BajaNomad - Baja border crossing from the east

Baja border crossing from the east

Vanderpooch - 11-17-2009 at 06:41 PM

I will be traveling from TN on US8 and looking to cross the border heading towards San Felipe. Does anyone have any experience or advice as to which border crossing would be best? (safety/services/shortest distance/etc..)
On my map I see the options of:
-heading down 95 to the San Luis Crossing (open 6am-8pm)
-Andrade border crossing (will have to drive through the city to MEX5
-the Calexico East/West crossings (a bit further out of the way than i would like to travel)

I will be looking to layup and either camp or motel on the US side of the border for an early border crossing. Is one crossing better than another for US side ameneties?

I am considering towing my Syncro out so I can haul *** comfortably to the border.
Does anyone live close to my route that might have room to park an F-250 for about 2 weeks?? Or suggestions to where i could find a place to leave it?

Cheers,
John

DENNIS - 11-17-2009 at 06:45 PM

Welcome to BajaNomad, pooch. Hang tight and your questions will be answered.

Darn. I thought I had it fixed. You see, you and I are the only real people on this board. This is my hobby and all these folks you see interacting are my creations with my computer.
OK...lemme see....I'll just push the DavidK button here and see what happens.

Sit down and have a Pacifico, pooch. This may take a moment.

[Edited on 11-18-2009 by DENNIS]

Bajahowodd - 11-17-2009 at 06:56 PM

Dennis- you are to the Nomad board what David k is to El Rosario. You must have a ribbon or a medal. :biggrin:

Bwana_John - 11-17-2009 at 06:57 PM

We have tried San Luis, Algadones, and Calixico east and west coming from AZ.

We think is is fastest and easiest to go in Calixico west, and come out Calixico east.

Riom - 11-17-2009 at 07:52 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Vanderpooch
-heading down 95 to the San Luis Crossing (open 6am-8pm)
-Andrade border crossing (will have to drive through the city to MEX5
-the Calexico East/West crossings (a bit further out of the way than i would like to travel)

Coming south from Yuma, I almost always cross at San Luis. After you cross the border, you take an immediate right at the first lights, and you're already heading out of town (towards Tijuana). Toll bridge 12 pesos soon, then mostly all new divided highway. Take the Mexicali bypass (signposted San Felipe, 14 pesos toll on exit) then it's a straight run down 5 to San Felipe. Around 3 - 3.5 hours from Yuma to San Felipe.

For the night before, stay in Yuma, plenty of options (but can be very busy Jan-Mar). It's about half an hour from there to the border.

If you cross at Andrade (Algodones), there's lots of little towns and farm roads on the Mexican side, can be slow going.

If you cross at Mexicali East, you have to work your way through Mexicali. Easy enough after a few times, but is certainly confusing the first time, there are very few signs. Mexicali West is even more out of your way for no advantage.

However, if you need to get a tourist visa, Mexicali East is about the best option, as it's easier to park and rarely busy.

Bwana_John - 11-17-2009 at 08:04 PM

Quote:

however, if you need to get a tourist visa, Mexicali East is about the best option, as it's easier to park and rarely busy.

It took 3 hours waiting in line on a Saturday before X-mass to get our Tourist card done at Calexico east because of all the car imports were in the same line and the bank only had one teller on the weekend.
It has never taken longer than 15 min at Calexico west during the same time period.

Quote:

Takes us the same time from Yuma- SF crossing at Calixico west, with no weird signage, tolls, detours ect.

[Edited on 11-18-2009 by Bwana_John]

David K - 11-17-2009 at 09:31 PM

Riom's directions would be what I would suggest... Before the new Libremente Mexicali bypass was built, the old route was south off Mex. 2 onto BC2, then BC3 then BC4 to Mex. 5.

But the new 2-D is less complicated and probably faster than the farm roads 2,3,4.

[Edited on 11-18-2009 by David K]

DENNIS - 11-17-2009 at 09:36 PM

There he is. Took a little longer than normal. I'll have to make a few adjustments.

vgabndo - 11-17-2009 at 10:22 PM

Dennis, brother...you da man. I loved how you got in all the expertise of DK's crew before you stepped him in for his blessing. Masterful! :lol:

[Edited on 11-18-2009 by vgabndo]

CortezBlue - 11-18-2009 at 06:55 AM

We go to San Felipe about every other week and have gone all of the above routes.

Issues:

San Luis
It is very easy to cross and not a bunch of traffic to deal with.
The down side is getting from I8 to San Luis, you have to go through several small towns and slow down to 25 mph along the way.

East Crossing (Calexico)
You can really fly along I8, however, I normally exit CA SR98 and follow the border. Just before you exit SR98 there is a Border Patrol stop that is normally not a big deal, but I have had to wait several minutes to get through the check point.

West Crossing (Calexico)
Not sure why you would travel west to cross and then go south, it appears to be a bit out of the way. I have crossed here if I have to stop along the way near that crossing for parts or supplies in El Centro or downtown Calexico.

After we cross the border, next stop, Brian's Beach Bar at PDO for the best Margarita in SF!! :lol:

ArvadaGeorge - 11-18-2009 at 08:18 AM

Have any of you gotten your Tourist cards at San Luis?
Is there a bank handy?Hours open?
Parking isn't a problem for us, we are on a Motorcycle.

Bajajorge - 11-18-2009 at 09:46 AM

I crossed last week through Calexico East. There were some street closures on Calzada Gomez Morin for construction. Had to take the street behind Mega and Costco to get to Hwy5 to San Felipe.

tripledigitken - 11-18-2009 at 10:19 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by David K
Riom's directions would be what I would suggest... Before the new Libremente Mexicali bypass was built, the old route was south off Mex. 2 onto BC2, then BC3 then BC4 to Mex. 5.

But the new 2-D is less complicated and probably faster than the farm roads 2,3,4.

[Edited on 11-18-2009 by David K]

"Less complicated", that was my first thought. :lol:

Riom - 11-18-2009 at 07:54 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bwana_John
It took 3 hours waiting in line on a Saturday before X-mass to get our Tourist card done at Calexico east because of all the car imports were in the same line and the bank only had one teller on the weekend.

Good point about some saturdays. I've got the tourist visa for a passenger there a few times, always midweek (middle of the afternoon), never seen anybody else in Immigration or the bank. Still only one teller, but only one customer (me) anyway.

Quote:

Originally posted by Bwana_John
Takes us the same time from Yuma- SF crossing at Calixico west, with no weird signage, tolls, detours ect.

The "weird signage" (crossing at San Luis) says initially Tijuana (to head west, just like you'd follow San Diego signs on I-8), then two signs which say "San Felipe" (which is helpful as that's the destination). Maybe you mean it's weird there are actually signs and they give the right destination!? :-)

The tolls are minimal. No detours I'm aware of (a little remaining construction in San Luis a few months back). One advantage of crossing at San Luis is avoiding the two US checkpoints on I-8 in California (agriculture, border patrol), which can sometimes have delays (esp. the border patrol one).

I agree with somebody who mentioned the towns (Gadsen, Somerton) on US 95 from Yuma to the border can be slow (and speed traps!). I normally take Avenue B from the back of the Cocopah Casino towards the State Prison and then west to San Luis, but that's an unnecessary complication for a visitor, the aim is to describe the easiest route (which is also just about the shortest).

Takes me 2hrs 45 from the south side of Yuma to north San Felipe (166 miles), so I rounded up for a visitor.

Interesting how everybody has their favorite ways! Coming north I generally prefer Mexicali East, despite the longer drive.