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Yucatanman

Mar 21, 2008, 10:16 AM

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Driving from Brownsville to Merida

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Hi All,

My wife, I and two cats, are planning on driving from Brownsville to Merida in late Aug. We were wondering if anybody has made this trip? And if so, could you please provide us with your route and any problems we should be aware of? We are thinking it should take us five days of driving. Also, we will be acquiring a vehicle in Texas for our drive SOB adventure, any ideas on what type of vehicle would be best for travel in the Yucatan?

Ed and Fran

Mar 21, 2008, 11:49 AM

Post #2 of 6 (583 views)

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Re: [Yucatanman] Driving from Brownsville to Merida

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We were wondering if anybody has made this trip? And if so, could you please provide us with your route and any problems we should be aware of?

This is actually a pretty discussed topic here, and you might want to try to do some searching to find other discussions of it. But recognizing that searching can be a bit frustrating, here's my suggested route.

Brownsville/Matamoros to Ciudad Victoria. You don't actually enter into Cd Victoria, just to the bypass around it. Then south to Est Manuel and then Tampico. Crossing the river and entering Veracruz you continue south. About 45 km before getting to Tuxpan, at Potrero del Llano, you have a choice. You can head southwest to Tuxpan (actually straight on the highway) and pick up the autopista on the other side of the river, or you can head straight south (road forks to the right) and head towards Tihuatlan and Poza Rica. Since we live in Tuxpan we never take that other route and can't tell you much about it, but I see a lot of cars turning off and heading that way. It's probably a toss.

You probably don't really want to enter Poza Rica unless you love traffic. So if you're heading south on the autopista from Tuxpan, you come to an exit marked for "Veracruz" that will lead to a new section of autopista bypassing Poza and dropping you back on highway 180 just before getting to Gutierrez Zamora. If you took the route towards Tihuatlan-Poza Rica, you can still get to this section of autopista. After passing Tihuatlan you will come to a cloverleaf (the only one) where there should be a sign for "Veracruz". This takes you back towards Tuxpan for a few kms where you will find the turnoff towards Veracruz.

Follow 180 down the coast until you pass Cardel (just before Veracruz city). About half way between Cardel and Veracruz, take a turnoff to the right. I can't remember exactly how it's marked, but it should say something like "Paso del Toro" or "Coatzacoalcos". This is the bypass around Veracruz. About 20 km on you get to the autopista Veracruz - Puebla. Head east to Puebla for 60 km until you get to the exit for "Acayucan / Coatzacoalcos". Follow that autopista as far as Minatitlan, where the autopista should head east towards Villahermosa. (Don't head into Coatzacoalcos itself). From Villahermosa, just follow 180 up the coast through Cd del Carmen, around Campeche, and on to Merida.

Problems? The only problem will be getting through or around Tampico. We go straight through, but we lived there and know our way around. Describing where to turn when I don't really know the street names would sound confusing. So I'll recommend you take the "Libramiento" (which we really don't like) as it's simpler. In Altamira, before actually entering Tampico, you'll see sign for the Libramiento. This takes you down the west side of town and dumps you out on the Tampico to Cd Valles road. Following the signs (you actually head west for a few kms) for Veracruz will take you to a bridge crossing the Rio Panuco and then the road will double back to the east and you'll wind up on highway 180 on the Veracruz side of the river.

That's just one suggested route. You can easily alter through your choices of where to stay, what cities to enter, or taking the road from Veracruz through the Tuxtlas instead of taking the autopista. But it's a start.

We are thinking it should take us five days of driving.

Three days would be sufficient, so five days gives you a pretty relaxed drive.

Also, we will be acquiring a vehicle in Texas for our drive SOB adventure, any ideas on what type of vehicle would be best for travel in the Yucatan?

"Best" is in the eyes of the driver and depends on how you intend to travel and use the car. Anything that's not too low should be fine, as long as it has a good air conditioner.

Regards

Ed

Yucatanman

Mar 21, 2008, 12:09 PM

Post #3 of 6 (581 views)

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Re: [Ed and Fran] Driving from Brownsville to Merida

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Thank you very much. That was way more than expected but now we will plot out all your instructions on our map.

jreboll

Mar 21, 2008, 1:37 PM

Post #4 of 6 (574 views)

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Re: [Yucatanman] Driving from Brownsville to Merida

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I would suggest you not buy your car in south Texas. A lot of the cars being sold here are patch-up jobs that are towed in from up north for that purpose.
Many time you cannot tell their history by looking at them.
I always go to Austin to buy my cars.

Yucatanman

Mar 22, 2008, 9:49 AM

Post #5 of 6 (534 views)

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Re: [jreboll] Driving from Brownsville to Merida

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Thanks jreboll, we will aquire a vehicle in Amarillo. Something like a used Honda CRV

robt65

Mar 20, 2010, 8:27 PM

Post #6 of 6 (56 views)

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Re: [Yucatanman] Driving from Brownsville to Merida

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Hi all,

Just thought I would add my two cents worth. I have driven Matamoros to Tampico three different ways over the past year at least twelve times. Doing this in a VW New Beetle, A Chevy Tahoe and the Tahoe pulling a large two axle cargo trailer loaded to the gills. For my money I definitely would not drive all the extra miles and hours going all the way to C. D. Victoria. You will also avoid both expensive hotels and the ignorant and heavy traffic of C. D. Victoria. There are two other routes both of which I take on equal basis one goes through Soto la Marina and the other on the same highway only the "new one" called Hwy 80, both ways can completely avoid the city of Tampico and really saves several hours. The road is very good especially on the "new" Hwy 80. Most of it is excellent and much is four lane.

This New Hwy 80 route is located just past (about 10 miles) from the (permanent) northbound military checkpoint on the main hwy between Matamoros to C. D Victoria. You will see a very large Pemex Station on your left just before (about 100 yards) the "T" junction of 80. There is also a restaurant on that Pemex station property. This is NOT the small Mexican cafe I speak about below. The other reason I like the other routes I suggested is that many times weather can be a problem between north of Hwy 80 and C. D. Victoria, especially fog. There are plenty of Pemex Stations along the way. a very good restaurant at the "Hotel Tampico" in Soto la Marina. And an excellent little very authentic cafe located just as you make the left turn at the "T" intersection of Hwy 80 the hwy to C. D. Victoria.

Just outside C. D. Victoria the two times I went that way, I was stopped by a plain (undercover?) color Large pickup with red lights in the grill and three (not uniformed) officers only with badges around their neck. they opened my trailer and really looked well at all the boxes of household goods and then sent us on our way. Were they real? I don't know. I did not speak Spanish well at the time and I had a difficult time trying to think of where I might be able to change my pants!!! (smiling) Personally I will not go that way again. I have never been stopped on either of the other two routes.

Have a good trip.

Robert