BajaNomad

Tecate to San Felipe

grace59 - 8-31-2010 at 07:22 PM

We are heading down to San Felipe this weekend. We will be coming from the San Diego airport and want to enter at Tecate. Can someone provide directions from the border to the toll road to Mexicali-San Felipe. Thanks!

David K - 8-31-2010 at 07:36 PM

Do not try and drive from Tijuana to Tecate... it is an expensive hassle.

Stay in the U.S. to the Tecate border... From San Diego Airport follow signs to I-5 south. Go to Hwy. 94 east. and stay on 94 all the way to the Tecate access road, it is 2 miles from Hwy. 94. to the border. Cross at Tecate, follow signs for Mexicali... the toll road entrance is some 3-4 miles east of town, off the Mexicali Free road (Hwy. 2).

After crossing the Laguna Salada Valley, you will come to the Toll shortcut to San Felipe, Libremente de Mexicali (2-D)... avoids all of Mexicali and takes you to Mexico Hwy. 5.

There may still be about 6 miles of unpaved detour a few miles south, from the earthquake of Easter.

CortezBlue - 8-31-2010 at 08:46 PM

Hi Grace

So, if you are traveling through Tecate for the view and you want to see Tecate, then follow David K's directions.
However, I have taken the Tecate route and it is expensive, I think nearly 20 dollars for the toll road from Tecate to Mexicalli.

I would take 5 east to 98 that will take you to Calexico.

Also, Bing Maps will give you detail directions directly from San Diego to San Felipe, it is a great map for international travel.

BajaWarrior - 8-31-2010 at 09:04 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by CortezBlue
Hi Grace

So, if you are traveling through Tecate for the view and you want to see Tecate, then follow David K's directions.
However, I have taken the Tecate route and it is expensive, I think nearly 20 dollars for the toll road from Tecate to Mexicalli.

I would take 5 east to 98 that will take you to Calexico.

Also, Bing Maps will give you detail directions directly from San Diego to San Felipe, it is a great map for international travel.


It's $10.50 for all three tolls car or truck not towing. You can get Pesos just before entering Tecate on your left.

There is still three miles of unpaved road south of Mexicali but locals are using the newly paved highway after hours. The section north of the Ensenada turnoff is now completely paved and they were striping it on this past Sunday.

grace59 - 8-31-2010 at 09:29 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by CortezBlue
Hi Grace

So, if you are traveling through Tecate for the view and you want to see Tecate, then follow David K's directions.
However, I have taken the Tecate route and it is expensive, I think nearly 20 dollars for the toll road from Tecate to Mexicalli.

I would take 5 east to 98 that will take you to Calexico.

Also, Bing Maps will give you detail directions directly from San Diego to San Felipe, it is a great map for international travel.

We usually cross through Mexicali on the way to San Felipe, but on our trip down last month we noticed very heavy police presence pulling many people over. The day after we went through our neighbors who were coming down to their house in San Felipe got pulled over for "speeding" although they were just going with the flow of traffic. They wanted to go to the station to pay their fine and began to follow the officer who pulled over in an unpopulated area and ending up shaking them down fo 100.00 US. Now may husband is no longer wanting to drive our usual route through Mexicali so we will try the drive in through Tecate instead.

DavidE - 9-1-2010 at 06:49 PM

Yeah I just had a woman pass me on the interstate yakking on her cell phone while staying with traffic, at 85 mph.

An issue in Mexico is that one must look at the speed limit signs. If they say 40 kph and you're going with the flow at 50 mph. you haven't got a leg to stand on, just ask any USA traffic court judge. Mexican speed limit signs are shall we say extremely modest in recommended velocity. No self respecting Mexican transito is going to pull over someone driving a beater wearing a torn t-shirt, no they are going to go after a violator with DINERO and much haste.

viabaja - 9-2-2010 at 11:00 AM

Stay on 8 and cross at Calexico.

Mexicorn - 9-2-2010 at 11:04 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by viabaja
Stay on 8 and cross at Calexico.


Once at Calexico into Mexicali follow the signs south.
Easy and pleasent drive. No Hassels great sceanery!
Bring an ice chest and snacks its a couple hours plus from the border.

[Edited on 9-2-2010 by Mexicorn]

David K - 9-2-2010 at 06:23 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Mexicorn
Quote:
Originally posted by viabaja
Stay on 8 and cross at Calexico.


Once at Calexico into Mexicali follow the signs south.
Easy and pleasent drive. No Hassels great sceanery!
Bring an ice chest and snacks its a couple hours plus from the border.

[Edited on 9-2-2010 by Mexicorn]


I agree with this, unless you are crossing south on a Friday evening or Saturday morning after 9 am... long lines into Mexico then (30 min. +). Never a long line into Mexico at Tecate.

Salsa - 9-3-2010 at 08:49 AM

I can't be much help on the road condition.

The last time I did it was 1972 on a motorcycle. We were scouting for a motorcycle race.

Don