The Wayro route from Villahermosa to Cholula is 403 miles (649 km), about 6 h 35 min of driving without stops.
| Total distance | 403 mi (649 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 6 h 35 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-180 → MEX-180D → MEX-145D → MEX-150D |
| Mexican states on the route | Tabasco, Veracruz, Puebla |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-180D, MEX-145D, MEX-150D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 16.1 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 Villahermosa–Cholula drive in a few lines
MEX-145D (143 mi) and MEX-150D (136 mi) carry about 69% of the 403 miles. It runs through 3 states: Tabasco, 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.
Road-by-road breakdown: Villahermosa to Cholula
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–2 | 2 | Tabasco |
| MEX-180 | 2–40 | 38 | Tabasco |
| MEX-180D | 40–74 | 34 | Tabasco |
| MEX-180 | 74–93 | 19 | Tabasco, Veracruz |
| MEX-180D | 93–114 | 21 | Veracruz |
| MEX-145D | 114–257 | 143 | Veracruz |
| MEX-150D | 257–393 | 136 | Veracruz, Puebla |
| local roads | 393–403 | 10 | Puebla |
- Mile 76 of this route: Tabasco → Veracruz (state line)
- Mile 324 of this route: Veracruz → Puebla (state line)
Places worth a stop between Villahermosa and Cholula
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Cañón del Río Blanco National Park (mile 311)
- Nature and outdoors: Cañón del Río Blanco National Park (mile 311), La Malinche National Park (mile 386)
- Museums and history: La Venta (mile 73), Huatusco (mile 263), Cathedral of Córdoba, Veracruz (mile 290), Veracruz State Art Museum (mile 301), Fort Loreto (mile 393)
La Venta
La Venta was an important city of the Olmec civilization, in Tabasco near Huimanguillo. Its site museum displays more than 200 artifacts, including monumental sandstone sculptures found at the foot of the main pyramid.
Huatusco
Above the Atoyac River in Carrillo Puerto, Cuauhtochco has a Mexica-era temple that still keeps original surface finishes. Expect no visitor facilities, and consider hiring a local guide.
Cathedral of Córdoba, Veracruz
Built in the first half of the 17th century, Córdoba's Immaculate Conception Cathedral is the city's main church; look up to see its octagonal dome covered in tiles, 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.
Cañón del Río Blanco National Park
Veracruz is home to Cañón del Río Blanco National Park, a natural area that the Mexican government has set aside for protection.
La Malinche National Park
Hiking trails, birdwatching, and stone cabins and campsites at the Malintzi Vacation Center draw visitors to La Malinche National Park in Tlaxcala.
Fort Loreto
Fort Loreto is a fort that stands in the city of Puebla, in the Mexican state of the same name.
Arriving in Cholula
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.
San Gabriel Franciscan Convent, Cholula
The San Gabriel Franciscan Convent, also called San Gabriel Friary, is a church and friary in Cholula, part of the Puebla metropolitan area.
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 Villahermosa to other places in Mexico
- Villahermosa to Tehuacán
- Villahermosa to Chiautempan
- Villahermosa to Tlaxcala
- Villahermosa to Calpulalpan
- Villahermosa to San Miguel, Morelos
- Villahermosa to Zacualpan de Amilpas
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Villahermosa to Cholula?
About 6 h 35 min of driving without stops, over 403 miles.
How far is Cholula from Villahermosa by car?
About 403 miles (649 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 Villahermosa 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 Villahermosa to Cholula?
The U.S. State Department rates Tabasco Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; 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 Villahermosa to Cholula use?
In order: MEX-180, MEX-180D, MEX-145D and MEX-150D. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Villahermosa and Cholula?
Closest to the road: Cathedral of Córdoba, Veracruz (cathedral, mile 290, 2 mi from the route); Veracruz State Art Museum (art museum, mile 301, 1 mi from the route); Cañón del Río Blanco National Park (national park, mile 311, 0.5 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.