Extreme Newbie question

[FunnyCamper]

we are planning a trip out texas way and I was thinking of a possible drop down into mexico.

thing is I have never been.

Is there a beach waterfront campground someone can recommend that would not put us way down into mexico as the rest of my trip is kinda heading into the northwest/oregon etc area. But if I am 'in the area' I am wondering what anyone could recommend.

I appreciate any info anyone can give. I am in pre plan stage and just need a starting point to kinda head me in some direction. thanks alot

[FunnyCamper]

thank you very much for all this additional info and the map was a bonus post, I appreciate it.

I will take this all into advisement and it will certainly be a key help in us determining our path.

[daveB110]

Our first trip happened in 2003. No GPS. No Church and Church. Triple A maps for there were not so good. We bought Mexican maps as soon as we could find them, the Guia Roji maps. We relied on our Sister in Law's pocketmail emails to get through cities such as Puerto Vallarta and Hermisillo (where's that? okay, only a city of three quarters of a million people then) but got lucky as we tagged along behind a convoy of about 25 RV rigs. Think you're going to pass them all? we never even tried. Pocketmail? for us we used public phones for it, with the 1970's technology that at the time was popular with sailboaters with sat. phones. Two or three times we neded to back our motor home up at intersections, the only way to get turned around. We drove through the cobble stoned street near the Malecon in P.V. that first time, after missing the all- important but obscured sign, and ended up going backwards through one tunnel, going north instead of south. Had to ask directions from locals certainly more than once. Our best couple of days that trip were when we were with friends we had made, an American couple we had met in Los Mochis. But they stayed at the campsite south of San Blas and we were on our own again. But loving it!

Hope you make it into Mexico, you should go, and will enjoy looking back on your experiences as we do, from time to time.

[briansue]

Here are a couple rough idea maps for the OP to see places we are talking about. These are from my Mexico Campgrounds files so the little tent boxes are campgrounds - not that you can see details. You will never find "Rocky Point" on any map because it does not exist - it is a misnomer nickname given to Puerto Penasco by gringos. It is about 65 miles from Lukeville to Puerto Penasco and about 265 miles from Nogales to San Carlos. Hope this helps.

PUERTO PENASCO


SAN CARLOS

[Tequila]

Rocky point can be pretty dusty, but at that time of year RV parks being open is going to be an issue. San Carlos would still work and it is much nicer. At that time i would probably go to the one in Guyamos which is attached to a hotel with a nice pool and is beachfront and should be open. Still in the permit free zone.

[rocmoc]

Selkie wrote:
I have camped at the Reef RV park at the end of May and the first week of June. Used my AC only in the afternoon, opened up the windows at night. It may get to 100 in town, but the breeze off the sea is nice. Water temp is great for swimming (watch for stingrays). Easy drive-I have done it alone many times.

Reef is in Rocky Point and we also have stayed there. Good location (the new pier has messed things up a bit) but there are a couple other locations if you want to be closer to downtown!

rocmoc n AZ/Fld/Baja

[Selkie]

I have camped at the Reef RV park at the end of May and the first week of June. Used my AC only in the afternoon, opened up the windows at night. It may get to 100 in town, but the breeze off the sea is nice. Water temp is great for swimming (watch for stingrays). Easy drive-I have done it alone many times.

[rocmoc]

May / June is hot in Mexico and in some areas a lot or the RV Parks are closed for the summer. Must check ahead of time with the park to make sure they will be open. Have been South of AZ in Mexico in May on the beach. On the beach can / may be OK but when you go inland the heat becomes overbearing and that is coming from someone who lives in AZ full-time. This time of the year I would make it easy on myself for a first trip and go to Rocky Point / Puerto Penasco or San Felipe. Both are easy drive (Rocky Point the easier of the two) and require NO Paperwork, only Mexican Insurance. Maybe Kino Bay but a harder drive but still a nice short summer location. Some of the Parks in Mazatlan close and depending on the location a bug problem (no-see-ums). Takes a few days to Mazatlan vs same day arrival for Rocky Point and San Felipe and easiest border crossing is Rocky Point. Just a little note, Rocky Point is some time referred to as Arizona's only Beach. If winter further South into Mexico would be best. Good luck and enjoy!

rocmoc n AZ/Fld/Baja

[FunnyCamper]

oh and just to say alot of info and town names were thrown out so I will dissect this thread for myself and definitely take my time to understand it all for my trip....again, thanks all you gave me a starting point so that helps alot 🙂

[FunnyCamper]

Wonderful info for me everyone. I appreciate your answers.

