Driving to Mexico....

[olisan]

Which route would be best, safest route to drive to Chihuahua, from the U.S. leaving through TX?

Through Laredo to Chihuahua, Chihuahua?
Through CDJ to Chihuahua, Chihuahua?

We have time and can go either way and since we have to be in CDJ for an appt it would be feasible to drive there first and then onward to Chihuahua, But I'm very apprehensive of this route leaving CDJ vs Laredo.

I'm concerned which route would be safest for us to be on and which route has the most tolls roads or which has a toll road the entire way or more than the other.

Safety is the concern here because we'll have U.S. plates on vehicles and one will pull a small cargo trailer and it will be evident to any undesirable people that we have a lot of items and we'd be a target to be robbed or worse.

[Rosa]

http://aplicaciones4.sct.gob.mx/sibuac_internet/ControllerUI?action=cmdEscogeRuta

Try this website. This is how we got from cdj to Zacatecas last year.

[carlosalica]

We drove from CDJ to Chihuahua Chih, and on doown another 14 hours. Our car was packed full and nothing ever happened to us. The drive from CDJ to Chihuahua was not too bad, only four to five hours. You do have to get a permit for your car. But that's not too hard. (We only got pulled over(living 9 months in MExico with US plates) one time, because my husband was going wrong way on a one way, the cop asked him where we were from, he even had to show him on our map where Minnesota was, and the cop said to just be careful. We had just gotten into his town and before he left that road was two ways.) We took autopista when we were driving out of town, a little more expensive but well worth it.
When we came back from Mexico we had a BIG bag on top of the car. We drove straight through from LAgos De Moreno, Jalisco to CDJ. We stayed at a hotel in CDJ and noone bothered the car or the belongings on top. When we parked at the consulate we paid someone to watch the car, and nothing was harmed. Just be smart and you shouldn't have any problems.

[perez782]

Olisan, you planning to drive down there?? Wow, it seem everyone is driving!!

[Murillo79]

We have driven from Laredo to Leon, there were a lot of tolls and I didn't like the two small lane roads! We have also driven from CDJ to Leon and gone through Chih. we had no problems and it was safe. Just make sure to get your Vehicle permit and all should be fine. You get asked more questions at the checkpoints on your way out of Mexico than you do driving through Mexico. I got our vehicle permit online and had it delivered to our house in the US, it was easy but costs a little bit more like $15.00 more but it is worth not haven the hassles of getting one in person.

Good luck!

[carlosalica]

You get asked more questions at the checkpoints on your way out of Mexico than you do driving through Mexico.
Good luck!
very true! One time we reached a checkpoint and I was driving and my husband was sleeping, I woke him up to answer their questions, well since he JUST woke up he was answering late and well we got searched. Luckily they didn't take anything out of our packed trunk or up top but they took their little mirror and looked everywhere. Of course we had nothing to hide so it wasn't bad, just time.
And every car gets searched at a checkpoint right outside of CDJ. (going back to the US) YOu'll know when youge there because there is a long long long line of semi trucks.

[olisan]

We have driven from Laredo to Leon, there were a lot of tolls and I didn't like the two small lane roads! We have also driven from CDJ to Leon and gone through Chih. we had no problems and it was safe. Just make sure to get your Vehicle permit and all should be fine. You get asked more questions at the checkpoints on your way out of Mexico than you do driving through Mexico. I got our vehicle permit online and had it delivered to our house in the US, it was easy but costs a little bit more like $15.00 more but it is worth not haven the hassles of getting one in person.

Good luck!

What website did you use to buy the permit, I was planning on going to the mexican constate but I'm to lazy plus I was told it would probably be a long wait. What is needed to purchase the permit online? Thanks!

[Salsa2]

You mention Vehicles (plural). Please be aware that the vehicle permit can only be issued to legal residents and citizens of the us. They ask for your permanent resident card or US passport. The person the permit is issued to must be the driver of that car and must be listed as an owner on the title/registration for that car. If you are planning to drive one car and have hubby drive another and one of you is not a legal US resident, you will run into trouble! You can always bribe your way through all the checkpoints, this is what my husband did when he drove from CDJ to Leon without me.

Looking at a map, I think you will save toll money by going the CDJ to Chihuahua route, but you could risk border patrol checkpoints by going west to CDJ through the US.

[MMGCA]

yeah same here...driving

[carlosalica]

You mention Vehicles (plural). Please be aware that the vehicle permit can only be issued to legal residents and citizens of the us. They ask for your permanent resident card or US passport. The person the permit is issued to must be the driver of that car and must be listed as an owner on the title/registration for that car. If you are planning to drive one car and have hubby drive another and one of you is not a legal US resident, you will run into trouble! You can always bribe your way through all the checkpoints, this is what my husband did when he drove from CDJ to Leon without me.

Looking at a map, I think you will save toll money by going the CDJ to Chihuahua route, but you could risk border patrol checkpoints by going west to CDJ through the US.
We never had any problems when my husband was driving. I even asked the lady where we got the permit and she said anyone could drive the car. I think the change the rules as they want to.

[Salsa2]

They were VERY VERY adamant on that point at the checkpoint in CDJ that issued the permit. They gave hubby a very hard time b/c I was not the driver and was not in the car at every checkpoint in Chihuahua. This was in December 2007. They threatened to impound the vehicle and hubby had to fix the problem with $200 pesos for everyone! This happened at every checkpoint in the state of chihuahua.

[nineten]

Which route would be best, safest route to drive to Chihuahua, from the U.S. leaving through TX?

Through Laredo to Chihuahua, Chihuahua?
Through CDJ to Chihuahua, Chihuahua?

We have time and can go either way and since we have to be in CDJ for an appt it would be feasible to drive there first and then onward to Chihuahua, But I'm very apprehensive of this route leaving CDJ vs Laredo.

I'm concerned which route would be safest for us to be on and which route has the most tolls roads or which has a toll road the entire way or more than the other.

Safety is the concern here because we'll have U.S. plates on vehicles and one will pull a small cargo trailer and it will be evident to any undesirable people that we have a lot of items and we'd be a target to be robbed or worse.

:)

@olisan That's my post from the Juarez forum. It surprised me when I read it. I knew it looked familiar. You must've copied it from where I posted it.

No problem. Thanks for posting it and I don't mind sharing and maybe we'll both benefit with answers. Another member caroline.olvares is going to speak with her father about this. He drove a bus before in MX.

:)


The following is what I want to know....

1) Through Laredo to D.F?
2) Through CDJ to D.F?

Which route would be best, safest route to drive to Mexico City from the U.S. leaving Florida through TX? (BIL takes Laredo route, says other is more mountainous?)

[carlosalica]

to me, the mountains from CDJ were not bad. Yes there were some but not like any steep mountain with dangerous curves.

[brezarenee]

We're planning on driving through Laredo to Mexico City because that's the most direct route for us. I'm trying to do the research right now about safety and everything, especially since we too will be hauling a trailer. We're debating whether for me to get a permit or for my husband to import our vehicle. Always pros and cons, right? lol.

Now I'm trying to figure out the timing and when and where in our trip we should get hotels. I'm not sure if it'd be safer to get a hotel closer to the border after we cross or somewhere en route to Mexico City since I don't think we will be able to cross and make the 13 hour drive in one day.

[nineten]

I'd prefer getting as far away from the border as possible. I was advised to get at least 350 miles into the interior. If we stop at night I want it to be at a safer motel but far away from the border. I'm used to driving long distances so driving long hours won't be an issue. My husband said he can sell the vehicles later. It's not worth the attention with the U.S. plates. His brother said that he was stopped several times there but only for them to check his permit but no problems. (He didn't say if he was stopped on toll road or within D.F.)

[IBMMuseum]

Which route would be best, safest route to drive to Chihuahua, from the U.S. leaving through TX?

Through Laredo to Chihuahua, Chihuahua?
Through CDJ to Chihuahua, Chihuahua?

We have time and can go either way and since we have to be in CDJ for an appt it would be feasible to drive there first and then onward to Chihuahua, But I'm very apprehensive of this route leaving CDJ vs Laredo.

I'm concerned which route would be safest for us to be on and which route has the most tolls roads or which has a toll road the entire way or more than the other.

Safety is the concern here because we'll have U.S. plates on vehicles and one will pull a small cargo trailer and it will be evident to any undesirable people that we have a lot of items and we'd be a target to be robbed or worse.

There are only two "casetas" (toll booths) between Juarez and Chihuahua (I'll find the amounts later, high for the Villa Ahumada booth, but you might be able to avoid the Sacremento toll, just north of Chihuahua). As long as you travel by day for northern Mexico you shouldn't have any trouble. We just came through that way twice a few weeks ago.

