The Wayro route from Cholula to Xico is 127 miles (204 km), about 2 h 30 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 127 mi (204 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 2 h 30 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-190 → MEX-150D → MEX-140D → VER 7 |
| Mexican states on the route | Puebla (Level 2), Tlaxcala (Level 2), Veracruz (Level 2) |
| Toll roads | MEX-150D, MEX-140D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 5.1 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 Xico is like
MEX-140D (65 mi) and MEX-150D (5 mi) carry about 55% of the 127 miles. MEX-150D, MEX-140D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-190 is a free federal road (libre). It runs through 3 states: Puebla, Tlaxcala, Veracruz. Of the 8 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Cholula to Xico, 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 | 12–17 | 5 | Puebla |
| local roads | 17–43 | 26 | Puebla, Tlaxcala |
| MEX-140D | 43–108 | 65 | Tlaxcala, Puebla, Veracruz |
| connecting roads | 108–112 | 4 | Veracruz |
| local roads | 112–116 | 4 | Veracruz |
| VER 7 | 116–120 | 4 | Veracruz |
| local roads | 120–127 | 7 | Veracruz |
- Mile 29 of this route: Puebla → Tlaxcala (state line)
- Mile 36 of this route: Tlaxcala → Puebla (state line)
- Mile 42 of this route: Puebla → Tlaxcala (state line)
- Mile 51 of this route: Tlaxcala → Puebla (state line)
- Mile 77 of this route: Puebla → Veracruz (state line)
Stops between Cholula and Xico
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Xalapa Museum of Anthropology (mile 112), Pinacoteca Diego Rivera (mile 114), Jardín Botánico Francisco J. Clavijero (mile 116)
- Nature and outdoors: La Malinche National Park (mile 27), Parque Nacional Cofre de Perote (mile 86), Jardín Botánico Francisco J. Clavijero (mile 116)
- Museums and history: Museo José Luis Bello y Zetina (mile 7), Museo de Sitio de Cantona (mile 68), Cantona (mile 69), Xalapa Museum of Anthropology (mile 112), Pinacoteca Diego Rivera (mile 114)
Museo José Luis Bello y Zetina
Next to the Templo de Santo Domingo in downtown Puebla, the Museo José Luis Bello y Zetina shows a house and art collection donated by the Puebla philanthropist it's named for.
La Malinche National Park
Tlaxcala's La Malinche National Park surrounds the inactive Matlalcuéyetl volcano, with pine, oak and fir forests on its slopes, hiking trails, birdwatching, and stone cabins and campsites at the Malintzi Vacation Center.
Museo de Sitio de Cantona
At the Cantona archaeological zone in Tepeyahualco, this site museum shows finds from more than 20 years of digs: pottery, obsidian and stone tools, musical instruments, greenstone and shell ornaments, and burial remains.
Cantona
High on the Puebla plateau near the Veracruz line, Cantona was a fortified pre-Hispanic city that controlled trade toward the Gulf; its explored southern section reveals interconnected streets, walled residential units and more than two dozen ballgame courts.
Parque Nacional Cofre de Perote
Cofre de Perote National Park protects the forested slopes of the mountain, and its role is practical as well as scenic: a little over 40 percent of the water used in Xalapa comes from here.
Xalapa Museum of Anthropology
Run by the Universidad Veracruzana in a building designed by Edward Durell Stone, the Xalapa Museum of Anthropology displays more than 1,500 pieces from Olmec, central Veracruz and Huastec cultures, including several Olmec colossal heads, amid subtropical gardens.
Pinacoteca Diego Rivera
In downtown Xalapa, the Pinacoteca Diego Rivera is an art museum with a large collection of works by the muralist Diego Rivera.
Jardín Botánico Francisco J. Clavijero
Opened in 1977 by the Instituto de Ecología near Xalapa, this botanical garden sits in native cloud forest beside a 30-hectare forest sanctuary and keeps notable collections of Mexican cycads, bamboo and carnivorous butterworts.
When you get to Xico
Cascada de Texolo
Two waterfalls on the Matlacobatl River, Texolo with a 20-meter drop and La Monja with about 8 meters, sit roughly 3 kilometers from Xico amid cloud forest included in a Ramsar wetland site.
More drives to Xico
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 Xico?
About 2 h 30 min of driving without stops, over 127 miles.
How far is Xico from Cholula by car?
About 127 miles (204 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 Xico?
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 Xico?
The U.S. State Department rates Puebla Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Tlaxcala Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Veracruz 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 Xico use?
In order: MEX-190, MEX-150D, MEX-140D and VER 7. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Cholula and Xico?
Closest to the road: Xalapa Museum of Anthropology (archaeological museum, mile 112, 0.1 mi from the route); Pinacoteca Diego Rivera (art museum, mile 114, 0.6 mi from the route); Jardín Botánico Francisco J. Clavijero (botanical garden, mile 116, 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.