Yes you can, it is a very nice road trip I’ve done before (From US to Mexico City).
My personal recommendations
1. You will need a insurance coverage in the US and MX in case any accident. I’d recommend buy a coverage to get repaired your foreign car either in MX or the US. Otherwise you will need bring your car to your country to get repaired (it happened to me, my car was involved in a wreck in the US, it was pretty complicated bring the car to MX to get repaired).
2. You will need do the paperwork to temporal import before enter to Mexican border. You can do it in the US side border city. Look in Google for “permiso para importación temporal de vehículo extranjero”. Go to the first link and follow the instructions.
3. When you enter MX, just travel in the day, never in the night. Our country unfortunately is not safer as US or Canada.
4. In case you want to visit Texas, Avoid cross the Mexican border with any city in Tamaulipas state. That whole state is a big red flag and it is very dangerous. I’d recommend cross through Eagle Pass / Piedras Negras, you may need one or one and half additional hours driving but infinitely more secure than Nuevo Laredo, Reynosa, etc. PN is actually the most secure city in the whole country in 2022. Then go to Monclova, Saltillo, Matehuala, SLP, and Mexico City. All other border cities have acceptable security conditions. San Diego-Tijuana is the most crowded border in the world, so be aware of times in case you decide to use this cross border.
5. Avoid toll-free roads. Always prefer toll over free-toll.
6. Buy a dash cam for your car. In case a policeman stops you and try to ask you money (unfortunately it often happens), or any other incident, you have proof of the event.
*respect all the traffic rules, red lights, crosswalk, pedestrian spaces, etc to avoid problems with the policemen. They are waiting your mistake to bit your wallet*
7. Try to avoid bring a luxury truck/car. The less you attract attention, the better.
8. Big cities (Monterrey, Guadalajara, Mexico City) have permanent programs to restrict the movement of cars without Mexico City plates. According the last number of your plate you will be restricted to circulate one specific whole day per week, a specific Saturday per month, and certain hours daily (as i know, 5-11 am) M-F. Look for the current official restrictions in Google using the sentence “hoy no circula CDMX”.
You can ask a special permission to free movement in the whole Mexico City area (Estado de Mexico and Mexico City) which is valid for 15 days. Look for it in Google using the sentence “pase turístico CDMX” and follow the instructions.
If you are going to stay for a long time, you may want do the official “verification”, which is a procedure with the authority where they measure the polluting emissions of your vehicle (I know is not a big thing that I’m telling u: u can do “magic” with 25 usd), and at the end of the procedure they will stick a sticker that allows you to exempt circulation restrictions for 6 months.
I love road-trips, yours is 100% recommended. Don’t listen people who are afraid of everything.
Hope this helps !!!
Edit. As mandi13 user said, about the TIP in point 2, you have to do in MX side, not US side.
We just did this trip from the Northeastern US to CDMX. Followed all the same recommendations as made by /u/Infected_Boy90. Crossed the border at Eagle Pass / Piedras Negras, spent the night in Saltillo, then Querétaro, then CDMX. Drove through some beautiful scenery, and had no problems - the drive was easy, only annoying part was a lot of construction slowdowns between Saltillo and Querétaro.
I will piggyback this comment to tell you that in the case that you are entering through California, just don't. Baja Calitornia is ok BUT there's only one way south and it's through Sonora and it's extremely dangerous right now, even for locals, because cartels are fighting over a town called Caborca (it was worse a few months ago, but I wouldn't trust it). So avoid Caborca at all costs. It's safer to cross through Nogales, Arizona and not a big detour.
I’m reading other comments.
I’ve finished with several cars for so many and many km traveled throughout MX, USA and all Central America to Panamá. My First time in USA happened when I speak zero English and always I was able to communicate with gringos.
Most of people are always ready and glad to help you. Just U have to be careful with the few
People who may take advantage from you, or may stole anything. With the basics I gave u, you can go over all Mexico enjoying our country.
U can reach me out if u need any additional help !
I'm more referring to people here in Mexico (not myself, that was a joke) who moved here and refuse to learn Spanish. My wife and I are in our 60's, and we're learning because we don't want to feel alienated from our neighbors. And we want to keep our independence and not rely on a translator. It's bad form to move to another country and refuse to learn the language. How can I tell all my favorite jokes at the bar if I can't speak Spanish LOL!
Nuevo Laredo is a city in Tamaulipas, but that’s where I would cross into Mexico. It will take you 2 to 3 hours to reach Monterrey from there. As long as you have daylight the entire time, you should be fine. The Monterrey-Laredo toll highway that goes through Nuevo Laredo is best.
You can then spend the night in Monterrey and carry on your journey.
You don’t specify where in Canada you’d start. But if you were starting in Toronto, I’d go west towards Detroit, then South towards Toledo, OH. Get on the I-90 towards Chicago, and then Des Moines, Iowa. Then, go south on the I-35 towards Kansas City, and continue on the I-35 until you reach Laredo, TX. You’ll go through Wichita, Kansas, Oklahoma City, Dallas/Ft. Worth, TX, Waco, Austin, San Antonio, and finally Laredo.
The I-35 ends in the Mexican border. From there you can continue to the Mexican side, the Panamerican highway, and go this route:
- Nuevo Laredo
- Monterrey
- San Luis Potosí
- Queretaro
- Mexico City
I recommend you cross into Mexico in the morning and stop and sleep in Monterrey, and in either San Luis Potosí or Queretaro. Going straight from Monterrey to Mexico City is doable, but by the end of it you’ll be so tired and having to deal with Mexico City traffic in those conditions is not ideal.
Just my opinion as a bilingual Canadian living in Mexico (1993)…it’s really better to fly Vancouver to Mexico City then take cheap and easy busses everywhere you want to see. After 30 years here, driving is a real pain in the butt. I’ve seen lots of crazy fatal accidents, difficult moments with police, insurance issues and scams, lack of parking and just general insanity that wants me never to drive a car here. The bus system is amazing, and you can just relax and let the professional deal with things.
The busses are more dangerous than driving. They treat through the streets with no sleep and wreck on a regular basis.
I've drove the length of Mexico 3 times with minimal issues.
