Seeking advice on driving from Nogales to Ixtapa

Consulates have a ****poor degree of accuracy. In Mexico call the US Embassy. Consulate employees are NOT government employees.

state dept warnings are a bit overblown. When they start posting warnings about country music concerts in Vegas and warning about attending movies and churches in the US, I will pay more attention to them. Regardless it is best to avoid hwy 200, go via Guadalajara.

The Hermosillo bypass is not open

Great update!

What about the Hermosillo Libramiento?

I drove 15D, the cuota, from Nogales to Chapala this past weekend without a problem. I did not pay any toll fees in Sonora due to the ‘peoples takeover’ of the toll stations. There was road construction the entire distance but I never really lost any time, drove the speed limit and careful around all road workers. I started paying tolls in Sinaloa and Nayarit except for the toll both before Tepic, think it was the Trapichillo booth. A huge demonstration going on and they had signs asking for $50-$100 to pass thru but no one paid. Stayed at the Totnaka RV park in San Carlos the first night, Pemex 4006 the second night, located south of Culiacán between 2 toll stations, third night my place in Chapala. I did not use the southbound libremiento around Obregón and got thru the city fast. Good signage showing the exit ramp off of 15D before the toll booth. On the south side of town I saw the northbound section is still not finished. I have a Class C 2 axles RV and gas cost me $6490 pesos. Since I didn't have to pay many toll fees I was happy, saved about $1040 pesos. I took the Guadalajara Macrolibremiento going south and there were 3 signs showing the exit, first sign was 5 KM before the exit and 2 more as I neared. The toll was $300 pesos to the Chapala exit. And, I am ecstatic to say route 23 has been repaved between Chapala and Guadalajara! Last year when I drove this road it was literally falling apart with potholes the size of a small lake. What a relief not to drive the Guadalajara Periférico, I dreaded it every time. I was never stopped the entire distance and enjoyed the drive. Just read about the new RV park north of Chapala, gotta go check it out. Ron

The bypass was not yet opened when I drove north and it's a blessing because the periferico around Morelia was a pain and a half.

If the OP wishes to overnight at a Pemex gasolinera, I recommend parking in the light and not even in semi-darkness. Leave the Jeep fully exposed in the light. I would find an employee that is on for the night and tip him a hundred pesos to keep an eye out for strange cars. Most times I have found another car full of family. In afternoon light have you and DW walk up to say 20' of their vehicle while smiling. Spanish is not necessay

Buenas Tardes
While smiling
Point to your vehicle

Then lay a finger on your upper cheek with index finger pointing upward toward your eye. Keep the smile going.

They may not know to what degree you wish them to keep an eye on your rig, but the message will have been transmitted. Then point at your eye once again, then at their car. Aha!

The key is having a woman and sometimes kids. They will be honest and probably a little worried about you. This is why I recommend both of you to introduce yourselves.

Who knows? I have made overnight friends this way. In the morning before departing look for a lady and a cloth covered bucket. TAMALES!

This is such a wonderful country!

We highly recommend bypassing Morelia completely. The new toll bypass road leaves 15D about 15 kilometers before you get to the turn off for Morelia. It is clearly marked (for Patzcuaro) and you get to skip the entire city and the hassle. Same is true for Guadalajara and Mazatlan.

Without creating hysterics...

