Best route San Miguel de All to Austin TX?

[RolandKM]

Driving 35' MH with TOAD from San Miguel de Allende to Austin. Recommendations on best roads and easiest border crossing? Need to turn in TIP on the way out. I've heard that Laredo is a zoo and the roads are pretty bad going up there due to heavy truck traffic. Thanks in advance!

[MnMex90]

The first year we used it, there was no toll booth so we figured no toll. Yup, we passed under some cameras and thought maybe we were still ok....about a month later we got the bill from Texas Tollways! Paid it and bought the Texas Tag.

Last spring when we used it, we checked online after and found no toll was taken. Asked and found out it was no longer a toll road.

BTW, the Texas Tag is also good on Kansas turnpikes.

[slowlyiturn]

toll 255 is no longer a toll road.

[qtla9111]

The connector from the Colombia Bridge to the I-35N is Texas Toll 255.

How do you pay the toll? From what I remember, they closed the toll booth and installed cameras. You had to buy a pass from Texas Toll Highways.

Just curious. We have Mexican plates so we don't need to go through immigration on the Mexican side and drive straight through Laredo.

But it would be good to know.

[RolandKM]

Thanks much for all the help. I love this forum! MnMex, maybe we'll see you on the road. We're headed North in a few days. It'll be a lot easier now. Good travels to all!

[MnMex90]

The Colombia Bridge is bridge 3. West of Nuevo Laredo. It is well marked. After you turn off Highway 2 (which you will take when you get off 85) you will see the parking lots and Aduana buildings. There was signage on the entrance road directing to the little booth which is to the right of the buildings. When you exit that, you will be very close to US customs.
It will be easy to stop and check it out on foot before proceeding if it is not clear to you.

The toll road is only a short connector from the border north and east to 35. We have probably driven 35 from MN to TX 40 times. The only area we find to be really congested is Fort Worth at times. We often take parallel roads if we are in a slower mood and want to see the countryside!

Roland. We live in Waconia. Been to Grand Rapids often in the past.

[Wm_Elliot]

Great advice which I'll second. Mexico 57 is a very good road. One road that I dread (and we do this route every year) is I-35 - this road has heavy traffic and frequent backups which can occur at any time during daylight hours. If there was a toll road that parallels I-35 (which maybe you're suggesting there is) I would use it without hesitation.

The building to turn in the TIP is practically under Bridge #2. As you drive north on Mexico 85 look for a road named for Donaldo Colosio, it's a 4 lane divided road which follows the Rio Grande. In town a road veers off even closer to the river - take that for about a mile and there is a large sprawling white building on the left. On the west end there's a small booth where they'll verify the VIN #, take your sticker and give you a receipt. From there backtrack a mile, take a severe dogleg right turn and head for the bridge. You'l pass through a booth which still remains but is never staffed which Mexico briefly used to return TIPs.

Maybe someone else can fill in street names, but it's easy if you aim for winding up under Bridge #2.

[RolandKM]

Thanks much MnMex90. Sounds like a good plan for us. Can you describe where the booth is to turn in our TIP? Also, where in MN? I'm from Grand Rapids originally, spend the summers there now. Gracias!

[MnMex90]

We take 57 which has good bypasses around San Luis Potosí, Saltillo (finally) and Monterrey. We overnight in Matahuala at Las Palmas Midway inn. Very nice.

From 57 we take 85 up to Laredo. Last spring there were extended stretches of rough road. Pretty much the same as always.

We head west just south of Nuevo Laredo and follow the signs to the Columbia Crossing. It does add I think about 40 K or so but worth it for us not to go thru Nuevo Laredo and Laredo. We tow a travel trailer with Suburban. Large parking area and very easy to turn in TIP at a booth. When you cross the border, you will be out in the country and you can continue straight on a good Texas Toll Road up to 35 which brings you right into Austin. A nice detour for a few days if you have time is Texas Hill Country!

There used to be a charge for that Texas Toll Road and we have a pass but last April there was no charge.