BajaNomad

Border Crossing times

El Camote - 6-2-2010 at 06:23 PM

Was checking this website today in search of the sweetspot for when to cross back in to the U.S. on our upcoming trip.

http://apps.cbp.gov/bwt/index.asp

At 6 pm it shows a 15 min. wait at the Calexico West crossing. Could this be accurate?

k-rico - 6-2-2010 at 06:26 PM

Could be. Weekdays late in the afternoon is the best time to cross. I walked across at SY today at 3:00 PM, there was no line, walked right up to the border guard. Auto traffic was light, looked to be about 30 minutes.

nbacc - 6-3-2010 at 05:54 AM

We went through the East crossing on a Sunday morning. Were there by 7:30 and had a 20 min wait....shortest we have ever had.

wilderone - 6-3-2010 at 07:02 AM

The last 4-5 times through Tecate was about 10 minutes.

DianaT - 6-3-2010 at 07:06 AM

Middle of the week, middle of the day and we find Tecate to be the best---sometimes maybe 2 cars in line.

Longest wait we had there was on a Sunday afternoon and it was close to an hour.

El Camote - 6-3-2010 at 08:07 AM

I think we had a 2.5 hour wait last time through in early April at Calexico west. That was the longest ever. Makes me want to commit a felony. I'll do anything to avoid that taste of purgatory. :mad:

May consider Tecate this time. Anyone know how to get from the Tecate crossing to the 15N?

Martyman - 6-3-2010 at 08:13 AM

Sunday May 30 noon. 1 hour 40 min. We bought a ceramic burro. chicklets some nieves and loved the kid jugglers. I don't mind the wait...it's entertainment!

Woooosh - 6-3-2010 at 09:01 AM

A new border wait time camera website has popped up. They would like you to pay to join... but you can see plenty for free. I like the "loop cam".

http://www.bordertraffic.com/

durrelllrobert - 6-3-2010 at 09:12 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by El Camote
Anyone know how to get from the Tecate crossing to the 15N?


94 west to 125 north (spring valley), across I8 and down the hill to Santee where 125 ends and 52 splits off (right lane) and then 52 up the hill to I15 just south of Miramar. misses all San Diego traffic.:yes:

DENNIS - 6-3-2010 at 10:50 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Woooosh
A new border wait time camera website has popped up. They would like you to pay to join... but you can see plenty for free. I like the "loop cam".

http://www.bordertraffic.com/



Nothing about Tecate. That's a good thing. Hate to see too much publicity about that overcrowded terrible place.
CAUTION...DON"T GO TO TECATE...DEATH and DESTRUCTION AWAIT YOU :biggrin:

Bob and Susan - 6-3-2010 at 10:58 AM

being a guy who "get's" to go to secondary now...

in tecate
they send more to secondary when the crossing load is "light"

got to keep the "boys" workin:lol:

[Edited on 6-3-2010 by Bob and Susan]

David K - 6-3-2010 at 11:06 AM

Tecate on Memorial Day evening (8:20 start) was 90 minutes, a known bad time to cross on a 3 day weekend. Mexicali has always seemed to be worse, however. Coming north from San Felipe we will usually take the Libramente Mexicali (2-D) west to Tecate.

capt. mike - 6-3-2010 at 11:20 AM

we crossed back into US of A at 10:00 a.m. Monday at Nogales, it took 10 minutes....:P:lol::lol:

LaTijereta - 6-5-2010 at 05:11 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Bob and Susan
being a guy who "get's" to go to secondary now...

in tecate
they send more to secondary when the crossing load is "light"

got to keep the "boys" workin:lol:

[Edited on 6-3-2010 by Bob and Susan]


Came through Tecate on Friday about 10am..30 min wait..

Then sent to Secondary for a lecture on bring dog food (packaged in US) brought down fro our stay in Loreto..
It was not allowed, unless still in the box/bag "unopened"
:cool: That was first for our dog..
Must have been a slow day for the guys in th back..

DENNIS - 6-5-2010 at 06:07 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by LaTijereta
Then sent to Secondary for a lecture on bring dog food (packaged in US) brought down fro our stay in Loreto..
It was not allowed, unless still in the box/bag "unopened"
:cool: That was first for our dog..
Must have been a slow day for the guys in th back..


As ridiculous as it seems, it's a fairly common complaint. We've had discussions here about it in the past.
Oh, well....you gave the marooon squad something to flex their muscles about. :lol:

surfer jim - 6-5-2010 at 10:37 PM

Sat night 6 pm at T.J. = slightly over one hour. Was expecting 2 hours so I left happy.

Bob and Susan - 6-6-2010 at 06:04 AM

yesterday 3pm
22 minutes to cross in tecate:cool:

El Camote - 6-19-2010 at 09:13 AM

As a follow up, we crossed back at Calexico west on Wed. June 9 at 3:30 pm....

(drum roll please) 12 min. wait! :wow:

I am now an afternoon crossing convert. :smug:

Although, we were "preinspected" as we neared the entry lane to the kiosks. This was a first. Actually swarmed on was more accurate.

Officer walked by the passenger side and banged on the rear door. I didn't think anything of it other than he was just checking to make sure it was hollow. He then came around to my driver's side and gave me an earful for not stopping when someone bangs on your door. Meanwhile, an officer opened the back hatch and started poking around while another opened the passenger door and started questioning my 6 yr. old to make sure I was his father. Officer to child: "Who is this man?" (pointing to me)
My son: "Michael" Officer: "What, your uncle?" This went on for some time and other than scaring my son was quite comical.

The lesson learned was don't forget your razor on the next trip. I think I looked like a child abducter with a week of beard growth and five extra lbs. of beer fat. :lol: