Driving Instructions from Laredo Texas to Lake Chapala

This is a detailed 22 point driving instruction guide from Laredo Texas all the way to Lake Chapala Mexico. This driving guide has been put together by Kevin Paulini from Ajijic Legal and Immigration services. Kevin has personally done this drive over 15 times and  is part of the AccessLakeChapala.com team. Kevin is also our Immigration and Legal specialist. To contact and email Kevin, you can use the form included at the bottom of this guide or call him directly at:

Locally Lakeside:

766-4777 or 766-4888

From Mexico:

01-376-766-4777

From Outside Mexico:

011-52-376-766-4777

011-52-376-766-4888

Driving  Guide From Laredo Texas to Chapala Mexico

To download or print these driving instruction in PDF format click here

To read our driving guide back up North from Lake Chapala to Laredo click here

1: I-35 HIGHWAY

Pay toll and cross bridge into Mexico

2: FOLLOW CAR PERMIT SIGNS:

Follow the Car Permit signs to get your car and immigration documents. Once you have the permit, stick itnext to the rear view mirror as instructed on the permit.

3: LEAVING DOCUMENT AREA

Exit the same gate you entered and rejoin ring road to Monterrey Auto Pista #85. Make sure you get a full tank of gas.

4: START ODOMETER:

Mi= Miles | Km= Kilometers

5: ADUANA: 00 mi | 00 km

You will run into the aduana about 16 miles from the documentation area.This will be the last checkpoint and everyone refers to it as “CheckPoint Charly”.

Here they might look at your sticker permit, car papers and immigration documents. Whether you get the red light or not, just follow the directions of the customs immigration people.

6: Follow Monterrey Cuota: 29.7 mi – 47.5 km on HWY (Autopista 85)

Follow Monterrey Cuota (this means Toll Road). Take that Fork. Other Fork says Monterrey Libre (which is the free road and not recommended)

7: Toll both: 58.7 mi – 93.9 km

A Caseta de cobro (Toll both) appears. Get out your wallet and make sure you have pesos.

8: Toll road is over: 106.2 mi – 169.9 km

Toll roads is over, you will now start on a 4 lane divided HWY. In about 1 and a half miles you will see an airport on the right hand side. A gas station is available on the left, might as well fill up.

9: SALTILLO MEXICO Sign (HWY 40): 109.6 mi – 175.4 km

You will see a sign that says “SALTILLO MEXICO”

RIGHT TURN RIGHT. This starts the Monterrey bypass. Beware of this sign. It is RIGHT at the RIGHT turn. There is no advanced warning (it is right at an overpass)

10: Toll both: 124 mi – 198.4 km

A Caseta de cobro (Toll both) appears. Get out your wallet and make sure you have pesos.

11: Saltillo Sign: 134.1 mi – 214.6 km

There is a sign that says “SALTILLO” CURVE RIGHT. This is the end of the bypass.

11: APASCO Sign (HWY 57): 156.2 mi – 249.9 km

You will see a sign that says “APASCO”(This is a big cement factory). HWY 40 After this sign there is a left turn / merge which says “MATEHUALA MEXICO CUOTA”, curve left (HWY 57). (Saltillo bypass)

12: ATTENTION: FOR THOSE WHO WANT TO GET REST AND STAY THE NIGHT

If you want to rest and stay the night in Saltillo. Keep on going straight ahead. You will find a few hotels. A Holiday in is on the right but it can be a little pricey. Straight ahead by the “APASCO” sign (aprox 6 miles) look for the”Quinta Royal” sign on the other side of the HWY. Keep on going and make a U TURN. There you will find the hotel. When you leave the next morning take “MATEHUALA MEXICO CUOTA”

13: Toll both (HWY 57D): 162.1 mi – 259.4 km

A Caseta de cobro (Toll both) appears. Get out your wallet and make sure you have pesos.

14: Another Toll both: 186 mi – 297.7 km

Another A Caseta de cobro (Toll both) appears. From here it will be about 2 hours to MATEHUALA. This will be a 4 lane divided HWY. There will be a PEMEX gas station on the left side of the HWY.

ONCE IN MATEHUALA, YOU ARE NOW ABOUT HALF WAY TO CHAPALA

15: Motel RV Park or Keep Going: 316 mi – 514.7 km

If you want to stay in MATEHUALA, there is a PEMEX station on the right hand side. Another mile down the road there is a Motel RV Park named “Las Palmas Midway Inn”. Good Clean and Inexpensive.

OTHERWISE: Stay on the CUOTA (Toll road) road to the left around MATEHUALA. This TOLL is under $20 pesos and will save you almost 1/2 hour going through town.

16: San Luis Potosi: 436 mi – 714.7 km

From here to San Luis Potosi is a 4 lane HWY. Take about 2 hours, depending on how fast you are going.

17: Hundred miles to Lagos de Moreno: 536 mi – 881.6 km

100 miles to Lagos de Moreno.Keep on going straight ahead to Mexico City. You will come upon a toll booth. Keep going and once the HWY narrows down, follow over the HWY and just behond the road you will start to see some signs that say “LAGOS DE MORENO | GUADALAJARA”. This will take you around “SAN LUIS POTOSI

18: Ojuelos de Jalisco: 586 mi – 964.9 km (HWY 80)

You will enter s Small town called “Ojuelos de Jalisco“. Passing through this town you will see a huge Pottery & Copper Vendors..

You go around this town and it costs under 20 pesos. When this ends turn right onto HWY #80.

19: Look for Guadalajara Signs: 631 mi – 1039.9 km

The next town will be Lagos de Moreno, as you come to the town, look for the GUADALAJARA SIGNS to the right. This takes you around LAGOS DE MORENO. Pay attention on this 2 lane bypass, as there is a few turns and curves that can catch you off guard.

20: WARNING:

This two hours into Lagos De Moreno gets very curvey with heavy traffic the closer you get to town, and shoulders are almost none existant. It is strongly advised to do this section in the daylight.

21: GET GAS:

When these two lanes join the 4 lanes, you will be turning right toward GDL. At that turn there is a PEMEX gas station. It is strongly advised that you get GAS here. There is no other gas stations until just outside of GUADALAJARA

22: Guadalajara: 646 mi – 1064 km (HWY 80)

Signs will say GUADALAJARA. COUTA HWY 80

You are pretty much Home free now.

This toll road will take you to the outer part of GUADALAJARA. After about 2 hours down the HWY, after passing the third toll booth, you will gop onto a bridge that curves to the left. After that you will see several signs that say “CHAPALA”. Make sure to stay in your right hand lane and follow the CHAPALA signs.

You will also be seeing signs that say “CHAPALA” and “AEROPUERTO”, follow both, once you pass the airport on your right hand side, you have about 45 more kilometers to get to Lake Chapala.

To download or print these driving instruction in PDF format click here

By, Kevin Paulini
AccessLakeChapala.com Team
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