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steve.lafler

Aug 5, 2012, 11:06 PM

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California-Oaxaca drive: Cross at Nogales or Agua Prieta?

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We're going to drive from California to Oaxaca in a week and a half, we're considering crossing at Nogales and doing the west coast>Guadalajara route, or crossing at Agua Prieta and headed through Chihuahua to points south. We could also simply scoot across Texas and go in at Nuevo Laredo.

What is the current scoop on the safest route? We will travel on cuotas during daylight hours.

I've just read the State Department travel advisories. Pretty grim stuff there. I take it with a grain of salt, but it is daunting.

Any input from recent travelers would be much appreciated!!!

--Steve

RickS

Aug 6, 2012, 10:15 AM

Post #2 of 4 (1520 views)

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Re: [steve.lafler] California-Oaxaca drive: Cross at Nogales or Agua Prieta?

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Although I do not mind driving in Mexico, especially on cuotas, I am a firm believer of 'staying in the US' as long as possible. This would be especially true if I were driving from So. Cal to Oaxaca. Several reasons..... the good roads (freeways etc.) are free, driving at night if necessary is never a problem and 'facilities' are never hard to find as they are advertised everywhere. Safety doing that is not even a question that ever comes up.

So if it were me doing that drive, I'd drive from So. Cal to Laredo, cross there and go down through Saltillo, San Luis Potosi and Queretaro. NW of Mexico City take the 'new' cuota Arco Norte over to Puebla skirting DF, and from there on to Oaxaca. Another version of the last part of that trip is to cross at Eagle Pass/Piedras Negras and down through Monclova to Saltillo as it is a little shorter (70 miles) and less tolls. I have driven both of those choices several times in the last few years and have no qualms taking either.

Going through Nogales via the Pacific coast route to Mazatlan, over to Guadlajara and on to the Arco Norte and Puebla is about 1500 miles/27 hours and is almost all tolls. Going 'through Texas' either route is a bit longer by miles (~1700), maybe one hour longer an a ton cheaper.

(This post was edited by RickS on Aug 6, 2012, 10:17 AM)

steve.lafler

Aug 6, 2012, 10:49 AM

Post #3 of 4 (1513 views)

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Re: [RickS] California-Oaxaca drive: Cross at Nogales or Agua Prieta?

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Many thanks -- the Laredo route is how we came up this spring from Oaxaca. The Eagle Pass/Piedras Negras is a new idea to me and it sounds quicker, cheaper and probably less crowded at the crossing. A gem of a suggestion that I think we will use!

RickS

Aug 6, 2012, 11:24 AM

Post #4 of 4 (1505 views)

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Re: [steve.lafler] California-Oaxaca drive: Cross at Nogales or Agua Prieta?

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Here is something that I posted earlier about the Piedras Negras route....

Take the 'new' bridge at Eagle Pass/Piedras Negras..... on S. Monroe St. After crossing you'll be on Libramiento Sur, then left on Avenida Lazaro Cardinas which turns into hiway 57 south towards Allende where you will get your visa and vehicle permit. It is about 65km south of the border and 'you can't miss it'. It is right before you would pick up the short 57 cuota ($5) on south to Sabanis and then Monclova. Continue on 57 south of Monclova towards Saltillo; then you will pick up the cuota 57 south to San Luis Potosi. This road (57) from the border to Saltillo is mostly free and a very good/straight road. When it is not 4-lane it is a very wide and good 2+lane. Do NOT take the 'by-pass' around Monclova as it might be "mordida city"..... go straight through the city on Blvd. Pape and (there) make sure you are going NO MORE than the posted speed limit.

Another tip: when coming east on Interstate 10 in Texas, turn south at Fort Stockton on US285 (but not US 385) down to US90 and on into Del Rio. Then take US 277 on to Eagle Pass and the border crossing into Piedras Negras.

(This post was edited by RickS on Aug 6, 2012, 1:23 PM)