Road trip to the puebla fair 2026: gastronomic and cultural route from mexico city
The Puebla Fair 2026 is not only distinguished by its artistic lineup and cultural agenda, but also by the possibility of turning the journey into an authentic roadtrip from Mexico City, combining gastronomy, history, and landscapes of the Mexican highlands. Leaving CDMX toward Puebla allows you to enjoy a direct, safe, and well-connected route, ideal if you are looking for freedom of movement, flexible schedules, and the opportunity to explore beyond the fairgrounds. With the support of car rental, this trip is transformed into a complete getaway, where the road adds as much as the destination.
The Puebla Fair 2026: tradition, culture, and flavors
Each year, the Puebla Fair brings together visitors attracted by its mix of shows, exhibitions, cultural activities, and one of the state's most representative gastronomic proposals. For 2026, an extensive program is again expected to combine concerts, artisanal pavilions, mechanical rides, and samples of Puebla cuisine.
Touring the fair is a direct way to get closer to the local identity: you can find everything from traditional dishes to artistic expressions that reflect the history and diversity of the region. This context makes the event an ideal stop within a road trip from CDMX.
Route from CDMX to Puebla by car
The most used route to reach the Puebla Fair is through the Mexico-Puebla highway, a fast and efficient road that directly connects the country's capital with the city of Puebla. The approximate distance is 135 to 140 kilometers, which translates into an average journey of two hours, depending on traffic and departure time.
When traveling by car, it is possible to calculate your route in advance, choose the best time to leave, and avoid collective transfers. In addition, the road offers views of the Puebla-Tlaxcala valley and well-marked entrances to the city. Don't have your own car to reach the city? With car rental in CDMX you can make this journey!
Some of the strategic stops you can make along the way are:
-San Martín Texmelucan, ideal for a short break, refueling, or making a technical stop before continuing the journey.
-Natural viewpoint areas along the valley, where it is possible to stop for a few minutes to enjoy the landscape.
-Detours to traditional towns in the state of Puebla, perfect for adding a cultural experience without straying far from the main route.
What are the estimated costs of the road trip from CDMX to Puebla?
Planning a roadtrip to the Puebla Fair 2026 also involves considering the costs of the journey. One of the great benefits of traveling on the Mexico-Puebla highway is that it is a direct, safe, and well-marked route, something that provides comfort from the start of the trip.
Regarding tolls, the approximate cost of the booths on the Mexico-Puebla highway for private cars is around 216 pesos per way, considering the main toll plazas. This amount serves as a reference when calculating tolls or calculating the route before leaving.
Regarding fuel, current gasoline prices in the central region of the country are, on average, between 22 and 24 pesos per liter. With an approximate performance of 10 to 12 km per liter, the estimated gasoline expense for the outbound trip is usually between 250 and 350 pesos. For a round trip, the total budget can range between 500 and 700 pesos, depending on the type of vehicle.
Having these data makes it easier for you to calculate gasoline and tolls to organize the budget with greater precision and have a trip without surprises.
Gastronomy on the road: stops that add to the trip
The journey along the Mexico-Puebla highway also gives you the possibility of planning strategic stops in areas known for their gastronomic offer. From traditional snacks to roadside restaurants, the road invites you to stop and taste flavors that anticipate Puebla's culinary richness.
Once in Puebla, the fair becomes the perfect complement to continue exploring typical dishes, traditional sweets, and contemporary proposals that have positioned the city as a gastronomic reference nationwide. Here you can enjoy emblematic dishes such as mole poblano, chiles en nogada, cemitas poblanas, chalupas, molotes, among others.
Puebla and its surroundings: extend the roadtrip
Traveling by car to the Puebla Fair 2026 also opens the possibility of extending the journey to other points in the state and nearby regions. From the city of Puebla, the Puebla-Tlaxcala highway connects quickly with destinations ideal for adding to the itinerary without complicated detours. If you start from this city and not from CDMX, remember that you can go to car rental in Puebla to enjoy these places with total comfort.
One of the must-sees is Cholula, famous for its archaeological zone, its university life, and its views of Popocatépetl. Very close by, Atlixco invites you to tour nurseries, viewpoints, and streets full of color, while toward Tlaxcala, towns with tradition, former convents, and cultural routes perfect for a short getaway unfold. These journeys easily adapt to trips of one or two additional days, without straying too far from Puebla.
This type of tour is excellent if you want to do more than just attend a specific event. By exploring Puebla and its surroundings by road, you will be able to discover different landscapes of the center of the country, organize times at your own pace, and make better use of each stop.
Roadtrip and fair: an experience better enjoyed by car
This event is an excellent excuse to hit the road and rediscover the center of the country from another perspective. The journey, the intermediate stops, and the nearby points add value to the trip and broaden the experience.
Choosing to move by car allows you to design your own itinerary, link gastronomy, culture, and landscapes, and make the most of every kilometer traveled. With Hertz Mexico, the journey toward the Puebla Fair 2026 is transformed into a flexible and enjoyable roadtrip!