Driving to Gto from US

[Spottie]

We are looking for comments on driving to Gto from Phoenix (with two dogs) this June for a 6-7 month stay. Looking for info on Best routes, crossing points, things to avoid. We have visas, car registration and dog registration to look into already.
Any tips would be appreciated.

[Doyle Phillips]

Speaking personally--many will disagree--but i would stay away from Mexican highways as long as possible.


So you could drive from Phoenix to Laredo, TX all in the U.S. Michelin Route Planner says 18 hours.
Nuevo Laredo to Guanajuato Michelin says 13 hours and for your first time driving that might be accurate.

Nuevo Laredo to GTO: always use the many toll roads for speed and safety.
Phoenix-Laredo-Gto 31 hours total


Alternatively, Michelin says Phoenix to Guanajuato, almost all driving on Mexican roads: 30 hours total

Especially for your first driving trip into Mexico, take the 31 hours route. --dp

[Doyle Phillips]

Speaking personally--many will disagree--but i would stay away from Mexican highways as long as possible.


So you could drive from Phoenix to Laredo, TX all in the U.S. Michelin Route Planner says 18 hours.
Nuevo Laredo to Guanajuato Michelin says 13 hours and for your first time driving that might be accurate.

Nuevo Laredo to GTO: always use the many toll roads for speed and safety.
Phoenix-Laredo-Gto 31 hours total


Alternatively, Michelin says Phoenix to Guanajuato, almost all driving on Mexican roads: 30 hours total

Especially for your first driving trip into Mexico, take the 31 hours route. --dp

[doncoulter]

I've driven the route suggested by Doyle, but I've also driven a shorter and much more attractive route. Google Maps will plot it for you, but here are the basics:

--From Phoenix, head south through Tucson to Nogales.
--Cross the border at Nogales, then head south through Hermosillo to Guaymas, whence you'll follow a largely coastal route for most of the trip, passing through Mazatlán and so on.
--At Tepic, head east toward Guadalajara and thence to Guanajuato.

Google Maps says this route takes 23.75 hours. In my experience, Google Maps is always optimistic, so I would add at least a couple of hours to that.

Google Maps' preferred route is via ElPaso/Ciudad Juárez, then south through Chihuahua, Torreón, and Zacatecas. It's supposedly about an hour shorter, but in my judgment this largely desert route would be much less attractive than the coastal route.

[jesm]

We do your drive Nogales to GTO twice yearly. Follow Don Coulter's suggested route. 1200 miles from border on 15D to GTO. We are experienced Mex drivers and make the trip in 3 days with stops normally in Los Mochis and Tepic. Thus about 3 eight-hour days. Autopistas, toll roads, mostly 4 lane all the way.
You will average 50-60 miles covered each hour, so 20-24 hours on road.Hard to do better with topes, tolls and road work.
Only challenge is moving thru Guadalajara (5.5 million) please do that on a Sat or Sunday, go straight thru on 15d we avoid bypass as much longer.
Glad to offer more if needed.