BajaNomad

Route Suggestions: Hwy 1 vs Hwy 5 from PHX

ehines - 7-30-2018 at 03:35 PM


Planning to drive to Loreto from Phoenix AZ. Trying to decide the best route. Most suggestions I have seen are to cross at San Luis and take Hwy 5 south till it meets up Hwy 1. I understand there is a good stretch of this highway that is under construction and is a dirt road currently. The other route I have seen is to head to Tecate and go south on Hwy 3 to meet Hwy 1 and avoid the long dirt section of Hwy 5. The Tecate route shows to be about 2 hours longer and over 150 miles longer. We will be driving a Jeep Grand Cherokee 4x4. Ultimate question is it worth it to go the longer way through Tecate, Ensenda or is it just easier to sick to Hwy 5. Has anyone done either route straight through and have a realistic drive time? Thanks for your input.

JZ - 7-30-2018 at 03:56 PM

Hwy 5 all the way, every day. Hwy 1 along the Pacific is littered with stop and go traffic. Plus you avoid the hairiest part of Hwy 1, which is just past El Rosario.

I live in LA and take the 5, 8 out of 10 times.

Grand Cherokee will take that dirt easy. Just deflate the tires a bit (30-40% or so) to make the ride smoother. Take a small $50 compressor to air back up once you hit Hwy 1. Get one that connects directly to the battery.

Crossing at San Luis and taking the 2 over is a good route. It's an easy drive. You can avoid most of Mexicali by doing that, as opposed to taking the 8 over and then going down.

Trying to reach Loreto in one day is not advisable. I drive Hwy 15 coming down from Phoenix in Sonora at night as it's 4 lanes and fenced. Hwy 1 is a whole other ball game. No shoulder and no fences. We drive a bit at night, but that's just way too far. Plus you miss all the beautiful scenery.

Stop at Gonzaga Bay. Hit it early the next day.


[Edited on 7-30-2018 by JZ]

willardguy - 7-30-2018 at 04:03 PM

I'd opt for tecate or even Otay or SY...get over to the pac side as soon as possible! :coolup:....jmo

TMW - 7-30-2018 at 04:39 PM

Coming from Phoenix you'll save 3-4 hours at least maybe more taking hwy 5. Unless you have a reason to take hwy 1 from Ensenada to Laguna Chapala. There are nice places along that section to eat and stay overnight plus excellent sightseeing places. But if you want to get south take 5.

JZ - 7-30-2018 at 04:42 PM

Quote: Originally posted by willardguy  
I'd opt for tecate or even Otay or SY...get over to the pac side as soon as possible! :coolup:....jmo


If I was a newbie and you gave me this bad advice and I found out the truth later, well.......:mad:

bajabuddha - 7-30-2018 at 04:46 PM

Depending on your time frame, you should do BOTH. Either go down 1 and up 5, or vice-versa. Reserve your opinions on both for future trips. All of Baja should be travelled and experienced. If time is of essence, do 5 absolutely. Coming from Phoenix and doing 1 means at least one full day of more travel.

You have to GO to KNOW.

mtgoat666 - 7-30-2018 at 04:57 PM

Quote: Originally posted by TMW  
Coming from Phoenix you'll save 3-4 hours at least maybe more taking hwy 5.


3-4 hours?
More like 2 hours.

TMW - 7-30-2018 at 05:04 PM

He is driving from Phoenix not San Diego.

thebajarunner - 7-30-2018 at 05:09 PM

It always amazes me that people who drive off road type vehicles (Jeep 4 x 4?)) don't want to drive on dirt.
The advice to make the circle is a good suggestion
I always try to see the most country, so that is good
However, anyone trying to talk you out of the 5 (dirt) route should not be on a Baja board.... just my view.
And, that unpaved stretch is hardly "Baja rough" so I never air down.
And, if you do, there is a llantera (tire shop) as soon as you re- connect to hiway 1, so don't even think about trying to air yourself back up. A couple bucks makes them happy and you aired up.
And yes, the 5 route will save you at least 3 hours, not only a lot shorter but except for the 45 minutes on dirt a lot less congested.
Go for it.

