
Federal Highway 1 (, Fed. 1) is a toll-free (libre) part of the federal highway corridors () of Mexico, and the highway follows the length of the
Baja California Peninsula from
Tijuana
Tijuana is the most populous city of the Mexican state of Baja California, located on the northwestern Pacific Coast of Mexico. Tijuana is the municipal seat of the Tijuana Municipality, the hub of the Tijuana metropolitan area and the most popu ...
, Baja California, in the north to
Cabo San Lucas
Cabo San Lucas (, "Luke the Evangelist, Saint Luke Cape (geography), Cape"), also known simply as Cabo, is a Resort town, resort city at the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula, in the Mexican Political divisions of Mexico, state of Baja ...
, Baja California Sur, in the south. The road connects with ''Via Rapida'', which merges into the American
Interstate 5
Interstate 5 (I-5) is the main north–south Interstate Highway System, Interstate Highway on the West Coast of the United States, running largely parallel to the Pacific coast of the contiguous U.S. from Mexico to Canada. It travels thro ...
(I-5) at the
San Ysidro Port of Entry
__NOTOC__
The San Ysidro Port of Entry (aka the San Ysidro Land Port of Entry or the San Ysidro LPOE) is the largest land border crossing between San Diego and Tijuana, and the fourth- busiest land border crossing in the world (second-busiest exc ...
, which crosses the
international border
Borders are generally defined as geographical boundaries, imposed either by features such as oceans and terrain, or by political entities such as governments, sovereign states, federated states, and other subnational entities. Political borders ...
south of
San Ysidro, California
San Ysidro ( Californio Spanish for for " St. Isidore", ) is a district of San Diego, California, immediately north of the Mexico–United States border. It neighbors Otay Mesa West to the north, Otay Mesa to the east, and Nestor and the Ti ...
.
Fed. 1 is often called the ''Carretera Transpeninsular'' (Transpeninsular Highway) and runs a length of from Tijuana to Cabo San Lucas. Most of its course, particularly south of Ensenada, is as a two-lane rural highway. Completed in 1973, Fed. 1's official name is the
Benito Juárez
Benito Pablo Juárez García (; 21 March 1806 – 18 July 1872) was a Mexican politician, military commander, and lawyer who served as the 26th president of Mexico from 1858 until his death in office in 1872. A Zapotec peoples, Zapotec, he w ...
Transpeninsular Highway (), named in honor of Mexico's president during the
country's 1860s invasion by France.
Route description
Federal highway corridors in Mexico are generally designated with even numbers for east–west routes and odd numbers for north–south routes. Numerical designations usually ascend southward away from the U.S. border for east–west routes and usually ascend eastward away from the Pacific Ocean for north–south routes. Therefore, Fed. 1, due to its proximity to the Pacific Ocean, has the lowest possible odd number designation, and intersecting east–west federal highway corridors usually conform to this pattern.
The road begins in the border city of
Tijuana
Tijuana is the most populous city of the Mexican state of Baja California, located on the northwestern Pacific Coast of Mexico. Tijuana is the municipal seat of the Tijuana Municipality, the hub of the Tijuana metropolitan area and the most popu ...
, where it continues northward as
Interstate 5
Interstate 5 (I-5) is the main north–south Interstate Highway System, Interstate Highway on the West Coast of the United States, running largely parallel to the Pacific coast of the contiguous U.S. from Mexico to Canada. It travels thro ...
at the
San Ysidro Port of Entry
__NOTOC__
The San Ysidro Port of Entry (aka the San Ysidro Land Port of Entry or the San Ysidro LPOE) is the largest land border crossing between San Diego and Tijuana, and the fourth- busiest land border crossing in the world (second-busiest exc ...
. This highway also goes under the
Cross Border Xpress
The Cross Border Xpress (CBX) is a border crossing and port of entry that connects San Diego in the United States and Tijuana International Airport in Mexico. Operational since December 2015, CBX consists of a terminal building located in the ...
terminal in Tijuana. It is bypassed from here to
Ensenada
Ensenada ("inlet") is a city in Ensenada Municipality, Baja California, situated on the Pacific Coast of Mexico. Located on Bahía de Todos Santos, the city had a population of 279,765 in 2018, making it the third-largest city in Baja Californ ...
by
Fed. 1D, a toll road.
Then, the road continues south past
Maneadero
Maneadero is a town in the Ensenada Municipality of Baja California, Mexico, located about eight kilometers south of the city of Ensenada, Baja California, Ensenada. The town is very much agriculturally oriented, and livestock makes up a fair amou ...
. Much of it follows or passes near the route of
Portola's march from
Loreto to
San Diego
San Diego ( , ) is a city on the Pacific coast of Southern California, adjacent to the Mexico–United States border. With a population of over 1.4 million, it is the List of United States cities by population, eighth-most populous city in t ...
during the establishment of the
Spanish missions in Baja California
The Spanish missions in Baja California were a large number of religious outposts established by Catholic religious orders, the Jesuits, the Franciscans and the Dominicans, between 1683 and 1834. The missionary goal was to spread the Christian do ...
