Hello,
General question, and I apologize if I'm on the wrong thread.
I've driven from L.A. to Mulege plenty of times in the past 13 years. I've always taken the L.A. To Tijuana, San Quintin, Cataviña and onwards route,
all the way to Mulege. The Total drive time is usually 15 hours.
During our last trip I plugged the same trip, from Los Angeles, to Mulege, on our trusty GPS, and it said the total driving time would be roughly 13
hours, but through Mexicali, and along the Sea of Cortez. I didn't follow that route, since I wanted to investigate more prior to venturing that way.
Can someone tell me why it takes less time going through Mexicali? Is it geography?
Thanks.SFandH - 7-1-2020 at 11:29 AM
Maybe because you skip Ensenada and the stretch from Colonet through San Quintin. Both have a lower average speed than open highway.StuckSucks - 7-1-2020 at 11:29 AM
Can someone tell me why it takes less time going through Mexicali? Is it geography?
Thanks.
If you run it past Google Maps, the distance from LA to Mulege is a push, either going thru Ensenada via Highway 1, or Highway 5 thru San Felipe. The
Highway 5 route has much less traffic, much more scenic and I very much prefer it (haven't driven down Highway 1 to Laguna Chapala for many years).
Also, I avoid Mexicali traffic by driving thru Tecate then taking the toll road, then the bi-pass around Mexicali, thus avoiding all traffic.
All of that makes the trip down the peninsula super easy and fast. AKgringo - 7-1-2020 at 12:59 PM
As pointed out by S.S., crossing at Tecate would avoid any Mexicali traffic and potential checkpoint delays....and it is a nice drive over the
Rumorosa grade!David K - 7-1-2020 at 01:16 PM
There is no comparison between the two, Highway 5 wins for me but I do miss El Rosario's restaurants and Baja Cactus Motel by going along the gulf. I
drove both routes many times 2017-2019 and before the last 20 miles was paved on Hwy. 5. With it all paved, it's a no-brainer.
It is very close on driving distance. The advantage is the hour you save by not crossing all the city traffic of Ensenada, the bad pot holes of
Maneadero, all the small farm towns you drive through, slowly.
Hwy. 5 (if you bypass Mexicali as StuckSucks describes) has only one big town to drive slowly through, San Felipe. La Puerta is the one small town,
but hardly any traffic issues there. You also don't have all the mountains sections to climb over (Maneadero to San Vicente and El Rosario south for
30 miles) and be stuck behind trucks.SFandH - 7-1-2020 at 01:22 PM
Yes, please, everybody take the east side route through San Felipe. It's the best route in the world to get to wherever you're going. Well, to GN.David K - 7-1-2020 at 01:25 PM
Yes, please, everybody take the east side route through San Felipe. It's the best route in the world to get to wherever you're going. Well, to GN.
LOL, yes indeed... well anywhere south of Cataviña, anyway!AKgringo - 7-1-2020 at 01:31 PM
I just prefer wide open spaces. From Northern California, I don't care if it take a half a day longer if it avoids driving through
the megalopolis of southern CA, TJ, and Ensenada.