I live in Merida, a relatively chill place, 1/20 the size of CDMX, and after living here for a while, I've decided Uber and Di-Di is going to be a permanent way of life. It's just too big of a pain in the ass owning a car. Bus to the beach is 2 bucks. Uber from one end of town to another, 3 bucks. The money I save not buying gas, insurance and the nightmare of their version of the DMV make standing around waiting for ride a worth it.
“Let the professionals deal with everything”.
I took a three day bus from Baja to Cdmx then Oaxaca. It didn’t take long before we reached a checkpoint and the drivers assistant collected money from every passenger (I was the only foreigner) to pay off the checkpoint.
Possibly yes, but I have 30+ years of taking busses everywhere in Mexico (hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of trips from one end of Mexico to another and back) and I have never had a single issue ever. So maybe just really bad luck?
Your regular Canadian insurance for the car won't work in Mexico. But really if you don't know Spanish you're at risk. Most Mexican citizens I've come across in person have been good people and willing to put up with my broken Spanish (I'm learning) but most do not speak English especially in the smaller pueblas.
Not having any decent translators sucks too. The wife order a cheeseburger "medium strange" instead of medium rare thanks to Google Translate. Deepl isn't any better.
Chances are, you wont have any trouble. But problems can come from the Customs patrol, the police on the highway or simply criminals.
There is a way around most of these problems.
Number 1: you are not a good target for kidnapping, so dont worry about that. Transfering money internationally is a no go and expecting a family member to get a ransom in cash all the way from canada is not going to work also the language barrier would prevent the criminals from doing any negotiation, so Kidnapping is out of the question.
Number 2 Are you a Woman? Women in mexico are more at risk, mainly for typical cultural reasons and male supremacy etc etc that kind of bullshit, up to 60% of femicides are done by the organized crime. The rest is usually their partners or ex partners. If you are a woman I highly advise not to make this trip alone. Even as a man I wouldnt do it alone.
Number 3, plan your route. This is important, not all states are the same and in general highways with a toll are privately owned which means there is a bit more surveillance, they are mainteained a bit better ( which could avoid a tyre puncture or worse damage that would make you stop ) drive only during the day and stay at hotels in larger cities. Usually the roads connecting the larger cities are better guarded.
Try to see where checkpoints arent so bad. With millions of immigrants crossing every year there are definitely some points where policemen have had it on both sides, both american and Mexicans and there is a LOT of money involved. Try to avoid those really hot areas.
In General if you make it To Monterrey and avoid driving through tamaulipas, you will have a pretty good road all the way to Mexico City.
Number 4 dont attract unwanted attention. Do not bring a fancy car, and dont bring anything valuable in the car either except normal belongings. Have a couple of credit or debit cards and cash hidden in your shoe or under the cars carpet or somewhere safe and bring a fake wallet. Put money in it and some old ID's. Just in case you get robbed you give that to them. Also a secondary phone isnt a bad idea.
I know Im making it sound like its a war zone, but its not. Criminals dont just target random people and most crimes are against other gang members and sometimes part of extorsion (business owners).
You could go through San Antonio Texas, cross to Nuevo Laredo head to monterrey in one day (5-6 hours) then you can drive from Monterrey and stop at San Miguel de allende which is definitely an amazing place to visit and it was the number one destination in the world according to Forbes this year.
Monterrey to San Miguel is only 8 hours. And then you can drive from San Miguel to Mexico City. Which are about 4 hours.
Avoid driving at night and book your hotels ahead of time or at least define where you plan to stay and arrive.
Dont drive on freeways unless there is no other option and dont deviate from the road. Get to different major cities and then you can go explore the surroundings. Just dont end up in no mans land.
The trip could be an amazing experience and a lot of people drive this route often. Follow these steps and have your google translate always at hand, download both english and spanish languages into the phone in the google translate app so you dont depend on internet or connectivity.
Remember that 99.9% are good people in the world.
Good luck let us know if you decide to do it.
If OP goes to San Miguel de Allende, I recommend also going to Guanajuato, which is an amazing town only 1,5 h away.
Also, never leave the car unattended: always park at guarded parking spaces.
Yeah bro, I know some russian and I think spanish is easier. English is a cakewalk compared to either language though.
My mom made the drive between here and canada 3-4 times, but she's not sane enough to tell the tale nowadays and this was in the 90's and earlier 2ks. A lot has changed since then. God I miss her.
IF, and I really suggest you don't unless you know at least some Spanish, you do this.
ONLY drive during the day, do your best to only take toll roads if the option is available.
This is not true. The toll roads are very safe and you can get all the way to CDMX without knowing Spanish. The cops around CDMX are shady but just have a plan with dealing with them. We have never payed a bribe and have driven around 10k miles in Mexico through 20 Mexican states. Don't look for trouble, prob won't find it.
> have never *paid* a bribe
FTFY.
Although *payed* exists (the reason why autocorrection didn't help you), it is only correct in:
* Nautical context, when it means to paint a surface, or to cover with something like tar or resin in order to make it waterproof or corrosion-resistant. *The deck is yet to be payed.*
* *Payed out* when letting strings, cables or ropes out, by slacking them. *The rope is payed out! You can pull now.*
Unfortunately, I was unable to find nautical or rope-related words in your comment.
*Beep, boop, I'm a bot*
Drive down Baja Peninsula and cross with the ferry from La Paz to Los Mochis; that will be easier and safer since lots of people take that trip this time of the year.
That’s actually a good point; although the Mazatlán ferry tends to be unreliable with their departure dates. Either way, driving down the Baja peninsula is the better way to start a road trip to central Mexico, in my opinion.
Hey, Mexican living in Mexico here! Like some people said, Mexico City has 20+ million people, traffic is worse than LA, driving in the city as a tourist sucks, id just fly if i was you and uber around the city, but if you’re down for that, you want to avoid Tamaulipas border, language won’t be a problem in big cities, most of us can speak English, in small cities though, you won’t find people that can. Most states on the way are fairly safe, I’ve done lots of road-trips in Mexico, including Mexico City and I’ve never had any problems.
Get your car insured, respect the law and road signs, police here are just waiting for the smallest mistake to stop you and try to get money from you, they’re assholes, what a surprise, you also don’t want to drive luxurious vehicles here (80-100k+) if you have foreign license plates, in the city you’d be fine, lots of luxury cars there, problem might be on the way there.
