Hwy 31 route question

I knew Chris would eventually show up and have details on the route through Linares - if anyone knows the area he does. Thanks Chris - maybe we will use that route to visit you one of these days - forewarning.

I got to thinking about this and started checking some new roads we know about on our recently updated Garmin 2757LM. I looked at several new roads we are aware of - periferico ring roads around towns - roads that did not exist a couple years ago. I found Garmin updates are pretty up-to-date.

Examples - we take route 90 south of Irapuato and Guanajuato through Penjamo and hook-up with 110 by La Piedad - then Yurecuaro - La Barca - Sahuayo - Jiquilpan - or we cut over to Chapala. Most of this route was completely rebuilt a couple years ago and there are several new ring roads around these towns. These were not on the map last year. The completed Arco Norte is on there. The new Devil's Backbone is on there. There is a diagonal new road west of Culiacan coming down 15D which I think was new last year and not on the map - now on there. Some of these roads show as thin lines for some reason so you have to zoom in close to see some of them. But they are there and on the new Garmins. There is a new ring road north of Jocotepec at the west end of Lake Chapala connecting 35 and 15 without going through town that is NOT on our Garmin. Every year new and better roads all over Mexico. I am sure Garmin probably has many more we are not aware of yet. Too bad Streets & Trips will no longer be issuing new versions - MS announced 2013 is the last version they will make. Still a good overall planing tool but over time it will be out of date. Doing Garmin updates at least once a year can be very useful. As we roam around this winter we may find more roads have been built.

This forum is probably the best source for learning about roads and routes as fellow travelers post what they learn.

Thanks to all for the info. provided.

I have GPS with the latest maps, I use Microsoft Streets and trips 2013 for route planning (not while driving.. my navigator is not computer literate) and I have the SCT maps saved on my laptop. All give usable information but things like tight curves, multiple topes and low bridges are not shown. I also like to preview my route on Google Maps and zoom in on contentious interchanges etc. GM seems to have the latest updates of them all.
I have a tentative route plotted re GM around Guadalajara to get to Villa Corona so will have to see how that plays out.

Again, thanks to all for the info.

Scorp.

Sorry, I saw the thread title but I don't use numbers :). The route from Linares, Iturbide, Galeana, to San Roberto is one of the most beautiful drives in northern Mexico. Takes about 1.5 hours, is windy and scenic. Lots of places to pull off and have a stop and go through some small towns. Galeana is famous for the Pozo de Gavilan (cenote) and the Laguna del Labrador (crystal clear). We have stayed out there before boondocking. I would check Google Earth for clearance into Galeana if you have a big rig.

After Galeana your in pines and it levels off before starting the descent to San Robert.

Laguna del Labrador (parking and palapas)


Excellent highway and new bridges (previously destroyed by Hurricane Emily)


If you were to come from Reynosa you can go around Monterrey by taking the Cadereyta to Allende, NL highway (Hwy9), Hwy 85 south to Linares and turn right. At the 85 and Linares intersection as you turn right on the left side is a huge gated city park called La Nogalera and you can stay the night there. Secure and guarded. For more info you can PM me.

Great route if you like mountains.

A couple of route checks on posts above . . .

54/54D goes from Saltillo to Zacatecas

57/57D goes from Saltillo to Matehuala - San Luis Potosi - Queretaro - Mexico City

We also like to meander new routes so understand you do not necessarily want to take the shortest or easiest route.

There is a route truckers take to get to the Colima/Manzanillo coast that avoids Guadalajara if that is your goal. If you have been to Hacienda Contreras by Valle de Juarez/Mazamitla you probably know the route. If not and you want me to try to explain it I can. Many old roads have been rebuilt and are in much better shape so there are roads and routes that are not too difficult to take. The road between Valle de Juarez and Mazamitla has always been very bad and they keep promising to fix it - they were working on it last year but do not know if they have finished or how much they might do. All depends on what you might want to see along the way and what new roads you might want to explore - and how much time you have to wander.


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Guia Roji is not very good. GPS is much better - especially Microsoft Streets & Trips 2013 even if just for maps and not GPS. But if all else fails go to the SCT websites where Guia Roji gets their maps and download the actual maps published by the Gov't instead of the cheap knock-off copies. Sometimes it can be difficult to find the SCT maps - and they update them every few years - not sure which link will take you to the most recent maps. They added the new roads a couple years ago - such as Arco Norte and maybe Devil's Backbone. These are like large 3' X 4' road maps but they are .pdf files you can download to your computer - each individual state in Mexico. Then use your computer to call up the state you are in and ZOOM the map for greater detail - use your cursor to move around the maps to find roads and towns. These are not the best but far better than Guia Roji and they are FREE to download. Streets & Trips is by far the best as it shows even the back streets in the towns and cities - for $30 - $40 one of the best buys on the planet for Mexico travelers. But if you want FREE find these maps somewhere on one of these SCT websites and download them. You will find them superior to Guia Roji.

http://www.sct.gob.mx/informacion-general/planeacion/cartografia/productos-cartograficos/atlas-por-entidad-federativa/listado-de-atlas


http://www.sct.gob.mx/informacion-general/planeacion/cartografia/mapa-por-estado/

http://www.sct.gob.mx/estadistica-y-cartografia/atlas-cartograficos/atlas-por-entidad-federativa/listado-de-atlas/


http://www.sct.gob.mx/informacion-general/planeacion/cartografia/mapa-por-estado/



http://www.sct.gob.mx/informacion-general/planeacion/cartografia/productos-cartograficos/atlas-por-entidad-federativa/listado-de-atlas




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We cross at Reynosa from Mission and make the first stop in Saltillo, the next stop is Matehuala, then San Lius Potosi, and then Qureretaro, so that we arrive in Mexico City arround noon to avoid as much of the rush hour traffic.

navegator

To briansue, my Guia Roji has the road through Iturbide as hwy 31.

Thank you for your response.

Scorp.

We are crossing at Reynosa and heading for Villa Corona. Hwy 31 begins at Linares and goes west to 57. I am trying to break my trip into shorter steps, see some country we have not been through and try to overnight in RV parks.

We have been traveling in Mexico since the mid 1990's so are familiar with Hwy designations and the "perils" of Mexican bandidos. My bigger concern on secondary highways is the transition from pavement to cobblestone and constricted streets in small towns. As I get older my sense of adventure diminishes.

My proposed route is Reynosa, Matehuala, Zacatecas, Villa Corona and avoiding Guadalajara if possible.

Scorp.

I can't find 31 on my map. I do see 58 going from Linares back over to 57 through Iturbide. I think maybe Chris qtla9111 may chime in here as he lives near 85 south of Monterey and has probably taken this route. Assuming there is a reason to go to Linares? Most of us take the route on the cuotas which much faster and easier - as explained above.

I presume that you are going in to Mexico at Nuevo Laredo, 85 and toll 85D, at the City of Monterrey take the Periferico Northe going west towards Saltillo 40 and 40D that will take you to Saltillo.

Yust before Saltillo there is the cut off to Matamoros, you do not need to go in to saltillo, mind you this is a toll road, then you are going to take 54 and 54D towards Matamoros and 54/54D continues to San Luis Potosi, Queretaro, Arco Norte and Mexico City.

The designations 85,40,and 54 mean that the road is not a toll road, 40D, 85D and 54D means that the road is a toll road, all of these are four lane paved highways as good as what you find in the USA. you do not need to go to Linares, that is of course if you want to go there, all of the other roads are paved two lane roads the same as what you encounter in the USA, yes you can travell in your 5th trailer yust be carfull.

navegator