Road trip to Puerto Penasco (Rocky Point)

[lakechuck1962]

Dear Fellow FMCA members,

We plan to drive our motorhome from our home here in Lake Charles LA - to Phoenix where we will pick up friends who have flown in from Wisconsin - then travel south to Lukeville and enter Mexico there. We then drive west to our Mayan timeshare in P. Penasco, whci actually keeps us pretty much inside the 25 mile free zone. We park the motorhome and stay in the condo for a week then drive back home.

We did this identical trip two years ago and had a great time with absolutely no problem. One day we drove the motorhome into the town, had lunch, bought shrimp etc etc without a problem.

We now are hearing all the State Department alerts (admittedly mostly to Spring Breakers and about some of the more notorious towns) but are really questioning the wisdom of our plans.

Have any of you been along the route lately? Any feedback would be appreciated. We have friends in Phoenix who keep us updated with the local info and feel very strongly we should cancel. Our Wisconsin friends would have to forfeit their airline tickets which of course is certainly a valid option should we so decide.

Thanks to all for a reply.

Mickey & Cliffe

posting as lakechuck1962

email retiredmd@suddenlink.net

[muncle@starband.net]

Since Puerto Peñasco is not technically a border town, it doesn't have the same issues as Tijuana or Juarez does. My brother has a trailer in a permanent spot in a park in Rocky Point and travels down every month or more often. He's never encountered any problems except bad drivers both in Arizona and Mexico.

Obey the speed limits, watch for drivers passing in "No Passing" (No Rebase) zones, and just pay attention to your surroundings. If the Spring Break idiots are around, you'll have to watch out for them too!

Also, it there are lots of visitors in Mexico when you go, if you leave the area when they do, there's safety in numbers but there maybe a long wait at the US Customs and further up the road at the Border Patrol checkpoint.

If you or your friends don't feel comfortable going, pick a nice park in Arizona to visit like Buckskin Mountain State Park or Karchner Caverns.

Good luck,

Mel

[Roodriver]

According to the posts on another RV net the problems are amongst the drug gangs and touristas haven't been bothered. It seems the trick is to stay away from any area which you don't like the feel or looks. There is an extensive RV Mexico forum on another site which will be of great help to you.

[lakechuck1962]

Since Puerto Peñasco is not technically a border town, it doesn't have the same issues as Tijuana or Juarez does. My brother has a trailer in a permanent spot in a park in Rocky Point and travels down every month or more often. He's never encountered any problems except bad drivers both in Arizona and Mexico.

Obey the speed limits, watch for drivers passing in "No Passing" (No Rebase) zones, and just pay attention to your surroundings. If the Spring Break idiots are around, you'll have to watch out for them too!

Also, it there are lots of visitors in Mexico when you go, if you leave the area when they do, there's safety in numbers but there maybe a long wait at the US Customs and further up the road at the Border Patrol checkpoint.

If you or your friends don't feel comfortable going, pick a nice park in Arizona to visit like Buckskin Mountain State Park or Karchner Caverns.

Good luck,

Mel

Many thanks Mel. We are still considering our options but you are lending encouragement. Any other thoughts will be appreciated.

Mickey & Cliffe

[lakechuck1962]

According to the posts on another RV net the problems are amongst the drug gangs and touristas haven't been bothered. It seems the trick is to stay away from any area which you don't like the feel or looks. There is an extensive RV Mexico forum on another site which will be of great help to you.

Many thanks. Do you have the site address of the forum you mention?

Mickey & Cliffe

[Roodriver]

Try this: MEXICO POSTS