How were the road conditions? Any specific areas to be aware of?
The roads are in pretty good shape, not an interstate by any means but they're relatively smooth, allowing us to do 70-80mph without being tossed about. It's all 4 lane from Cd. Juarez to the Tres Hermanas. Be sure that your car is in good shape because there is NOTHING between Villa Ahumada, Chih. and Cd. Juarez. It's a free section of road so you don't have the benefit of toll facilities or emergency phones. Sections of the old road occasionally branch off from the newer 4 lane, one section is where the old highway crossed the railroad tracks at grade while the new 4 lane stretch has an overpass (most of the 4 lane section is simply another 2 lane road laid down next to the old road, with the former 2 way stretch turned into one way.) In fact, close to Juarez where the highway runs along the side of some hills, you can see the abandoned 2 lane and the former 30km Mexican customs checkpoint building to the East, still standing, abandoned for over a decade (the same can be found on MEX2 west of Juarez, since the customs building was moved down the road passed the new Santa Teresa crossing acess road and newly opened Juarez bypass toll road).

There is one really sharp turn on the south bound lanes that you DO have to slow down for so watch out! If I recall 50km/h is recommended for the turn. It has to be one of the most desolate stretches of road in the world.

Most of the way is tolled and the clean restrooms at the toll centers are clean and well maintained. I highly recommend taking the bypass around Chihuahua unless you have plenty of extra time to drive through the city. While beautiful, it does add a lot of travel time.

Throughout Chihuaha, the 4 lane road runs where the old 2 lane road used to be, so it's not a "controlled access" road like many other toll roads in Mexico, which may explain the lower 90km/h speed limit verses the 110km/h speed limit on other "Autopistas" (it used to be 95km/h, which many Mexican road veterans might note, is the speed limit that is indicated on the back of most Mexican intercity buses, for some reason the state of Chihuahua decided to reduce it). Chihuahua is in the middle of a massive road improvement project throughout the state, which includes the widening of MEX2 between Cd. Juarez and Janos, so look for more road improvements in the future.

Just south of Jimenez you change from MEX45 to MEX49. The 4 lane toll road used to end 20km or so south of Jimenez (I remember running on the old 2 lane in years past). The free route runs along the toll road for a while then turns away from the toll road as you cross into the state of Durango. Here the toll road becomes limited access and the speed limit is bumped to 110km/h (MEX49D). The last time I was on the free road, it was in abysmal shape, especially through the town of Ceballos, where the pavement seemed to turn to dust through town and turn into pavement at either end, so I recommend the toll road wholeheartedly. Be careful when the free route and toll route merge just north of Gomez Palacio, the Fed. HP like to run speed traps on that road.

What were some of the highlights of the trip? We would really like to hear about these! The more descriptions and details, the better!
Corona Brewery in Torreon. They offer a tour. The guides are english speaking and they DO offer samples. :) The Viejo Vergel brandy distillery in the area also has a tour.

Cerro del Cristo de las Noas. This is the Christ statue on the mountain overlooking the cities. There is a section that has a lot of pictures and paintings. They have tour guides to assist you. I recommend going at night so you can see the lights of the city.

Puente Colgante Ojuela is a suspension bridge located off of MEX30 north of Gomez Palacio, just east of a town called Mapimi. It's located at an abandoned gold mine. There is a ghost company town there as well. The mine was abandoned in the 1950's when it flooded. Most vistors can only speculate how they were able to build such a bridge in such a location.

I recommend taking a walk around the main city park in Cd. Lerdo and having a cup of Helado Chepo, a local ice cream vendor who sells homemade style ice cream. A real treat on the hot nights that the Laguna region experiences.

Where did you sleep? Can you recommend a place to stay?
Hotel El Campestre
Francisco I. Madero # 144 Sur
Tel +52-871-714-3399

The hotel went through a refurbishment a few years back. It's a fantastic place to stay with a super staff. In fact, we forgot one of our money pouches on the way back requiring a 30 mile backtrack to the hotel. The staff had found it and turned it into the manager, who held it for us until we got back.