.
Kilometer markers track the distance along Fed. 1 through Baja California in four separate improved segments. The first of these is the length from Tijuana to Ensenada, which is known informally as ''Mex 1 Libre'' to distinguish it from Fed. 1D, the parallel toll road. The second portion of signed road runs from Ensenada to San Quintín. The third segment comprises from San Quintín to the
Parador
A ''parador'' (), in Spain and other Spanish-speaking countries was an establishment where travelers could seek lodging, and usually, food and drink, similar to an inn. In Spain since 1928, a Parador is a state-owned luxury hotel, usually loca ...
Punta Prieta junction. A final segment stretches from Punta Prieta to the border of the state of Baja California Sur near
Guerrero Negro
Guerrero Negro (English: Black Warrior) is the largest town located in the municipality of Mulegé in the Mexican state of Baja California Sur (BCS). It had a population of 13,596 in the 2020 census. The town is served by Guerrero Negro Airport. ...
. The total route of Fed. 1 in Baja California is .
Continuing south into the two Mexican states that comprise the Baja California peninsula, Guerrero Negro is the nearest community to the point where Fed. 1 meets the
28th parallel north
Following are circles of latitude between the 25th parallel north and the 30th parallel north:
26th parallel north
The 26th parallel north is a circle of latitude that is 26 degrees north of the Earth's equatorial plane. It crosses Africa, A ...
. Afterward Fed. 1 leaves the western coast and crosses to the eastern coast at Santa Rosalía. The route continues southward past Puerto Escondido and gains altitude at Sierra de la Giganta, then veers southwest and through agricultural lands and Ciudad Constitución. After crossing a desert the route encounters
La Paz
La Paz, officially Nuestra Señora de La Paz (Aymara language, Aymara: Chuqi Yapu ), is the seat of government of the Bolivia, Plurinational State of Bolivia. With 755,732 residents as of 2024, La Paz is the List of Bolivian cities by populati ...
on the eastern coast. The route continues along the gulf side of the peninsula through San José del Cabo to its terminus at
Cabo San Lucas
Cabo San Lucas (, "Luke the Evangelist, Saint Luke Cape (geography), Cape"), also known simply as Cabo, is a Resort town, resort city at the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula, in the Mexican Political divisions of Mexico, state of Baja ...
.
After crossing state lines the kilometer markers progress in the opposite direction. Baja California signage count from north to south, but Baja California Sur signage count from south to north. So in opposite order from the road signage, a progressive route southward would span from Guerrero Negro to Santa Rosalía, from Santa Rosalía to Loreto, from Loreto to Ciudad Insurgentes, from Ciudad Insurgentes to La Paz, and from La Paz to Cabo San Lucas.
Major intersections
Baja California
*
United States–Mexico border
United may refer to:
Places
* United, Pennsylvania, an unincorporated community
* United, West Virginia, an unincorporated community
Arts and entertainment Films
* ''United'' (2003 film), a Norwegian film
* ''United'' (2011 film), a BBC Two f ...
(
Tijuana
Tijuana is the most populous city of the Mexican state of Baja California, located on the northwestern Pacific Coast of Mexico. Tijuana is the municipal seat of the Tijuana Municipality, the hub of the Tijuana metropolitan area and the most popu ...
)
*
Playas de Rosarito
is a coastal city in Playas de Rosarito Municipality, Baja California, on the Pacific Coast of Mexico. As of 2010, the city had a population of 65,278. Located south of the US–Mexico border, Rosarito is a part of the greater San Diego–Tiju ...
*
Ensenada
Ensenada ("inlet") is a city in Ensenada Municipality, Baja California, situated on the Pacific Coast of Mexico. Located on Bahía de Todos Santos, the city had a population of 279,765 in 2018, making it the third-largest city in Baja Californ ...
*
Maneadero
Maneadero is a town in the Ensenada Municipality of Baja California, Mexico, located about eight kilometers south of the city of Ensenada, Baja California, Ensenada. The town is very much agriculturally oriented, and livestock makes up a fair amou ...
*
San Quintín
*
El Rosario
''El rosario'' is a 1944 Mexican romantic drama film directed by Juan José Ortega. The film is based on a novel by Florence L. Barclay. It stars Andrea Palma, Tomás Perrín, and Tana Devodier Tana may refer to:
Places
Africa
* Lake Tana, a ...
*
Cataviña
Cataviña is a town in San Quintín Municipality, Baja California.
Geography
It is located 118 km (74 mi) south of El Rosario and 106 km (66 mi) north of the junction of Federal Highway 12 to Bahía de los Ángeles. It is ...
*
Fed. 12 to
Bahía de los Ángeles
is a coastal bay on the Gulf of California, located along the eastern shore of the Baja California Peninsula in the state of Baja California, Mexico. The town of the same name is located at the east end of Federal Highway 12 about 42 miles (68& ...