You said you needed a map (http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=111818924848991099483.00045006396b3261b7f08&ll=30.135626,-106.446533&spn=2.033231,3.383789&t=h&z=8&pw=1)?...

That's the casetas, but I can put the IMN offices (for FMTs and vehicle permits) and the military checkpoint as well, which I have on another map. The checkpoint is mainly concerned with north-bound traffic, but sometimes they will check south-bound. I've travelled that segment from Juarez to Chihuahua three times in a car, and too many times to think of by bus.

Since things have changed we don't stop until we get to Chihuahua from Juarez. Villa Ahumada, the small town in between is supposed to be covered by the military since the police were ambushed a couple months back, but I didn't see any around the last time, with the local businesses doing fine. Don't worry about the U.S. plates, because they are very common in that area too.

[nineten]

:)

@olisan That's my post from the Juarez forum. It surprised me when I read it. I knew it looked familiar. You must've copied it from where I posted it.

No problem. Thanks for posting it and I don't mind sharing and maybe we'll both benefit with answers. Another member caroline.olvares is going to speak with her father about this. He drove a bus before in MX.

:)




The following is what I wanted to know from the Juarez forum post I put up ....

1) Through Laredo to D.F?
2) Through CDJ to D.F?

Which route would be best, safest route to drive to Mexico City from the U.S. leaving Florida through TX? (BIL takes Laredo route, says other is more mountainous?)


Tee-hee.......how about to D.F.?? I'm the one pulling the trailer!!

[IBMMuseum]

...That's the casetas, but I can put the IMN offices (for FMTs and vehicle permits) and the military checkpoint as well, which I have on another map...

Here is a combined map (http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=111818924848991099483.00044ff567fe6776ab11a&ll=30.130875,-106.375122&spn=2.033329,3.383789&t=h&z=8&pw=1), showing the casetas and checkpoints...

[IBMMuseum]

Here is a combined map (http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=111818924848991099483.00044ff567fe6776ab11a&ll=30.130875,-106.375122&spn=2.033329,3.383789&t=h&z=8&pw=1), showing the casetas and checkpoints...

For some reason it doesn't show the casetas overlayed, like my window has them here. I also am able to hover the mousepointer over a marker for information. For more detail, let me work on it a little more.

[Auntlily]

To all those driving through Laredo....

If you have enough time to stick around for a brunch or coffee or anything...(no liquor!) please PM me and I'll send you my info so that we can meet.

Personally on the whole driving thing...we drove from Laredo/Nvo. Laredo into Monterrey and from there we flew into CDJ. Right now at www.vivaaerobus.com (http://www.vivaaerobus.com) they have a special on their tickets. You buy your ticket for only a peso plus taxes which translates into about 35-40 bucks per person. I would go that route..if it were me. I flew Vivaaerobus and it was nice. So did Navywife. It's not luxury but it's not that bad. It gets you there in 1.5 hours.

Just my 2 cents. See ya in Laredo!!

[nsoto]

We drove from CDJ to Michoacan last May. It was a nice drive, no problems. You must have visitor visas and the vehicle permits. I'm scared to drive down now since all the cartels and crime have increased. Here's a link I used to calculate all the fees for casetas/cuotas and directions too.. It was really helpful for us.
http://aplicaciones4.sct.gob.mx/sibuac_internet/ControllerUI?action=cmdEscogeRuta

Good Luck!

[tasksgirl]

Oh gosh! Try and get a BIL or cousin or someone else to go with you so there are more men and not just you and hubby alone with all that stuff !! I hope everything works out !!

[Murillo79]

You mention Vehicles (plural). Please be aware that the vehicle permit can only be issued to legal residents and citizens of the us. They ask for your permanent resident card or US passport. The person the permit is issued to must be the driver of that car and must be listed as an owner on the title/registration for that car. If you are planning to drive one car and have hubby drive another and one of you is not a legal US resident, you will run into trouble! You can always bribe your way through all the checkpoints, this is what my husband did when he drove from CDJ to Leon without me.

Looking at a map, I think you will save toll money by going the CDJ to Chihuahua route, but you could risk border patrol checkpoints by going west to CDJ through the US.

That is not true. My husband is not on the title of the vehicle or the permit. It says that your spouse can drive the vehicle. My husband has been driving our vehicle for awhile in Mexico and hasn't had any problems. I was with him when we brought the vehicle in and he was driving, they never even asked for my ID/Passport or anything. I guess it depends on who stops you. But on the back of our vehicle permit it states your spouse can drive. Just wanted to point that out.

