The Wayro route from Cholula to Zacatlán is 76 miles (122 km), about 1 h 37 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 76 mi (122 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 1 h 37 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-190 → MEX-119D → MEX-117D → MEX-119 |
| Mexican states on the route | Puebla (Level 2), Tlaxcala (Level 2) |
| Toll roads | MEX-119D, MEX-117D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 3.0 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 7 |
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 Zacatlán is like
MEX-119 (45 mi) and MEX-119D (11 mi) carry about 74% of the 76 miles. MEX-119D, MEX-117D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-190, MEX-119 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 2 states: Puebla, Tlaxcala. Of the 7 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Cholula to Zacatlán, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–2 | 2 | Puebla |
| MEX-190 | 2–7 | 5 | Puebla |
| MEX-119D | 7–18 | 11 | Puebla, Tlaxcala |
| MEX-117D | 18–28 | 10 | Tlaxcala |
| connecting roads | 28–31 | 3 | Tlaxcala |
| MEX-119 | 31–76 | 45 | Tlaxcala, Puebla |
- Mile 10 of this route: Puebla → Tlaxcala (state line)
- Mile 52 of this route: Tlaxcala → Puebla (state line)
Stops between Cholula and Zacatlán
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Parque ecológico Los Ladrillos (mile 11), Ex Convento de Santa María de la Concepción Atlihuetzia (mile 27), Museo Casa de Piedra (mile 31)
- Nature and outdoors: Parque ecológico Los Ladrillos (mile 11), La Malinche National Park (mile 21)
- Museums and history: Tlaxcala Cathedral (mile 19), Museo Casa de Piedra (mile 31)
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 ecológico Los Ladrillos
Opened on April 2, 2015, Los Ladrillos Ecological Park is a nature reserve in the municipality of Zacatelco, in Tlaxcala.
Tlaxcala Cathedral
Part of a 16th-century Franciscan complex among the earliest in the Americas, Tlaxcala's cathedral is famous for its carved Mudéjar-style wooden ceiling. Look for the freestanding bell tower and the stone font where Tlaxcalan lords were baptized.
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.
Ex Convento de Santa María de la Concepción Atlihuetzia
The ruined walls of this 16th-century Franciscan convent in Atlihuetzia rise as high as 21 meters beside the 17th-century Purísima Concepción church. The site also holds a sanctuary to Cristóbal, honored as the first Catholic child martyr in the Americas.
Museo Casa de Piedra
Apizaco's old railroad station, dating from 1916, now houses the Museo Casa de Piedra. Inside, photographs and documents trace the town's history, especially its long ties to the railroads.
Santuario de Nuestro Padre Jesús de Aquixtla
In the Sierra Norte de Puebla, the sanctuary of Nuestro Padre Jesús in Aquixtla draws thousands of pilgrims during the year who come to give thanks for favors received.
More drives to Zacatlán
- Chiautempan to Zacatlán
- Zacatelco to Zacatlán
- Pachuca to Zacatlán
- Atlixco to Zacatlán
- Mexico City to Zacatlán
- Tepotzotlán to Zacatlán
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 Zacatlán?
About 1 h 37 min of driving without stops, over 76 miles.
How far is Zacatlán from Cholula by car?
About 76 miles (122 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 Zacatlán?
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 Zacatlán?
The U.S. State Department rates Puebla Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Tlaxcala 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 Zacatlán use?
In order: MEX-190, MEX-119D, MEX-117D and MEX-119. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Cholula and Zacatlán?
Closest to the road: Parque ecológico Los Ladrillos (park, mile 11, 0.5 mi from the route); Ex Convento de Santa María de la Concepción Atlihuetzia (convent, mile 27, 0.4 mi from the route); Museo Casa de Piedra (railway museum, mile 31, 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.