Libre / Free road Nogales to Mazatlan.

We use to drive Mazatlan to Rincon de Guayabitos on free roads, yes a long day's drive, and very busy. Likely worse nowadays. One year we did what at the time was the just newly finished cuota towards Tepic, very nice and almost no traffic. But the fee for the drive, whatever it was, almost knocked my socks off! A friend we sometimes traveled with insisted on taking that cuota and there, just north of Tepeic, we parted company, he driving southwest via Campostella whereas we passed near San Blas as we traveled south. At Rincon in good time we wondered where he'd gotten to, finding he'd gotten only as far as Las Veras; he thought it would be faster.

Before that,the big drawback on that free road before Tepic was the total lack of a passing lane, at least in those several times we drove south on it, 2003 to 2008. The slow diesel trucks, groaning uphill, in a haze of smoke, were bad news for trying to make good time. Lots of people taking chances while overtaking.

Yes, the road from Villa Union to Tepic is pricey, but realistically, if you take the free road the entire way, it is more than a day's drive, versus 3+ hours.
Tepic is lovely, and has a very nice park. We always stay there a few days each direction, and love it. We have posted about this before. and likely will again!

South of Obregón the roadway is fit for the lunar lander. More potholes than pavement.

To me, the obnoxious sections are the MaxiPista between Culiacan and Mazatlan. South of Mazatlan, from Villa Union to Tepic is pricey. From Cihuatlan to Tecoman entronque is pricey. Bust a hundred and fifty dollar tire, the advantages thin rapidly.

The section from Culliacan to Mazatlan is a good road, and avoids about 5 toll booths, one of which is pricey.

Take the exit near Culiacan just before the toll booth where you will see some white Pemex towers on your right and high tension voltage towers crossing the cuota ahead.. The co-ordinates are N 24.749538 W 107.569846 and it's marked Culiacan Cuota. You will still hit one toll booth. Proceed along south Culiacan bypass until the road ends at an overpass. You do not have to go through Cullican. Go right and you are on the free road. Take it until you see the northern beaches exit just north of Mazatlan. N 23.359931 W 106.418039. Cross over the overpass to the northern beaches or go onto the Cuota for points south. You are still north of the new Mazatlan bypass.

Here is a photo of the exit (The Pemex towers are behind you):



Ron and Vicky, when are you southbound? I lead a caravan across on Oct 14th, back to Vancouver for Xmas then back down on my own on Jan 10th. I intend to store my trailer in SW over Dec. Are you staying at Tachos?

The above-mentioned topes can be "interesting", but we've found that in the towns the double-parkers and hitting a market day can make things nearly impassable, depending on your size. We're towing a 25 foot 5th wheel, so not big in comparison to some rigs. RYV

I once attempted to follow the Libre All the way but it was next to impossible for Us! Of course back in the Day a lot of the Tolls could be avoided simply by driving around them.
That's no longer Doable!
It will be interesting to follow Your Journey,so be sure to keep Us posted
.

edbehnke wrote:
since I broke a spring doing the same thing I'd just say take your time and watch for the topes....

Yup been there. Blew a rear airbag a few years back when a tope bit me down on 200. Thanks for the remainder!

rocmoc n AZ/Mexico

since I broke a spring doing the same thing I'd just say take your time and watch for the topes....