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John Godsman

Apr 24, 2002, 4:52 PM

Post #1 of 5 (2289 views)

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Best Route from Houston to PV?

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Hi,I've looked through all the posts and haven't quite figured out what would be the fastest, safest route for two F-M3 permitted people, two cats and some personal belongings to go from Houston to Puerto Vallarta in a new Ford Expedition? (I'm not sure all this info is needed..but what the heck!) Thanks for any advice!
John

Rolly

Apr 24, 2002, 10:28 PM

Post #2 of 5 (2288 views)

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Best Route from Houston to PV?

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Hi John,From Houston you have two choices:
Houston- San Antonio-Laredo-Monterrey-Saltillo
Or
Houston-Harlingen-Reynosa-Monterrey-SaltilloFrom Saltillo you have two choices:
Saltillo-San Luis Potosi-Guadalajara-PV
Or
Saltillo-Zacatecas-Aguascalientes-Guadalajara-PVWhen you look at a map, it looks like highway 54 from Zacatecas is a straight line to Guadalajara. Don’t do that unless you enjoy hours on a narrow mountain road with big trucks grinding at 10 miles/hour around countless switch-backs.I think going via San Luis Potosi is a better choice. Better roads and better scenery. Take the tolls roads where you can. They’re expensive but excellent. Beats the hell out of the free roads. Getting to the other side of Guadalajara will take a lifetime.Be alert, road signage is awful in most cities and towns.Now, here is my personal route:
Saltillo-Torreón-Durango-almost Mazatlan-PVThis route is a little longer; it’s toll road almost the whole way; and it misses Guadalajara which is a traffic nightmare – unless you want to stop and see GDL. Maybe you want to go one way and return the other. In which case I suggest you go to PV via Durango and return via San Luis Potosi. The mountains west of Durango are easier going down to the ocean.Have a good trip.

Rolly

Apr 24, 2002, 10:34 PM

Post #3 of 5 (2288 views)

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I forgot to say the scenery from Durango down to the coast is some of the best Mexico has to offer! And Durango is a great place.

Steve

Apr 29, 2002, 6:36 AM

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: I forgot to say the scenery from Durango down to the coast is some of the best Mexico has to offer! And Durango is a great place.Rolly...I'm driving down from Massachusetts in October and was planning on the same route. How long is the drive from Nuevo Laredo to PVR? Where are the best places to overnight? And, here's a longshot....I'll be travelling with a dog; can you suggest any pet-friendly accommodations on the route? Thanks for any help you can provide.
Steve

Rolly

May 3, 2002, 10:36 PM

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:How long is the drive from Nuevo Laredo to PVR? Where are the best places to overnight? You can make the trip in two hard days, or you can have a more enjoyable trip in three.You should plan to spend night 0 in Laredo, Texas, so you can cross into Mexico very early in the morning – 5:00am is not too early at all. The earlier you get to the car permit place, the shorter the line and the cooler the temperature. Lets say you have all your paperwork done and you are on the road by 8:am. You should arrive in Torreón between 3 and 4. You will have seen nothing but desert all day, but now you are at the beginning of the mountains – now it gets much better. You can spend the night here, or you can drive another 5 hours to Durango. I would stop for the night in Torreón or the twin city of Gomez Palacio. You’ll be dumped off the toll road just before Torreón and can’t get back on until you are almost passed Gomez Palacio. You will find many motels along the highway. Look for the ones where the truckers stop; they’re the ones most likely to be OK with your dog. (I'm a dog man too)On day two, drive the 5 hours to Durango. This drive starts to look much more interesting than the deadly boring desert run you did on day one. You’ll get into Durango early enough to give you time to visit the city, which you really should do. Find another trucker’s motel, and spend the night, so you can begin the drive through the Devil’s Backbone in the morning. That way you won’t have the sun in your eyes as you navigate the mountain road – which is a glorious sight indeed! But it is a two lane road, no toll road here.Once you get down to the coast, it’s just a hop, skip and jump to PV.If you just must make it in two days, drive to Durango on day one. You really don’t want to do the mountain road down to the coast in the afternoon.When you get ready to do this trip, contact me so I can meet you in Torreón or Gomez and buy you a beer or 6 to wash the desert out of your mouth. I live in the little city of Lerdo which is next door to Gomez. Click below to e-visit me.Have a good trip.

Best Route from Houston to PV?

Best Route from Houston to PV?

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