Definitely not a solo beach camp trip. I do want an established cg definitely.

This would be an early summer time trip....like the May/June type time frame but I have not even narrowed that down totally yet. In very early stages of planning a very long trip here 🙂

briansue thanks for all that recommended reading you listed.

An AZ crossing? ok this is a possibility as hubby wants the Painted Desert in AZ to be part of our plan so my entry can possibly change into Mex. since I have not narrowed down our route yet.

this is in early plan stage and all of the info you guys listed is an absolute help to me.

I will read the stickies for info also...duh, I don't know why I didn't go there yet but I sure will now 🙂

Being from the South we can handle heat and humidity LOL but I sure understand our timing might not be the best to come thru this area but we are always game to try 🙂 🙂

Thank you everyone. You gave me great info. to go off and research more info for my trip. I have alot of wandering to do in my research and with this info you gave me a wonderful starting point.

thank you all for your help!!

[rocmoc]

Great suggestions here but the OP is going on to the Pacific Northwest. RVers don't normally head to the Pacific Northwest in the WINTER (best time to be at a Mexican Beach) so OP must be considering Summer. Mexico beaches are not so great during Monsoon Season or in the heat of the summer with humidity. Even in Spring & Fall most Northerns can't take the heat.

rocmoc n AZ/Fld/Baja

[Talleyho69]

daveB110 hit it right on the head. It's not a Texas entry, but an easy one, and a nice introduction to Mexico and it's charms. Good road, easy entry, not too far, and a beach!

Welcome to Mexico!!

[daveB110]

An extremely easy and short trip to do, that gets you into Mexico and shows you quite a bit of Mexico and its customs, is to cross the border at the Lukeville, AZ/Sonoyta, Senora, Mexican crossing. It's an hours' drive from there to the small city of Puerto Penasco, also known as Rocky Point or, Phonex's "water front." Some rules that apply going farther south do not apply this close to the border. Make sure you have insurance that will cover you on the roads there; liability insurance is always with a Mexican company. Check with Lewis and Lewis for what you need, they specialize in this. You will need passports and if staying longer than three days, you will get FMMs, which are tourist permits. You may need deposit(s) for vehicle, for "temporary importation," not sure about that.

Rocky Point is located on the Gulf of California, also know as the Sea of Cortes. An excellent book for RVers is the Mexico Camping book by husband and wife authors, Church and Church.

[briansue]

According to my computer mapping it is about 700 miles from Laredo to Mazatlan - no one day for me - ever. Then you have the Devil's Backbone at the end. Not a trip I would try - especially not for a newbie. Better bet is over to Nogales and then Puerto Penasco or San Carlos. Newbie needs to read all the Stickies at the top about permits and insurance and so on. Remember you need a passport to get back into the US.

Mexico has some good roads and many are getting better all the time. But you will rarely average 60mph or more. With one thing or another we figure on about 40mph average and hope to do better. There are more things to slow you down in Mexico. And finding suitable RV parks or campgrounds can be problematic. You need to do research on this website to review old posts that explain some things - and ask more questions and get more specific. On this forum you will find experienced people who are more than willing to help and guide you. But we do not all agree so telling us your style of driving could help to connect with those of like minds. In Mexico we rarely go 300 miles in a day - though we have and will again - it can be a long day depending on the roads. We are in no hurry and like to take our time seeing the sights along the way. We also never drive at night in Mexico - speed bumps - cows - horses - sheep - goats - and who knows what could be out there on the road. The next RV park could be a long way away so planning stops is important until you learn the ropes.

We still recommend this book . . . http://www.rollinghomes.com/mexico%20book.htm . . . but some would disagree. It tells a lot but is an old edition so out of date - but their website has updates and if those in the know would post on the updates it would help.

Another great source is . . . http://www.ontheroadin.com/ . . . where a great deal can be learned. We bought their road logs years ago and still use them daily - we do our own updates in the logs as we go - they are well worth what they charge.

Some travelers prefer . . . http://ioverlander.com/ . . . and it can have a lot of useful information though we have found many RV locations in Mexico are not listed - but it is getting better.

Mexico is not USA so their is a learning curve. Some people just go for it while others prepare ahead. The more prepared you are the more enjoyable things will be.

[Tequila]

Yes that works if cross at Laredo. I may be a bit uncomfortable as far as durango as a newbie. Pretty lonely roads and no RV parks til you reach mazatlan