fishnbaja1
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From Los Angeles to Mulege
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.
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BajaNomad
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Thread Moved
7-1-2020 at 11:07 AM |
SFandH
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Maybe because you skip Ensenada and the stretch from Colonet through San Quintin. Both have a lower average speed than open highway.
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StuckSucks
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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.
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AKgringo
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Mex 5 has been my choice of routes for a few years now, but any plans on crossing at Mexicali would be based on current events. This
is from last week; http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=94703
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!
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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David K
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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.
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SFandH
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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.
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David K
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Quote: Originally posted by SFandH  | | 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.
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LOL, yes indeed... well anywhere south of Cataviña, anyway!
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AKgringo
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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.
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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