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caj13
Super Nomad
Posts: 1002
Registered: 8-1-2017
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route to Mulege? 5 or 1?
Ok guys, taking a scouting trip. headed for Mulege area. pretty much 6es if I go through san diego / tijuana. or el centro mexicali.
how are the roads - ie is 5 a good road. or am i better going all the way down on 1?
i would like to go through san felipe and continue south from there, but not sure if I put myself in a bad road situation if I keep headed south on
5?
and crossing wise, i suspect tijuana is a bigger headache than Mexicali? but i have no idea. So i figured ; why not ask the experts!
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Howard
Super Nomad
Posts: 2353
Registered: 11-13-2007
Location: Loreto/Manhattan Beach/Kona
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Mood: I'd rather regret the things I've done than regret the things I haven't done.
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Where are you starting out from?
We don't stop playing because we grow old;
we grow old because we stop playing
George Bernard Shaw
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bajaguy
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9247
Registered: 9-16-2003
Location: Carson City, NV/Ensenada - Baja Country Club
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Mood: must be 5 O'clock somewhere in Baja
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South on 1, return on 5.......best of both
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64857
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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What is 'good' to you?
I use the 5 because I hate cities and traffic. There are 22-23 unpaved miles on the 5, but they are just bumpy miles and all vehicles and trucks use
it... like a long detour when they pave other highways in Mexico. Motorhomes and 5th wheels may want to avoid dirt roads, but all others should have
no issues on 5.
Hwy. 1 requires you to drive through the city of Ensenada, a 30-minute ordeal, at best. Then there are all the farming areas of the San Quintin
Valley. You also have winding mountain sections on Hwy. 1 south of Ensenada and south of El Rosario that you don't have on Hwy. 5.
From the border south, Hwy. 5 is over 100 miles shorter, less traffic, more ocean views. If you begin in San Diego, you have to get over to Mexicali
which balances the distance saved.
Lot's of photos in the Nomad Trip Reports forum of either choice.
Here is a view along Hwy. 5:
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JZ
Select Nomad
Posts: 10583
Registered: 10-3-2003
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5 w/o question. Much better.
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bajaguy
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9247
Registered: 9-16-2003
Location: Carson City, NV/Ensenada - Baja Country Club
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Mood: must be 5 O'clock somewhere in Baja
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Which is "best"??? What or who defines "best"
5 or 1, like comparing oranges and mashed potatoes
Everyone has their preferences, you are getting personal biases here
caj13, drive both and decide for yourself.
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Paco Facullo
Super Nomad
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Mood: Abiding ..........
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Also along the 5 you can stop for fish tacos in San Felipe
A beer at CowPaddy's
and a beer at Coco's.....
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Howard
Super Nomad
Posts: 2353
Registered: 11-13-2007
Location: Loreto/Manhattan Beach/Kona
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Mood: I'd rather regret the things I've done than regret the things I haven't done.
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-----------------------------------
And shock absorbers when you complete the 23 miles 
As mentioned above, go down 1 an up 5 and cross northbound at Tecate
We don't stop playing because we grow old;
we grow old because we stop playing
George Bernard Shaw
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Paco Facullo
Super Nomad
Posts: 1301
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Mood: Abiding ..........
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If'n ya do end up taking the 5 be sure to air down your tires.
Going South there is a tire shop when you hit the 1 that will refill up your tires.
Cool guy too , has 15 dogs. I always carry a Costco box of dog biscuits with my in Baja so of course the dogs were happy to.
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bajaguy
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9247
Registered: 9-16-2003
Location: Carson City, NV/Ensenada - Baja Country Club
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Mood: must be 5 O'clock somewhere in Baja
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Cow Patty's
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mtgoat666
Select Nomad
Posts: 18397
Registered: 9-16-2006
Location: San Diego
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Mood: Hot n spicy
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I often do south on 1, North on 5, for variety.
But also depends on weather. The 5 side is awfully hot, like 100+ hot, so really quite nasty.
Woke!
“...ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country.” “My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America
will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man.”
