dan
Jun 28, 2002, 8:54 AM
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Need advise on Texas to Cancun drive.
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: I was hoping that someone who has done this drive recently could give me some advise. I have been told that it is best to drive in the day. So what I'm looking for are some recomendations on places/cities to stop along the way. Is it generally safe. And other important info would be much appreciated.<p>: Or is it better just to ship the car there?<p>In November we drove down Playa del Carmen, which is 40 miles south of Cancun and in March we went home. We took 2 different routes.
On the way down our car was packed with stuff so my wife was not in the mood to sight see. We decided on the coat route.
We crossed at Colombia just west of Laredo and it went smoothly once the immigration guy showed up at 9;20 am.
We drove to Monterrey, on 85D which is a toll road.(Toll roads are generrally very good, expensive and have little or no traffic). We then followed 85 (not toll the D means toll)
to Ciudad Victoria. The road is not bad until Linares but from there to Tampico it is very windy and has many trucks which are not easy to pass in the mountains.. We stopped in tampico at Hotel San Antonio which is on the main road and is clean has AC and secure parking. Just a note that every hotel in Mexico we stayed in had secure parking, either underground garage or secure courtyard.
From Tampico we took 180 along the coast past Poza Rica where we got lost(our fault)until Verracruz where we took 150D toward Cordoba. Before Cordoba there is a turn off onto 145D to Acayucan. This is a good toll road. We stayed at the hotel Kinaku (very nice with underground parking). From there we drove toward Villahermosa on 145D and then it becomes 180 which we took all the way to Merida. Stay at the Maison Lafitte.
Then you can get on 180 and 180D 3.5 hours to Cancun.<p>The road back we went south on 307 towards Chetumal. The road becomes 2 lanes just south of Playe del Carmen and at Tulum the shoulder disappears, but the road is very staight and has very little traffic so passing the occasional truck is easy.
Just before Chetumal there is cutoff for 186 which is also very staight, follow until Escarcega and continue on 186 until 199. At 199 it is 20 minutes to Palenque which is a wonderful Maya ruin and worth a visit.
Then it is back to 186 toward Villahermosa where the highway becomes 180. it is 4 lanes but free until Minatitlan where it becomes 145d which goes all the way to Mexico City. At some point the number changes to 150D. Toll road very good.
We stopped in Cordoba and Puebla both of which are nice but Puebla is worth stopping for a few days. Then continue to Mexico City which took 2 hours to cross in heavy traffic but no major problems. Got lost a couple of times but peaple were very helpful. Take 57D toward Quertaro. then 57D continues toward San Luis Potosi. then 57 to Matehuala then 57 all the way to hwy 40 just north of Saltillo. North on 40 untill 85D which skirts Monterrey and on to Laredo, crossing at Colombia again.<p>This is the direct route. We made quite a few little side trips and had a wonderful time.
We will be doing it again in the fall and will be trying a different route. The mexican countryside is beautiful and the peaple are really warm and friendly.
Enjoy Mexico, take your car, drive prudently.
We will be going again taking a different route to see more of the country.<p>Dan<p>
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