[Murillo79]

What website did you use to buy the permit, I was planning on going to the mexican constate but I'm to lazy plus I was told it would probably be a long wait. What is needed to purchase the permit online? Thanks!

http://www.banjercito.com.mx/site/tramiteitv_ing.jsp

There is the website to get it online. I used my US passport and my credit card. It comes like 2-3 business days by Fed Ex. I've done this twice now with no problems. Good luck!

[Murillo79]

:)

@olisan That's my post from the Juarez forum. It surprised me when I read it. I knew it looked familiar. You must've copied it from where I posted it.

No problem. Thanks for posting it and I don't mind sharing and maybe we'll both benefit with answers. Another member caroline.olvares is going to speak with her father about this. He drove a bus before in MX.

:)


The following is what I want to know....

1) Through Laredo to D.F?
2) Through CDJ to D.F?

Which route would be best, safest route to drive to Mexico City from the U.S. leaving Florida through TX? (BIL takes Laredo route, says other is more mountainous?)

www.msn.com (maps) gives you perfect directions for driving in Mexico. I used it when we drove from Leon to CDJ and back and we didn't get lost at all. Also when you cross in Laredo buy the map there it's like $4.00 it was a very helpful map. They sell it on the street like everything else! We drove from Laredo-Leon and it wasn't that many mountains just in Monterrey. Mexico City isn't too much further after Leon. That would be the route I would take. Good luck!

[olisan]

:)

@olisan That's my post from the Juarez forum. It surprised me when I read it. I knew it looked familiar. You must've copied it from where I posted it.

No problem. Thanks for posting it and I don't mind sharing and maybe we'll both benefit with answers. Another member caroline.olvares is going to speak with her father about this. He drove a bus before in MX.

:)


The following is what I want to know....

1) Through Laredo to D.F?
2) Through CDJ to D.F?

Which route would be best, safest route to drive to Mexico City from the U.S. leaving Florida through TX? (BIL takes Laredo route, says other is more mountainous?)


sorry to have done that I just tought it would be a good subject and I also needed some answers, I'm to lazy to type everything again, so I tought it would be easy just to copy and paste and just change a few things. Sorry!!!:D

[nineten]

@alison No problem. I didn't post it as a topic because I was waiting for a reponse in the other thread from c-o but we've received many useful links here so you've done us a favor. (Just don't give me such a shock next time. I was squinching my eyes and looking closely at it ... thinking, wow, that looks like my thoughts into words ... threw me a good loop! It was worth the laugh!!!):bounce:

@Murillo79 Thanks, that was a relief!! I printed out the maps and directions from the MSN link. That's it for me on directions, I'm satisfied with it. I'd like to hear personal comments about member's experiences on the road though. (The topes and Moooo!! lol )

Our titles are in name (OR) name so one can make changes w/o spouse's presence.
Not worried about checkpoints.

[Adriane]

The drive from CDJ to Chihuahua City is like 4 hours and no big deal. As for the military checkpoint, you will go through those anyway and the one just south of CDJ is used to American tourists. You'll need the appropriate permit to drive south of CDJ but you & your husband can both be authorized to drive it- make sure you have a title for the travel trailer, as well.

I've driven south from CDJ many, many times. Yes, you get stopped; yes, I've been searched- it was never a big deal. We had a trailer almost everytime we went and always had animals. Have the travel permit docs ready and if you have animals, have their rabies vaccines and you'll be fine.

Truly, it's 4 hours from CDJ to Chih City and it would be like 17 given the road conditions from Laredo- I wouldn't even consider that route. Plus the CDJ-Chih Caretera (Highway) is muuuchhh better.

Have a safe trip! Remember, the gas stations will only take cash, so be prepared.

[olisan]

Thanks to all for all the good info, I feel like I'm better prepared for this trip now. The maps were very helpful! This will be my our first time driving to Mexico so I was a bit concerned. Thanks again!!!:cheerful:

[ctorres]

Olisan, when are you leaving, maybe we can meet at the border you can follow me I leave the night of the 3rd of July I'm going to Parral Chihuahua I have to go thru Chihuahua, Chihuahua, were are you going to is it Chihuahua, Chihuahua.

[MMGCA]

is it expensive to take a trailer full of stuff ????