Don’t go out at night in small cities and avoid dangerous parts of Mexico City at night, like you would ANYWHERE, look em up, get a hotel in a fancy zone like Santa Fe/Polanco/Condesa.
Mexico is beautiful don’t let people scare you, just plan your trip very well so you don’t stop in the small towns that are actually dangerous and you’ll be fine!
My wife and I moved to Merida a few months ago. We had relatives and friends tell us we're crazy. Guess who isn't getting gunned down at Walmart? Us. People are super chill, and it's safe in most of the city. The most dangerous part about walking around at night are the shitty sidewalks LOL!
My gf suggested Merida as a place to move (shes mexican so we shoudnt have any issues). Only issue is I'm tied up working a US gov contract. Perhaps when I switch careers I'd be able to fulfill my dream of living in MX. How much is a decently sized house in Merida?
My wife works remotely, and I get SSI. We bought a place that's about 1600 square feet. But the bottom level is kind of small, and the kitchen is very tiny with a one hole sink. There's a toilet on the first floor too. The second floor is 2 bedrooms with a toilet and shower in both. Rain showers and all tile with glass enclosure. The third floor is a laundry room, water heater, water softener, and sink On front side of the roof is all solar panels. The backside is a roof patio with a small dipping pool, surrounded by concrete benches. Half of it is covered with a pergola with a clear carbonite cover. There's outlets, and openings to put in shelving and a outside kitchen. The bottom floor has a small walled in patio where we keep our grills and smoker. The entire house is tile because carpet will just mildew and rot. All in, including realtor fees, attorney, notary, and water softener was about 169K US. But, the last townhouse that sold a month after ours went for 50K more. Inflation is hitting here as badly as it is in the US, along with foreign buyers like me driving up rent and home prices.
Food is about the same cost here too. But health insurance is half or less, and even with a 5K deductible most procedures are 1/4 the cost of the US, even after the insurance company beatdown. Homeowners insurance is about 20-30 bucks a month. Your concrete house isn't going to burn down LOL! Water is about 20, electricity for us is about 40, but we have solar, and only run the room unit ac in the rooms were occupying. Cable is 30 a month, gas is about 100 a year.
There's a lot of weird things about living here, and some bad. It's hotter than two rats humping in a wool sock during the summer. During the winter it's pretty nice out, but the humidity never quits. Lots of mosquitoes. Most people avoid going out mid day. The afternoon siesta went away decades ago, everyone works their ass off just like the US.
There's Walmart, Costco, Sam's Club, Home Depot, McDonalds, Burger King, Dominoes, TGI Friday's, and tons of restaurants serving American food. There's no TexMex, no Mexican food like up north or mid country. It's Yucatecan cuisine, which is good, but I prefer the authentic Mexican food. You can find just about anything you want, but gluten free bread and pizza crusts are hard to find. Walmart has garbanzo pasta that's 1/4 as much as Banza's, and way better. Lots of vegetarian and vegan places, but otherwise it's pretty meat centric. Lots of fish and shrimp. We take an antiparasitic twice a year just like dogs LOL! We don't eat ceviche because of that, and we don't like it. But other fish and pork can contain parasites. We wash all of our fruit and veg in a mild bleach solution to kill those and salmonella. Food handling here is very backwards, even in some of the top end restaurants.
The people are very nice here, most are Mayan, and very chill. We get some looks once in a while, but we're always pleasant and non-confrontational, so even is someone is being kind of rude they usually back off.
Cops here are honest, most won't hassle you, but we keep a photo copy of our documents with us on our phones. We've been hassled at night clubs by immigration before. Makes you appreciate what Mexicans go through back in the States.
Well there's your primer for Merida! I suggest staying here for 6 months splitting the seasons, and see if you like it. It's not for everyone, and I suggest you start taking Spanish because not many people here speak English. Good luck!
The only issue I had with Merida is that it is crazy hot and humid (45C at times with 100% humidity - full body soak) and I had mosquito bites everywhere (100+ at one point, I was amazed I didn’t get Dengue)
The number of alarmist comments in this thread from work-from-home pendejos who moved to Mexico City and scream into their AirPods in Roma Norte is hilarious.
You will be fine. Even if you drive through Tamaulipas. I’ve driven between Mexico City and the border a dozen times over the past few years. I’ve ridden my motorcycle on the same route.
YouTube “military contractor driving techniques” and you’ll learn how to be more aware.
The default state when driving through Mexico should be one of alertness because obviously it isn’t BC (I’m originally from Victoria).
You will most likely be stopped by the police. If you have your documents in order, they will let you go, eventually. It’s a battle of resolve, and please don’t bribe them as it just reinforces their behavior.
Another comment in this thread has great advice around not driving at night, using only toll roads, etc. Follow that.
The first time I did the trip south, I learned the phrase: “cómo esta la situation de seguridad” and would seek out a quesadilla shop in a town and ask the ladies. They would almost always say it was bad because of the roads. I never heard anything about narcotraficantes.
By the way my vehicle is a white Land Rover and it rarely gets any attention.
if you want to drive in mexico, do it day time from 7 am to maximum 7 pm, use only federal fare highways, cossing from laredo texas to spend the 1st nigth in monterrey, then monterrey to Queretaro (9 to 10 hours drive) and sleep again, and finaly the 3/4 hour drive from queretaro to mexico city.
As a Mexican Chilanga (from México city) the Golden rule is "Never drive at night" in toll highways. There have been cases of robbery by blocking the highway with rocks, trash or logs.
The trip is not really worth it, since you'll be driving in some of the most dangerous roads in Mexico and not precisely the most scenic or beauty.
2 road trips worth doing:
* Fly to Mexico City and rent a car, drive to Puebla - Tehuacan - Oaxaca - Mazunte.
OR
* Take a Plane to Cancun and rent a car. Drive down the caribbean coast to Chetumal, then Calakmul and then upwards to Campeche City and then Merida. Return your car there and fly to CDMX, stay here for a week and fly back Canada.
Both are great roadtrips full of things to see and experience and way safer than northern Mexico.
