Calexico Border crossing

RE: Calexico Border crossing

Hi There GC,
You shouldn't have any problem crossing the border at either of the crossings. The Eastern crossing is a little more open and maybe a bit easier to get through. But I like to cross at the Western crossing which is right at the end of Calexico's main drag…Imperial Ave./Hwy. 111

The reason I like to cross there is that there's lots of places to change yourmdollars to Pesos, get some last minute gas, Mexican Insurance, some groceries, or maybe a bite to eat at McDonald's or somewhere else.

Another reason I like to cross at the Western crossing is so that I can stop and shop at one or both of the DUTY FREE stores which are located on Imperial Ave. just before you cross the border. I like shop for BOOZE (ooh….did he say B-O-O-Z-E???? LOL…and NO…I’m not an alcoholic, I just like to have a drink once in awhile). They carry all the top name brands at VERY GOOD prices. Sometimes they even have sales and the prices are even better. If you’re a smoker, they also have very good prices on those. And occasionally, I’ll even buy some good chocolate or perfume as a present for someone. I’ve bought several bottles many times and some cigarettes for a friend’s father, and NEVER had any problem crossing into Baja with them.

The first store…Baja Duty Free, is located on Imperial and 3rd Avenue and the second one is located at Imperial and 2nd St., literally just before you cross into Baja. I’m always pulling a 14’ trailer behind my F250 Crew Cab, so I park on the street at the first one, or across the street sometimes. At the second one, I pull into the lot from 2nd St. and they let me pull up in front of the store. Then, when you are done shopping, you just pull out of the lot and you are crossing the border.

Here’s a GOOGLE MAPS link of the Western crossing…http://www.google.com/maps?ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&hl=en&tab=wl&q=

NOTE: Do not try to cross over later in the afternoons, especially on Fridays. The workers and others crossing for visits can really back up Imperial Ave. I will often use Emerson Ave. (1 block west of Imperial) to get to the stores. You can’t normally use it as a short-cut for traffic, because they won’t let you turn right onto Imperial from the side streets, but they will let you exit the store’s driveways.

NOW…RE: RE-ENTRY INTO THE U.S.
I definitely like to re-enter the U.S. using the EASTERN border crossing. I feel like the wait times have always been less and it’s not located in quite as seedy of an area. You can reach it by taking some shortcuts off Mexico 5, before you ever get into Downtown Mexicali. I don’t have a map link for you, but maybe someone else does and will post it.


Amo Pescar / Michael

[Edited on 11-14-2006 by AmoPescar]

[Edited on 5-10-2009 by AmoPescar]