Highway Urapuato, Penjamo and La Piedad?

[NanN]

Does anyone know if the highway that runs from Urapuato to MEX 15 through Penjamo and La Piedad is really slow going or does traffic flow pretty well? I have driven many two lane, secondary highways in Mexico and some are great and some are just a pothole infested, twisty-turny, nightmare plagued by little villages with three topes each every 5 km.

I am heading down to Ajijic for a few days and my options are to go this route above or stay on the toll road through Moroleon and connect with MEX 15 just above Morelia. I drove that "gotta love it all autopista" route in May and it was great but I rather thought the other might be nice too if the road is decent, as going or coming back that way, we could check out the ruin near Penjamo.

[SteveGinGto]

Hey NanN,

Two things...

Do you mean Uruapan? Or Irapuato? Uruapan is WAY off the route you'd take to Lago de Chapala. So you must mean Irapuato.

I rode this route long ago, and it was smooth going except for some topes right out in the middle of nowhere for no reason other than to feed business to the tire repair shops next to them. So don't do it at night if you can avoid it. La Piedad is a really good sized city, spread out, and it was slow going to get through. We got lost in the city and had to ask for directions to get back on the main drag. I can't remember Penjamo.

Personally, I think your idea is a good one. It will take longer, but hey, go out and see Mexico, right?

Steve

[NanN]

Thanks for the information! Yes, Irapuato. My bad spelling, Uruapan would be quite off my route for this trip. We had planned to take this Penjamo route back from our trip through Michoacan in May but my boyfriend and his friend from Holland didn't want to see another ruin by that time and we were running out of daylight on the trip back too because after Uruapan I dragged them up into the hills to Ocumicho to buy some devil figurines - I just love those things - so we stuck to the autopista on the way back.

I am still thinking I'd like to see Las Plazuelas and the route through Penjamo is the shortest by quite a few KM, though it may not be the fastest depending on traffic and road conditions. Guess I'll see if the weather is good that day and if it is I'll head down that route and if not I'll stick to the autopista.

[mr bill]

My memory of the route and very recent experience of part of it.

Recent part - from the Silao-Irapuato highway there is now a libremento [tollway] to La Piedad de Cavadas, Mich which exits before you reach IRA. FAST 2 lane about 30km long and 40 pesos -its worth it and saves about 20 min and maybe not getting lost in IRA.

Once you reach the highway to La Piedad which used to be a two lane with shoulders [which all drivers took to be a go as fast as you can 4 lane -- and it worked] it is now a good 4 lane to very close to Santa Ana Pacueco [the GTO side of the Rio Lerma - 2nd longest in Mexico if you wanted to know] Crossing the river you have two choices: go Left and south east and eventually you'll be directed to the Morelia-Guadalajara autopista along a very narrow, shoulerless 2-lane for about 45 km - but traffic is light. Toll to GDL from the on ramp - not sure maybe 150 but certainly a lot less than the GTO-Leon-GDL tolls which although the fastest route are a wallet breaker.

Going Right - just before reaching Pacueco there is another libremento [how come most tollways are called libres?] you go ESE round la Piedad and take the local route to GDL - 2 lane moderate traffic - twisty turny in some spots and as you reach the eastern metro edge of GDL its is a mess but there are escapes [as soon as you find one] to the autopista which are well worth taking.

[NanN]

Cool, thanks Bill. Great information and photos, that is just what I wanted to know. The Leon - GDL route is definitely off the table as I've no desire to drive through Guad to get to Ajijic (or ever again if I can help it!)

I will for sure take the bypass before Irapuato - thank you - I never get lost but I have been known to do some unplanned "exploring" when navigating through larger towns like Irapuato. When I get to the fork I'll take the left option and head down to MEX 15 on the 45 km stretch of two lane which sounds OK since you say traffic is light. I plan to jump off of MEX 15 at Ocotlan and head over to Ajijic that way so I should be able to avoid most of the urban sprawl that is Guadalajara. Not to mention all of that bad air if they've managed to light the Bosque de la Primavera on fire again which they seem to do every time I get anywhere near Guadalajara.