For drivers heading out this week — published October 5, 2026.
Reader journeys reported September 25–October 4, plus recent undated trips.
By Bill Bell
If you are packing the car and heading out on Mexico’s highways this week, there is some encouraging reading coming in from our On the Road in Mexico community. Travellers have shared smooth journeys, light traffic and straightforward border crossings on routes stretching from Baja and the Pacific coast to central Mexico and Veracruz.
There are a few bumps in the story—quite literally on the Culiacán bypass—and rain and accidents caused delays on some highways over the weekend. But the reports give us something useful: firsthand accounts from people who have recently made the drive, with practical details to help the next traveller.
Mazatlán to Nogales and back: An uneventful journey
One member reported a successful round trip from Mazatlán to Nogales between September 25 and October 1, with stops in Culiacán, Hermosillo and Navojoa.
The traveller encountered an army checkpoint near the Sonora border but otherwise reported little visible enforcement along the highway and no incidents during the journey. After completing vehicle-import business in Nogales, the return south was similarly uneventful.
It is an encouraging account covering several days of travel along the western corridor.
San Felipe to Mazatlán: Watch the Culiacán bypass
Robyn Gold reported reaching Mazatlán on October 4 after travelling from San Felipe. Her main caution was bad potholes on the Culiacán bypass.
Robyn reported no checks that day and described the roads on the earlier leg toward Navojoa as better. For drivers following that route, the pavement warning is worth keeping in mind: allow room to slow down and avoid sudden manoeuvres around damaged sections.
Bucerías to Nuevo Laredo: Two dogs and a smooth crossing
Another traveller shared a positive two-day journey from Bucerías to Nuevo Laredo on September 27–28, accompanied by two dogs.
They left Bucerías around 8:30 a.m. and reached San Luis Potosí late that afternoon. Beyond fuel stops and a roughly ten-minute delay behind a disabled truck, the drive went smoothly.
The following day brought light traffic, a couple of checkpoints with minimal delay and a quick Banjercito stop. The reported wait to cross into the United States was approximately 35 minutes. The traveller described officers as friendly and efficient and felt that having their documents organized helped everything go smoothly.
The pet paperwork they carried reflects their own circumstances; travellers should check the requirements that apply to their animals and direction of travel.
Chapala to the Colombia Bridge: A welcome return to road travel
Kathy Mateer and her husband returned to driving between Chapala and Texas after about two years of making the trip by air—and came away pleased.
They chose a route through Aguascalientes and Zacatecas after navigation indicated it could save about an hour compared with their usual San Luis Potosí route. Kathy said the bypasses helped them avoid city traffic. They also used the western bypass around Saltillo, although rough pavement entering the Saltillo area was a drawback.
After an overnight stop at the Wyndham Monterrey Norte, they reported a roughly 2½-hour Sunday drive to the Colombia Bridge, with light traffic and an easier approach via a new bypass. That figure is driving time, not the border wait.
Kathy described it as one of their easiest journeys in eight years of travelling between Chapala and Texas. Exact travel dates were not supplied.
Mérida to Veracruz: A long day with wet weather
Glenn Levine reported completing Mérida to Veracruz in 13 hours door-to-door, paying just over 1,200 pesos in tolls.
There was plenty of rain, and he encountered two serious accidents along the way. He described one cordial police stop with no inspection.
Glenn planned a rest day in Veracruz before continuing toward Ciudad Victoria. His experience is a useful reminder to leave room in the itinerary for weather delays and a proper break after a long drive. His travel date was not specified, and the onward journey had not yet been reported.
Tijuana to Pátzcuaro: A happy arrival
Sergio Delgado Medellin shared a brief, cheerful report after travelling from Tijuana to Pátzcuaro, Michoacán, with a customer and the customer’s dog.
They arrived at their new home with no issues reported. Sergio did not provide travel dates or route details, but the successful arrival adds another positive experience to this week’s collection.
Weekend delays worth noting
Sunday, October 4 also brought some localized disruptions:
- Navojoa–Ciudad Obregón: An accident caused a partial closure at km 179 toward Ciudad Obregón Sunday morning. A reopening time was not confirmed in the material reviewed.
- Córdoba–Veracruz: An accident reduced lanes near km 20 toward Córdoba. Traffic was reported restored at 1:37 p.m.
- México–Cuernavaca, México–Querétaro and eastern Saltillo: Reports flagged rain, with fog also affecting parts of the Cuernavaca and Saltillo routes.
Read the October 4 road updates from ADN Noticias
On Tehuacán–Oaxaca, an accident near km 164 had been cleared and traffic restored in both directions by Sunday morning. Read Eje Central’s report.
These are weekend updates, not confirmation that any restriction remains in effect.
Heading out this week?
Give yourself daylight, some flexibility in the schedule and time to enjoy the journey. Keep documents handy, pay attention to changing pavement and weather, and check the latest information for your particular route before leaving.
Thank you to everyone who takes a few minutes after arriving to tell the rest of us how the drive went. Please keep those reports coming—with your travel date, direction, route and any specific delays or rough sections. Those details make them especially useful.
There is plenty of encouragement in this week’s reports. Here’s to a good drive, an easy arrival and something worth stopping for along the way.
Reader reports describe individual journeys and do not guarantee current road conditions or safety. Some Facebook sources may require group membership to view.
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