BajaNomad - Tecate crossing

Tecate crossing

hookemup - 12-16-2009 at 09:22 AM

Have been flying back and forth for so long,my knowledgege of the Tecate crossing northbound I'm sure is outdated. Is the new crossing location well signed going through town ?Yeah I know,any signs would be the exception,but any Nomad directions would help.Headed north in a couple of days.

oxxo - 12-16-2009 at 09:31 AM

Just passed through the Tecate crossing last Saturday night. There are direction signs to the crossing.............if you know where to look! Just keep a sharp lookout for the signs that say, "border crossing." You should be okay. The crossing is a little East of the downtown area.

Pompano - 12-16-2009 at 09:31 AM

I cross there about 6 times a year. The way to the US border is very well marked. Directions are often confusing from different sources.

Just follow the big US BORDER signs.

redhilltown - 12-17-2009 at 12:11 AM

agreed on all counts. it really is that rare border crossing that is well marked and easy to follow as you come up north from the valley. by far the best crossing even if you have to wait...far less craziness and just one single line. (though I'd love to meet the einstein who decided to have the big rigs cross the main line to get into THEIR crossing.)

David K - 12-17-2009 at 09:15 AM

The access to get to the U.S. border at Tecate is just east of downtown off the free Mexicali highway (main east-west street through town). Well signed.

DianaT - 12-17-2009 at 09:37 AM

Signs are not huge---keep your eyes open. Stay toward the right as you enter town from the south.

The one sign that can be a little confusing is the last sign where you turn to go up the hill to the line at the border fence. It is large, but it is posted on the other side of the intersection. Since we are used to seeing directional signs before the turn and not after the turn, it can be a little confusing----

larryC - 12-17-2009 at 09:51 AM

I just crossed yesterday afternoon and wrote these instructions for a friend. If youy are coming from Ensenada or farther south then these might help you if you want to take the new hiway 2000 route:

DIRECTIONS FROM ENSENADA/TJ TOLLROAD TO TECATE BORDER CROSSING
Head north from Ensenada on TJ toll road.
At km-50 there is a turnoff to Puerto Nuevo – There is green highway Puerto Nuevo sign.
Take that turnoff to the Free Road and head north; it is several miles; you will see the huge Jesus statue on the right on the hill; then you will pass the Hotel Calafia.
Continue until you get to the Military checkpoint (they just waved us on); about another 100 meters past there is a stop sign and a BIG green highway sign that says:
TJ/ROSARITO 2000; this is where you turn right and you will see the statue of the fisherman with a fish.
Continue straight – do NOT take the LaPresla / Tecate road turn to the right. Keep following the signs toward Otay and Tecate/Mexicali Cuota.
You’ll drive a ways – 5 miles maybe more; There is a turn-off that goes off to the right to Otay/TJ and I think sign says San Diego as well – do NOT take this).
Keep following the sign to Tecate/Mexicali Cuoate and just a little further and you will see the Toll Booth. Our toll was 80 pesos for auto with NO trailer.
Continue on the Toll Road – Highway 2 for a little ways. Just past KM-123 there is a sign that says “Tecate - Ultima Salida” but we do not take this one. We continue on to the next exit at KM-118 and take the Mexicali Libre road; At the end of this off-ramp you will make a U-turn (at the peach-colored building) so you will be heading back to Tecate. You will be at KM-126 on the libre road; you’ll see a dairy on the right – lots of cows.
Follow the signs to Tecate to the right until you get to the sign that says San Diego border – turn right and go up and over the hill to the border.

I don't think this route is any faster but it is all good road, 2 lanes each direction, so no getting stuck behind slow truck going up the hills.
Good luck,
Larry

DENNIS - 12-17-2009 at 09:55 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by DianaT
Signs are not huge---keep your eyes open.

Which is hard to do in traffic and not being familiar with the layout.

My directions would seem more simple but, that's just 'cause I'm familiar with it.
Anyway:

Driving into Tecate, down the long hill with about a dozen stop signs and lights, you come to an intersection by the railroad tracks. McDonalds is in plain sight across the street and tracks.
Turn right at the corner just before crossing the tracks and continue straight 300 yards to a stop sign.
Continue straight another half mile and the road will split. Take the left road at the split, up a small hill and down to another stop sign.
Continue on, getting into the left lane, for another quarter mile and another stop sign. At that intersection, you will see a sign directing you to the USA and you turn left.
Go straight for two hundred yards and turn left again.
You are now in the line, up the steep hill and down to the bottom and the gates.

