Mainecoons Posted August 31, 2017 Report Share Posted August 31, 2017 Headed to Albuquerque NM soon and looking for some route and travel advice from anyone here who has driven from Chapala to the Santa Teresa border crossing west of Juarez. Definitely know to not go through Juarez. 1. Is it reasonable to get as far north as Jimenez on the first day? I'd prefer not stopping in Torreon as it appears all the hotels require quite a diversion from the bypass into town. But if you know of a hotel that is easy to access from the main road, I'd opt for that. 2. Would you take the free road north from GDL or go via Aguascalientes? I have driven the former on my moto which of course would be quicker than driving a car. 3. If I could get as far as Jimenez, do you know of a place to stay there? I am a fairly fast driver and since we know the roads in the area we can leave around 5 AM from here and are able to drive 12-13 hours before stopping. Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RickS Posted August 31, 2017 Report Share Posted August 31, 2017 I have driven Ajijic to Jimenez many times 'in the summer' when the days are longer. When I drove 54 up from Guad to Zacatecas last year ...to retest my opinion that it is no quicker than by cuota through Aguas..... I verified my opinion. It was on a Sunday too and I therefore did not have many trucks or buses get in front of me. Leaving Ajijic I did take the bypass so my time was better than driving 'through' Guadalajara to get to where 54 goes north. I was driving a quick VW Rabbit and for the first 100+ miles I averaged only 40 mph. I was not sightseeing. Lots of topes. I arrived Zacatecas in about the same time I usually do going through Aguas. No tolls 'tho. I always overnight at Hotel Jimenez Plaza... on the right coming into town. Fairly new, security in and out, park right at your room door with restaurant on-site if you wish. Reasonable price. Pool also if you are so inclined. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tomgates Posted September 1, 2017 Report Share Posted September 1, 2017 Couple years ago, we went to the NW via Columbia Bridge/Laredo. Spent night in Cotula, then made Roswell, NM in one leisurely day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dcstroker Posted September 1, 2017 Report Share Posted September 1, 2017 When taking that route we usually stop in Delicias at the American Inn. I must say though that we just drove up to Colorado Springs in the last 2 days and have a new favorite route. That would be to drive to Del Rio Texas on the first day, spend the night, then take 90 to 285N. Taking this route also will give you much better roads and 1/2 as many tolls. The trip to Delicias or Del Rio would take you about 13 hrs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mainecoons Posted September 2, 2017 Author Report Share Posted September 2, 2017 Thank you. That's a very interesting alternative. I actually went somewhat that way on my moto trip to NM and AZ last year. Del Rio is a piece of cake to cross and once done, the roads are excellent. I'll give it a hard look again. At this point I'm thinking to start early and stop in Jimenez first night. The hotel Jimenez Plaza comes well recommended and it is right along side the route. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jrm30655 Posted September 10, 2017 Report Share Posted September 10, 2017 If you've never been thru Santa Teressa, the last 20 miles or so are interesting. When I came down a decade ago that area was listed as "Urban wasteland" and it was........ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mainecoons Posted September 10, 2017 Author Report Share Posted September 10, 2017 Not sure how you went 10 years ago, now there is a toll bypass cutoff that starts well south of town and does not go through any urban areas at all. That may not have been there 10 years ago. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mtech1950 Posted September 13, 2017 Report Share Posted September 13, 2017 the jimenez plaza is a new hotel, large rooms, very small crappy beds. you will not like. my recommendation would be the hotel santa fe in camargo, or the wim. 150 km farther but better overall, around 900 pesos. when we travel, we go very early and stay at the holiday inn express in chihuahua city, very nice. happy hour at six, and great breakfast. highway 49 south of cuencame, beware bad pavement. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mainecoons Posted September 13, 2017 Author Report Share Posted September 13, 2017 Appreciate the feedback however we are specifically avoiding Chihuahua because of the problems of crime there including some against tourists. We're going to use the new toll bypass and miss that town altogether. Will check out Carmargo, it is on the way however the Hotel Santa Fe is off the route somewhat. We have had to move up our departure one day because it seems all the hotels all through that area are booked solid Thursday-Saturday. I wonder what is up? Thanks for the heads up about Cuencame. When I rode the moto through there last fall it was OK. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mtech1950 Posted September 13, 2017 Report Share Posted September 13, 2017 dan, the santa fe and the wim are on the main drag thru camargo.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RickS Posted September 13, 2017 Report Share Posted September 13, 2017 Good to hear that the road surface south of Cuencame is "OK". Last time through for me (1.5 years?) it was a real bit*h for many miles. One could not even change lanes to miss bad potholes. MC, would you mind verifying when you pass through in your car this trip? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mainecoons Posted September 13, 2017 Author Report Share Posted September 13, 2017 Be happy to. Mtech, the map with the Santa Fe page shows it west of town on route 30. I pulled up another site and it shows it as located on the west side of the road just before the 30 junction and just past the Panteon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mtech1950 Posted September 13, 2017 Report Share Posted September 13, 2017 on the south side of town, west side of road. first thing coming into camargo from the south, big sign on your left. if you opt for the wim, it's about 10 blocks north on your right. both hotels are on route 45.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mainecoons Posted September 13, 2017 Author Report Share Posted September 13, 2017 Found the "WIM" checking availability there now. Looks very nice. mtech, how long does it take you from here to the WIM in Carmargo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mainecoons Posted September 14, 2017 Author Report Share Posted September 14, 2017 Google maps is showing a route which bypasses a section of Route 45 north of town for reasons of construction. Also showing a different way to get to Av. Convencion. Anyone been through there lately? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mtech1950 Posted September 14, 2017 Report Share Posted September 14, 2017 dan, i prefer the wim, newer, better maintained and has complimentary breakfast. there is constuction in aguascaliente, with detour, unavoidable. if you miss rush hour not too bad, add one hour. the pavement between rio grande and cuencame has been repaired, but some potholes remain. chapala to camargo is an 11 hour slog, no getting around that. camargo to albuquerque is around 9 hours. border at santa teresa is a breeze. can't really recommend any restaurants, we always get pollo feliz take away. the las palmas pemex station, north of fresnillo takes us credit cards. our car gets about 400 miles on a tank of gas, so we fill at las palmas and camargo, and fill again in el paso. gas in the us is around 2.50 gallon, up because of hurricane harvey. artcraft road and i 10 has a rudy's bbq, gas is usually cheaper there and you can eat. tolls run around 2000 pesos. hiway patrols are increased around gomez palacio, torreon, so be aware. other than that, bien viaje... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mainecoons Posted September 14, 2017 Author Report Share Posted September 14, 2017 I really appreciate all your help here mtech. So the Google maps detours are current and should be followed? This is very good to know as my GPS will probably not pick up on this. We may stick with Jimenez just because it splits the trip into two equal 10-11 hour days although the WIM definitely does look nicer but it is another hour further. I dunno, if there are significant delays in Aguascalientes, maybe it does make sense to drive libre 54 instead up from GDL. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mtech1950 Posted September 14, 2017 Report Share Posted September 14, 2017 my next trip thru, i will take the libriamento sur around to the west of ags. link with highway 17 north. the detours on google maps are already in the construction zone, with traffic backups. i'm also going to look at del rio too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mainecoons Posted September 14, 2017 Author Report Share Posted September 14, 2017 mtech, when was the last time you went through Ags? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mtech1950 Posted September 14, 2017 Report Share Posted September 14, 2017 came thru last week. construction both north and south. of course it was 2:00 am so no traffic, 5 minute additional time. look at map, south bypass to hwy 71 on the west side, north then back to hwy 45 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jrm30655 Posted September 16, 2017 Report Share Posted September 16, 2017 On 9/10/2017 at 6:29 PM, Mainecoons said: Not sure how you went 10 years ago, now there is a toll bypass cutoff that starts well south of town and does not go through any urban areas at all. That may not have been there 10 years ago. It was not an urban area. It looked like a junk yard that had been bombed, then burnt. Worst area I've ever seen. I almost turned around and went back NOB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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