Prefered gender pronoun: the royal we
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caj13
Super Nomad
Posts: 1002
Registered: 8-1-2017
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Thanks guys,
based on what you say, i figure the 5 is my best option, I'm coming from the central valley - Fresno area, so i can cut through tehachapi etc get
to mexicali, avoid LA and SD traffic,. Plus a few places i want to check out on the 5. I'll decide for coming back up wether I take the 1 or the 5,
based on my trip down!
BTW, when you say air down tires - how much? from 32 to 20? more? less?
[Edited on 11-18-2017 by caj13]
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Paco Facullo
Super Nomad
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Mood: Abiding ..........
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Well heck,
Depending on the time ya have, both ways have there charms.
Personally I REALLY like Tijuana, Ensenada , San Quintin , etc..
... for a bunch of reasons.
If you haven't been, you should do both.
.
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64857
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Quote: Originally posted by caj13  | Thanks guys,
based on what you say, i figure the 5 is my best option, I'm coming from the central valley - Fresno area, so i can cut through tehachapi etc get
to mexicali, avoid LA and SD traffic,. Plus a few places i want to check out on the 5. I'll decide for coming back up wether I take the 1 or the 5,
based on my trip down!
BTW, when you say air down tires - how much? from 32 to 20? more? less?
[Edited on 11-18-2017 by caj13] |
Really need to know what you are driving and what kind of tires... If you don't have good suspension then about drop about 1/4 to 1/3. It is really
optional now, for such a short distance, I think. I used to drop from normal 34 to 25 psi on it. I didn't even bother the past few times as the rough
parts are only a few miles long now.
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bajabuddha
Banned
Posts: 4024
Registered: 4-12-2013
Location: Baja New Mexico
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Mood: Always cranky unless medicated
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caj13, if you do drive Hwy 5 up or down be advised in the stretch between San Felipe and Puertecitos there are a series of vados that cross the road
that makes short, steep and deep dips that'll bong your head on the roof of your vehicle if you hit 'em fast, so be aware of them. The pavement gives
a false sense of security along that part of the drive. You'll see the dig-marks in the asphalt where some unwary drivers didn't.
I don't have a BUCKET LIST, but I do have a F***- IT LIST a mile long!
86 - 45*
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AKgringo
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6030
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Location: Anchorage, AK (no mas!)
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Mood: Retireded
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I start my trips from north of you, and either travel south on the east side of the Sierra Nevada range, or take the route you plan on using.
I air down for a few back roads in Baja, but the new construction on 5 is not one of them. The road hazards are not that great, and you will be
encountering them at much lower speeds than the potholes, vados, and topes on the paved sections.
If you are not living on the edge, you are taking up too much space!
"Could do better if he tried!" Report card comments from most of my grade school teachers. Sadly, still true!
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StuckSucks
Super Nomad
Posts: 2325
Registered: 10-17-2013
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Highway 5 for me, Laguna Chapala norte. Unless I am forced to go to Ensenada, I will never use 1 again. As everyone has said, 5 has much less traffic,
better scenery and MUCH faster. And the mileage is a push (from Tecate) to Chapala. AND I get 23 miles of bonus dirt. What's not to like?
If you're at peace with the dirt section, go that way. Otherwise endure Highway 1 madness.
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MMc
Super Nomad
Posts: 1679
Registered: 6-29-2011
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Mood: Current
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I prefer 1. I find it a just a more enjoyable, cooler and a more colorful drive. I love the desert and 5 has plenty, the best part is the dirt road.
Drive time and distance to the junction is within 10 of driving time from my house and I chose 1.
Going down one and back on the other is always fun, better when you don't know both roads. It's your trip don't let us decide for you.
"Never teach a pig to sing it frustrates you and annoys the pig" - W.C.Fields
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bajabuddha
Banned
Posts: 4024
Registered: 4-12-2013
Location: Baja New Mexico
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Mood: Always cranky unless medicated
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Do it all.
See Baja.
Then tell your stories.
Yahoodee, and yippie-ay-aye, muh-fuh.
btw, keep the black side down. 
I don't have a BUCKET LIST, but I do have a F***- IT LIST a mile long!
86 - 45*
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8knots
Junior Nomad
Posts: 85
Registered: 1-8-2016
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I've done 1 maybe 12 times. So tired of the Ensenada and small farm town grind but like the cool temps and hotels/restaurants.
Where to stay with dogs on 5 that is nice and has food nearby?
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