 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 8 h 24 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-150 → MEX-M40D → MEX-57D → MEX-47D → MEX-45D → MEX-45 → MEX-54 → MEX-23 |
| Mexican states on the route | Puebla (Level 2), Tlaxcala (Level 2), Hidalgo (Level 2), State of Mexico (Level 2), Querétaro (Level 2), Guanajuato (Level 3), Jalisco (Level 3), Aguascalientes (Level 2), Zacatecas (Level 4) |
| Toll roads | MEX-M40D, MEX-57D, MEX-47D, MEX-45D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 19.2 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
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 Cholula to Jerez, Zacatecas is like
MEX-45D (162 mi) and MEX-M40D (106 mi) carry about 56% of the 481 miles. MEX-M40D, MEX-57D, MEX-47D, MEX-45D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-150, MEX-45, MEX-54, MEX-23 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 9 states: Puebla, Tlaxcala, Hidalgo, State of Mexico, Querétaro, Guanajuato, Jalisco, Aguascalientes, Zacatecas. Of the 9 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Cholula to Jerez, Zacatecas, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Puebla |
| MEX-150 | 1–9 | 8 | Puebla |
| local roads | 9–21 | 12 | Puebla |
| MEX-M40D | 21–127 | 106 | Puebla, Tlaxcala, Hidalgo, State of Mexico |
| MEX-57D | 127–162 | 35 | Hidalgo, State of Mexico |
| MEX-47D | 162–216 | 54 | Querétaro, Guanajuato |
| MEX-45D | 216–357 | 141 | Guanajuato, Jalisco |
| MEX-45 | 357–386 | 29 | Jalisco, Aguascalientes |
| local roads | 386–390 | 4 | Aguascalientes |
| MEX-45 | 390–418 | 28 | Aguascalientes, Zacatecas |
| MEX-45D | 418–439 | 21 | Zacatecas |
| MEX-45 | 439–451 | 12 | Zacatecas |
| MEX-54 | 451–465 | 14 | Zacatecas |
| connecting roads | 465–466 | 1 | Zacatecas |
| MEX-23 | 466–481 | 15 | Zacatecas |
- Mile 25 of this route: Puebla → Tlaxcala (state line)
- Mile 48 of this route: Tlaxcala → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 56 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 68 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 85 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 99 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 128 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 162 of this route: State of Mexico → Querétaro (state line)
- Mile 203 of this route: Querétaro → Guanajuato (state line)
- Mile 312 of this route: Guanajuato → Jalisco (state line)
- Mile 360 of this route: Jalisco → Aguascalientes (state line)
- Mile 414 of this route: Aguascalientes → Zacatecas (state line)
Stops between Cholula and Jerez, Zacatecas
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Teatro Aguascalientes (mile 373), Teatro Morelos (mile 375), Cathedral Basilica of Zacatecas (mile 447)
- Nature and outdoors: Parque nacional Xicoténcatl (mile 25), El Cimatario National Park (mile 198)
- Museums and history: Tula (mile 116), Celaya Cathedral (mile 227), Teatro Aguascalientes (mile 373), Cathedral Basilica of Zacatecas (mile 447)
Convento de Huejotzingo
Founded by Franciscans in the 16th century, the former convent of San Miguel Arcángel in Huejotzingo shows colonial Plateresque architecture on the western slopes of Popocatépetl and Iztaccíhuatl. UNESCO declared it a World Heritage Site in 1994.
Parque nacional Xicoténcatl
Covering roughly 600 hectares in central Tlaxcala, Xicohténcatl National Park takes in the historic center of Tlaxcala city plus Quiahuixtlán, Ocotelulco and Tepeticpac, which correspond to three of the old Tlaxcalan lordships.
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.
Tula
Once the Toltec capital, the Tula archaeological zone is best known for its Atlantes, basalt warrior figures over four meters (13 feet) tall crowning the main pyramid. Visitors also see a ball court, the Burnt Palace and the Coatepantli wall, carved with snakes devouring skeletons.
El Cimatario National Park
El Cimatario National Park protects about 24 square kilometers of land just south of the city of Santiago de Querétaro.
Celaya Cathedral
Celaya's main Catholic church, the Immaculate Conception Cathedral, occupies the space of a former chapel that was annexed to the neighboring Temple of St. Francis.
Teatro Aguascalientes
Teatro Aguascalientes is the city's main opera house, a modern building by architect Abraham Zabludovsky with seating for about 1,650 people.
Teatro Morelos
In downtown Aguascalientes, Teatro Morelos is a neoclassical theater designed and built by engineer José Noriega and opened in 1885. In October and November 1914 it hosted the Sovereign Revolutionary Convention.
Cathedral Basilica of Zacatecas
Dedicated to the Virgin of the Assumption, the Cathedral of Zacatecas is the main church of the Diocese of Zacatecas.
When you get to Jerez, Zacatecas
Jerez de García Salinas lies in a valley about 35 miles (57 km) from the city of Zacatecas, and in 2007 it became the state's first Pueblo Mágico. The town is the birthplace of poet Ramón López Velarde and is closely tied to tamborazo music, filigree jewelry and leatherwork.
- Teatro Hinojosa: Built between 1872 and 1890, the theater keeps its hand-carved wooden seating and balconies. source
- Casa Museo Ramón López Velarde: The poet's birthplace now displays his manuscripts and recordings of his work. source
- Santuario de la Soledad: This neoclassical sanctuary has twin towers and an unusual lobed arch at its entrance. source
More drives to Jerez, Zacatecas
- Aguascalientes to Jerez, Zacatecas
- San Juan de los Lagos to Jerez, Zacatecas
- Tepatitlán to Jerez, Zacatecas
- Zamora to Jerez, Zacatecas
- Uruapan to Jerez, Zacatecas
- Pátzcuaro to Jerez, Zacatecas
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
Coming to Jerez, Zacatecas from the United States? Border crossings, permits and routes from U.S. cities: Driving to Jerez, Zacatecas, Mexico from the U.S.
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Cholula to Jerez, Zacatecas?
About 8 h 24 min of driving without stops, over 481 miles.
How far is Jerez, Zacatecas from Cholula by car?
About 481 miles (774 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 Jerez, Zacatecas?
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 Jerez, Zacatecas?
The U.S. State Department rates 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; Guanajuato Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Jalisco Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Aguascalientes Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Zacatecas Level 4: Do Not Travel (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Cholula to Jerez, Zacatecas use?
In order: MEX-150, MEX-M40D, MEX-57D, MEX-47D, MEX-45D, MEX-45, MEX-54 and MEX-23. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Cholula and Jerez, Zacatecas?
Closest to the road: Teatro Aguascalientes (opera house, mile 373, 0.2 mi from the route); Teatro Morelos (theatre building, mile 375, 0.1 mi from the route); Cathedral Basilica of Zacatecas (minor basilica, mile 447, 0.6 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.