BajaNomad - crossing at mexicali or yuma ?

crossing at mexicali or yuma ?

cftlet - 12-30-2018 at 09:09 PM

I have been wintering in baja sur for the last 12 years and have always crossed at tecate. this year my wife and I want to take mex 5 but Iam not sure where to cross. Im a little intimidated by Mexicali ( big city with lots of traffic) and Im thinking crossing at Yuma might be better. What are your thoughts ? any help will be greatly appreciated.

bajabuddha - 12-30-2018 at 09:37 PM

Just go for it. Like the fly said whilst standing on a mirror, "Well that's another way of looking at it!"

So if you get lost or turned around it's still another view of Mexico, and to drive a road not yet driven is an experience in itself.

'Nuff said. :coolup:

AKgringo - 12-30-2018 at 10:01 PM

I see you are departing from Oregon, and unless you intend to head down through Nevada, Yuma is pretty far out of your way. I don't like city driving either, but I don't stress out much crossing south at Mexicali.

If you are coming down through California and want to cross at Tecate, Mex 2D intersects Mex 5 south of the urban Mexicali area. It is quite a grade!

Paulclark - 12-30-2018 at 10:27 PM

I crossed at Mexicali on the 29th, quick and easy straight shot using Google. 2 hours from San Felipe to Gonzaga, little rough and 1.5 hours from Gonzaga to Hwy 1. It is rocky with no grading but drive the condition of the road and you should have no problems. Transports are using it and at 6:00 PM there were lots of cars going my way.

basautter - 12-31-2018 at 05:10 AM

I live in Az, and prefer crossing at Yuma (San Luis). There is a toll road almost immediately that takes you to Highway 5. I have found this to be more consistent than crossing at Mexicali or Algadones.

C205Driver - 12-31-2018 at 06:55 AM

I’m with basautter, crossed at San Luis last year & too fast & too easy....And there’s 3 Walmart in Yuma if you have needs....And gasoline is inexpensive in AZ....

mtgoat666 - 12-31-2018 at 07:34 AM

Quote: Originally posted by cftlet

I have been wintering in baja sur for the last 12 years and have always crossed at tecate. this year my wife and I want to take mex 5 but Iam not sure where to cross. Im a little intimidated by Mexicali ( big city with lots of traffic) and Im thinking crossing at Yuma might be better. What are your thoughts ? any help will be greatly appreciated.

Driving in Mexicali is easy. There is only 1 turn to make in the city. Look at map, it is straight shot thru Mexicali.
If Mexicali intimidates you, you can cross at familiar place tecate and take hwy 2 to get to 5.
If you can handle I-5 thru Sacramento, then you can handle Mexicali.

bajaric - 12-31-2018 at 07:42 AM

Crossing Calexico west southbound does have a bit of a "run the gauntlet" feel to getting through Mexicali, with lots of traffic, a couple of roundabouts, a tunnel, and a small bridge to negotiate where you have to be in the correct lane. Like anything, after you do it a couple of times it is easy. I have done it a dozen times and only got rear-ended once.... The light turned green and a lady was still in the crosswalk and the guy behind me hit the gas and thumped into my back bumper. We just kept driving (was his fault) and upon examination a few miles down the road the bumper did not even have a scratch, it hit flat with the other bumper.

volcano - 12-31-2018 at 08:21 AM

we're from S. Or.....we avoid the cities..our favorite route: I 5 to Bakersfield, off at Buttonwillow, Needles, Quartzite, Yuma...cross at Algadonez...to Gonzaga Bay.

wilderone - 12-31-2018 at 09:34 AM

Once you cross at Mexicali, the highway and street signs are very clear to keep you on track - pretty much direcha.

David K - 12-31-2018 at 09:54 AM

Algodones south to 2 to 2-D or Yuma/San Luis crossing, go west, get on 2-D to 5 south... Boom, you are on your way!

If you cross at Mexicali, there are many signs pointing to San Felipe.

cftlet - 12-31-2018 at 02:07 PM

Thanks to everyone for the info, it is very helpful. does anyone know the hours the Yuma crossing is open and where you go to get your paper work? Thanks for all the help. We plan on crossing on jan 9 ( two months later than normal) cant wait for cervasa and menudo.

KasloKid - 12-31-2018 at 02:15 PM

Yuma to Mexicali.
At the San Luis Colorado crossing, turn right at the FIRST street after crossing. You're now on the toll road... Mex 2-D
Drive 49 KM/30 Miles, then take the San Felipe turnoff which crosses over Mex 2.
Drive another 11 KM/7 Miles, take the exit to San Felipe/Mexicali exit.
You have to travel north towards Mexicali a couple of hundred yards and make a U-Turn. You'll plainly see where others have done so.
You're now heading south on Mex 5.

If you get your FMM at San Luis, you're better off to park on the USA side and walk across and get it. Parking is tough to find on the Mexico side. Go through US Customs back to your rig then drive across.

