BajaNomad

Finding Mex 3 south through Ensenada.

brewer - 8-17-2012 at 06:32 PM

We took Mex 3 home off the Mex 5 in July to escape the heat and ended up in traffic hell working our way to the Mex 1. I'm leaving on Monday to the gulf and would like to take the Mex 3 over to Mex 5 south.

Is there an easy way to hook up the Mex 3 that is not so congested in Ensenada?

Thanks.

bajaguy - 8-17-2012 at 06:51 PM

After you clear the (Ensenada) toll booth, stay in the left lane.......you will come to an interchange near/at the Hotel Coral.

The signs should say Ensenada Tourist to your right, and San Quintin/Hwy 1 to your left.......take the left, follow the signs to San Quentin/Hwy 1.....there will be signs that direct you to Hwy 3 and San Felipe.

You should be able to Mapquest or Google Map Ensenada and find the route.



[Edited on 8-18-2012 by bajaguy]

durrelllrobert - 8-17-2012 at 06:56 PM

If you are comming from south of Ensenada It's easy. Just drive past the first Soriana market, down the hill to the overpass and turn right. At the stop sign turn left and you are on MX 3. The name of the street is Esmeralda but you wont see a street sign.


[Edited on 8-18-2012 by durrelllrobert]

thebajarunner - 8-17-2012 at 08:08 PM

play with this map a bit,
it will show you how to navigate Ensenada
and also how to cut across town so you do not backtrack

http://www.bajainsider.com/baja-maps/ensenada-map.htm

DavidE - 8-17-2012 at 08:09 PM

Amplification:

bajaguy has it right. As you enter the left hand lane at the "Y" will take you deep into Ensenada. After I descend down a modest grade to a traffic light, I'll right a right like a lot of other cars are doing.

This is to "dogleg" one street over (meaning after making the right, go one block and make a left) A much much nicer street.

After the dogleg it's about a mile and a half until you will encounter the big green traffic sign arrow to San Felipe. It will point a right turn.

After the right turn onto a main boulevard stay in the left lane because you are going to be making a left turn and it will be from a dedicated turn lane that is a mother to squeeze into lane traffic as you approach the light.

This left turn occurs at a glorietta, a traffic round-about with a monument in the center. You turn BEFORE the monument not after. The traffic light is a little perplexing. Look for it. It'll protect your left turn.

Congrats, you are on a street (Ave Cortes) that is Mex 3, downtown Ensenada. Keep going and you'll exit the city.

This all sounds intimidating but actually it isn't. Watch for idiots creeping up your sides at turns.

bajaguy - 8-17-2012 at 08:46 PM

A clarification with landmarks.....

As you enter the left hand lane at the "Y" it will take you around the tourist area and you will pass a VW dealership on your right.

Continuing straight, you decend down a modest grade to a traffic light. There will be an Auto Zone store to your left, and a CALIMAX store on your right. Turn right here, then an immediate left turn (the dogleg)....this will put you on 9th street.

After the dogleg (onto 9th street) it's about a mile and a half (on 9th street past the Police Station and the baseball stadium) until you will encounter the big green traffic sign arrow to San Felipe. It will point a right turn.

After the right turn onto a main boulevard (this will be Reforma, or Hwy 1) stay in the left lane because you are going to be making a left turn and it will be from a dedicated turn lane that is a mother to squeeze into lane traffic as you approach the light.

Proceed for about 3 blocks, then turn left at a stoplight controlled intersection, Avinda De Las Aguilas ...follow to Hwy 3....

(thanks for the help, David)

[Edited on 8-18-2012 by bajaguy]

Pacifico - 8-17-2012 at 09:00 PM

Brewer,
The easiest route in my opinion is to stay along the waterfront through town and then hang a left onto Highway 3. I've done it several times and think it is easier than cutting through the congested part of town. It is still pretty fast....
Good luck!

willardguy - 8-17-2012 at 09:26 PM

gotta go with pacifico!:coolup:

bajaguy - 8-17-2012 at 09:34 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Pacifico
Brewer,
The easiest route in my opinion is to stay along the waterfront through town and then hang a left onto Highway 3. I've done it several times and think it is easier than cutting through the congested part of town. It is still pretty fast....
Good luck!





How do you get from the Costero or Blvd Lazaro Card##as(waterfront) to Hwy 3???

durrelllrobert - 8-18-2012 at 07:46 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by bajaguy




How do you get from the Costero or Blvd Lazaro Card##as(waterfront) to Hwy 3???

