British Columbia & Alberta
Compare a Pacific approach for Baja with inland approaches toward Arizona or New Mexico for mainland destinations. Check mountain weather and seasonal driving conditions before committing to a corridor.
Choose the whole journey
Work backwards from your destination in Mexico. Compare the border crossing, the road beyond it and a realistic first overnight stop before choosing the drive through the United States.
Compare a Pacific approach for Baja with inland approaches toward Arizona or New Mexico for mainland destinations. Check mountain weather and seasonal driving conditions before committing to a corridor.
Compare your southbound U.S. corridor with the onward Mexican route. Arizona, New Mexico and Texas crossings are options to research according to your destination, timing and vehicle.
Plan the U.S. journey and Mexican entry together. Texas crossings may suit some interior or eastern destinations, while western destinations may justify a different approach. Allow for city traffic and weather.
A shorter drive to the border is not always a better trip. These are starting points for research, not fixed itineraries or assurances about current conditions.
Use the regional route guides to understand the connections, destination pages to choose stops and campground directories to build an overnight shortlist.
Baja California and Baja California Sur: desert roads, Sea of Cortez towns and Pacific beaches.
Sonora and the Pacific route through Sinaloa, Nayarit and Jalisco, with onward coastal connections.
Highland cities, colonial towns and inland connections. Consider elevation, weather and access for your vehicle.
Destinations along the Gulf and nearby inland stops. Research the complete corridor and each overnight destination.
Campeche, Yucatán and Quintana Roo: cities, archaeological sites, cenotes and coastal stops.
Some maps in the route library are older overview illustrations. Use them for orientation, then check a current navigation map for junctions and directions. They do not show live closures or establish suitability for your vehicle.
Estimated driving time in a navigation app is only part of the day. Do not stretch the last leg because a reservation is farther away than you can comfortably reach.
Research the onward road, immigration and vehicle-permit service locations, opening hours and your first overnight destination. For Baja, compare the entry points that fit your route. For the mainland, compare options such as Nogales, Lukeville–Sonoyta, Santa Teresa, Eagle Pass, Laredo and Colombia in the context of the entire journey.
The free printable worksheet has space for travel dates, your border crossing, daily routes, fuel stops, confirmed accommodation, a backup stop and important contacts. Print it or save it as a PDF using your browser.