The Ins & Outs of Driving in Mexico Part 2 The Roads in Mexico
This is part 2 of my 6 part post on Driving in Mexico, Click here for Part 1, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6
The Roads in Mexico
The other half of the safety equation is the roads themselves. The roads in Mexico are generally pretty good… not great, but serviceable. If it is your first time, you’ll want to stick to the toll roads (autopistas de cuota) as much as you can. They can get a little expensive, but the roads are usually in very good condition with wider shoulders, passing lanes, better grades, less curves, etc. But toll roads don’t go everywhere. When you are on the free road just go easy, there is usually a lot of truck traffic, so be patient and pass when it is safe. The lines on the road are similar to those in the USA; dashed lines mean you can pass, solid means do not pass. You’ll see some roads where the lines are either very faded or non existent, just use some common sense and understand that there is less room for error on Mexican roads. Some roads, like the stretch between Tepic and Puerto Vallarta, are long twisty two lane mountain roads. These roads can definitely try your patience as there are few opportunities to pass and getting stuck behind a truck trying to go up a grade is never fun. In those cases just take a deep breath and relax… the one good thing is many of these roads have fantastic scenery, which makes it easier to enjoy the ride.
The road to Puerto Vallarta has excellent scenery and a canopy of trees you won't want to miss!
Gas stations are not as plentiful as in the USA or Canada, so don’t let yourself go below a quarter tank. If you are not sure where the next gas is, it’s better to top off than to find yourself out f gas in the middle of nowhere. A lot of people travel with GPS’s these days, and GPS data in Mexico is pretty good. But if you still prefer to use a map, then you’ll need a good road atlas. The “Rand McNally” type atlas in Mexico is called Guia Roji. Guia Roji prints map atlases for the entire country as well as city atlases for major cities like Mexico City, Guadalajara and Monterrey. These guides are usually available in gas stations (those with a convenience store), book stores and news stands all over the country.
In Part 3, I’ll give some pointers on how to drive in Mexico. Meanwhile, I’d like to hear your feedback. Please leave a comment if you have any questions or remarks.
Click here for Part 1, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6
The Ins & Outs of Driving in Mexico Part 1 Is it Safe to Drive in Mexico?
I recently ran across a question on a travel forum from a person asking if it was safe to take a family driving vacation in Mexico. As I was writing my response, it occurred to me that my readers here might find the information useful, so I decided to post a more detailed answer here. It has since grown into a 6 part post covering roads, driving, getting permission to bring your car to Mexico, accidents and breakdowns. I am interested in what you think, please leave a comment if you found this information useful!
Click here for Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6
Is it Safe to Drive in Mexico?
I have lived and driven extensively in Mexico for the last 12 years. I have never really felt worried for my personal security. In fact, most people I have met have been friendly and helpful… although some get a little intimidated by foreigners (or at least at the prospect of trying to communicate with foreigners). It helps if you can speak some Spanish.
Driving into Down Town Puerto Vallarta
Mexico has been taking a lot of heat recently because the the “drug war”. These issues are generally centered around border towns and once you get past those towns it is largely a non issue. There are no gangs of ‘banditos’ roaming the countryside looking for wayward gringos (unless you include timeshare salesmen 
). I remember someone saying of Las Vegas in the 50′s and 60′s, “No one got shot who didn’t deserve it.” I’m not condoning the violence, I’m just saying that as a disinterested 3rd party your chances of getting involved in some sort of violence while passing through a border town in Mexico are next to nil. When visiting the interior of Mexico, you will find many amazing places like Puerto Vallarta, Guanajuato, Morelia, Guadalajara, Mascota… way too many places to list here… which will more than make up for the perceived risk of coming to Mexico.
In large metropolitan areas like Mexico City there are areas you probably don’t want to go, as is the case in any big city. If you are staying in places like that, use common sense and stay at a decent hotel (which should keep you in a decent part of town). Use the same rules you’d use when visiting New York City or Detroit.
Next up in Part 2 – The Roads in Mexico. Meanwhile, I’d like to hear your feedback. Please leave a comment if you have any questions or remarks.
