1 | The Baja 500 in a Nutshell—Shorter, Faster, and Completely Addictive
Every June, the SCORE Baja 500 condenses everything that makes the Baja 1000 legendary—wild terrain, big-horsepower trucks, and fiesta-level fandom—into a single-day shoot-out. The 2025 edition, officially billed as the 57 th Baja 500 (June 4 – 8, 2025), will send motorcycles off the start ramp at dawn on Saturday, 7 June, followed by 1 000-hp Trophy Trucks a few hours later. The loop is projected at ≈461 mi / 742 km, starting and finishing on Ensenada’s ocean-front Boulevard Costero. score-international.comCycle News
Because racers have less than 24 hours to finish, the pace is frantic, the pack stays tight, and you can watch multiple classes fly by the same spot without camping in the desert for two nights. The “500” sits perfectly between the sprinty San Felipe 250 and the marathon Baja 1000—ideal for fans who want maximum action with minimum vacation days.
2 | Why Base in San Felipe When the Race Starts in Ensenada?
On paper, Ensenada—a three-hour drive west of San Felipe via Highway 3—looks like the logical place to stay. In practice, San Felipe punches far above its geography:
- Wide-open elbowroom. Instead of squeezing your rig into Ensenada’s packed beachfront lots, you can roll into Vee’s RV Ramada on the Sea of Cortez side, park on level concrete pad, and still reach key course hotspots in 90 minutes.
- Zero midnight engine noise. After race day you’ll fall asleep to gentle surf instead of 12,000 rpm chase trucks revving up and down Calle Primera.
- Strategic cross-peninsula access. The loop almost always crosses Highway 3 multiple times—Valle de la Trinidad, San Matías Pass, Laguna Salada—making San Felipe a perfect “middle of the map” launchpad.
Throw in Vee’s 30/50-amp hookups, fiber-optic Wi-Fi, gated security, and shaded palapas, and the decision becomes a no-brainer.
3 | St. Matías Pass: The Easiest Spectator Zone for San Felipe-Based Fans
Where Is It?
San Matías Pass sits at KM 168 on Mexico’s Highway 3, roughly 90 minutes west of Vee’s. The paved road slices through a broad, flat saddle before dropping toward Valle Santa Clara. Vista bluffs north of the highway give you nearly a kilometre of sight-line to watch racers crest, brake, and dive back into the canyon. Wikipedia
Why Is It Perfect?
| Fan Advantage | What It Means in Real Life |
|---|---|
| 100 % paved access | Leave San Felipe at 4 a.m. in a stock SUV and be track-side by sunrise—no silt beds, no flat tires. |
| Wide, hard ground | Plenty of room for chairs, coolers, and camera tripods without trampling vegetation. |
| Natural double-track | Vehicles slow as they cross the pavement, giving you both top-speed AND technical-section looks in one stop. |
| Cell reception | Enough bars to run SCORE’s live tracker and stream Weatherman radio chatter. |
4 | Rancho Los Pinos—Kiki’s Hospitality in the High Desert
Parked almost exactly at the highway crossing is Rancho Los Pinos, a rustic RV-and-tent compound run by Kiki González, the same larger-than-life host behind San Felipe’s beloved Kiki’s RV Camping. The ranch has become a mini-festival hub on race day:
- Shaded palapas & fire pits—stake one early and rotate friends through all day.
- Pop-up taco stand—Kiki’s family grills carne asada and sells ice-cold Jarritos and Pacificos (race week only).
- Dry-camp and basic 30-amp spots—perfect if you’d rather sleep track-side Saturday night and roll home Sunday morning.
- Friendly race marshals—local staff who’ve worked SCORE events for years and know precisely where spectators can (and cannot) stand.
Booking tip: reserve palapas or overnight spaces through Kiki’s Facebook page or via WhatsApp. Overnight slots often sell out by late April, but day-parking wristbands are usually available until race week. Facebook
5 | Race-Day Playbook: From Sea-Level to 3 200 Feet and Back
04:00 —Depart Vee’s with coffee-to-go. Highway 5 is empty, and the eastern stars over Laguna Diablo are ridiculous.
05:30 —Arrive at Rancho Los Pinos, grab a shaded palapa. Tune your phone to SCORE’s live tracker over the ranch’s surprisingly solid cell signal.
~07:00 —First motorcycles crest St. Matías; morning sun back-lights the dust into golden mist—Instagram jackpot.
10:30–14:00 —Trophy Trucks explode into view. You’ll hear their 900-hp V-8s echoing through the pass long before you see them.