David K - 7-30-2018 at 06:06 PM

Seriously, you have a Jeep 4x4 and you are wondering about 20 unpaved highway miles that all sorts of regular cars and semis use???

Yes, it's only about 20 now, was 23 for the past 5 years.

Some photos of the unpaved Hwy. 5 from last year, north to south but images are looking north:











rts551 - 7-30-2018 at 06:12 PM

I have driven Tucson to BCS many, many times. It is almost exactly 200 miles shorter going through San Luis to 5 than it is going Tecate to 1. 3-4 hours difference depending on your average speed.

There are 2 dirt sections now. About 10 miles or so North of Puertecitos there is a detour as they rebuild the road. This section is washboard and dusty. Then From west of Gonzaga it is 20 miles of washboard/rocky dirt road where they are building the new 5 to Laguna Chapala. You should have no problems in your Jeep. Just make sure you have good tires.

ehines - 7-30-2018 at 06:32 PM

Thanks all for the input. Looks like Hwy 5 it is.

JZ - 7-30-2018 at 06:37 PM

Quote: Originally posted by ehines  
Thanks all for the input. Looks like Hwy 5 it is.


Tell us more about the trip. We'll give you more "advice." Lol.

ehines - 7-30-2018 at 06:52 PM

I guess any "advice" will be helpful as I have never made the drive before. We are ultimately headed to Los Barriles to fish for a week. I have always wanted to drive Baja and finally found three friends I could convince to do the trip with me. Planning to hit the San Luis border at first light. Probably around 6 a.m. We are hoping to make it to somewhere between Santa Rosalia and Loreto the first day. I know this seems like a daunting task but we like to drive and we have 4 drivers that we can switch off between. We plan to stop either when it gets dark or when we were just too exhausted to go further. Our second day will head to our destination. Trying to knock out as much driving the first day as possible.

JZ - 7-30-2018 at 06:58 PM

Quote: Originally posted by willardguy  

:lol: hey buckeye, someone must have told you calabasas was the "in" spot for hipsters....:rolleyes: a long time homeowner in gonzaga bay you're gonna school me on hwy5?


Do you have 2 handles on here my friend? PM me if you want, I won't tell your secret.

Can I stay at your place in Gonzaga sometime?

Btw, how do you know I'm a Buckeye? Tell the hull truth, Del.


[Edited on 7-31-2018 by JZ]

willardguy - 7-30-2018 at 07:14 PM

Quote: Originally posted by JZ  
Quote: Originally posted by willardguy  

:lol: hey buckeye, someone must have told you calabasas was the "in" spot for hipsters....:rolleyes: a long time homeowner in gonzaga bay you're gonna school me on hwy5?


Do you have 2 handles on here my friend? PM me if you want, I won't tell your secret.

Can I stay at your place in Gonzaga sometime?

Btw, how do you know I'm a Buckeye? THT, Del?



[Edited on 7-31-2018 by JZ]


you're not the only Rivals fan here.....

JZ - 7-30-2018 at 07:21 PM

Quote: Originally posted by ehines  
I guess any "advice" will be helpful as I have never made the drive before. We are ultimately headed to Los Barriles to fish for a week. I have always wanted to drive Baja and finally found three friends I could convince to do the trip with me. Planning to hit the San Luis border at first light. Probably around 6 a.m. We are hoping to make it to somewhere between Santa Rosalia and Loreto the first day. I know this seems like a daunting task but we like to drive and we have 4 drivers that we can switch off between. We plan to stop either when it gets dark or when we were just too exhausted to go further. Our second day will head to our destination. Trying to knock out as much driving the first day as possible.


Ok. Here's my 50 pesos of advice.

1. You are defeating the purpose of the trip by ripping through it so fast like that. You'll miss everything interesting

2. Hwy 1 is a very dangerous road. No shoulder. Push it and you are asking for trouble.

3. If you want to go to Los Barriles, fly into Cabo. Rent a jeep and drive over. Tons of very cheap flights into Cabo and some very cheap rentals. Fly from TJ if you have to.

4. Loreto is way better than Los Barriles. Much better water. I'd pick La Paz over Los Barriles as well.



[Edited on 7-31-2018 by JZ]

JZ - 7-30-2018 at 07:23 PM

Quote: Originally posted by willardguy  


you're not the only Rivals fan here.....


Hahaha... wow.

Marc - 7-31-2018 at 10:11 PM

Quote: Originally posted by JZ  
Quote: Originally posted by willardguy  
I'd opt for tecate or even Otay or SY...get over to the pac side as soon as possible! :coolup:....jmo


If I was a newbie and you gave me this bad advice and I found out the truth later, well.......:mad:


You and I both!

David K - 7-31-2018 at 10:43 PM

LOL

Marc - 8-3-2018 at 08:53 AM

From PHX I would enter at Lukeville/Sonoyta. A very quiet and little used exit-entry portal. Especially on the return...never more than 5 minutes.

rts551 - 8-3-2018 at 09:16 AM

Quote: Originally posted by Marc  
From PHX I would enter at Lukeville/Sonoyta. A very quiet and little used exit-entry portal. Especially on the return...never more than 5 minutes.
Heavily used for traffic going to Puerto Penasco OR points South. Road through the Indian reservation (hwy 85) is slow..HWY 2 (Mexico) is way slower than 8 at that point....etc. it is a route I take sometimes for something different but takes at least an hour longer.

basautter - 8-4-2018 at 03:35 PM

I have taken both routes, and opted for route 5 in May. There was about 25 or miles of rough dirt road around the road construction, but otherwise pretty good. A new section of pavement looked to be near completion at Chapala. It may be open now. I am still convinced it's a faster route, and if you air down your tires, not quite so rough. Good luck!

bajabuddha - 8-4-2018 at 04:29 PM

Quote: Originally posted by Marc  
From PHX I would enter at Lukeville/Sonoyta. A very quiet and little used exit-entry portal. Especially on the return...never more than 5 minutes.


I love Sonoyta, instant Mexico when you cross southbound. However going back there is an exception to the rule; weekends especially holiday ones the Phoenix/Tucson crowds can be miles long. I spent (on a Saturday no less) 3 hours, 45 minutes in line some years back trying to beat the Sunday-go-homers on a holiday weekend. Otherwise, I love the drive west of Sonoyta as I've spent some time out on the volcano fields to the south of the highway. Slower than I-8 & 10, but not by much. Depends on how much of a hurry you're in.

chippy - 8-4-2018 at 04:42 PM

From Phoenix San Luis rio Colorado is the best option.

AKgringo - 8-4-2018 at 05:40 PM

Does anybody know what the toll is on 2D between San Luis and Mexicali? How about if the OP is pulling a boat behind his rig?

Edit; I did look for a link, but got lost!

[Edited on 8-5-2018 by AKgringo]

rts551 - 8-4-2018 at 06:20 PM

Quote: Originally posted by AKgringo  
Does anybody know what the toll is on 2D between San Luis and Mexicali? How about if the OP is pulling a boat behind his rig?

Edit; I did look for a link, but got lost!

[Edited on 8-5-2018 by AKgringo]


Around 30 pesos with the truck...Don't remember with the trailer...but probably double or a little less. Not much of a toll.

PaulW - 8-4-2018 at 07:35 PM

From San Luis
Tolls for any 4 axle rig - no trailer last April
#1 just west of San Luis = 13p
#2 Hwy 5/2D = 24p that is just south of Mexicali
If I remember correctly double with the trailer?
We never use 2 all the way to Mexicali to avoid the snarling traffic.
The price has been drifting up each 6 months. Figure about 1 peso every 6 months

rts551 - 8-4-2018 at 07:48 PM

Quote: Originally posted by PaulW  
From San Luis
Tolls for any 4 axle rig - no trailer last April
#1 just west of San Luis = 13p
#2 Hwy 5/2D = 24p that is just south of Mexicali
If I remember correctly double with the trailer?
We never use 2 all the way to Mexicali to avoid the snarling traffic.
The price has been drifting up each 6 months. Figure about 1 peso every 6 months


4 axle rig?