LindaPhillips
Caldwell, ID
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We are going to San Carlos in February 2013 for a month and are thinking of crossing at Lukeville rather than going through the mess at Nogales. Has anyone traveled on Hwy 2 to Hwy 15 and south to San Carlos? Wondering how the crossing is and also Hwy 2 road conditions and safety? Can we get our fmm in Sonoyta and return it there? Would appreciate any info.
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robatthelake
Vancouver Island
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Joined: 08/24/2003
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The best thing about going the route indicated is the Lack of Vehicular Traffic!
Yes You can get Your TIP and Immigration Papers at Lukeville!
We prefer to order Our TIP's on line and do the Immigration thing at San Luis, while staying for a few Days in Yuma! Makes crossing Early in the AM Easier!
Rob & Jean
98 Dutch Star Diesel Pusher ..92 Tracker 4X2
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The Texan
Meridian, Idaho
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Joined: 01/16/2004
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When we go to Kino or Mazatlan, that is the only place we will cross. Yes, you can get all your paper work there and the road is new, plus there is NO traffic to speak of. Just do NOT use the Pemex on your right as you go out the south side of Santa Ana on Mx-15 or you will get ripped off. There is a nice Pemex on your left, as you come into Santa Ana on Mx-2 that most truckers use.
Bob & Betsy(FishNFanatic) - USN Aviation Ret'd '78 & LEO Ret'd '03 & "Oath Keeper Forever"
'05 HR Endeavor 40PRQ, 400 Cummins-Pulling our '11 Silverado LT, Ex Cab 6.2L NHT 4x4, w/2010 Rzr or 01 V Star in back.
Where the wheels are stopped today
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Canadian Rainbirds
Vancouver Island (Winter: Mainland Mexico)
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We have done that route in reverse for the last 3 years. The check point is about 20 km south east on highway 2 (details in the Church book I'm sure).
If you get an early start from say Ajo, you should make San Carlos by 5 PM or so. The road is good. There are also a couple of Pemexes in Sonoyta (The Mexican side of the Lukeville crossing. There is one on your left south bound that we have used with out any trouble. Also at Benjamin Hill there is a large Pemex with a restaurant (reasonable food) as well as a small store. Also a couple of places across the highway from the Pemex but we haven't eaten there.
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rocmoc
Southern AZ/Mexico
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Joined: 09/30/2006
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The BEST route! X2 what everyone else post!
rocmoc n AZ/Mexico
rocmoc n Southern AZ/Mexico
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hypoxia
Arizona
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Joined: 04/29/2003
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There is a little building, I think it's green, right beside the highway that processes the TIP. Don't go into the truck lane or the bus lane, the building is to the left of those lanes.
Jim
2003 Fleetwood Revolution 40C
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stanbnv
Fallon NV, La Peñita de Jaltemba, Nay.
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I would never cross anywhere else if I was coming from anywhere west of Tucson. I believe that there is an Immigration office right after you cross the border on the Sonoyta side, but might be tough for parking a big rig. I have a report that the banjacito at San Emiterio, (Km 27) is closed and you now get your TIP and FMM at the new place just outside Caborca. We were routed through it's parking lot last October but it didn't look open. There is a large PEMEX just before Caborca that I always fill up at, for some reason, it is always a few centavos cheaper per liter for diesel than other stations. For folks traveling farther south, you can get your TIP at the banjacito at Empalme just south of San Carlos/Guaymas, at least the folks on the San Carlos forum do.
Stan & Linda
Hobo the Cat
06 Dodge 3500 CTD 6 sp Quad Cab Bighorn
04 Laredo 29GS
97 Northland Polar 1060
"Never argue with a fool, onlookers may not be able to tell the difference"
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MEXICOWANDERER
las peñas, michoacan, mexico
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In the morning, be careful when you crest that last hill before the descent to the Aduana/Migracion station. Sometimes big rigs will line up for miles, and they can block part of the lane.
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Snow River TC
BC Canada summer / Jalisco, Mexico winter
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I do not like going southbound here. It is far quieter and the officials are more bored. I have found they are a lot more picky. A lot more. They turned back a couple in front of me last year because they did not have their marriage certificate. I had never heard of that happening before. I much prefer to cross at Nogales. Stay overnight in the Walmart and cross real early. No problems if you do that. You can make San Carlos before dark, something that is difficult crossing at Lukeville. I always go back through Lukeville.
Lukeville southbound can be an issue for larger rigs if it is busy.
BTW you do not need a vehicle permit for San Carlos, just the tourist card.
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daveB110
British Columbia, Canada
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Joined: 04/19/2004
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After a total fiasco a few years ago, afterward we only came through northbound, and always did Nogales southbound with no real problems. But many things change. During our first years driving down we did everything at Sonoyta but, as mentioned there is very little parking when heading north, but other positive changes have been made- the highway is now much better, and possibly a new aduana at Caborca could be a further improvement. San Carlos was the usual first stop after starting out moderately early in the travel day from near the border, either from Sonoyta or Nogales.
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