Just a heads up, the road south of San Felipe has a lot of storm damage from recent hurricanes, as well as the "new" road from Gonzaga Bay to Mex 1. Lots of detours and sharp rocks. Take your time, and add some extra time to your trip planning.

KasloKid - 12-31-2018 at 02:17 PM

Quote: Originally posted by cftlet

Thanks to everyone for the info, it is very helpful. does anyone know the hours the Yuma crossing is open and where you go to get your paper work? Thanks for all the help. We plan on crossing on jan 9 ( two months later than normal) cant wait for cervasa and menudo.

INM is on your immediate right after crossing into San Luis. It practically touches the actual border.. see my post above about walking across to get your FMM...
I'm not sure of the hours.

[Edited on 12-31-2018 by KasloKid]

cftlet - 12-31-2018 at 06:48 PM

Thanks for the info Kelso it will be very helpful. Yea Ive been told mex 5 was a bit rough but it will be better than mex 1 through Tecate (time wise). I will just kickback drive slow and decompress from the last 6 months in the states (retirement is great).

daveB - 12-31-2018 at 08:51 PM

You could extend your drive to see some new roads and country, by driving on Hwy I-8 and turning south at Gilla Bend to cross at Sonoyta, Senora, and head for Rocky point / Puerto Penasco on the east side of Sea of Cortez. Take the road west, through the Altar desert, a good road with some view of the Sea intermixed with straight sand dunes. Turn north a bit at Santa Clara and again west a Santiago to gain HWY 5 in Baja and south to San Felipe - and beyond.

RogerMears - 1-1-2019 at 06:21 AM

Quote: Originally posted by cftlet

We always cross at Los Algodones as we spend a lot of time in AZ. You can park in the huge parking lot on the right before you cross the border, walk across and the Immigration office is right there. Walk back through the US side (show your passport), continue to parking lot, grab your vehicle and head to the border. Super simple. Border opens at 6am closes at 10pm. We always travel through the farm country...2 to 3 to 4 to 5. It's slower but we like the simple drive.

daveB - 1-1-2019 at 12:12 PM

San Luis de Colorado, considered the Yuma Crossing, has a lot of action, as some 25,000 Mexicans join another 25,000 who live in the Yuma area, to harvest the 100,000 acres of crops grown nearby. Of course, Los Algodones gets a lot of attention as well because Mexican prices on their northern fringe of the Mexican border welcome thousands of visitors from north of that border. For many, that will be the sum total of visitations to Mexico. However, the taste of Mexico avalable there is quite like Mexico in general. This border town shares the border with California and is near the state of Arizona and not far from Yuma.

KasloKid - 1-2-2019 at 09:57 AM

Quote: Originally posted by cftlet

I found a note on my phone that the San Luis Rio Colorado border is open from 8AM to Midnight, 7 days a week.

cftlet - 1-14-2019 at 08:02 PM

Just a update, we crossed the boarder in Yuma on the 9th with no problems. Thanks for the help( the directions from Kaslokid were right on. We went down mex 5 with no problem (it was a bit bouncy from time to time but not bad at all). Made it to G.N. long before dark without pushing it.

David K - 1-14-2019 at 10:52 PM

Quote: Originally posted by cftlet

Just a update, we crossed the boarder in Yuma on the 9th with no problems. Thanks for the help( the directions from Kaslokid were right on. We went down mex 5 with no problem (it was a bit bouncy from time to time but not bad at all). Made it to G.N. long before dark without pushing it.

Perfect!

KasloKid - 1-14-2019 at 11:57 PM

You're welcome!

Northbound Mexicali West crossing

Jinete Viejo - 1-31-2019 at 03:34 PM

Regarding crossing into California through Mexicali West, the San Felipe web site has the following... "If you do not have SENTRI passes, your best return method will be to go to the Mexicali East port". Gives me the impression the northbound crossing at Mexicali West is hard to find. Can someone provide directions?

Bajazly - 1-31-2019 at 04:59 PM

Quote: Originally posted by Jinete Viejo

Regarding crossing into California through Mexicali West, the San Felipe web site has the following... "If you do not have SENTRI passes, your best return method will be to go to the Mexicali East port". Gives me the impression the northbound crossing at Mexicali West is hard to find. Can someone provide directions?

If you know where the east crossing is, just drive west along the border about 4 or so miles and you will be in line for Mexicali west. I encountered the line from hell in November at Mexicali east, turned around, drove down the border road and just had to make 1 right turn. Pretty easy to find.

If you go to the east port, approach from the east and when you turn in, stay in the right lane and just bypass the line in the left lane. They both go to the same place and there is nothing special about the right lane. Seems because no one is in it the traffic on the left is scared to use it. We just jumped into it once and bypassed about an hour wait from the turn in off the border road.

PaulW - 2-19-2019 at 07:30 PM

Cesar does another fun video driving from San Felipe to Mexicali east crossing.
https://video.relive.cc/27560630001_relive-tracker_155061711...

daveB - 2-20-2019 at 07:48 PM

Quote: Originally posted by mtgoat666

Quote: Originally posted by cftlet