Plan on about 9 h 22 min of driving for the 490-mile (788 km) trip from Cholula to Palizada, before any stops.
| Total distance | 490 mi (788 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 9 h 22 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-190 → MEX-150D → MEX-145D → MEX-180D → MEX-180 → MEX-186 → MEX-217 |
| Mexican states on the route | Puebla, Veracruz, Tabasco, Campeche |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-150D, MEX-145D, MEX-180D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 19.6 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 6 |
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 Palizada drive plays out
MEX-150D (129 mi) and MEX-180 (59 mi) carry about 38% of the 490 miles. It runs through 4 states: Puebla, Veracruz, Tabasco, Campeche. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-150D, MEX-145D and MEX-180D. Of the 6 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Cholula to Palizada, 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 | 399–419 | 20 | Tabasco |
| local roads | 419–477 | 58 | Tabasco |
| MEX-217 | 477–489 | 12 | Tabasco, Campeche |
| local roads | 489–490 | 1 | Campeche |
- Mile 73 of this route: Puebla → Veracruz (state line)
- Mile 321 of this route: Veracruz → Tabasco (state line)
- Mile 478 of this route: Tabasco → Campeche (state line)
Stops between Cholula and Palizada
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museo Nacional de los Ferrocarriles Mexicanos (mile 7), Cañón del Río Blanco National Park (mile 86), Museo de Historia de Tabasco Casa de los Azulejos (mile 398)
- Nature and outdoors: Cañón del Río Blanco National Park (mile 86)
- Museums and history: Museo Nacional de los Ferrocarriles Mexicanos (mile 7), Orizaba Cathedral (mile 94), Huatusco (mile 134), La Venta (mile 323), Museo de Historia de Tabasco Casa de los Azulejos (mile 398)
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.
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
Once an important Olmec city, La Venta sits in Tabasco close to Huimanguillo. Monumental sandstone sculptures found at the foot of its main pyramid are among the 200-plus pieces in the site museum.
Museo de Historia de Tabasco Casa de los Azulejos
The Museo de Historia de Tabasco, housed in the Casa de los Azulejos, is a history museum in the historic center of Villahermosa, Tabasco.
More drives to Palizada
- Ocosingo to Palizada
- Coatzacoalcos to Palizada
- Tuxtepec to Palizada
- Córdoba, Mexico to Palizada
- Veracruz to Palizada
- Tehuacán to Palizada
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 is the drive from Cholula to Palizada?
About 9 h 22 min of driving without stops, over 490 miles.
How far is Palizada from Cholula by car?
About 490 miles (788 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 Palizada?
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 Palizada?
The U.S. State Department rates Puebla Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Veracruz Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Tabasco Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Campeche Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Cholula to Palizada?
In order: MEX-190, MEX-150D, MEX-145D, MEX-180D, MEX-180, MEX-186 and MEX-217. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Cholula and Palizada?
Closest to the road: Museo Nacional de los Ferrocarriles Mexicanos (railway museum, mile 7, 0.5 mi from the route); Cañón del Río Blanco National Park (national park, mile 86, 0.4 mi from the route); Museo de Historia de Tabasco Casa de los Azulejos (museum, mile 398, 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.