[olisan]

Olisan, when are you leaving, maybe we can meet at the border you can follow me I leave the night of the 3rd of July I'm going to Parral Chihuahua I have to go thru Chihuahua, Chihuahua, were are you going to is it Chihuahua, Chihuahua.

yes, we are going to Chihuahua, Chihuahua and will be staying with an aunt of mine. We will be visiting Urique, Chih I have been there once and I really liked it, I want my hubby to visit here also. We will be leaving till july 12. When is your appt at CDJ?

[ctorres]

Olisan, my husband was backlogged back in Nov.07, I'm visiting him and it's breaking my heart that my 5 year old daughter is going to stay with him, she is all into it she already has plans for when she stays with daddy. I don't know how I will do without her this is her second time that she will stay with him, do you have any kids?

[olisan]

OMG, I'm so sorry to hear that. I did not realize your husband was backlogged, I must of missed that. Your daughter must be so exited!!! I can see you are not. = ( I'm so sorry, I could only imagine what that feels like. I have a two year old son, and I cant even leave him over the weekend with my parents. I cant be without him. I know I should not be as attached as I'm. Whenever I go out and leave him with my mom it breaks my heart, and I really dont know why. My mom and dad are really caring and take good care of him. I could not bare to be without him for so long, I would literally go crazy. I admire you for doing what you do. Its only fair that both you and your husband get a chance to be with the kids. This will be good for your daughter, at least she wont be missing his dad as much, since she is getting a chance to be with him. This will help her a lot. It will be much easier for her to get through this. I would probably be selfish and not allow that. AGHHHHH I cant believe I'm saying that but I'm just being honest. I just cant live without my son. I love him more than anything in this world. For this reason, if my husband were to get backlogged we have taken the decision that I will leave to Mexico. How many kids do yall have?

[IBMMuseum]

Thanks to all for all the good info, I feel like I'm better prepared for this trip now. The maps were very helpful! This will be my our first time driving to Mexico so I was a bit concerned. Thanks again!!!:cheerful:

I don't want to play it down too much, but you will do fine. Less than a year ago I took my parents down, two vehicles, and only my limited Spanish for all three of us. One thing I can recommend if taking two vehicles (or following someone) is including a couple of the short range two-way radios to communicate.

Depending where you are in Juarez, I can describe the easiest way to get out of Juarez. You will be travelling on Mexican Highway 45. The first caseta (Villa Ahumada, 117 pesos, or around $11 USD) doesn't have a Libre / Cuota (different free/toll routes) to confuse you (and to be really confusing, all signs for "Mexico" mean Mexico DF).

Right before the Sacramento caseta there is a "Libre" route you could use to approach Chihuahua that isn't too far, but the toll is only 45 pesos (a little over $4 USD) anyway. Maybe I'll look through where your final destination is to provide more route planning. We usually take a new bypass around (not marked very well) part of Chihuahua to go to points further south.

[nineten]

Any comments, experiences, tips on safety, etc. about Laredo to D.F. or Juarez to D.F.? I'd r-e-a-l-l-y appreciate it.

:eyes:

[ctorres]

OMG, I'm so sorry to hear that. I did not realize your husband was backlogged, I must of missed that. Your daughter must be so exited!!! I can see you are not. = ( I'm so sorry, I could only imagine what that feels like. I have a two year old son, and I cant even leave him over the weekend with my parents. I cant be without him. I know I should not be as attached as I'm. Whenever I go out and leave him with my mom it breaks my heart, and I really dont know why. My mom and dad are really caring and take good care of him. I could not bare to be without him for so long, I would literally go crazy. I admire you for doing what you do. Its only fair that both you and your husband get a chance to be with the kids. This will be good for your daughter, at least she wont be missing his dad as much, since she is getting a chance to be with him. This will help her a lot. It will be much easier for her to get through this. I would probably be selfish and not allow that. AGHHHHH I cant believe I'm saying that but I'm just being honest. I just cant live without my son. I love him more than anything in this world. For this reason, if my husband were to get backlogged we have taken the decision that I will leave to Mexico. How many kids do yall have?


I wish that I would be able to relocate to Mexico but I can't I have my two homes to take care and all the fr****kn bills I been out there 4 times visiting my hubby life out there is to hard economic, besides I have my other 3 siblings I have 2 sons and 1 daughter there is no way that I would leave Colorado my siblings need me too, I know that soon my hubby will be reunited with us I'm hoping that next time that I go visit it wont be a visit it's going to be a pick up and return to the US. hehehehehe you could say that i'm having a good dream.:lol: