rod
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Drive down Mex 5
Hello to all, Long time lurker, first time posting.
I was wondering what the drive is like from Mexicali, down Mex. 5 all the way to Mex. 1? The map I have looks like road is good to San Felipe, then
pretty good to Puertecitos, then graded dirt for approx. 80 miles to Chapala.
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Pescador
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Depends on your idea of a good time. The road from Puetocitos to Chapala is rough and takes a lot of time. Would not reccomend it if you are driving
a motor home of truck and camper, although I have had friends who have done it with both.
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Pompano
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| Quote: | Originally posted by rod
Hello to all, Long time lurker, first time posting.
I was wondering what the drive is like from Mexicali, down Mex. 5 all the way to Mex. 1? The map I have looks like road is good to San Felipe, then
pretty good to Puertecitos, then graded dirt for approx. 80 miles to Chapala. |
Welcome to posting, rod,
I drove that route a while back in a 35ft motorhome....I now have new squeaks, rattles, and dishes.
SUV or other ??...You're good to go. Safe travels.
I do what the voices in my tackle box tell me.
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wilderone
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"... graded dirt for approx. 80 miles to Chapala."
Grading is sporadic, and weather erodes in various ways. Doable if you have some clearance, decent tires, scout the iffy sand stretches and ditches -
but isn't that what is so appealing? Be prepared.
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rod
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Thanks for the replies! Looks so much shorter on map than going all the way to Tecate or TJ.
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rts551
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more recent news
http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=55734#pid6614...
http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=55517#pid6585...
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David K
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UMMM ... NEWS FLASH (me and others have newer details as crews are working on paving the route as we speak).
There is a Baja Road Conditions forum here on Nomad where you will see a road log and posts.
Road is all paved but not a fast highway due to sudden steep dips (vados) from San Felipe to Puertecitos (~51 miles).
Road is paved (and a fast highway) for ~ 26 miles south to about Okie Landing. The next 8 miles were being ready prepped for pavement and the
reamaining 8 miles to Papa Fernandez' was rough in July when I drove it last, but has since been reported on Nomad as having been graded smooth by the
construction crews.
Papa Fernandez' to Hwy. 1 (Chapala) is 38 miles, and it has been a 2WD maintained graded road.
So, of the 131 miles from San Felipe to Laguna Chapala (Hwy. 1):
77 (and maybe now 85) miles are paved.
16 (or perhaps now 8) miles are freshly graded.
38 miles more are graded, some washboard but passable with 2WD.
Total dirt miles are 54 or less.
edit: (while I was typing this, Ralph posted links, one includes my road log... thanks!)
[Edited on 10-23-2011 by David K]
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rod
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Thanks so much for the informative replies!!! Sounds like the road construction has made much progress.
In your opinion, with the newly paved sections, what would be the total driving time from Mexicali, down Hwy 5 to Hwy 1?
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David K
Honored Nomad
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Mexicali to San Felipe: 2.5 hrs. typical (125 mi.)
San Felipe to Puertecitos: 1.5 hrs. or less. (51 mi.)
Puertecitos to Gonzaga Bay; 2 hours (or less, in fact someone drove from SF to Gonzaga in 2 hrs. 10 min. per the second link in Ralph's post). (45
miles, with 26 to 32 of them paved/ 13-19 dirt miles)
Gonzaga to Hwy. 1/ Laguna Chapala: 1 to 1.5 hrs. (35 dirt miles)(or more time, depending on if Coco is there at his Corner!)
Total maybe 7 hours...
so a lot less time than Mexicali to Ensenada then south to Laguna Chapala! That way is about 10 hours.
[Edited on 10-24-2011 by David K]
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Bob H
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I wonder, when all the new pavement is finished, how it will transform this area of Baja!
I drove this route six or seven years ago in my cabover and it took me over 5 hours to travel from San Felipe to Papa's in Gonzaga Bay. Horrible
washboard then.
The SAME boiling water that softens the potato hardens the egg. It's about what you are made of NOT the circumstance.
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proneman
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San Felipe to Hwy 1......few minutes shy of 5 hours......in this low clearance Dodge Grand Caravan.......few months ago......very few cars on that
stretch of road.....
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Phil S
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Mood: After 34 years. Still in love w/ my wife
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Nice to see the Dodge Caravan made it o.;k. Guess my Toyota sienna will do o.k. then with wise vision & prudent judgements!!!!
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David K
Honored Nomad
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Phil (and others), please note the mileage (or zero the trip odometer) at the Puertecitos junction (Km. 74+)... and then note the mileage at the end
of pavement or before, if you are detoured off new pavement... then again at Papa Fernandez' road. Thanks!
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