Travel Information

I have heard that the coastal roads are rather unsafe. Since hurricane Karl hit ten miles north of Veracruz and they were showing pictures of Tecolutla, the entire stretch of coastal roads may have suffered damage. Usually the heaviest rains are on the north side of landfall.

There is an alternative way to get to Jalapa that Ed Culp has posted from emails from his son. His son has made the trip 4 times recently. Others have used the information and not had any problems but with the overall situation in Mexico there are no guarantees. I was going to just link to it but he says it is just posted temporarily.

- Tom

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This is probably the best way to go from the U.S. Border to Veracruz with the least risk, it is all toll roads in excellent condition and you don't need to go thru any cities and yes you can make it the same day it takes approx 13 hrs. YOU DO NOT WANT TO DRIVE AT NIGHT. One thing I recommend is that you purchase insurance thru a regular US broker it is normally a third of what they charge you at the border and you won't waste all that time, most brokers sell GNP general nacional provincial. It is the best! ask your broker he should have it.

First I recommend that you cross the border in Mc Allen and take the Anzalduas Intl bridge, this one will take you straight to the right freeway without going into reynosa, also this is the least crowded immigration and customs since trucks are not allowed on that bridge, spend the night in mc Allen and try to leave early to cross Mexico during the day just like you are planing. Once you crossed don't forget the permit for your vehicle at the border office, then you want to go towards Monterrey if you go straight from Mexican customs under the freeway and then take a left, you will see signs that lead you to Monterrey follow those you should see reynosa from the freeway don't stop there. After you want to go towards Saltillo don't exit in Monterrey stay on the same freeway it is always marked as cuota (ex. Saltillo cuota), again don't exit here just keep going you will see a lot of other vehicles moving their personal belongings stay with them, then you will go towards San Luis potosi this is all the same freeway it is very nice all hydraulic concrete stay on that you should pass the state of hidalgo, then you go towards Queretaro on the same road, and finally you want to take the exit towards queretaro/ tlaxcala the name of the freeway is Arco Norte if you miss the first exit don't worry there are 2 others ahead. Arco Norte avoids Mexico City wich will save you at least 3 hrs and a million headaches, take that road until it ends you might also see signs for Puebla to take arco norte be careful because you can also get to Puebla going thru Mexico city if uncertain you can always ask at a Pemex station ask them for arco norte, if you stay on the same road you go to mexico city, I believe the first exit to arco norte does say Puebla cuota. once you go thru arco norte and you get to the last toll (you will know because you pay for all of arco norte) you should then be in Puebla, go straight towards Veracruz until you see the exit for Perote/ Xalapa or Jalapa (they spell it both ways) always stay on the cuota not the libre option this is about 30 km after Puebla, once you pass perote the freeway ends and it is a two lane road with lots of curves, this is the worst part [but you are almost there].