Route: US Border at Nogales to Santa Ana
Date: November 24, 2006
Logged By: Mike and Terri Church
Vehicle: Pickup with Camper (22.5 Ft. Total Length)

Note: Our goal on this trip was to bypass many toll stations as we drove south to Puerto Vallarta. We ended up paying tolls only at:
1. The Nogales bypass (easily avoided by driving through town).
2. The toll booth north of Hermosillo (also easily avoided, free route exit is noted on appropriate day’s log)
3. The toll booth north of Los Mochis (avoided by driving through El Fuerte, free route exit noted on appropriate day’s log).
4. A toll booth south of Guasave (not avoidable).
5. And a toll on the “free” road north of Culiacán (see note about that in the appropriate day’s log.

It is possible to drive this entire route and pay only one toll, the one south of Guasave.

Since we were in no hurry this time we stopped at many nice beachfront campgrounds on this trip south before heading inland: San Carlos, Huatabampito, Las Glorias, Celistino Gasca, Mazatlán, Teacapan, San Blas, La Penita, and Melaque. If beaches are your thing you might consider a route just like this one.

Today’s route takes you from the Mariposa crossing just west of Nogales and south around Nogales on the toll bypass. It stops at the documentation station south of the city and then continues south. The route bypasses the toll booth at Magdalena and ends in Santa Ana where Mex 2 from the east meets Mex 15.

Note that the border crossing was signed as only being open from 6 am to 10 pm.

000.0 Miles (000.0 Km) -- At the US border station.

000.2 Miles (000.3 Km) -- At the Mexican border – stay left for Hermosillo

000.9 Miles (001.5 Km) -- Km 12 marker.

005.1 Miles (008.2 Km) -- Km 5 marker.

005.3 Miles (008.5 Km) -- Toll booth. Rates: Auto - 35 pesos; 2 Axles – 69 pesos; 3 Axles – 69 pesos; 4 and 5 Axles – 121 pesos; 6, 7, 8, 9 Axles – 139 pesos; Extra Axles - 17 pesos. We paid 35 pesos, the rate for an auto.

005.7 Miles (009.2 Km) -- Km 5 marker.

006.0 Miles (009.7 Km) -- At Mexican customs inspection station – we got the green light so no search.

007.4 Miles (011.9 Km) -- Road to Aeropuerto and Nogales Centro turns off to the right – we continue straight.

007.9 Miles (012.7 Km) – Join the free road from Nogales.

008.5 Miles (013.7 Km) -- Km 263 marker.

010.3 Miles (016.6 Km) -- Km 260 marker.

010.6 Miles (017.1 Km) -- Pemex #6305 on the left with premium and diesel.

011.0 Miles (017.7 Km) -- Pemex #7438 at Km 259 on the right with premium, magna, and diesel.

011.5 Miles (018.5 Km) -- Km 258 marker.

012.0 Miles (019.4 Km) -- Pemex #3771 on the left with premium, magna, and diesel.

012.2 Miles (019.7 Km) -- At the car import station with entrance road on the right. We pull in and get our visas and vehicle import papers. Takes about an hour.

012.7 Miles (020.5 Km) -- Km 256 marker.

019.5 Miles (031.5 Km) -- Entering the town of Cibuta.

019.9 Miles (032.1 Km) -- Pemex #8316 on the right with magna, premium, and diesel pumps but no diesel when we stopped.

020.2 Miles (032.6 Km) -- Out of Cibuta.

021.0 Miles (033.9 Km) -- Km 242 marker.

032.5 Miles (052.4 Km) -- Entering town of Cumeral.

032.8 Miles (052.9 Km) -- Out of Cumeral.

035.7 Miles (057.6 Km) -- Entering town of Los Janos

035.9 Miles (057.9 Km) -- Km 217 marker.

038.9 Miles (062.7 Km) -- Km 212 marker and fighting roosters being raised on the left.

039.7 Miles (064.0 Km) -- Enter Imuris, sign says population is 10,000.

039.8 Miles (064.2 Km) -- Highway Mex 2 comes in from the left.

039.9 Miles (064.4 Km) -- Pemex # (no sign) on the right. It has premium and magna gas and diesel with room for big rigs. This is a newer Pemex with diesel pumps that are supposed to register on the till in the office. The person pumping the gas will tell you to go inside, that it’s all automatic. However, he’ll pump and then come inside to tell them what to charge you. It’s not automatic at all. Do not leave the pump, watch like a hawk no matter what he says, and pay only for what you see pumped. Diesel price is 5.68 pesos per liter ($1.96 US per gallon).

040.0 Miles (064.5 Km) -- Km 210 marker.

041.7 Miles (067.3 Km) -- Out of Imuris.

048.9 Miles (078.9 Km) -- Km 195 marker.

049.3 Miles (079.5 Km) -- Right turn off highway for free route through Magdalena de Kino, it you continue on the highway you’ll have to pay a toll. We turn right to take the free road.

051.2 Miles (082.6 Km) -- Km 187 marker.

052.1 Miles (084.0 Km) -- Pemex # 5980 on the left with magna, premium, and diesel.

052.6 Miles (084.8 Km) -- Km 185 marker.

052.7 Miles (085.0 Km) -- Ball field on the left.

053.0 Miles (085.5 Km) -- Zona Centro to the right – Hermosillo the left – we stay left.

053.6 Miles (086.5 Km) -- Pemex #2321 on the left with magna, premium, and diesel.

053.8 Miles (086.8 Km) -- Pemex #2323 on the right with magna, premium, and diesel.

054.1 Miles (087.3 Km) -- La Tubutama to the right – we continue straight.

055.1 Miles (088.9 Km) -- Km 180 marker.

055.2 Miles (089.0 Km) -- Merge back onto Mex 15. The bypass through Magdalena is complete.

055.8 Miles (090.0 Km) -- Pemex #6634 on the left with premium, magna, and diesel. From the road appears to be a possible overnight stop with room to park.

056.9 Miles (091.8 Km) -- Km 177 marker.

063.6 Miles (102.6 Km) -- Km 167 marker.

063.8 Miles (102.9 Km) -- Entering town of Santa Ana.

064.0 Miles (103.2 Km) -- Pemex #2311 on the right with magna, premium, and diesel.

064.0 Miles (103.2 Km) -- Intersection. Highway Mex 2 to Caborca and Mexicali is to the right.

See our book Traveler’s Guide to Mexican Camping for information about campgrounds in this area.


 

Copyright © 2006 Rolling Homes Press Inc.

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