Bajaboy
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Best San Diego crossing for RV
My folks are joining us for Christmas this year and will be driving south in a 33 ft. rv and towing a rig. What crossing is the best? They need to
get their tourist permits but we can always do that the day prior to crossing if need be.
Also, any suggestions for rv parks either in San Quintin or El Rosario?
Any places to get potable water in GN or Vizcaino?
Thanks
Zac
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bajaguy
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Location: Carson City, NV/Ensenada - Baja Country Club
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Mood: must be 5 O'clock somewhere in Baja
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San Ysidro has a large parking lot next to the SAT building....just stay in the "To Declare" lane. Otay also has a large To Declare parking lot. They
will have to get the MH inspected so either one works. Just a short walk at either for the FMM's
If they use Otay and Blvd 2000, they will avoid 2 toll booths (Playas and Rosarito), only paying at Ensenada (San Miguel)
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Bajaboy
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Quote: Originally posted by bajaguy  | San Ysidro has a large parking lot next to the SAT building....just stay in the "To Declare" lane. Otay also has a large To Declare parking lot. They
will have to get the MH inspected so either one works. Just a short walk at either for the FMM's
If they use Otay and Blvd 2000, they will avoid 2 toll booths (Playas and Rosarito), only paying at Ensenada (San Miguel) |
Thanks, we'll be driving along and know both routes well.
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CVBaja
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I have spent many nights in my van at Los Olivos in San Quintin. It is a couple doors down from the famous El Jardines. Hot Water, super clean
bathrooms, full hookups, secured compound with strong gate. Also a pool during the summer months. www.losolivosrvpark.com
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Bajaboy
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| Quote: Originally posted by CVBaja |
I have spent many nights in my van at Los Olivos in San Quintin. It is a couple doors down from the famous El Jardines. Hot Water, super clean
bathrooms, full hookups, secured compound with strong gate. Also a pool during the summer months. www.losolivosrvpark.com
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thanks, that should work!
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Martyman
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Cielito Lindo in San Quintin. A classic Baja dive!
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Bob53
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San Ysidro is where I usually go. You have to pull into the immigration area to get your paperwork stamped. Then pull out of that area and go into the
far right lane. They will then direct you to the X-Ray area and you will have to exit the RV while they run the X-Ray machine over your vehicle. Then
you have to park while they review the monitor. This can take a while. If everything checks out, they send you on your way.
Mission Santa Maria will allow RVs to park in their parking lot for free as long as you have dinner or drinks there. I have stayed there many times in
my RV as well as in the hotel. They have a security guard onsite.
Los Olivos is very nice and a short walk to El Jardines. I think it's about $15 or $20 per night. I have stayed there and it was very nice.
El Jardines will also let you park your RV behind the restaurant for free if you eat there, however I have never camped there. The food at the
restaurant is very good and I have eaten there on numerous occasions.
There are a couple RV campgrounds a little further south of S.Q. that are right on the beach. Fidel's is one of them. I've stayed there a few times
but years ago. They have hot showers and an RV dumpsite. Nothing fancy there.
There are some RV campgrounds in El Rosario but I have never staey at any.
[Edited on 11-30-2016 by Bob53]
The bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten.
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Bajaboy
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| Quote: Originally posted by Bob53 | San Ysidro is where I usually go. You have to pull into the immigration area to get your paperwork stamped. Then pull out of that area and go into the
far right lane. They will then direct you to the X-Ray area and you will have to exit the RV while they run the X-Ray machine over your vehicle. Then
you have to park while they review the monitor. This can take a while. If everything checks out, they send you on your way.
Mission Santa Maria will allow RVs to park in their parking lot for free as long as you have dinner or drinks there. I have stayed there many times in
my RV as well as in the hotel. They have a security guard onsite.
Los Olivos is very nice and a short walk to El Jardines. I think it's about $15 or $20 per night. I have stayed there and it was very nice.
El Jardines will also let you park your RV behind the restaurant for free if you eat there, however I have never camped there. The food at the
restaurant is very good and I have eaten there on numerous occasions.
There are a couple RV campgrounds a little further south of S.Q. that are right on the beach. Fidel's is one of them. I've stayed there a few times
but years ago. They have hot showers and an RV dumpsite. Nothing fancy there.
There are some RV campgrounds in El Rosario but I have never staey at any.
[Edited on 11-30-2016 by Bob53] |
Great info...thanks!
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David K
Honored Nomad
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It's all good advice Zac!
El Rosario has a pretty small RV park that is in the Sinahi Motel area (behind the restaurant and rooms is the RV park). Bob H likes to post the funny
dog pooping sign he took when he camped there back in 2005.
