By road, Coatzacoalcos and Cholula are about 306 miles (492 km) apart, or roughly 4 h 56 min of driving.
| Distance by road | 306 mi (492 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 4 h 56 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-185 → MEX-180D → MEX-145D → MEX-150D |
| Mexican states on the route | Veracruz, Puebla |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-180D, MEX-145D, MEX-150D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 12.2 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.
The Coatzacoalcos–Cholula drive in a few lines
MEX-145D (142 mi) and MEX-150D (137 mi) carry about 91% of the 306 miles. It runs through 2 states: Veracruz, Puebla. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-180D, MEX-145D and MEX-150D. Of the 7 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
Which roads connect Coatzacoalcos and Cholula
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–2 | 2 | |
| MEX-185 | 2–12 | 10 | Veracruz |
| connecting roads | 12–13 | 1 | Veracruz |
| MEX-180D | 13–16 | 3 | Veracruz |
| MEX-145D | 16–158 | 142 | Veracruz |
| MEX-150D | 158–295 | 137 | Veracruz, Puebla |
| local roads | 295–306 | 11 | Puebla |
- Mile 227 of this route: Veracruz → Puebla (state line)
Places worth a stop between Coatzacoalcos and Cholula
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Cañón del Río Blanco National Park (mile 214)
- Nature and outdoors: Cañón del Río Blanco National Park (mile 214), La Malinche National Park (mile 288)
- Museums and history: Huatusco (mile 165), Cathedral of Córdoba, Veracruz (mile 191), Veracruz State Art Museum (mile 203), Orizaba Cathedral (mile 205), Fort Guadalupe (mile 295)
Huatusco
Getting to the ruins of Huatusco (Cuauhtochco) means crossing a suspension bridge and hiking a steep trail; a local guide is a good idea, and there are no visitor facilities. The Mexica-era temple keeps its original finishes.
Cathedral of Córdoba, Veracruz
An octagonal dome covered in tiles crowns Córdoba's Immaculate Conception Cathedral, the city's main church, finished in a neoclassical style.
Veracruz State Art Museum
Housed in Orizaba's 18th-century former Oratorio of San Felipe Neri, later a hospital and then a jail, the Veracruz State Art Museum (Museo de Arte del Estado) holds more than 700 works, including 36 by Diego Rivera.
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.
Cañón del Río Blanco National Park
Cañón del Río Blanco National Park is a protected natural area in the Mexican state of Veracruz, set aside by the government as a national park.
La Malinche National Park
Pine, oak and fir forests cover the slopes of the inactive Matlalcuéyetl volcano, the centerpiece of La Malinche National Park in Tlaxcala.
Fort Guadalupe
Fort Guadalupe is a fort you'll find in the city of Puebla, within the Mexican state of the same name.
In Cholula itself
Casa del Caballero Águila
Facing the old pre-Hispanic plaza of San Pedro Cholula, the Casa del Caballero Águila is a colonial house built in the late 16th century.
Great Pyramid of Cholula
Under a hilltop church dedicated to the Virgin of los Remedios lies Tlachihualtepetl, a pyramid built in superimposed stages with a base about 400 meters per side. Excavations have opened roughly 8 km of tunnels inside the mound.
Cholula
Cholula's Great Pyramid grew in successive construction phases around an adobe core. INAH repair work on its Pocito staircase after the 2017 earthquakes turned up broken pre-Hispanic braziers and a small limestone figure of the rain god Tláloc.
More drives to Cholula
- Mexico City to Cholula
- Toluca to Cholula
- San Juan del Río to Cholula
- Salamanca to Cholula
- Morelia to Cholula
- León to Cholula
From Coatzacoalcos to other places in Mexico
- Coatzacoalcos to Orizaba
- Coatzacoalcos to Zacatelco
- Coatzacoalcos to Huejotzingo
- Coatzacoalcos to Tlaxcala
- Coatzacoalcos to Atlixco
- Coatzacoalcos to Tlaxco
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Coatzacoalcos to Cholula?
About 4 h 56 min of driving without stops, over 306 miles.
How far is Cholula from Coatzacoalcos by car?
About 306 miles (492 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 Coatzacoalcos to Cholula?
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 Coatzacoalcos to Cholula?
The U.S. State Department rates Veracruz Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Puebla Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Coatzacoalcos to Cholula use?
In order: MEX-185, MEX-180D, MEX-145D and MEX-150D. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Coatzacoalcos to Cholula?
Closest to the road: Veracruz State Art Museum (art museum, mile 203, 1 mi from the route); Orizaba Cathedral (cathedral, mile 205, 1 mi from the route); Cañón del Río Blanco National Park (national park, mile 214, 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.