Bon Voyage.

PS....I may have missed a stop sign on the road by the tracks but, you'll figure it out.
If you overshoot the turn by the tracks, you can turn right just after McDonalds and basically do the same thing as the other way. Just watch out for stop signs.

SEEING IS BELIEVING!

David K - 12-17-2009 at 10:45 AM

===========================================
Coming north from Ensenada or Hwy. 2-D central Tecate exit... Fork to right, on blvd. along train tracks... big McDonalds is across the blvd. ahead if you went straight.

If you miss this turn, continue ahead to the town plaza/ park and turn right at the far corner (free Mexicali highway)!

Fork left here, driving away from the train tracks (San Diego & Arizona Eastern Railroad, originally):

"Trafic Circle" with trees and stop signs (be sure to make a full stop, police may be watching). Go to right, east from circle:

Turn left a short distance east of traffic circle for U.S. Border:

A look west along the border:

Remember, Tecate border is not open 24 hours! 5am to Midnight, last I recall.

[Edited on 11-16-2010 by David K]

David K - 12-17-2009 at 05:40 PM

Bump for boojum man.

BooJumMan - 12-21-2009 at 09:50 AM

Thank you David!

Now from Ensenada to Tecate -- Is it a toll road? I would rather take a toll road. OOps I just read above its only a toll road from Rosarito?

I might be having to drive at night, unfortunately. Is this an OK route, as in, not single lane crazy turns like through El Rosario/Catavina?

[Edited on 12-21-2009 by BooJumMan]

tripledigitken - 12-21-2009 at 09:56 AM

It is not a toll road. It is a curvy single lane mtn road, after you leave Guadalupe Valley. Pavement is generally in good shape, not the road in Baja I would pick to travel at night for the first time.

Ken

DENNIS - 12-21-2009 at 01:36 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by tripledigitken
It is not a toll road. It is a curvy single lane mtn road, after you leave Guadalupe Valley. Pavement is generally in good shape, not the road in Baja I would pick to travel at night for the first time.

Ken

Heed this advice. It is no road to be on after the sun goes down. I can't imagine a worse place to have a flat or whatever.

FYI.........Coming north on HWY-1, take the toll road from Ensenada to Cantamar exit to the free road
North[not far..mile or two] to Popotla, Blvd. 2000
Up 2000 to Tecate Cuota [that's the second Tecate turn off. The first is the free road to Tecate. Don't do that at night either]
80 Pesos and 16 miles further and you're in Tecate.

Don't drive at night.

Because

Bajahowodd - 12-21-2009 at 01:47 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by redhilltown
agreed on all counts. it really is that rare border crossing that is well marked and easy to follow as you come up north from the valley. by far the best crossing even if you have to wait...far less craziness and just one single line. (though I'd love to meet the einstein who decided to have the big rigs cross the main line to get into THEIR crossing.)

It was the best way to get the backed up border traffic out of town center.

That said, is it possible to get lost in Tecate? I also find that the McDonalds makes for an excellent pit stop before getting in line.

tripledigitken - 12-21-2009 at 02:04 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bajahowodd
.....I also find that the McDonalds makes for an excellent pit stop before getting in line.

What's the punch line?

DENNIS - 12-21-2009 at 02:05 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bajahowodd
That said, is it possible to get lost in Tecate?

Not for long but, the town is growing. They even have their own cartel activities. I guess everybody does...except Rosarito, of course. :lol:

We Don't need No Stinkin' Punchline!

Bajahowodd - 12-21-2009 at 02:22 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by tripledigitken

Quote:

Originally posted by Bajahowodd
.....I also find that the McDonalds makes for an excellent pit stop before getting in line.

What's the punch line?

The McDonalds was mention as a landmark in the directions. That's all.

tripledigitken - 12-21-2009 at 02:27 PM

howoddtostopatmcdonaldsinbaja,

Landmark good................restaurant stop in Tecate bad.