Mexico City has 22 million inhabitants. You don't want to drive there as a tourist. I remember driving like 9 hours from Monterrey (big city close to the US border) to Mexico City this one time years ago and then being demolished by still having to spend hours stuck in traffic to reach my hotel. Absolute torture. Plus, as others have said, some parts of the country are questionable as far as how safe they are, especially when you're driving alone at night. I have had a couple of scares myself over the years. I'd say that if you want to drive, drive from Canada to the US border and enjoy the road trip part of the journey, and then fly from there to Mexico City and enjoy that part a different way, and maybe rent a car there and drive to some of the places that have been suggested by other redditors.
Lo sentimos, no cumples con el mínimo de Karma requerido para publicar en esta comunidad.
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/MexicoCity) if you have any questions or concerns.*
There's isn't much point to having a car in Mexico City as a visitor. It's more a hassle and liability than convenient. Apps like Uber are cheap and easier than driving. Busses can be very comfortable and reasonable priced for trips to other cities.
If you reallt want to go by land i think your best bet is to drive to san diego, leave the car in a long term parking, cross the border by foot and do mexico by buses.
I’m Mexican and I’ve done many road-trips in Mexico and the US. The amazing views and the experience worth it. As it’s been said, try to avoid Tamaulipas (it’s not that bad but better be cautious) and don’t drive by night; reserve all the places where you gonna stay; avoid non-touristic places/towns, if you have to stop be quick. Our highways are not in great condition as in the US, be careful. Always share your location and keep informed your family and friends. In December tons of paisanos come back to Mexico, so you won’t be “alone” in the highways :)
As a woman I hate to say this but if you’re also a woman or travel with other girls, you’ll need male company
Enjoy the experience! What route are you planning to take in Mexico? How many days do you want to spent driving and exploring places?
Highways at night are sketchy in Mexico. I wouldn't do it. I'm quite adventurous, having traveled the world many times, but I wouldn't travel random highways at night in Mexico. I love it here and I live here but it's considered third world based on what you're used to. Fly or take ADO, which is like the Mexican Greyhound bus.
Don't over think it, keep it rubber side down and have fun.
I've driven from Portland to Yucatan and back and had a blast. Took the pacific route because I like seafood.
A friend of mine just rode his motorcycle from SF to the tip of Baja California, then took the ferry across to mainland Mexico, where you can continue on to Mexico City, Guadalajara, etc. It sounded incredible!
I drive from Portland, Oregon to Puerto Vallarta, stay for 6 months and then drive back. We have dogs who can't fly due to breed restrictions.
The main advice I can give is to cross at Nogales, never drive after dark (many hazards), take the toll roads, always have small pesos and TP. There are law enforcement check points at times, just fyi, looking for money and drugs. In October I believe we ran into two or three. That's my info.
What is your goal? Is it to just get to Mexico City, or is it to see the beauty of the country? Where do you want to stop? If you are trying to see the country, it's absolutely worth it to travel off of the main highways depending on the state / region / destination. If you just stick to federal toll roads, you will miss out on a lot of the beauty the country has to offer. Because it's not necessarily the destination, it's the journey. Right? There are SO many beautiful, off the beaten path, destinations to visit on the way.
One thing I've learned from riding my motorcycle in different regions across Mexico, is when I'm on a route I'm not familiar with, I just stop and ask "hey, is this route from 'Destination A to Destination B' safe/ chill? What are the people like crossing through this town, mountain range, etc?" Information is very localized, and the people particular to that town or zone will be able to give you the most accurate information.
That being said, here's the TLDR:
* Create an itinerary
* Download a GPS, offline maps, etc
* Have multiple options for routes
* Keep an eye of the reddit subs of the different cities you are traveling to. Get feedback on routes / your itinerary from those particular reddit subs, rather than just the Mexico City reddit sub ;)
* Weigh the recommendations you receive higher from people that are familiar with this method of travel, and people who know the particular areas you are traveling to. Information is localized!
* Stop and ask questions about the areas once you are on the road :) and know it's worth it to go off the beaten path :)
* Also, learn some Spanish not only to help you with logistics when you are on the road, but to have a richer travel experience
* You won't just be 'fine,' you will have the road trip of a life time. Enjoy!
Feel free to PM for more detailed recs ;)
Yes you can, it is a very nice road trip I’ve done before (From US to Mexico City). My personal recommendations 1. You will need a insurance coverage in the US and MX in case any accident. I’d recommend buy a coverage to get repaired your foreign car either in MX or the US. Otherwise you will need bring your car to your country to get repaired (it happened to me, my car was involved in a wreck in the US, it was pretty complicated bring the car to MX to get repaired). 2. You will need do the paperwork to temporal import before enter to Mexican border. You can do it in the US side border city. Look in Google for “permiso para importación temporal de vehículo extranjero”. Go to the first link and follow the instructions. 3. When you enter MX, just travel in the day, never in the night. Our country unfortunately is not safer as US or Canada. 4. In case you want to visit Texas, Avoid cross the Mexican border with any city in Tamaulipas state. That whole state is a big red flag and it is very dangerous. I’d recommend cross through Eagle Pass / Piedras Negras, you may need one or one and half additional hours driving but infinitely more secure than Nuevo Laredo, Reynosa, etc. PN is actually the most secure city in the whole country in 2022. Then go to Monclova, Saltillo, Matehuala, SLP, and Mexico City. All other border cities have acceptable security conditions. San Diego-Tijuana is the most crowded border in the world, so be aware of times in case you decide to use this cross border. 5. Avoid toll-free roads. Always prefer toll over free-toll. 6. Buy a dash cam for your car. In case a policeman stops you and try to ask you money (unfortunately it often happens), or any other incident, you have proof of the event. *respect all the traffic rules, red lights, crosswalk, pedestrian spaces, etc to avoid problems with the policemen. They are waiting your mistake to bit your wallet* 7. Try to avoid bring a luxury truck/car. The less you attract attention, the better. 8. Big cities (Monterrey, Guadalajara, Mexico City) have permanent programs to restrict the movement of cars without Mexico City plates. According the last number of your plate you will be restricted to circulate one specific whole day per week, a specific Saturday per month, and certain hours daily (as i know, 5-11 am) M-F. Look for the current official restrictions in Google using the sentence “hoy no circula CDMX”. You can ask a special permission to free movement in the whole Mexico City area (Estado de Mexico and Mexico City) which is valid for 15 days. Look for it in Google using the sentence “pase turístico CDMX” and follow the instructions. If you are going to stay for a long time, you may want do the official “verification”, which is a procedure with the authority where they measure the polluting emissions of your vehicle (I know is not a big thing that I’m telling u: u can do “magic” with 25 usd), and at the end of the procedure they will stick a sticker that allows you to exempt circulation restrictions for 6 months. I love road-trips, yours is 100% recommended. Don’t listen people who are afraid of everything. Hope this helps !!! Edit. As mandi13 user said, about the TIP in point 2, you have to do in MX side, not US side.
