Plan on about 6 h 6 min of driving for the 247-mile (397 km) trip from Cholula to Xilitla, before any stops.
| Total distance | 247 mi (397 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 6 h 6 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-150 → MEX-M40D → MEX-132 → MEX-88 → MEX-105 → MEX-102 → MEX-85 → MEX-120 |
| Mexican states on the route | Puebla, Tlaxcala, Hidalgo, State of Mexico, San Luis Potosí |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-M40D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 9.9 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.
Driving Cholula to Xilitla: the shape of the trip
MEX-105 (95 mi) and MEX-M40D (45 mi) carry about 57% of the 247 miles. It runs through 5 states: Puebla, Tlaxcala, Hidalgo, State of Mexico, San Luis Potosí. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-M40D. Of the 8 stops listed below, 4 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Cholula to Xilitla, 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 | 21–66 | 45 | Puebla, Tlaxcala, Hidalgo, State of Mexico |
| MEX-132 | 66–70 | 4 | State of Mexico, Hidalgo |
| MEX-88 | 70–86 | 16 | Hidalgo |
| local roads | 86–89 | 3 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-105 | 89–105 | 16 | Hidalgo |
| local roads | 105–109 | 4 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-105 | 109–188 | 79 | Hidalgo |
| local roads | 188–212 | 24 | Hidalgo, San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-102 | 212–217 | 5 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-85 | 217–238 | 21 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-120 | 238–246 | 8 | San Luis Potosí |
| local roads | 246–247 | 1 | San Luis Potosí |
- 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 209 of this route: Hidalgo → San Luis Potosí (state line)
Where to stop on the way to Xilitla
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Church and former convent of Todos los Santos (mile 73), Parque Ecológico Cubitos (mile 86), Barranca de Metztitlán (mile 125), Museo Regional de la Sierra Alta (mile 145)
- Nature and outdoors: Parque Ecológico Cubitos (mile 86), Barranca de Metztitlán (mile 125)
- Museums and history: Cuartel del Arte en Pachuca, Hidalgo (mile 90), Museo Regional de la Sierra Alta (mile 145)
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.
Church and former convent of Todos los Santos
Franciscan friars built this fortress-style convent in Zempoala, and the complex still keeps the classic layout of atrium, church, open chapel and cloister. It pairs well with a drive through the area's old pulque haciendas.
Parque Ecológico Cubitos
Between Pachuca de Soto and Mineral de la Reforma, Parque Ecológico Cubitos is a 90-hectare protected natural area whose public section has a botanical garden, an arboretum, a herpetarium, a farm, a maze, a zip line and a bike path.
Ex monastery of Saint Francis of Assisi, Pachuca de Soto, Hidalgo
The Templo y exconvento de San Francisco in Pachuca de Soto is mainly Baroque, with touches of Churrigueresque and Neoclassical style. Construction began in 1596 under Fray Francisco de Torantos, who chose the style of its facade and windows.
Cuartel del Arte en Pachuca, Hidalgo
In downtown Pachuca, the Cuartel del Arte is an art gallery presenting painting and sculpture exhibitions by Mexican and international artists.
Barranca de Metztitlán
Barranca de Metztitlán is a biosphere reserve in Hidalgo, protected for its steep cliffs, deep winding canyons and distinctive plants and wildlife.
Antiguo Convento Franciscano
Dedicated to Saint Francis of Assisi, the Antiguo Convento Franciscano in Zacatlán was founded by the Franciscans in 1562 and finished in 1567, and it still holds Catholic services.
Museo Regional de la Sierra Alta
Museo Regional de la Sierra Alta is a regional museum in the town of Zacualtipán, in the Mexican state of Hidalgo.
Once you reach Xilitla
Las Pozas
Created by Edward James in the Sierra Gorda, Las Pozas is a surrealist sculpture garden where concrete structures stand among waterfalls and pools in subtropical forest.
More drives to Xilitla
- Pedro Escobedo to Xilitla
- Tulancingo to Xilitla
- Actopan to Xilitla
- Otumba to Xilitla
- Celaya to Xilitla
- San Miguel de Allende to Xilitla
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 Xilitla?
About 6 h 6 min of driving without stops, over 247 miles.
How far is Xilitla from Cholula by car?
About 247 miles (397 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 Xilitla?
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 Xilitla?
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; San Luis Potosí Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Cholula to Xilitla?
In order: MEX-150, MEX-M40D, MEX-132, MEX-88, MEX-105, MEX-102, MEX-85 and MEX-120. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Cholula and Xilitla?
Closest to the road: Church and former convent of Todos los Santos (convent, mile 73, 0.5 mi from the route); Barranca de Metztitlán (canyon, mile 125, 0.1 mi from the route); Museo Regional de la Sierra Alta (museum, mile 145, 0.4 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.