The Wayro route from Cholula to Tecomán is 514 miles (828 km), about 9 h 23 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 514 mi (828 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 9 h 23 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-150 → MEX-M40D → MEX-15D → MEX-110 → MEX-15 → MEX-54 → MEX-54D |
| Mexican states on the route | Puebla (Level 2), Tlaxcala (Level 2), Hidalgo (Level 2), State of Mexico (Level 2), Michoacán (Level 4), Jalisco (Level 3), Colima (Level 4) |
| Toll roads | MEX-M40D, MEX-15D, MEX-54D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 20.6 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 Cholula to Tecomán is like
MEX-15D (189 mi) and MEX-M40D (139 mi) carry about 64% of the 514 miles. MEX-M40D, MEX-15D, MEX-54D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-150, MEX-110, MEX-15, MEX-54 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 7 states: Puebla, Tlaxcala, Hidalgo, State of Mexico, Michoacán, Jalisco, Colima. None of the 8 stops below is right on the road, so plan each as a short side trip.
The route from Cholula to Tecomán, 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 | 21–160 | 139 | Puebla, Tlaxcala, Hidalgo, State of Mexico |
| MEX-15D | 160–349 | 189 | State of Mexico, Michoacán, Jalisco |
| connecting roads | 349–354 | 5 | Jalisco |
| MEX-110 | 354–372 | 18 | Michoacán |
| MEX-15 | 372–377 | 5 | Michoacán |
| connecting roads | 377–379 | 2 | Michoacán |
| MEX-110 | 379–444 | 65 | Michoacán, Jalisco |
| MEX-54 | 444–454 | 10 | Jalisco |
| connecting roads | 454–456 | 2 | Jalisco |
| MEX-54D | 456–480 | 24 | Jalisco, Colima |
| MEX-54 | 480–487 | 7 | Colima |
| MEX-110 | 487–511 | 24 | Colima |
| local roads | 511–514 | 3 | Colima |
- 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 129 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 178 of this route: State of Mexico → Michoacán (state line)
- Mile 347 of this route: Michoacán → Jalisco (state line)
- Mile 354 of this route: Jalisco → Michoacán (state line)
- Mile 402 of this route: Michoacán → Jalisco (state line)
- Mile 470 of this route: Jalisco → Colima (state line)
Stops between Cholula and Tecomán
- Nature and outdoors: Parque nacional Xicoténcatl (mile 25), Volcán Nevado de Colima National Park (mile 466)
- Museums and history: Teatro Morelos de Maravatío (mile 199), Alfonso Michel University Art Gallery (mile 485)
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.
Exconvent of Santa María Magdalena
The former convent of Santa María Magdalena (Exconvento de Santa María Magdalena) is a 17th-century Baroque church built by the Dieguino friars, still in use as a Catholic temple of the Archdiocese of Puebla.
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.
Atlantean figures
Crowning the main pyramid at the Tula archaeological zone, these basalt sculptures of Toltec warriors stand more than four meters tall in what was once the Toltec capital; the nearby Wall of Snakes shows carved serpents devouring skeletons.
Teatro Morelos de Maravatío
Maravatío's Teatro Morelos is a late-19th-century theater in a French-influenced neoclassical style, designed by architect Rafael Guerrero Torres. It opened on January 11, 1879, with a performance by opera singer Ángela Peralta.
Volcán Nevado de Colima National Park
This national park in western Mexico protects the upper slopes of two volcanic peaks, Volcán de Colima and Nevado de Colima, in the states of Jalisco and Colima.
Alfonso Michel University Art Gallery
Two restored old houses in downtown Colima hold this art gallery (Pinacoteca Universitaria Alfonso Michel), which honors painter Alfonso Michel and displays a large collection belonging to the University of Colima.
More drives to Tecomán
- Guadalajara to Tecomán
- Zamora to Tecomán
- Tepatitlán to Tecomán
- Pátzcuaro to Tecomán
- Irapuato to Tecomán
- Lagos de Moreno to Tecomán
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 Tecomán?
About 9 h 23 min of driving without stops, over 514 miles.
How far is Tecomán 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 Tecomán?
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 Tecomán?
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; Michoacán Level 4: Do Not Travel; Jalisco Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Colima 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 Tecomán use?
In order: MEX-150, MEX-M40D, MEX-15D, MEX-110, MEX-15, MEX-54 and MEX-54D. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Cholula and Tecomán?
Closest to the road: Convento de Huejotzingo (convent, mile 9, 1 mi from the route); Atlantean figures (atlantean figures, mile 116, 1 mi from the route); Teatro Morelos de Maravatío (opera house, mile 199, 1 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.