21 replies to this topic

[mexico mary]

We are heading NOB end of April/first of May - haven't crossed at Laredo before and are wondering if it is a complicated crossing and is there a better crossing near by? Would appreciate any specifics as to bridge number etc. We haven't heard anything about problems on road north bound so assume it's a safe drive??
Anyone interested in a caravan - please PM me.

[barbara habacht]

We are leaving end of April...but will cross at Reynosa/Pharr...if you want to follow....we go eastbound after crossing. Pharr is a very easy crossing.
Fred

[Fireflies]

Fred do you go through Monterrey on the way to Pharr?

[barbara habacht]

No, I don't trust the Monterrey area. I use a new road that goes towards Ciudad Victoria but actually avoids the town The road is like a toll road in construction but has no tolls. Then I follow the signs to Reynosa...by going thru on mx 97 which becomes texas state 281 at the us border...no need to choose a bridge as it is an unbroken straight line. We overnight in Falfurrias Texas

[Fireflies]

No, I don't trust the Monterrey area. I use a new road that goes towards Ciudad Victoria but actually avoids the town The road is like a toll road in construction but has no tolls. Then I follow the signs to Reynosa...by going thru on mx 97 which becomes texas state 281 at the us border...no need to choose a bridge as it is an unbroken straight line. We overnight in Falfurrias Texas

Thanks, We will give it a try.

[artsnob]

Good luck, we go thru Laredo, very easy and much shorter driving time....

[John Shrall]

The Pharr crossing actually takes about an hour less drive time than it does to Laredo. Part of that is because the crossing is closer to Ajijic due to the Rio Grande swinging southeast from Laredo. When I last drove to Dallas the actual mileage crossing at Pharr was about identical to the Laredo route. The total time was about the same with the first leg being an hour shorter and the second leg an hour longer. We stayed in Pharr overnight at a very nice Travellodge about 8 miles beyond the crossing.

To me, the best part of the Pharr crossing is avoiding that last hour that seems like 2 between the end of the Monterrey cuota and Laredo Bridge II. It's always getting dark becoming hard to see as well as dodging all that Nuevo Laredo traffic as you head toward the river.

By using Pharr, once you finish the last section of Hwy 97 after peeling off Hwy 101 to Matamoras, you get on the no-charge cuota that drops you right at the bridge. To me it was a lot less stressful than navigating through Nuevo Laredo at dusk. I also liked avoiding the wild ride approaching Saltillo and then hanging the right to get to and around Monterrey.

Plus it's $350 pesos less in tolls one way using Pharr so the savings on a round trip will fill your tank or pay for your hotel stay.

[truebluegreen]

We go through Laredo, overnighting at Las Palmas in Matehuala (6ish hours from each end, dog-friendly, secure, has its own restaurant). Since we don't drive very early or late in the day, and stay on the cuotas I don't worry about driving past Monterrey. We cross at Colombia Bridge just north of Laredo: follow the signs just north of the old customs checkpoint 18 k south of Laredo.

This is a new facility, very clean, wide open (not some cramped little town) and not busy. There is a drive-thru kiosk on the left before you get to the bridge where you can turn in your vehicle permit (I can't remember how it is labelled, maybe someone else can help?).

Every time (4? 5?) we have crossed there it took about 5 minutes, if that (going south takes longer, por supuesto).

[bournemouth]

The road from Colombia Bridge to the Nuevo Laredo area has a shaky reputation at the moment - problems between the Zetas and the military. One should be cautious.

[RVGRINGO]

We also prefer the SLP-Ciudad Victoria-Reynosa-Pharr bridge route. It has many advantages and Ciudad Victoria is a good overnight stop. There are good hotels in Centro & good walking to restaurants to shake the legs after a long drive.

[Floradude]

I crossed at Colombia two weeks ago. Plenty of police on the road. Personally I have never crossed at Laredo when nearby Colombia is never busy.
Heading north I crossed at 1:30 PM on a Monday and there were only 4 cars in line. Also, you avoid the traffic in driving through Laredo/Nuevo Laredo.

[guss]

I crossed at Colombia two weeks ago. Plenty of police on the road. Personally I have never crossed at Laredo when nearby Colombia is never busy.
Heading north I crossed at 1:30 PM on a Monday and there were only 4 cars in line. Also, you avoid the traffic in driving through Laredo/Nuevo Laredo.

I always entered Mexico by plane and later this year will be driving down for the first time. I have read others say that it is also not safe to enter at crossings that are too desolate. I would assume if there was going to be trouble you would stand out and be the one targeted for crime. I had planned to go through Laredo and safety in numbers was one of the reasons. I know it is very busy and had planned on leaving very early and resigned myself to the long lines and waiting.