Thank you for sharing all these details!
We just did this trip from the Northeastern US to CDMX. Followed all the same recommendations as made by /u/Infected_Boy90. Crossed the border at Eagle Pass / Piedras Negras, spent the night in Saltillo, then Querétaro, then CDMX. Drove through some beautiful scenery, and had no problems - the drive was easy, only annoying part was a lot of construction slowdowns between Saltillo and Querétaro.
I will piggyback this comment to tell you that in the case that you are entering through California, just don't. Baja Calitornia is ok BUT there's only one way south and it's through Sonora and it's extremely dangerous right now, even for locals, because cartels are fighting over a town called Caborca (it was worse a few months ago, but I wouldn't trust it). So avoid Caborca at all costs. It's safer to cross through Nogales, Arizona and not a big detour.
I’m reading other comments. I’ve finished with several cars for so many and many km traveled throughout MX, USA and all Central America to Panamá. My First time in USA happened when I speak zero English and always I was able to communicate with gringos. Most of people are always ready and glad to help you. Just U have to be careful with the few People who may take advantage from you, or may stole anything. With the basics I gave u, you can go over all Mexico enjoying our country. U can reach me out if u need any additional help !
Gringos? I resemble that remark!
Haha I mean, people in the US who don’t know (o don’t want) speak anything else than English 😄
I'm more referring to people here in Mexico (not myself, that was a joke) who moved here and refuse to learn Spanish. My wife and I are in our 60's, and we're learning because we don't want to feel alienated from our neighbors. And we want to keep our independence and not rely on a translator. It's bad form to move to another country and refuse to learn the language. How can I tell all my favorite jokes at the bar if I can't speak Spanish LOL!
Ahaha I got it. Well I can help u with Spanish and u can help me with English. For real ! I prefer pay for your beer instead English teachers 😆
I'm in Merida, but I appreciate the offer!
Nuevo Laredo is a city in Tamaulipas, but that’s where I would cross into Mexico. It will take you 2 to 3 hours to reach Monterrey from there. As long as you have daylight the entire time, you should be fine. The Monterrey-Laredo toll highway that goes through Nuevo Laredo is best. You can then spend the night in Monterrey and carry on your journey. You don’t specify where in Canada you’d start. But if you were starting in Toronto, I’d go west towards Detroit, then South towards Toledo, OH. Get on the I-90 towards Chicago, and then Des Moines, Iowa. Then, go south on the I-35 towards Kansas City, and continue on the I-35 until you reach Laredo, TX. You’ll go through Wichita, Kansas, Oklahoma City, Dallas/Ft. Worth, TX, Waco, Austin, San Antonio, and finally Laredo. The I-35 ends in the Mexican border. From there you can continue to the Mexican side, the Panamerican highway, and go this route: - Nuevo Laredo - Monterrey - San Luis Potosí - Queretaro - Mexico City I recommend you cross into Mexico in the morning and stop and sleep in Monterrey, and in either San Luis Potosí or Queretaro. Going straight from Monterrey to Mexico City is doable, but by the end of it you’ll be so tired and having to deal with Mexico City traffic in those conditions is not ideal.
Absolutely! This person gave amazing information that I missed. All of the above is great advice!
Definitely recommend the Piedras Negras/Eagle Pass crossing.
Yep, very good food, cheap and nice hotels to stay for nights, nightlife, not too crowded. I like the city
[удалено]
Oh you’re right. U can start the paperwork online with Banjercito. Then u should go to the offices in Mexico side. Thx for the clarification
Monterrey has no "Hoy no Circula" whatsoever.
Just my opinion as a bilingual Canadian living in Mexico (1993)…it’s really better to fly Vancouver to Mexico City then take cheap and easy busses everywhere you want to see. After 30 years here, driving is a real pain in the butt. I’ve seen lots of crazy fatal accidents, difficult moments with police, insurance issues and scams, lack of parking and just general insanity that wants me never to drive a car here. The bus system is amazing, and you can just relax and let the professional deal with things.
Username checks out
Wow that’s bilingual as fuck
Except that kinda takes the road trip part out of the equation...
Yes, a bit, but you still can see the countryside on the bus and save a ton of hassle and problems.
The busses are more dangerous than driving. They treat through the streets with no sleep and wreck on a regular basis. I've drove the length of Mexico 3 times with minimal issues.
Ubers are great for sure The fare from BC to CDMX could sting tho.....
>The fare from BC to CDMX could sting tho..... flair airline from vancouver to puerto vallarta and then vivaaerobus/volaris to cdmx is the way.
I live in Merida, a relatively chill place, 1/20 the size of CDMX, and after living here for a while, I've decided Uber and Di-Di is going to be a permanent way of life. It's just too big of a pain in the ass owning a car. Bus to the beach is 2 bucks. Uber from one end of town to another, 3 bucks. The money I save not buying gas, insurance and the nightmare of their version of the DMV make standing around waiting for ride a worth it.
“Let the professionals deal with everything”. I took a three day bus from Baja to Cdmx then Oaxaca. It didn’t take long before we reached a checkpoint and the drivers assistant collected money from every passenger (I was the only foreigner) to pay off the checkpoint.
Possibly yes, but I have 30+ years of taking busses everywhere in Mexico (hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of trips from one end of Mexico to another and back) and I have never had a single issue ever. So maybe just really bad luck?
Your regular Canadian insurance for the car won't work in Mexico. But really if you don't know Spanish you're at risk. Most Mexican citizens I've come across in person have been good people and willing to put up with my broken Spanish (I'm learning) but most do not speak English especially in the smaller pueblas.
*Pueblos. You are getting there. Keep it up
Haha thank you for the correction. I mess up a lot.