*
Punta Prieta
*
Rosarito
is a coastal city in Playas de Rosarito Municipality, Baja California, on the Pacific Coast of Mexico. As of 2010, the city had a population of 65,278. Located south of the US–Mexico border, Rosarito is a part of the greater San Diego–Tiju ...
*
Villa Jesús María
Villa Jesús María, Baja California is a small town in Baja California, Mexico, on Highway 1 between El Rosarito to the north and Guerrero Negro to the south. It is located toward the southern end of the Sebastián Vizcaíno Bay, due east of ...
and road to
Sebastián Vizcaíno Bay
Sebastián Vizcaíno Bay (Spanish: ''Bahía de Sebastián Vizcaíno'') is a prominent bay along the west coast of the Baja California Peninsula in northwestern Mexico. It is named after explorer Sebastián Vizcaíno.
Geography
The bay lies on ...
*
State Line (
28th parallel north
Following are circles of latitude between the 25th parallel north and the 30th parallel north:
26th parallel north
The 26th parallel north is a circle of latitude that is 26 degrees north of the Earth's equatorial plane. It crosses Africa, A ...
)
Baja California Sur

*
Guerrero Negro
Guerrero Negro (English: Black Warrior) is the largest town located in the municipality of Mulegé in the Mexican state of Baja California Sur (BCS). It had a population of 13,596 in the 2020 census. The town is served by Guerrero Negro Airport. ...
*
San Ignacio San Ignacio (the Spanish language name of St. Ignatius (disambiguation), St. Ignatius) is a common toponym in parts of the world where that language is or was spoken:
Argentina
* San Ignacio, Argentina, Misiones Province
* San Ignacio Miní, a ...
, road to
San Ignacio Lagoon
San Ignacio Lagoon () is a lagoon located in Mulegé Municipality of the Mexico, Mexican state of Baja California Sur, 59 kilometers (37 mi) from San Ignacio, Baja California Sur, San Ignacio, Mexico, and Mexican Federal Highway 1, Highway 1. It is ...
*
Santa Rosalía
*
Mulegé
Mulegé is a city in Mulegé Municipality, Baja California Sur, situated on the Gulf of California. Located on the Gulf of California, the population was 3,834 according to the Mexican census of 2020.
History
Indigenous peoples have lived in ...
*
Loreto
*
Ciudad Insurgentes
Ciudad Insurgentes is a city in the Mexican state of Baja California Sur. It is the second-largest community in the municipality of Comondú and is located 250 kilometers north of La Paz, Baja California Sur, and 175 kilometers south of Lore ...
*
Ciudad Constitución
Ciudad Constitución is a city in the Mexican state of Baja California Sur. It is the seat of the municipality of Comondú Municipality, Comondú. As of 2020, the city had a total population of 43,805 inhabitants. Ciudad Constitución is a small ...
*
La Paz
La Paz, officially Nuestra Señora de La Paz (Aymara language, Aymara: Chuqi Yapu ), is the seat of government of the Bolivia, Plurinational State of Bolivia. With 755,732 residents as of 2024, La Paz is the List of Bolivian cities by populati ...
*
San Pedro
*
Fed. 19 to
Todos Santos &
El Pescadero; shortcut to
Cabo San Lucas
Cabo San Lucas (, "Luke the Evangelist, Saint Luke Cape (geography), Cape"), also known simply as Cabo, is a Resort town, resort city at the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula, in the Mexican Political divisions of Mexico, state of Baja ...
*
San Antonio
San Antonio ( ; Spanish for " Saint Anthony") is a city in the U.S. state of Texas and the most populous city in Greater San Antonio. San Antonio is the third-largest metropolitan area in Texas and the 24th-largest metropolitan area in the ...
*
Santiago
Santiago (, ; ), also known as Santiago de Chile (), is the capital and largest city of Chile and one of the largest cities in the Americas. It is located in the country's central valley and is the center of the Santiago Metropolitan Regi ...
*
Los Cabos International Airport
Los Cabos International Airport () is an international airport located in San José del Cabo, Baja California Sur, Mexico, serving as the main gateway to the popular tourist destination of the Los Cabos region on the Baja California Peninsula. ...
''(at airport exit)''
*
San José del Cabo
San José del Cabo (, ''Saint Joseph of the Cape'') is a coastal city located on the Gulf of California coast, near the southern tip of Baja California Sur (state), México. San José del Cabo is situated on the edge of a shallow bay, some northea ...
- ''as Boulevard Mauricio Castro''
*
Los Cabos Corridor
The Los Cabos Corridor () is a tourist area located in the Los Cabos Municipality, Baja California Sur, Mexico. It sits on the southern coast of the Baja California Peninsula, facing the Gulf of California on the Transpeninsular Highway between ...
''(at transpeninsular monument)''
*
Cabo San Lucas
Cabo San Lucas (, "Luke the Evangelist, Saint Luke Cape (geography), Cape"), also known simply as Cabo, is a Resort town, resort city at the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula, in the Mexican Political divisions of Mexico, state of Baja ...
- ''as Boulevard Lázaro Cárdenas''
References
References
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