I think the Los Olivos or Mission Santa Maria (former Las Pintas/Desert Inn hotel, next to Cielito Lindo property) idea is better and easier to get in
and out.
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bajagregg
Junior Nomad
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Registered: 9-6-2015
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| Quote: Originally posted by Bajaboy | | Quote: Originally posted by Bob53 | San Ysidro is where I usually go. You have to pull into the immigration area to get your paperwork stamped. Then pull out of that area and go into the
far right lane. They will then direct you to the X-Ray area and you will have to exit the RV while they run the X-Ray machine over your vehicle. Then
you have to park while they review the monitor. This can take a while. If everything checks out, they send you on your way.
Mission Santa Maria will allow RVs to park in their parking lot for free as long as you have dinner or drinks there. I have stayed there many times in
my RV as well as in the hotel. They have a security guard onsite.
Los Olivos is very nice and a short walk to El Jardines. I think it's about $15 or $20 per night. I have stayed there and it was very nice.
El Jardines will also let you park your RV behind the restaurant for free if you eat there, however I have never camped there. The food at the
restaurant is very good and I have eaten there on numerous occasions.
There are a couple RV campgrounds a little further south of S.Q. that are right on the beach. Fidel's is one of them. I've stayed there a few times
but years ago. They have hot showers and an RV dumpsite. Nothing fancy there.
There are some RV campgrounds in El Rosario but I have never staey at any.
[Edited on 11-30-2016 by Bob53] |
Great info...thanks! |
Traveling Baja for 50 years.
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bajagregg
Junior Nomad
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Bob53 has good information except that the best lane to access the X-ray machine is the far left lane, not the right lane. You will have trouble
getting to the X-ray area from the other lanes. Also, if you are towing a car on a tow bar park just outside the immigration/customs area since you
cannot go in reverse with a tow bar. Plenty of room the park outside the designated parking area. Then loop back and get in the far left lane.
Traveling Baja for 50 years.
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gsbotanico
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The above are correct instructions. The problem, however, is that if there is a lot of backed up traffic trying to cross, it will be very difficult
to get from the far right to the far left because it means crossing many lanes of bumper to bumper cars. My suggestion is either to cross very early
in the morning or get the visas the day before and then stay in the far left lane when crossing. Remember you need passports to get the tourist
permits.
| Quote: Originally posted by bajagregg | Bob53 has good information except that the best lane to access the X-ray machine is the far left lane, not the right lane. You will have trouble
getting to the X-ray area from the other lanes. Also, if you are towing a car on a tow bar park just outside the immigration/customs area since you
cannot go in reverse with a tow bar. Plenty of room the park outside the designated parking area. Then loop back and get in the far left lane.
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Bob53
Senior Nomad
Posts: 661
Registered: 2-24-2014
Location: Fallbrook, CA & Bahia de los Angeles
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I was told by border officials that the only lane that allows RVs was the far right lane. However, I haven't driven my RV down that way for over a
year. There is an X-Ray machine right in front of the right lane so it is very easy to enter.
| Quote: Originally posted by gsbotanico | The above are correct instructions. The problem, however, is that if there is a lot of backed up traffic trying to cross, it will be very difficult
to get from the far right to the far left because it means crossing many lanes of bumper to bumper cars. My suggestion is either to cross very early
in the morning or get the visas the day before and then stay in the far left lane when crossing. Remember you need passports to get the tourist
permits.
| Quote: Originally posted by bajagregg | Bob53 has good information except that the best lane to access the X-ray machine is the far left lane, not the right lane. You will have trouble
getting to the X-ray area from the other lanes. Also, if you are towing a car on a tow bar park just outside the immigration/customs area since you
cannot go in reverse with a tow bar. Plenty of room the park outside the designated parking area. Then loop back and get in the far left lane.
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[Edited on 12-1-2016 by Bob53]
The bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten.
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BajaNomad
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Thread Moved
12-1-2016 at 02:46 PM |
bajagregg
Junior Nomad
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The far left lane is what you want. I suppose that would be the far right lane if you are in Mexico facing the incoming US traffic.
Traveling Baja for 50 years.
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woody with a view
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the x-ray machine is on the left. not on the side where you get FMMs.
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Bajaboy
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There are two machines...one on the left and one on the right. The one on the right was there first.
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Bob53
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And the one on the right is the best option if you are going to the immigration office.
The bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten.
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woody with a view
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oh, i've only used the one on the left. luckily it was 4am and no one else in line.
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CVBaja
Newbie
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Registered: 11-30-2016
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I do work for the Charity that runs the campground. I help with the promotion and communications. I spend my summers in Mexico at Los Olivos (last
year I camped in my van)
[Edited on 12-15-2016 by CVBaja]
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