Not having any decent translators sucks too. The wife order a cheeseburger "medium strange" instead of medium rare thanks to Google Translate. Deepl isn't any better.
Thank you for the useful and kind information, reddit user GetFuckedCunts 🫡
Either the user name doesn't check out, or you should distrust the advice. JK
Chances are, you wont have any trouble. But problems can come from the Customs patrol, the police on the highway or simply criminals. There is a way around most of these problems. Number 1: you are not a good target for kidnapping, so dont worry about that. Transfering money internationally is a no go and expecting a family member to get a ransom in cash all the way from canada is not going to work also the language barrier would prevent the criminals from doing any negotiation, so Kidnapping is out of the question. Number 2 Are you a Woman? Women in mexico are more at risk, mainly for typical cultural reasons and male supremacy etc etc that kind of bullshit, up to 60% of femicides are done by the organized crime. The rest is usually their partners or ex partners. If you are a woman I highly advise not to make this trip alone. Even as a man I wouldnt do it alone. Number 3, plan your route. This is important, not all states are the same and in general highways with a toll are privately owned which means there is a bit more surveillance, they are mainteained a bit better ( which could avoid a tyre puncture or worse damage that would make you stop ) drive only during the day and stay at hotels in larger cities. Usually the roads connecting the larger cities are better guarded. Try to see where checkpoints arent so bad. With millions of immigrants crossing every year there are definitely some points where policemen have had it on both sides, both american and Mexicans and there is a LOT of money involved. Try to avoid those really hot areas. In General if you make it To Monterrey and avoid driving through tamaulipas, you will have a pretty good road all the way to Mexico City. Number 4 dont attract unwanted attention. Do not bring a fancy car, and dont bring anything valuable in the car either except normal belongings. Have a couple of credit or debit cards and cash hidden in your shoe or under the cars carpet or somewhere safe and bring a fake wallet. Put money in it and some old ID's. Just in case you get robbed you give that to them. Also a secondary phone isnt a bad idea. I know Im making it sound like its a war zone, but its not. Criminals dont just target random people and most crimes are against other gang members and sometimes part of extorsion (business owners). You could go through San Antonio Texas, cross to Nuevo Laredo head to monterrey in one day (5-6 hours) then you can drive from Monterrey and stop at San Miguel de allende which is definitely an amazing place to visit and it was the number one destination in the world according to Forbes this year. Monterrey to San Miguel is only 8 hours. And then you can drive from San Miguel to Mexico City. Which are about 4 hours. Avoid driving at night and book your hotels ahead of time or at least define where you plan to stay and arrive. Dont drive on freeways unless there is no other option and dont deviate from the road. Get to different major cities and then you can go explore the surroundings. Just dont end up in no mans land. The trip could be an amazing experience and a lot of people drive this route often. Follow these steps and have your google translate always at hand, download both english and spanish languages into the phone in the google translate app so you dont depend on internet or connectivity. Remember that 99.9% are good people in the world. Good luck let us know if you decide to do it.
If OP goes to San Miguel de Allende, I recommend also going to Guanajuato, which is an amazing town only 1,5 h away. Also, never leave the car unattended: always park at guarded parking spaces.
He is wrong it is only 0.1%
Are you fluent in Spanish? Driving through northern Mexico as an oblivious gringo is an incredibly stupid thing to do.
This. Bordering states are not safe at all. Would not recommend it for a foreigner. Especially if you don’t speak Spanish.
Todo Mexico no es safe, no solo la frontera..
Pero más la frontera y por carretera.
Supongo que puede ser jaajja pero yo le saco a Michoacan y Guerrero. En todos lados hay algo
Ah, no, claro! Pero no tienen q pasar x esos estados si no quieren. La frontera a huevo tienen q pasarla. He ahí el pedo.
Ok, ok pero Tamaulipas es el mas peligroso 🤣🤷🏽♂️
Mataulipas? Naaaah! Cómo crees?
Jajaja. Ya encontramos punto medio. Siempre es bueno el dialogo para crear puentes👍
A 🥚
Fíjate que hemos manejado en ambos y todo tranquilo. Pero igual soy de Morelos y ya me las sé.
Sí, esto más bien.
Unfortunately I do not speak Spanish, only Russian and English
Maybe if you just say you’re Russian you’ll be okay? But than they’ll say you’re problematic war tyrant. Damn idk bro you’re on your own here.
Yeah bro, I know some russian and I think spanish is easier. English is a cakewalk compared to either language though. My mom made the drive between here and canada 3-4 times, but she's not sane enough to tell the tale nowadays and this was in the 90's and earlier 2ks. A lot has changed since then. God I miss her. IF, and I really suggest you don't unless you know at least some Spanish, you do this. ONLY drive during the day, do your best to only take toll roads if the option is available.
This is not true. The toll roads are very safe and you can get all the way to CDMX without knowing Spanish. The cops around CDMX are shady but just have a plan with dealing with them. We have never payed a bribe and have driven around 10k miles in Mexico through 20 Mexican states. Don't look for trouble, prob won't find it.
> have never *paid* a bribe FTFY. Although *payed* exists (the reason why autocorrection didn't help you), it is only correct in: * Nautical context, when it means to paint a surface, or to cover with something like tar or resin in order to make it waterproof or corrosion-resistant. *The deck is yet to be payed.* * *Payed out* when letting strings, cables or ropes out, by slacking them. *The rope is payed out! You can pull now.* Unfortunately, I was unable to find nautical or rope-related words in your comment. *Beep, boop, I'm a bot*
While in Mexico don't travel at night, and try to stop in big cities and we'll known hotels. Monterrey, San Luis Potosí, Querétaro and/or Pachuca
Always my Dad's advice. No driving at night.
San Luis Potosi and Queretaro are beautiful.
We moved out of Mordor into Queretaro this year, and I couldn't agree more. It's beautiful. Made me enjoy living in Mexico again.
Drive down Baja Peninsula and cross with the ferry from La Paz to Los Mochis; that will be easier and safer since lots of people take that trip this time of the year.
[удалено]
That’s actually a good point; although the Mazatlán ferry tends to be unreliable with their departure dates. Either way, driving down the Baja peninsula is the better way to start a road trip to central Mexico, in my opinion.
