We hope to be driving to the "gringo zone" in May of this year. Since we are coming from the east, AAA gave us directions to Laredo, Texas. However, an experienced traveler who lives in Chapala urged us to drive 25 miles west to Columbis, Texas, to avoid the long lines. AND he has published a very specific set of driving directions from Columbia to Chapala. Here it is:
Columbia to Chapala
Point Ref Your Milage DIRECTIONS
To Total
Point
000.0 000.0 In Encinal on left side of I-35 at the Love Station set your trip-odometer to 0 . This is your last chance to buy gasoline before crossing the border. And use the rest room and etc.
014.8 014.8 Sign From I-35 take Toll Road to Columbia.
000.7 015.5 Take right on to toll road.
017.9 033.4 Toll Booth $3.00 US Dollars.
004.5 037.9 Toll Booth $2.00 US Dollars. Leaving Texas.
000.4 038.3 Mexican Inspection, Visa, Car Registration & etc. You can get Pesos from the ATM machine or get money exchanged. (Don't leave Laredo without car permit, Mexican insurance, visa and pesos. The toll booths don't take dollars.)
001.9 040.2 Take left to Nuevo Laredo Hwy. 2
013.4 053.6 Take right to Monterrey
019.4 073.0 Take right to Monterrey
002.0 075.0 26 Kilometer Mexican Checkpoint.
029.9 104.9 Take left to Monterrey VIA Cuota (Toll Road).
028.4 133.3 Toll Booth $167 Pesos.
049.1 182.4 Take right to Saltillo Hwy 40 VIA Cuota.
014.0 196.4 Toll Booth $92 Pesos.
031.5 227.9 Take Retorno (U Turn due to temporary construction) to Matehuala VIA Cuota.
001.1 229.0 Take right to Matehuala
005.0 234.0 Toll Booth $30 Pesos
027.3 261.3 Toll Booth $48 Pesos. Last toll for many miles.
122.7 384.0 City of Matehuala half way to border. Nice city with several nice motels and restaurants. Highway narrows down through city. Drive very slow. Keep following signs to San Luis Potosi.
103.0 487.0 Take left on overpass to Lagos del Moreno VIA Cuota. Bypassing San Luis Potosi.
013.7 500.7 Toll Booth $35.00 pesos
006.3 507.0 Due to no overpass. Take right on (Highway to San Luis Potosi) go to first Retorno make U turn.
002.7 509.7 Take right to Lagos del Moreno.
018.1 527.8 Toll Booth $71 Pesos.
029.2 557.0 Take left to Lagos del Moreno. Take right fork to Guadalajara.
012.0 569.0 Take right to Guadalajara.
001.5 570.5 Toll Booth $11 Pesos
001.9 572.4 Take right to Guadalajara. Two lane road. Not for high speed. Skip that Pemex another one around the corner. Pemex on right. Easy off/on.
041.3 613.7 Take right to Guadalajara. Bypass around Lagos del Moreno.
004.2 617.9 Take left fork to Guadalajara.
003.6 621.5 Take right to Guadalajara.
017.8 639.3 Take right fork to Cuota to Guadalajara.
017.8 657.1 Toll Booth $85 Pesos.
029.9 687.0 Toll Booth $70 Pesos.
033.4 720.4 Toll Booth $35 Pesos. Last toll.
004.1 724.5 Get in left lane after passing Pemex on left. Take left fork. Get right Immediately
000.2 724.0 Take very first exit to (Chapala). Stay in left lane.
001.3 727.1 Take left fork, then up the ramp to the right on clover leaf to (Chapala). (Move quickly out of the right lane or you'll have to exit.)
006.9 733.8 Municipal Airport on right.
019.7 753.4 In Chapala at second light turn right.
Now you know where you are!
Read Before You Take Off
You will need either a birth certificate, passport or drivers license to get a Visa into Mexico. You will have to show proof of ownership to the car and the owner has to be along. No borrowed or rented vehicles. If you are traveling with minors without both parents you will need a letter of consent for them to enter Mexico. Either or both spouse(s).
You will need Mexican car insurance. Your agency may can get a month or so worth for you. If not it can be obtained at the border.
You should try to be at the Columbia crossing at 8:00 AM. That is when they open. Although that crossing is about 25 or 30 miles out of the way, you can cross with less hassle. That is why our guide is through there. This will give you plenty daytime driving to get to where you are going that day. We recommend spending the night in Matehuala.
When you are in Mexico you will need to have Pesos. You can get Pesos from an ATM machine at the border on the Mexican side while you are getting everything legal to visit Mexico. They have an exchange booth.
There are plenty of Pemex stations (Gasoline in Mexico is all owned by the government they are called Pemex ). And gas costs the same at every one. But, for instance, if you get 400 miles per tank you need to get gas at the nearest Pemex to 300 miles.
There are rest rooms at every Pemex. Take a roll of toilet paper with you, they dont always have paper. There are usually rest rooms at the Toll Booths also.
You may want to take snacks and drinks or even sandwich makings since you will not know where to eat when you get hungry. Two days worth of Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner if you are not ready for Mexican Restaurants. That will require an Ice Box. Snacks and drinks are available at the Toll Booths if you prefer.
If you spend the night in Mexico you should have your own wash cloth, Mexican Motels dont have them. Only towels. They normally have soap and sometimes shampoo.
We recommend staying at the halfway point from the border to Chapala. A nice city called Matehuala with nice Motels and Restaurants. Prices from $200 Pesos to $700 Pesos. We recommend the Capri Motel. They have heat and air. $220.00 pesos per night for two with two beds. It is just a place to sleep. Not necessarily nice.
The mieage on this guide may not be exact. But hopefully it is close enough that it will help you. You may want to put your miles in the blank places on the guide for future trips and to correct ours. If you go through Laredo you can start using the guide at the 26 kilometer Check Point and adjust for that.
Gaylon's Phone Number in Mexico: 001-376-765-5010. Phone Number in US that rings our phone in Mexico: 817-886-2245 Bro Bob and Judy's phone 376-765-2925.
Hope this makes your trip enjoyable
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