The Wayro route from Xalapa to Cholula is 114 miles (184 km), about 1 h 59 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 114 mi (184 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 1 h 59 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-140D → MEX-150D |
| Mexican states on the route | Veracruz (Level 2), Puebla (Level 2), Tlaxcala (Level 2) |
| Toll roads | MEX-140D, MEX-150D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 4.6 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 5 |
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 Xalapa to Cholula is like
MEX-140D (91 mi) and MEX-150D (6 mi) carry about 85% of the 114 miles. MEX-140D, MEX-150D are toll highways (cuota). It runs through 3 states: Veracruz, Puebla, Tlaxcala. None of the 5 stops below is right on the road, so plan each as a short side trip.
The route from Xalapa to Cholula, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–6 | 6 | Veracruz |
| MEX-140D | 6–97 | 91 | Veracruz, Puebla, Tlaxcala |
| connecting roads | 97–98 | 1 | Puebla |
| MEX-150D | 98–104 | 6 | Puebla |
| local roads | 104–114 | 10 | Puebla |
- Mile 38 of this route: Veracruz → Puebla (state line)
- Mile 64 of this route: Puebla → Tlaxcala (state line)
- Mile 73 of this route: Tlaxcala → Puebla (state line)
- Mile 79 of this route: Puebla → Tlaxcala (state line)
- Mile 87 of this route: Tlaxcala → Puebla (state line)
Stops between Xalapa and Cholula
- Nature and outdoors: Parque Nacional Cofre de Perote (mile 29), La Malinche National Park (mile 88)
- Museums and history: Cantona (mile 45), Museo de Sitio de Cantona (mile 47), Fort Guadalupe (mile 104)
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.
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.
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.
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.
Fort Guadalupe
Fort Guadalupe is a fort you'll find in the city of Puebla, within the Mexican state of the same name.
When you get to Cholula
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.
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 Xalapa to other places in Mexico
- Xalapa to Huamantla
- Xalapa to Apizaco
- Xalapa to Chiautempan
- Xalapa to Zacatelco
- Xalapa to Huejotzingo
- Xalapa to Atlixco
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Xalapa to Cholula?
About 1 h 59 min of driving without stops, over 114 miles.
How far is Cholula from Xalapa by car?
About 114 miles (184 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 Xalapa 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 Xalapa to Cholula?
The U.S. State Department rates Veracruz Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; 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 Xalapa to Cholula use?
In order: MEX-140D and MEX-150D. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Xalapa and Cholula?
Closest to the road: Cantona (archaeological site, mile 45, 3 mi from the route); Museo de Sitio de Cantona (museum, mile 47, 3 mi from the route); Fort Guadalupe (fort, mile 104, 2 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.