Ken

[Edited on 12-21-2009 by tripledigitken]

DENNIS - 12-21-2009 at 02:37 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by tripledigitken
Landmark good................restaurant stop in Tecate bad.

Is McDonalds considered a restaurant? I never thought of it as one. I know you can sit and eat but, you can do that in your car at a drive-in. [remember thems?] I never thought of a drive-in as a restaurant.
How about a food-court at a mall? is that a restaurant?
Or a roach-coach at the job when you can dine while sitting on a unit of plywood?
What is a restaurant, anyway?

Coffee, Maybe

Bajahowodd - 12-21-2009 at 02:54 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by tripledigitken
howoddtostopatmcdonaldsinbaja,

Landmark good................restaurant stop in Tecate bad.

Ken

[Edited on 12-21-2009 by tripledigitken]

Ken- It's been so many years since I actually ate any food from McDonalds, I can't even remember how long. When I used the term pit stop, I was referring to the "facilities".

tripledigitken - 12-21-2009 at 02:59 PM

ye protest too much!

It's ok to eat there, really it is.

Pass

Bajahowodd - 12-21-2009 at 04:54 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by tripledigitken
ye protest too much!

It's ok to eat there, really it is.

Don't think so. Tinkle is OK.

BooJumMan - 12-21-2009 at 07:20 PM

Hey guys so, sorry but what about taking the road from Rosarito to Tecate? How is this road? Looks like I'll try and time it NOT to drive through at night, like I would much rather do for many reasons.

Its interesting that I have been going to Baja since the day I was born and never have I taken the Tecate route. Maybe living in coastal SD has something to do with it, but, I would really enjoy taking a different scenic road, and not have to go through TJ and the 3 hour border wait.

DENNIS - 12-21-2009 at 07:30 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by BooJumMan
what about taking the road from Rosarito to Tecate?

It's good. Take the free road south from Rob-me-arito to the movie studio and go left at the Blvd. 2000 turn.
Go up that road till you see the Tecate turn off to the right.
The first one you see will be the free road which is good and fast.
The second Tecate turn-off you'll see is the toll road. 80 Pesos for 16 miles and a perfect road.

Tecate border crossing hours

Mulegena - 12-21-2009 at 07:37 PM

Didn't see it in thread, but worth mentioning that the Tecate crossing hours are 5 a.m. through 11 p.m., I believe.

David K - 12-21-2009 at 10:30 PM

5 am to Midnight... and not a minute after! :biggrin:

Boojum... The only Toll roads are 1-D and 2-D... The Blvd. 2000 (BC 201) from the free road (south of Rosarito at Popotla) to Otay connects to the free Tecate road (Mex. 2) and ends at the entrance to the toll Tecate road (2-D). Hwy. 3 is all free and the easiest route... but maybe you want to avoid any construction zones?

The free road is just as fast from what others posted and no $6.00 toll!

The Coastal Conundrum

Bajahowodd - 12-22-2009 at 02:31 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by BooJumMan
Hey guys so, sorry but what about taking the road from Rosarito to Tecate? How is this road? Looks like I'll try and time it NOT to drive through at night, like I would much rather do for many reasons.

Its interesting that I have been going to Baja since the day I was born and never have I taken the Tecate route. Maybe living in coastal SD has something to do with it, but, I would really enjoy taking a different scenic road, and not have to go through TJ and the 3 hour border wait.

I have to agree with your assessment. I've done the Tecate a few times over the years, just for a change of pace. It's a really nice town. But, when it comes to time and distance, for someone living up the I-5, I will most often just cross at Otay. I'm more likely to cross at Tecate when I'm staying in Ensenada. But when returning from long trips, on the road for hours, my primary need is to travel the shortest time and distance going home.

David K - 12-22-2009 at 11:29 PM

Quote:

I have photos and a road log with miles and minutes on the Blvd. 2000 shortcut (north to south) which goes from the Tecate Toll Hwy. (2-D) to Popotla on the Ensenada free road, just south of Rosarito: http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=24396

Just reverse for south to north... and you can get off on the Tecate free road (Mex. 2) for a cheaper way there... I also bumped that post up (on the Baja Road Conditions forum).

Fred - 12-23-2009 at 01:11 PM

How is the road these days heading SOUTH?

Fred