San Carlos to Mazatlan Discussion

The object of our exercise has been to get over the border early to make San Carlos. We have stayed at Edgars in Santa Anna on occasion.

The reasoning behind the push is not to be stuck "in the middle of nowhere" and that phrase translates differently to travelers. It may mean they are not comfortable in unfamiliar surroundings, or the tanks are full and require dumping...where's the dump site? and there are many more, thus the push to drive to the comfort zone. Two of the most consistent features of driving Nogales/San Carlos/Mazatlan are; there is a pemex coming up soon and the roadway is always worse than you thought it might be, has the potential of destroying any piece of mind and just about any vehicle.

San Carlos to Mazatlan or the reverse provides much the same situation. When another San Carlos develops from more pioneers and risk takers between San Carlos and Mazatlan, I'm sure many more travelers will take the option of a 3 day plunge as opposed to two, to get to Mazatlan, especially for those of us whom make Maz the destination for the winter.

This is not to say the scenery and activities along the way are wonderful. A magnificent progress of a great Coastal Plain, it's just how much more of that road do you want to endure and how many days do you want to spend on it? Will your vehicle make an unsuspected one foot drop to the shoulder, is there a place to turn around, will I sink in a mud hole?

More cumbersome vehicles that can not reverse are less likely to go off roading to find all those good spots to stop for the day.Thus a one day run from San Carlos to Mazatlan.

We make our split about 4 miles south of Los Mochis at the Pemex on the west side of 15 - big truck stop with security guards but not noisy like the ones closer to Los Mochis. We stayed at the RV park in Los Mochis once quite a few years ago and did not have a very good experience - so we avoid it. We do try to support RV parks but that one just was too much to take. Same with the one at the north end of Navojoa - just doesn't feel comfortable.

Being retired, we ALMOST never travel over 5 or 6 hours a day either in the US or Mexico. Our usual trip from home to La Peñita goes something like this; 1. Fallon NV to Beatty NV. overnight. 2. Beatty to Avi Casino & RV park, Laughlin NV for 2 or 3 nights. 3. Avi to Yuma AZ for several nights. 4. Yuma to Ajo, AZ for 1 or 2 nights. 5 Ajo to Santa Ana, Son. overnight. 6. Santa Ana to Guaymas Son. at the El Cortez Hotel & RV park, 2 nights. 7. Guaymas to Los Mochis Son. in the Rooster park overnight. 8. Los Mochis to Mazatlan at the Punta Cerritos RV Park for 1, 2, or 3 nights however we feel. 9. Maz to the La Peñita RV Park.

Alison and Neil

You will not need a reservation at Boca after January 6 or 7 !

The place will be jumping during the Xmas...New Years period and many Nationals won't head out until the 5 th or 6 th !

Yes We will be there through it all and We will have a place for You at Happy Hour when You get there!

I agree that Celestino and area does beat Mazatlan or any Other larger centre and Yes the Chinese restaurant in la Cruz is wonderful! Have You seen the Kitchen and Prep area? Spotless and very well organized!

The problem for Us is that Dusty road in . It literally plugs Our Uber Expensive Air Filter! They didn't plan the Engine Air intake well on Our Rig and it can't be easily modified. So We would rather not go in there.

darsben wrote:
Not me I leave Central New York tomorrow so I can be in CASA GRANDE, AZ December first MAYBE. May not be there then depends on what we find to do/see along the way.
THAT IS WHY I AM RETIRED no schedule

Agree with being retired and taking your time. Time passes by fast enough without hurrying it along. The trip from the San Francisco area to the San Diego area last month took me three days to get there, I just had to take my time and was not wore out when I arrived. The same on the way home another three days and was relaxed when we arrived. JMO

Robatthelake....the parks in Celestino are still open although not thriving.Yeah....the road in is dusty....but what a fantastic area. I will take it over Maz any day. Punta San Miguel now has a pool up and running( just being completed last year when we were there ) the town of La Cruz is close for groceries ,restaurants ( great Chinese place) etc.

I guess it is always "to each their own"

Anyway......through your comments on this board over the past years........we are going to try Boca Beach for the first time this year. do we need reservations in early January? Normally we like to travel without as we don't like to pin ourselves down to any dates

Might meet up this year at Boca, Neil

I really do not understand the need to drive 10 hour days to get to a destination. The most I will take is 5 to 6 hours.....plenty....especially on the roads down there! There are places to stop between San Carlos and Mazatlan .
Even in Canada and the States, do we rarely travel that many hours in the day. Actually....my butt gets tired sitting for that length of time!..........and I also get eyes ( please stop soon!) from the DW and our dog,Sadie! Take your time and relax!

Neil

San Carlos to Mazatlan or back is way too far to travel in One Day! We break it up by visiting either Alamos or Huatobampito. Yeah the South road to Huatabampo sucks but go slow and it is passable.

We also used to like stopping at Celestino,too bad that Road in was so Dusty ! I'm pretty sure that is a contributing factor to the closure of most if not all the RV Parks in that area.

In any event We see no point in doing any Marathon Driving when on Vacation!

NOT too old, just smarter!

leave nogales Friday for mazatlan. san carlos, then a Pemex and sunday mazatlan.
we've done the drive from san carols to mazatlan, we're just toooo old to do it now.