What's the best place to cross coming from Yuma heading to San Felipe? There seem to be several options. Thanks for any suggestions.
Rustybajalou - 1-9-2006 at 04:27 PM
I always cross at Algodones if coming from Yuma.ArvadaGeorge - 1-9-2006 at 04:38 PM
We used Algodones going down and Garita 2 coming back.
Going out thru Algodones with big rigs is hard. It's fine going inOso - 1-9-2006 at 05:25 PM
I usually cross at San Luis, but then I live here. Mex 40 is a bit wider and not much hassle. I usually go down to Luis B. Sanchez and then West on
4 until it Tees with 5. Be careful here, you can't make a left to go south to SF. You have to turn right and go north about 50 yds. to a turnaround.
Also, it's easy to miss the turn in LBS if you're not paying attention. It's a right just past the RR track hump (and there's a cop station right
there)Riom - 1-9-2006 at 11:29 PM
I prefer to cross at Calexico East (Garita II) going down, the drive in CA is easy and relaxing, Mexicali traffic usually flows well, plus stopping
for some food shopping at somewhere like Mega (next to Costco) on the south side of Mexicali makes a good half-way break.
If you cross at Algodones it's quite tedious driving through the various small towns, turns, construction etc on the Mexico side. It's maybe a little
shorter but no faster (if you make some effort to follow the speed limits).
Coming back I also usually pick Garita II unless it's likely to be super busy. Algodones rarely has a long queue (30 mins max, usually none).Oso - 1-10-2006 at 08:39 AM
Quote:
Originally posted by Riom
Algodones rarely has a long queue (30 mins max, usually none).
I would qualify that "rarely". True enough, most of the year is no hassle at Algodones. Sometimes when the San Luis line is back past 20th, I'll go
around to Algodones even though it takes me way out of my way. BUT, winter holiday season is an exception. We were there between Xmas & New Year
and even mid-afternoon, the vehicle line was long. We had parked in the Quechan lot and walked over, mostly because the flocks of snowbirds meant it
would be hard to find a parking space in Algodones. The pedestrian line was the longest I've ever seen. We had a late lunch at Pueblo Viejo, hoping
it would go down. It didn't. People were sitting on the veranda sipping margs waiting for it to thin. We decided to get it over with and looked for
the end of the line. It was across the canal, up the hill, south a block then east to the end of the dirt street by the fence. About half a mile of
gringos shuffling along. Thankfully it did move steadily, if slowly and Customs was not giving people much hassle- "U.S. Citizen? Have a nice day."
Back at work, one of my people told me they had been at Garita 2 in the afternoon of the following day. The line was very long, so they had decided
to try Algodones. Big mistake. The vehicle line was all the way through town to a mile south of the Morelos Dam. They made it through about 9:30,
half an hour before the gates closed.bbbait - 1-10-2006 at 01:17 PM
It must have got ugly when they shut the gate on those that had to wait that long, then got turned away....Oso - 1-10-2006 at 05:40 PM
Wasn't there, so I don't know. I would guess anyone still in line a dozen cars back at 9:58 would know to give up and head back to Mexicali or on to
SLRC. I don't know how "flexible" Customs is but i'd guess it wouldn't exceed a matter of minutes.
Anybody have an experience getting to the gate right at closing?bajalou - 1-10-2006 at 09:35 PM
Heading north today at Garita II - Mexicali East - entered the complex in Mexico at 10:55am, and was out on the US side at 11:07am - 12 min - about
4-5 cars ahead of me and 5 lanes open - "Are you a US citizen?" Yes, "Bringing anything from Mexico?" No - Go ahead---turtleandtoad - 1-11-2006 at 09:00 AM
Bajalou,
Questions:
Going north;
Were you driving a car or a RV?
Can a large RV like mine get through Garita II or is it just for cars?bajalou - 1-11-2006 at 09:35 AM
I was in my Ford PU - but they have a Motorhome lane - the right one - it's for MHs, trailers etc. If the gate is closed, just pull up to it anyway,
they will come open it for you - and for your increased comfort, they installed the radiation detectors twice as high to insure a complete scan---- I
think it's easier in a MH than the downtown one (less curves)
But rememeber, like Algodones, only open 6am to 10pm 7 days a week
Rusty - 1-11-2006 at 09:42 AM
Thanks everyone for the information. I'm still a bit confused about Algodones. Is it different from the San Luis crossing or are they the same? If
different, where is it in relation to San Luis. And finally, does it go by another name, such as one on the list found here: http://apps.cbp.gov/bwt/
Thanks again.
Rustybajalou - 1-11-2006 at 04:51 PM
It's on that site as Andrade - in Calif not AZ. about 7 miles from Yuma heading west on I8, then south on Andrade rd.turtleandtoad - 1-11-2006 at 05:05 PM