• Check with your local Jeep dealer and see if it would be possible to disable your Jeep by simply pulling a fuse
• A no-start disable is better than a no-crank disable
• You'll only need to disable while it's being towed on the highway
• This will eliminate any chance of it being taken
• Do not listen to scare stories about disabling a vehicle to prevent theft. About how it won't work and the appearance of bogeymen (BAH!)
• And for gosh sakes take spare fuses in case you lose one. If you wish to enter Mexico and travel down the West Coast via Nogales, I recommend staying strictly on Mex 15-D and not taking any "toll free" free highway diversions in order to save toll fares
• You will need to get current advice about the capitol of Sonora, and the Capitol of Michoacan (the state where I have lived for 25 years)
• Some cities demand that "heavy" vehicles use marked bypasses (Hermosillo Sonora) and use frontage lanes (Morelia Michoacan)
• Take Mex 15-D toward Guadalajara. It's multi lane for most of the way
• Exit at the spur highway to MORELIA. Make a right onto the crowded ring road around the city
• On the opposite side of the city exit onto Mex 14 and thirty five or so miles later the highway becomes toll
• This is a notably steep descent. It's two lane and the custom is to crab over onto the smooth paved shoulder (halfway) and let following traffic pass
• At the bottom near the ocean, when you turn left toward Zihuatanejo on Mex 200 cross across the entire highway and make a left onto the frontage access, turn left and this is like an on-ramp to get onto Mex 200 southbound
• Talleyho will have the latest scoop on current conditions in Zihuatanejo
• 7x35 binoculars are vigorously recommended for the co pilot to spot upcoming highway signage
• Ignore anyone anywhere that points back at your rig frantically which would encourage you to stop
• Police and Americans and Canadians excepted
• Incidents are getting as rare as a blue eyed iguana but a minimum of caution is urged
• Get a copy of the Church & Church RV'ers guide to Mexico
• I try and pace myself to 300 miles a day, 6 hours when it looks like RV parks are widely spaced
• This is no place to try night driving
• Road signs reflect poorly
• Pavement striping is poor
• And the police and military patrols turn in for the night.

In fact timing your stops will be the biggest bulk of trip planning. Use the Church RV Guide and allow daylight to set up. If I feel pooped out I hole up for a day maybe two. Excitement at the foreigness of it all can be a real adrenaline drain.

Bring some fans if you are not heat tolerant. And some adapters that allow you to plug into a household type receptacle.

A couple of days after you reach Zihuatanejo you will have blown off nervous energy and then it's time to enjoy one of the few tropical resorts that is 100% authentic Mexican (despite the occasional Frappuccinos, and Prime Rib restaurants :)

Hello everyone, thank you all for your helpful replies. Here are answers to questions:
Our rig is a 37 ft. 2005 Winnebago Adventurer class A. It has a Chev Vortek engine w/Allison tranny so it has pretty good towing power. The only Mexican driving experience we have is in the city if zihuatanejo so far. We do have a toad. It's a 2016 2dr.Jeep Wrangler. We will have an ex-pat friend and his Mexican wife riding down with us to kind of show us the way, but we were just checking to see if there have been any issues on the main roads lately.

Thanks Chris: I have not looked at the US site for a month or so. I am pretty sure Sonora was on the list in September here is the Canadian listing:


MEXICO - Exercise a high degree of caution

Exercise a high degree of caution in Mexico due to high levels of criminal activity, as well as demonstrations, protests and occasional illegal roadblocks throughout the country.


Northern states - Avoid non-essential travel

Avoid non-essential travel to the following northern states due to high levels of violence, linked mainly to organized crime:
•Chihuahua
•Coahuila (except the city of Saltillo)
•Durango
•Nuevo León (except the city of Monterrey)
•Sinaloa (except the city of Mazatlán)
•Sonora (except the cities of Hermosillo and Guaymas/San Carlos)
•Tamaulipas
That warning is enough to void many of the travel health insurance policies. Normally Canadians do not travel with that insurance. Some companies simply void the whole policy. Others will not cover anything that was caused by crime in those areas. When I found a company that would do the latter the rates were about 30% higher! Not good

Moisheh

This is the official U.S. government travel website. You can read it state by state but these are the five states that the U.S. considers as no travel.

I have separated the remarks for Sinaloa and Sonora is not in a no travel category.

Mexico Travel Advisory

Do not travel to:

Colima state due to crime.
Guerrero state due to crime.
Michoacán state due to crime.
Sinaloa state due to crime.
Tamaulipas state due to crime.

Sonora is a key location used by the international drug trade and human trafficking networks. However, northern Sonora experiences much lower levels of crime than cities closer to Sinaloa and other parts of Mexico.

Sinaloa state – Level 4: Do Not Travel
Do not travel due to crime.
Violent crime is widespread. Criminal organizations are based and operating in Sinaloa state.