Traffic in BIG Mexico Cities

My preference is early Sunday mornings.

The libramiento de Morelia becomes a freakin' zoo 6-Am - 8-AM and 4PM - 6PM weekdays. Much high speed traffic between Cuitzeo and Uruapan.

Much of the problems for me in big cities is the utter lack of properly placed highway signage and one way boulevards that have no exits and take a person all the way to hell. In Mexico they are called speed lanes.

We went through (yes THROUGH :E ) Morelia last Saturday about 1:00 PM. Paying too much attention to the GPS we missed the on ramp to the periferico--we were in the center lane and couldn't make the turn :S . It went surprisingly well, the Garmin RV 760 LMT with Mexico map added took us right through. All the turns were well marked. It might even have been quicker than the periferico which in past years we have always found to be busy and stressful.

Traffic was medium to heavy, no trucks. Maybe we were just lucky, though we did not see any signs prohibiting Trafico Pesado.

I'll post a new thread on the Garmin later.

We took the ring road around Guadalajara last Thursday, and it was fine. We did the road around Morelia on Friday, and it was fine, too. Neither had heavy traffic. The only time we have noticed heavier than usual traffic was mid day on a Saturday in Guadalajara last March.

Avoid Friday paydays (viernes de quincena)! They're crazy. I won't go to Monterrey on that day!

We use to travel on Sat & Sun but sounds like we will change to mid-week. Has been a couple of years since we were down in the mid-section of Mexico so was looking for the update you all provided. Thanks! Yup, we drove the tunnels in a 4x4 Dodge Ram tow vehicle & Guad in the same. This year in a CJ Jeep/toad so should be a little easier. Thanks again everyone.

rocmoc n AZ/Mexico

If I am unfamiliar I look for a bus. If they make it chances I can.

Sundays tend to be the worst days in cities, you have the Sunday drivers that are going to or coming from visiting the rest of the family, and you will also find them on roads and highways, sometimes they will have vehicles that in reallity should not be on the roads,as in bad brakes, tires or general upkeep, so there tend to be more drivers that do not necesarily drive every day and tend to make more mistakes and cause more problems, otherwise early in the morning is best to traverse a city or arround mid day when some of them are at lunch.

Speeds in Mexico are lower than in the U.S. a lot of the big cities are old colonial and tend to have narrow streets and avenues, so they make them one way and it is sometimes a longer way to get to the place you want by having to travell a longer cirquitous route, ergo slower trafic and more time navigating to and from.

navegator

Mexico Cities are just like any in the rest of the World! Almost always busy with the usual "Rush Hours".

We like to pass through early in the Day as the traffic is usually flowing smoothly and most of the drivers are heading for work!

Later the Shoppers , who haven't decided which Stores to go to first start showing Up . These are the ones who tie up traffic!

Mid to late afternoon is always the worst because everyone is racing to get Home!

We have driven all over Guadalajara as well as around it and though it was not the most enjoyable experience it was not nearly as bad as we expected. We drove in Guadalajara in out toad and around with our motorhome. The most difficult and confusing city we have been around or through is Guanajuato - tunnels - do not attempt to drive an RV in Guanajuato unless you know exactly what you are doing. Even driving a car you can expect to have difficulties. We now know how to drive in and find a parking space - walk all over town - drive out. Most other cities we take the periferico. Other than Mexico City we have less problem in most Mexican cities than US cities. San Miguel de Allende has become very congested. Streets too narrow for most RVs.