G

[thevalerieleigh]

I see where many of you comment about overnight stays for the drive from Ajijic to the border. We haven't done it in several years but almost always drive straight through. It usually takes us 11 hours. What is the drive time now and particularly what is the drive time by going through Cuidad Victoria and Saltillo?

Thanks,
Valerie

[Floradude]

It is still 11 hours if you drive fast and only stop for the necessities.

[thevalerieleigh]

Thanks...hoping for less time.

Valerie

[RVGRINGO]

We move right along, but no longer enjoy 10-14 hours behind the wheel as we get older. We also enjoy stopping to explore, have a snack or take a few photographs; then, we also enjoy the overnight stops in the centro area of other towns. On this route, that is either in Ciudad Victoria or San Luis Potosi. The latter has fantastic free concerts on the plaza, Sunday evenings. We gave up rushing when we retired.
Another advantage of this route and the overnight stop, northbound, is being able to have lunch and cross the border at mid-day, when the wait is minimal, if any at all. Returning to Mexico, we cross early in the morning at Nuevo Progresso, east of Reynosa and Rio Bravo, stopping for a large, liesurely breakfast at René's Restaurant in Nuevo Progresso. Then, we're on our way south again, with a stop in either of the towns mentioned above and arriving in Chapala in the afternoon of the second day.

[Mainecoons]

RV, you forgot to tell them about taking the old road into C. Victoria instead of the Corta. Some time ago, you recommended this and we did it. Really spectacular mountain driving and views, good pavement and little traffic. It was a delightful diversion and we appreciated very much your telling us about it on this board.

[Zark]

We leave around 6 a,m, from Ajijic and cross at Colombia any time between 4-5 p.m. then straight up the 255 Tx. toll by pass to I35 sleeping in Cotulla Tx. We do not go any where near Nuevo Laredo.
Heading north on hwy (Cuota) 85 toward Nuevo Laredo exit to Puente Solidarity International Colombia border crossing and follow signs Piedras Negra then exit to Colombia bridge crossing.
ANY MORE NEWS ON THE OPENING OF THE 4 LANES FROM LAGOS DE MORENO TO SAN LUIS POTOSI.The opening of the new highway is supposed to be in March and will cut (we heard) around an hour off our trip especially with the new by pass to Zapotlanejo. Can't seem to find any more news on the grand opening of the new 4 lanes. Can anyone help?

[Mainecoons]

Only part of it will be 4 lanes I believe, but it will be so much straighter and open that passing will be much easier. Haven't seen anything about the official opening since that last SCT report. I have to drive up that way in May, hopefully it will be open by then.

Valerie, you no longer have to drive through C. Victoria. As you come off the Corta and pass the big fairly new Pemex on your left, you go straight at the crossroads where you used to turn left into C. Victoria. Just follow the signs to Matamoros from there, it totally bypasses C. Victoria.

I figure when the new road opens it will cut another 30 minutes off the trip time, making it 10 hours with minimal stops. As I wouldn't expect any Pemexes on the new road yet, you should gas up just before the Lagos de Moreno bypass, then gas up at the toll booth on the San Luis Potosi bypass, at the Pemex at the end of the C. Victoria Corta, and finally, there's a Pemex just before you hit the road that takes you to the Pharr bridge. Gas is cheaper in Mexico than it is in Texas.

After you cross at Pharr bridge, go straight into Pharr, turn left at Sam Houston and the Travelodge is on your right about a mile down the road. In the morning, retrace back to where you turned left, turn left there and it will put you right back on 281 headed north. That is 4 lanes all the way.

John is right about the travel time being the same. Plus you hit San Antonio on the east side where you bypass it without going out of your way on the 410.

[Sasesu]

We drove out March 4th, and found the truck traffic to be much lighter on Sundays...about 6 miles of the Lagos De Moreno road was open which was great....we made it to the Colombia border in record time...10.5 hours...we left at 6 in the morning and turned in our car sticker at 4:30...
Someone commented on the gas stations around Lagos De Moreno...they are correct, the gas stations are on the old road and they now have a metal guard rail up so you can't get to them.
Our return trip the following Sat. was not nearly as delightful...went to Colombia and the parking lot was FULL! It was spring break and the folks that were in line with us said they had been to Laredo and there were at 100 buses...what usually takes us 15-20 minutes took us close to 3 hours....
I did do the Pharr crossing once...I found the road to have little traffic and I did not feel quite as safe...nothing happened and no one said or did anything, I guess there are just so many cars/trucks on the quotas headed to Laredo from here, it is a false sense of security.