16:00 —When your favourite class clears Checkpoint 5, top off the cooler at the ranch tienda, hop in the rig, and cruise east.
17:30 —Back at Vee’s in time to toss shrimp on the grill and stream the podium interviews on fiber Wi-Fi.
Total dirt-road driving: zero kilometres. Total adrenaline: maxed-out.
6 | Quick-Reference Logistics for 2025
| Item | Need-to-Know | Pro Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Race Week | Wed–Sun, 4 – 8 June 2025 | Tech & Contingency on Thu/Fri; green flag Sat. |
| Projected Course | 461 mi clockwise loop; crosses Hwy 3 at least 4 times. | Final GPS file drops 7-10 days before race. |
| Weather | 23 – 32 °C with afternoon sea-breeze; low humidity. | Bring electrolyte mix and a light jacket for canyon winds. |
| Border Crossing | Expect longer waits at Mexicali East on Wed/Thu. | Buy Mexican insurance online—cheaper than booth rates. |
| Highway 5 Surface | Four-lane to El Chinero, fresh two-lane for final 30 km into San Felipe. | Watch for free-range cattle at dawn and dusk. |
7 | Vee’s RV Ramada: Race-Week Perks You’ll Actually Use
| Amenity | Why It Matters During Baja 500 Week |
|---|---|
| 30/50-amp hookups | Run A/C, charge power tool batteries, or edit 4K drone footage without a generator. |
| Fiber-optic Wi-Fi | Stream SCORE’s live feed and upload same-day social reels. |
| Gated security & CCTV | Park chase-truck spares and quads without worry. |
| Compressor & wash-down pad | Blow silt out of air filters; rinse bikes before tech. |
| Laundry & hot showers | Desert sweat + race fuel = funky gear—problem solved. |
8 | Three More Side-Trips for Non-Race Hours
- Valle de los Gigantes (17 km south): 20-metre cardón cacti older than the race itself—killer sunset photos.
- Shell Island (13 km): Low-tide 4×4 drive to a pastel seashell paradise.
- Puertecitos Hot Springs (85 km south): Tide-filled granite pools to soak post-spectating aches.
9 | Essential June Packing List
| Must-Have | Nice-to-Have |
|---|---|
| 4 L water / person / day | Handheld VHF tuned to Weatherman. |
| SPF 50 & lip balm | Drone (obey SCORE altitude rules). |
| Buff or dust mask | 12 V fridge for ceviche supplies. |
| Headlamp & spare AA | Portable mist-fan (June gets HOT). |
| Tire deflator/air-up kit | Collapsible shade awning. |
| First-aid kit & tweezers | Fold-flat table for taco prep. |
10 | FAQs
Q: Will the 2025 loop definitely cross St. Matías Pass?
A: SCORE hasn’t released the final GPS yet, but every loop in the past decade has used KM 168 because the pass connects the Pacific and Cortez basins. Expect the same for 2025.
Q: Is Rancho Los Pinos kid-friendly?
A: Yes—Kiki’s crew sets clear spectator boundaries and keeps bathrooms stocked. Just bring ear protection for little ones.
Q: Can I livestream from the pass?
A: Cell coverage at KM 168 is decent; Rancho Los Pinos boosts it with a signal repeater, so you can FaceTime the action to friends stuck at work.
Q: Do I need 4×4 to reach St. Matías?
A: No—Highway 3 is fully paved. Park inside the ranch or along the shoulder and walk 100 m to the bluffs.
11 | Reserve Early—Hookups Sell Out Before the Green Flag Drops
Baja 500 week attracts tens of thousands of fans. Ensenada RV parks fill first, but San Felipe’s full-service spots disappear quickly once seasoned spectators realise how easy Hwy 3 makes race-chasing. Secure a leveled, hook-up pad now:
Book your site at Vee’s RV Ramada—the best RV park in San Felipe combining 30/50 A power, fiber Wi-Fi, and gated security just a scenic morning drive from Baja 500 thrills.
12 | See You on the Bluffs at KM 168—Then Back on the Beach for Sunset Cerveza
From the thunder of Trophy Trucks in St. Matías Pass to the hush of a Sea-of-Cortez moonrise over Vee’s palm-fringed patios, the Baja 500 offers a sensory overload in the best way possible. Pack a cooler, charge your GoPros, and aim south—Baja 500 week is calling, and Vee’s RV Ramada has your reserved front-row seat and oceanside pillow waiting.
¡Nos vemos en la Baja!