Driving from Laredo to Guadalajara

[redraidermty]

Has anyone done this recently? Are the roads safe to drive? I will be only driving during the day and staying with some friends in Monterrey. I'll be driving with a mexican friend and my 2 little dogs. Just want to know if anyone has done this drive lately.

Thanks!

[Ken Wood]

Originally Posted by redraidermty

Has anyone done this recently? Are the roads safe to drive? I will be only driving during the day and staying with some friends in Monterrey. I'll be driving with a mexican friend and my 2 little dogs. Just want to know if anyone has done this drive lately.

Thanks!

We've not driven from Laredo to Guadalajara on the same trip, but my wife and I frequently drive from Laredo to Querétaro, and have made a number of trips from Querétaro to Guadalajara (one comng up this Thursday to Jalostotitlan, just outside of Guadalajara) and we have never encountered any trouble of any kind. We are always careful to cross the border early so we can get to Monterrey and beyond before dark, and we are always extremely careful to obey every little traffic rule when crossing Nuevo Laredo, so as not to give the border area police a reason to question us, which could possibly lead to a roadside "fine". We stick to the toll roads, and, this was a pleasant surprise to us, GPS works fine in this area. The area down closer to Guadalajara is also very clean, bright, well marked, etc, never a problem. Please note, all our travel is via toll roads, not cheap, but to me it is money well spent.

A couple of things to note. One is while you are on the main road out of Nuevo Laredo, likely Hwy 85, be very cautious when driving in the right hand lane. There are exits which lead down onto a frontage road, and they are extremely difficult to see if you are driving before sunup. They are not marked at all, and can very easily leave you high-centered. You'll notice them this time when you pass through, day or night. Another tough spot is the area just north of Saltillo. The ground fog is very heavy early in the day and early in the evening. Just drive slowly and use your flashers.

As to the true gremlins as reported by the press, bandidos-druggies-crooked cops-car jackers, etc, we have never seen one, nor have ever spoken with anyone who has personally seen one. Enjoy your trip.

[conklinwh]

We have recently driven the route from south of San Luis Potosi through Nuevo Laredo to Laredo with no problem. Personally, I would not stop in Monterrey. It is an easy drive from Nuevo Laredo to San Luis Potosi to stay overnight and the drive to Guadalajara.

[lukesanfordcrawford]

Originally Posted by redraidermty

Has anyone done this recently? Are the roads safe to drive? I will be only driving during the day and staying with some friends in Monterrey. I'll be driving with a mexican friend and my 2 little dogs. Just want to know if anyone has done this drive lately.

Thanks!

If you stay on toll roads (de cuota), drive only during daylight hours, and follow traffic rules, you should be fine. Most crime against motorists happens at night and on rural, non-toll roads. I hope you enjoy Guadalajara; it's a great city!

[redraidermty]

Thanks for the replies! I'm planning on do that drive next month. Will keep you guys posted.
Cheers!

[Ken Wood]

You didn't indicate if you are a first time driver or if it's just been a while. If you're a first timer, there is a 2nd checkpoint ~20 kilometers south of Laredo. We always approach it as if we owned it, not rude, just confident. I have never been held up here for an inspection, not that we have anything to hide, I just don't like to sit around a checkpoint when I could be knocking back the miles. My wife's Spanish is much better than mine, so we always try to have her behind the wheel to avoid hesitancy in answering any questions from the officer selecting vehicles for additional screening.

We are actually driving Querétaro/Texas/Querétaro the first week in June. If we notice anything untoward, I'll be sure to post it on our return.

[conklinwh]

We came back from Texas yesterday using the Matamoros, Ciudad Victoria, San Luis Potosi route. Very smooth. We had the aduana checkpoint and then one military stop.
If yo go this way, by the way much more enjoyable scenery, and toll, wise than Nuevo Laredo, Monterrey, Saltillo, Matehuala, San Luis Potosi, there are two new tolls south of Tula.
After the 2nd where you bear right/west toward hwy 57, look for a large cement plant on the right and slow down when you see it as local police hang out at the adjacent overpass and have caused some consternation.

[DNP]

Originally Posted by conklinwh

We came back from Texas yesterday using the Matamoros, Ciudad Victoria, San Luis Potosi route. Very smooth. We had the aduana checkpoint and then one military stop.
If yo go this way, by the way much more enjoyable scenery, and toll, wise than Nuevo Laredo, Monterrey, Saltillo, Matehuala, San Luis Potosi, there are two new tolls south of Tula.
After the 2nd where you bear right/west toward hwy 57, look for a large cement plant on the right and slow down when you see it as local police hang out at the adjacent overpass and have caused some consternation.

Welcome home.

Sent from my iPod touch using ExpatForum

[circle110]

Originally Posted by conklinwh

We came back from Texas yesterday using the Matamoros, Ciudad Victoria, San Luis Potosi route. Very smooth. We had the aduana checkpoint and then one military stop.
If yo go this way, by the way much more enjoyable scenery, and toll, wise than Nuevo Laredo, Monterrey, Saltillo, Matehuala, San Luis Potosi, there are two new tolls south of Tula.
After the 2nd where you bear right/west toward hwy 57, look for a large cement plant on the right and slow down when you see it as local police hang out at the adjacent overpass and have caused some consternation.

Was there a reason why you chose that route over Nuevo Laredo, Monterrey, Saltillo, Matehuala, San Luis Potosi?

We are heading up to Texas next Tuesday, to a town just northwest of San Antonio. It looks like the Matamoros crossing would add two hours and something to our trip. I'd consider changing our normal route but I'm not sure if I think that it's worth that extra time.

[conklinwh]

We had a friend recuperating from knee replacement and she wanted to spend a couple days on South Padre Island before returning so the Matamoros et al much faster. If I were going to/through San Antonio, I would do the SLP to Nuevo Laredo route and eat the increased tolls and boring scenery. We actually went up that way 11 May as were going Laredo, Eagle Pass, Ft Stockton, Roswell to Santa Fe and no problem other than hour plus delay on Friday afternoon at US immigration.