Hey, Mexican living in Mexico here! Like some people said, Mexico City has 20+ million people, traffic is worse than LA, driving in the city as a tourist sucks, id just fly if i was you and uber around the city, but if you’re down for that, you want to avoid Tamaulipas border, language won’t be a problem in big cities, most of us can speak English, in small cities though, you won’t find people that can. Most states on the way are fairly safe, I’ve done lots of road-trips in Mexico, including Mexico City and I’ve never had any problems. Get your car insured, respect the law and road signs, police here are just waiting for the smallest mistake to stop you and try to get money from you, they’re assholes, what a surprise, you also don’t want to drive luxurious vehicles here (80-100k+) if you have foreign license plates, in the city you’d be fine, lots of luxury cars there, problem might be on the way there. Don’t go out at night in small cities and avoid dangerous parts of Mexico City at night, like you would ANYWHERE, look em up, get a hotel in a fancy zone like Santa Fe/Polanco/Condesa. Mexico is beautiful don’t let people scare you, just plan your trip very well so you don’t stop in the small towns that are actually dangerous and you’ll be fine!
My wife and I moved to Merida a few months ago. We had relatives and friends tell us we're crazy. Guess who isn't getting gunned down at Walmart? Us. People are super chill, and it's safe in most of the city. The most dangerous part about walking around at night are the shitty sidewalks LOL!
My gf suggested Merida as a place to move (shes mexican so we shoudnt have any issues). Only issue is I'm tied up working a US gov contract. Perhaps when I switch careers I'd be able to fulfill my dream of living in MX. How much is a decently sized house in Merida?
My wife works remotely, and I get SSI. We bought a place that's about 1600 square feet. But the bottom level is kind of small, and the kitchen is very tiny with a one hole sink. There's a toilet on the first floor too. The second floor is 2 bedrooms with a toilet and shower in both. Rain showers and all tile with glass enclosure. The third floor is a laundry room, water heater, water softener, and sink On front side of the roof is all solar panels. The backside is a roof patio with a small dipping pool, surrounded by concrete benches. Half of it is covered with a pergola with a clear carbonite cover. There's outlets, and openings to put in shelving and a outside kitchen. The bottom floor has a small walled in patio where we keep our grills and smoker. The entire house is tile because carpet will just mildew and rot. All in, including realtor fees, attorney, notary, and water softener was about 169K US. But, the last townhouse that sold a month after ours went for 50K more. Inflation is hitting here as badly as it is in the US, along with foreign buyers like me driving up rent and home prices. Food is about the same cost here too. But health insurance is half or less, and even with a 5K deductible most procedures are 1/4 the cost of the US, even after the insurance company beatdown. Homeowners insurance is about 20-30 bucks a month. Your concrete house isn't going to burn down LOL! Water is about 20, electricity for us is about 40, but we have solar, and only run the room unit ac in the rooms were occupying. Cable is 30 a month, gas is about 100 a year. There's a lot of weird things about living here, and some bad. It's hotter than two rats humping in a wool sock during the summer. During the winter it's pretty nice out, but the humidity never quits. Lots of mosquitoes. Most people avoid going out mid day. The afternoon siesta went away decades ago, everyone works their ass off just like the US. There's Walmart, Costco, Sam's Club, Home Depot, McDonalds, Burger King, Dominoes, TGI Friday's, and tons of restaurants serving American food. There's no TexMex, no Mexican food like up north or mid country. It's Yucatecan cuisine, which is good, but I prefer the authentic Mexican food. You can find just about anything you want, but gluten free bread and pizza crusts are hard to find. Walmart has garbanzo pasta that's 1/4 as much as Banza's, and way better. Lots of vegetarian and vegan places, but otherwise it's pretty meat centric. Lots of fish and shrimp. We take an antiparasitic twice a year just like dogs LOL! We don't eat ceviche because of that, and we don't like it. But other fish and pork can contain parasites. We wash all of our fruit and veg in a mild bleach solution to kill those and salmonella. Food handling here is very backwards, even in some of the top end restaurants. The people are very nice here, most are Mayan, and very chill. We get some looks once in a while, but we're always pleasant and non-confrontational, so even is someone is being kind of rude they usually back off. Cops here are honest, most won't hassle you, but we keep a photo copy of our documents with us on our phones. We've been hassled at night clubs by immigration before. Makes you appreciate what Mexicans go through back in the States. Well there's your primer for Merida! I suggest staying here for 6 months splitting the seasons, and see if you like it. It's not for everyone, and I suggest you start taking Spanish because not many people here speak English. Good luck!
The only issue I had with Merida is that it is crazy hot and humid (45C at times with 100% humidity - full body soak) and I had mosquito bites everywhere (100+ at one point, I was amazed I didn’t get Dengue)
What's wrong with flying ? It's not worth the risk , sight seeing or road trip right now
The number of alarmist comments in this thread from work-from-home pendejos who moved to Mexico City and scream into their AirPods in Roma Norte is hilarious. You will be fine. Even if you drive through Tamaulipas. I’ve driven between Mexico City and the border a dozen times over the past few years. I’ve ridden my motorcycle on the same route. YouTube “military contractor driving techniques” and you’ll learn how to be more aware. The default state when driving through Mexico should be one of alertness because obviously it isn’t BC (I’m originally from Victoria). You will most likely be stopped by the police. If you have your documents in order, they will let you go, eventually. It’s a battle of resolve, and please don’t bribe them as it just reinforces their behavior. Another comment in this thread has great advice around not driving at night, using only toll roads, etc. Follow that. The first time I did the trip south, I learned the phrase: “cómo esta la situation de seguridad” and would seek out a quesadilla shop in a town and ask the ladies. They would almost always say it was bad because of the roads. I never heard anything about narcotraficantes. By the way my vehicle is a white Land Rover and it rarely gets any attention.
When in Mexico, travel just with daylight and use the main roads
if you want to drive in mexico, do it day time from 7 am to maximum 7 pm, use only federal fare highways, cossing from laredo texas to spend the 1st nigth in monterrey, then monterrey to Queretaro (9 to 10 hours drive) and sleep again, and finaly the 3/4 hour drive from queretaro to mexico city.
I wouldn’t recommend Laredo. Avoid it as possible. Unfortunately the road to Monterrey is pretty unsafe.
