need help planning trip to puerto vallarta best route etc from illinois more info 1st trip on bike no night riding bmw r1100rs bike

"Best" route is a very subjective term. Shortest time? Most scenic? Maybe you could give some details on what you are looking for.

Welcome to the HUBB.

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Andy Tiegs
https://new.horizonsunlimited.com/ts...lsouth-america

First post , welcome Dave, but before we can venture an answer in detail
another important set of questions
Is this your FIRST EVER. ...trip ....to Mexico?
"" on a bike ?
What kind of bike, how much time available ?
If not first time pick any route you have not done
before. Avoid freeways and toll roads. No riding at night .
Head south from Illinois

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timeshare time looking for fastest safe route to pv info on temps roads places to stay on way best border crossing etc

bike bmwr1100 rs first trip driving in mexico other then rental vw bugs cancun area toll roads may be best looking for info from people smarter then me

Hokay... so it amounts to a tail between the legs speed
run to get to PV for an appointed time slot at the apartment.
Fast will be a relative term, avoid riding beyond speed limit so you can keep an eye out for topes, unmarked road hazards , scenic bits.
Fast will mean no time for gazing and enjoying scenery though, distracted driving .

One of the quicker routes with lots of of steady riding on four lanes and toll highways could go like this:
Laredo Monterrey.
Over to Saltillo and get on Mex 57 south to San Luis Potosí and there get on Mex80/57 bypass and then stay on 80 all the way to Guadalajara . There work your way around town on the busy freeways and take Mex 15 west toward Tepic but before you hit that city turn off west onto Mex 200 toll shortcut and 200 all the way to PV
Safety is not a concern .Any danger will come from not
paying attention to the road and riding too long and tiring .
The Laredo border crossing downtown is as easy as any Mexican crossing.
It is the USA side which is always the problem for delays.
If you are really worried about border towns then go via Eagle Pass . The Mexican Piedras Negras can be blasted through without any customs formality - that is all handled at Allende 53km into Mexico and that is also where's 57 toll road starts to take you to Saltillo .
Places to stay,..... hotels should be easily found at any time if you pause to look in any town. Big chain luxo hotels can be had at roadside in Saltillo, San Luis Potosí, Guadalajara Bring lots of credit card backup funds!


Do try to avoid in future such need to get to a specific spot in a rush..... destinationitis I call it. To cure that ailment discard all timetables and route plans and other commitments
Enjoy the ride , explore

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sorry i gave impression i am in a hurry that is not the case as this is first trip on a bike to mexico also going alone, so it seemed like best idea was to take main roads and go shortest route. my main thought was can i do this cheaper then roundtrip air from st louis

Probably not the way you want to do it. Air tickets have sales and discounts, Pemex and cuotas don't!

All depends ,what is the round trip air fare.I have no clue.
Doing the ride , cheaply ,on a bike ,solo could average
out at about $60 to $70 per day and
one way for you to PV could be done
if rushed in a week .
But think of the riding experience you miss by flying.Flying over
the country and is certainly interesting if you
have a window seat.
Travelling THROUGH that landscape is worth something though, especially
if you can recognize some of the landmarks and
towns you might have seen in flight, makes them special.
After all you are a motorcyclist , no ? My thought.

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Not unless he has your guide!

... But wait ... The comparison calculations should go farther than what I did
Say the return airfare comes to a bargain $500 , is that possible?
and flight time total is 2X5 hours=10 hours
So your trip is costing $50 per hour plus taxi fares to and from airport
If you ride it out over two weeks using the higher
daily average I mentioned it is costing you$ 70/24=$2.92 per hour:innocent
Then you must also consider the inescapable facet
of the fixed cost of even just living at home , 3 meals and such stuff which adds up to maybe $20 per day
so the on the road costs also include these and really do not reflect negatively on the actual cost of travel in Mexico.If you sat in your PV room doing nothing all day costs too.
A statistician could have a field day.
Get out there and RIDE
PS : And with the bike in PV you will be saving on taxi or rental costs plus you will be able to tour by BIKE all the scenic
back roads around that corner. You may like that so much that you sell your share of the condo and
go touring all over for your next tripS . =)

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have put off trip to later date will start planning new trip next spring thanks to all who helped

Hey David,

Your trip will be great, whenever you decide to go. I put together a simple map with some of the usually recommended places to ride/visit in Mexico. It may help with your planning. Just scroll to the bottom of the page: Motorcycle Mexico

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Motorcycle Mexico - The easiest way to prepare for your first ride south of the border.
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