Safe to Drive from El Paso to Chihuahua, Mexico for Gringo family?

Question

I need to travel to Chihuahua, Mexico with my wife and son to see a medical specialist. My wife and son are both very blonde and we're all tall and would definitely stand out driving down the road. I'm concerned about being targeted for kidnapping or theft...

Is it safe to drive from El Paso to Chihuahua in our US vehicle? Should we hire a Mexican driver and/or car instead to ensure our safety?

Any tips would be helpful, thank you!

Answer 1

I wouldn't recommend it, I've driven through there and there is no gas stations or small towns for an emergency 'till you get to the city.

Answer 2

most of the people there are tall, some of them are blondes so dont worry that much because of that, just take some precautions, my uncle drives his nissan armada there and nothing happens, dont stop on the road unless you really have to, there's been some robberies but i believe they are at night, just take care, dont show anything valuable and have a safe trip

Answer 3

I actually live in Chihuahua.  I am blonde, my husband is pretty dark but Anglo.  There are a lot of blonde people who live down here and the Mexican people are pretty used to seeing us.  The best advice is to not stop for anyone, and just don't act like a dumb tourist.  That might sound rude, but thats how we act sometimes.  Remember that you need passports or a birth certificate to get back into the USA now.  And watch the news in the US, it might surprise you how scary it is out there now..LOL..  My family come down to visit me quite often and are always fine.  Hope this helps.  There are many people who speak english here now as well.

Answer 4

I have family over in chihuahua and visit quite frequently.  The road are in very good condition... just take the toll highway and you will be perfectly fine.  If is quite easy to to get to the highway, it is well marked throughout.  If you gas up in El Paso you really have no need to gas up anywhere else but in Chihuahua, Chih. (unless you have a gas guzzler) it's about a 3.5 to 4 hour trip.  there are plenty of phones along the toll highway and have witnessed people being helped along the way.  there is not much to be concerned about you appearance, just in case you don't know, there is a large population of Mennonite (Mormon) Communities in chihuahua and most are very tall, blond, blue-eyed people.  It is quite common to see people with these characteristics who don't speak a word of spanish.  As if traveling on the New York subway, take the same precautions, no flashy jewelry or clothes, no huge wads of cash, etc.  I am sorry to read about the reasons why you will be traveling to Chihuahua and wish nothing but the best.  

Make sure you take bottled water, your stomach may not be strong enough to handle the water.  (By deductive reasoning, you probably live in Washington D.C. and the water there is NOT much better!  You just may be immune to the effects of mexican water : ) you've buit up tolerence.)Take a couple of those gas additives to help your vehicle gas tank with the mexican gas.  a map.  you may want to take your phone at the border find a phone place, telestar or something, and you can get a mexican number and buy a calling card to put in your phone (pre-paid minutes) that way you leave Cd. Juarez with a number and able to contact or be contacted.  You can also just buy a new disposable phone, my mom has one for everytime she crosses the border or goes to chihuahua.  mexico has exellent cellular phone service.  Lastly, make sure you stop at Villa Ahumada, they have the BEST queso asadero and flour tortillas.  Godspeed!