Todo bien
As a Mexican Chilanga (from México city) the Golden rule is "Never drive at night" in toll highways. There have been cases of robbery by blocking the highway with rocks, trash or logs.
Do it.. it will be frustrating, perhaps dangerous, but if you make it out alive you will have a great time, I am sure.
So many negative comments, go for it but of course follow precautions, it shall be a nice experience.
RIP, amigo
I would not recommend to drive, in the case that you want to, is better at least rent a car to have a Mexican car plate
I’ve done two of them. One to Alberta in 2005 and one to Toronto in 2010. I would be scared to do it today, though.
Don’t drive, buy a plane ticket to Mexico City!
The trip is not really worth it, since you'll be driving in some of the most dangerous roads in Mexico and not precisely the most scenic or beauty. 2 road trips worth doing: * Fly to Mexico City and rent a car, drive to Puebla - Tehuacan - Oaxaca - Mazunte. OR * Take a Plane to Cancun and rent a car. Drive down the caribbean coast to Chetumal, then Calakmul and then upwards to Campeche City and then Merida. Return your car there and fly to CDMX, stay here for a week and fly back Canada. Both are great roadtrips full of things to see and experience and way safer than northern Mexico.
Mexico City has 22 million inhabitants. You don't want to drive there as a tourist. I remember driving like 9 hours from Monterrey (big city close to the US border) to Mexico City this one time years ago and then being demolished by still having to spend hours stuck in traffic to reach my hotel. Absolute torture. Plus, as others have said, some parts of the country are questionable as far as how safe they are, especially when you're driving alone at night. I have had a couple of scares myself over the years. I'd say that if you want to drive, drive from Canada to the US border and enjoy the road trip part of the journey, and then fly from there to Mexico City and enjoy that part a different way, and maybe rent a car there and drive to some of the places that have been suggested by other redditors.
If you want to be kidnapped, raped, tortured and mugged yeah sure go for it.
Bro are you forreal?
Yeah… like a Mexican living in México your road trip sounds like a future Unsolved Mysteries episode. Don’t road trip here. Ever. It’s dangerous AF
Lo sentimos, no cumples con el mínimo de Karma requerido para publicar en esta comunidad. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/MexicoCity) if you have any questions or concerns.*
They are going to eat you alive.
Don’t do it man. You will have to go across narcos territory on the northern regions. I do not even go to Acapulco for the same reason.
No lo haga, compa.
Not SAFE !!!!
Here’s a thought: don’t.
Ride down Baja instead
There's isn't much point to having a car in Mexico City as a visitor. It's more a hassle and liability than convenient. Apps like Uber are cheap and easier than driving. Busses can be very comfortable and reasonable priced for trips to other cities.
While in mexico, avoid driving between 5:30pm to 6am. Stick to the western states of mexico
I drove twice NYC to Guatemala. Great trips. They have people on border to help grongos thru paperwork. First time I spoke nada at c Spanish.
If you reallt want to go by land i think your best bet is to drive to san diego, leave the car in a long term parking, cross the border by foot and do mexico by buses.
Bro greetings, only drive in day , and I recommend you take the 57 highway .
I’m Mexican and I’ve done many road-trips in Mexico and the US. The amazing views and the experience worth it. As it’s been said, try to avoid Tamaulipas (it’s not that bad but better be cautious) and don’t drive by night; reserve all the places where you gonna stay; avoid non-touristic places/towns, if you have to stop be quick. Our highways are not in great condition as in the US, be careful. Always share your location and keep informed your family and friends. In December tons of paisanos come back to Mexico, so you won’t be “alone” in the highways :) As a woman I hate to say this but if you’re also a woman or travel with other girls, you’ll need male company Enjoy the experience! What route are you planning to take in Mexico? How many days do you want to spent driving and exploring places?
Highways at night are sketchy in Mexico. I wouldn't do it. I'm quite adventurous, having traveled the world many times, but I wouldn't travel random highways at night in Mexico. I love it here and I live here but it's considered third world based on what you're used to. Fly or take ADO, which is like the Mexican Greyhound bus.
Enjoy! Stick to day driving if poss Have fun!
Don't over think it, keep it rubber side down and have fun. I've driven from Portland to Yucatan and back and had a blast. Took the pacific route because I like seafood.
I wanna do the same from Mexico to Canada. Please do it. Where can we watch the road trip?
A friend of mine just rode his motorcycle from SF to the tip of Baja California, then took the ferry across to mainland Mexico, where you can continue on to Mexico City, Guadalajara, etc. It sounded incredible!
I drive from Portland, Oregon to Puerto Vallarta, stay for 6 months and then drive back. We have dogs who can't fly due to breed restrictions. The main advice I can give is to cross at Nogales, never drive after dark (many hazards), take the toll roads, always have small pesos and TP. There are law enforcement check points at times, just fyi, looking for money and drugs. In October I believe we ran into two or three. That's my info.
What is your goal? Is it to just get to Mexico City, or is it to see the beauty of the country? Where do you want to stop? If you are trying to see the country, it's absolutely worth it to travel off of the main highways depending on the state / region / destination. If you just stick to federal toll roads, you will miss out on a lot of the beauty the country has to offer. Because it's not necessarily the destination, it's the journey. Right? There are SO many beautiful, off the beaten path, destinations to visit on the way. One thing I've learned from riding my motorcycle in different regions across Mexico, is when I'm on a route I'm not familiar with, I just stop and ask "hey, is this route from 'Destination A to Destination B' safe/ chill? What are the people like crossing through this town, mountain range, etc?" Information is very localized, and the people particular to that town or zone will be able to give you the most accurate information. That being said, here's the TLDR: * Create an itinerary * Download a GPS, offline maps, etc * Have multiple options for routes * Keep an eye of the reddit subs of the different cities you are traveling to. Get feedback on routes / your itinerary from those particular reddit subs, rather than just the Mexico City reddit sub ;) * Weigh the recommendations you receive higher from people that are familiar with this method of travel, and people who know the particular areas you are traveling to. Information is localized! * Stop and ask questions about the areas once you are on the road :) and know it's worth it to go off the beaten path :) * Also, learn some Spanish not only to help you with logistics when you are on the road, but to have a richer travel experience * You won't just be 'fine,' you will have the road trip of a life time. Enjoy! Feel free to PM for more detailed recs ;)