Lazaro Card##as becomes Esmeralda which passes under Reforma and IS MX 3 (see map)

bajaguy - 8-18-2012 at 08:02 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by durrelllrobert
Quote:
Originally posted by bajaguy




How do you get from the Costero or Blvd Lazaro Card##as(waterfront) to Hwy 3???

Lazaro Card##as becomes Esmeralda which passes under Reforma and IS MX 3 (see map)





Actually Bob, the route along the Costero and then on Esmeralda, if you are coming from the toll road, takes you through more of Ensenada than the 9th street route, plus you will be going more out of your way and will have to backtrack. The 9th street route is more direct.

The only way the Esmeralda route is shorter and more direct is if you will be coming from the south.

DavidE - 8-18-2012 at 08:19 AM

The malecón route, past the fish market, hotel bahia, etc., and then turn at the trailer park, go past las cazuelas, ISSSTE hospital and up the hill to the big stoplight...then make a left and go north to Mex 3....

used to be an OK route IMHO

But Ensenada has "Groan"

Especially around that intersection, which is now a freakin' zoo. You know the intersection that "used to have" the Astra supermarket, the SAHISHA gasolinera, where calle delante starts across Mex 1?

Alternative to an alternative...

Instead of Ave Costera, the one passes by hotel bahia...

Jog one street to the LEFT and then dogleg right onto ave LOPEZ MATEOS. Follow that street all the way (about a mile and a half) to Mex 1, and then make a left. It still has a big McDonald's at that corner. From there to the monument is only about 1/8 mile (and make a right onto ave Cortes).

ENSENADA NEEDS A FREAKIN' PERIFERICO! A LIBRAMIENTO!

J.P. - 8-18-2012 at 08:29 AM

Hold up on all those directions when the new President is Sworn all the street names will change. :lol::lol::lol::lol:

DENNIS - 8-18-2012 at 08:42 AM

The Costero route is the fastest since the traffic lights are now synchronized, unlike Calle Novena with it's million Micros. Still, there are the stop signs, but that's the way it is.
Ensenada is a big, crowded city and congestion comes with it.
Just drive through and relax. It won't take long no matter which route you choose.

wilderone - 8-18-2012 at 08:20 PM

All these replies are really funny if someone really needed directions. I'll add my dos centavos. Instead of turning right along the malecon, go straight (past the docks, through the intersection - not to the right at the fish market). It goes past banks and a business section, but ultimately hooks into Mex. 3. Found it by accident, and came back into Ensenada the same way. If you go down the main tourista street, onto the new road along the ocean, it takes a wide swing to the left curve (wide) and yes, onto Mex. 3, but you just have to backtrack that 2 miles or so.

durrelllrobert - 8-19-2012 at 08:39 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by bajaguy


The only way the Esmeralda route is shorter and more direct is if you will be coming from the south.
Yep, that's why my original post said "if you are comming from the south"
Saw you at the chilli cook-off yesterday but didn't get to talk to you. However your neighbor Dale sat and chatted with us for a while.

J.P. - 8-19-2012 at 08:51 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by wilderone
All these replies are really funny if someone really needed directions. I'll add my dos centavos. Instead of turning right along the malecon, go straight (past the docks, through the intersection - not to the right at the fish market). It goes past banks and a business section, but ultimately hooks into Mex. 3. Found it by accident, and came back into Ensenada the same way. If you go down the main tourista street, onto the new road along the ocean, it takes a wide swing to the left curve (wide) and yes, onto Mex. 3, but you just have to backtrack that 2 miles or so.






You may back track a little but you will make it up in time saved going through town can be a bear.:yes::yes:

[Edited on 8-19-2012 by J.P.]

Pacifico - 8-19-2012 at 09:35 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by J.P.
Quote:
Originally posted by wilderone
All these replies are really funny if someone really needed directions. I'll add my dos centavos. Instead of turning right along the malecon, go straight (past the docks, through the intersection - not to the right at the fish market). It goes past banks and a business section, but ultimately hooks into Mex. 3. Found it by accident, and came back into Ensenada the same way. If you go down the main tourista street, onto the new road along the ocean, it takes a wide swing to the left curve (wide) and yes, onto Mex. 3, but you just have to backtrack that 2 miles or so.


Agreed!



You may back track a little but you will make it up in time saved going through town can be a bear.:yes::yes:

[Edited on 8-19-2012 by J.P.]