I live in Veracruz and am some-what familiar with this route to the border.. I recomend taking two days to do it in.. Veracruz is approximately 14-16 hrs driving time from the Texas border on Mex. road 180 if you don't make to many stops along the way.. Many suggest that the Mcallen, or the Pharr crossings are perhaps the best / easiest entry points into Mexico. (Pharr the eaiser of these two (IMO)

If you get late start at the border and want to hole up for the night before getting to Tampico you can find accommodations in small town named "San Fernando de Presas" at Hotel Laguna.. Nothing to write home about here, but will do for the night..

Tampico is approximately the 1/2 way point with many more hotel option, however can be a pain getting around. If you want to avoid Tampico, continue south for apx. 20 minutes to a small town named Tampico Alto. I can recommend the Restaurant / Hotel Corral which is located on the corner, across from the ADO bus station. There is also a PEMEX gas station located on the other corner which makes it a very convenient place to stay. The hotel charges apx $20-25 usd for a room with dbl. bed. Not much to see here, but is a quick in and out with everything you need for the road.

 

It is recommended not to drive after dark due to poor conditions of portions of the road and other hazards. Much of the route is in fair to excellent condition, while other parts lack shoulders, or pull off lanes. You should also be on lookout for people, animals, and topes, which are various sized speed bumps located primarily in and around all pueblos (and other unpredictable locations) in Mexico.

If your trying to make best time and avoid heavy city traffic between the border and Veracruz, bypass Tampico, Tuxpan and Poza Rica. If your not accustomed to driving in Mexico I would also suggest you avoid driving during rush hours in the larger cities.

Don't wait until you are out of gas to look for a station.. With that said there are many PEMEX gas stations along this route with attached convenience stores and clean restrooms, although not all are necessarily open all night.

If you want to take a little more time, make a few stops along the way, I found the beaches at Tampico, Tecolutla, Casitas, Nautla and Chachalacas to all be enjoyable if the weather is good.. The ruins of El Tajin are nearby the town of Papantla and you may also want to check them out at this time, rather than later making the 4 hr drive back from Veracruz.

If your spanish is weak, pick up a basic phrase book, an english to spanish dictionary.. and also a Mexican Road Atlas, called "Gui Roja", this should get you about anywhere you want to go.. Also good idea to keep a pen and small notebook handy.. Sometimes you may know the word your trying to say, but perhaps locals won't understand your pronunciation.. you may write word or perhaps draw pic of whatever it is and get your meaning across.. :) 

 

If your destination is a lot further south than Veracruz you should probably opt. for the toll road to Villahermosa if you plan to make any time.. With that said if you take coast road you'll be able to visit Los Tuxtla area with a few interesting / scenic places to visit along the way.. namely cities of Santiago Tuxtla, San Andres and Lago Catemaco.. A half hour or so east of Catemaco will bring you to the gulf coast.. Some of the most scenic beaches of the entire gulf coast lie along here, including Playa Montepio and Playa Hermosa.

 

Don't forget to buy Mexican insurance for your car before driving here.. Your american policy doesn't cover you driving here and you'll be thrown in jail if your involved in an accident without it..

if you have any questions about the area, feel free to drop me a line at....

 

 jonw46996@hotmail.com

 

*****************************