BajaNomad - tijuana border crossing

tijuana border crossing

msypvr - 9-10-2010 at 09:04 AM

we will be crossing into mexico on wednesday and returning to the u.s. on the following wednesday. any suggestions on best time of day. thanks

Baja&Back - 9-10-2010 at 09:07 AM

10AM both ways at San Ysidro.

Bob and Susan - 9-10-2010 at 02:30 PM

NOT 6am
2 hour wait

NOT 1PM
3 hour wait

irenemm - 9-10-2010 at 09:07 PM

we crossed the tijuana border yesterday at 5:35 p.m. is when we got in line. We crossed into the US at 5:56 p.m.. it was great.
no cars at all. the line started about the middle of the vendors. moved so fast.

woody with a view - 9-10-2010 at 09:09 PM

don't rub it in, Irene!

irenemm - 9-10-2010 at 09:12 PM

sorry woody with a view just can not get over it. we went up the ramp and my husband said hey no cars. told him to close his mouth gonna jinks it. maybe everyone was waiting for the traffic to be gone. should have bought a lottery ticket.
to much luck
or maybe no one coming down can not used dollars.

bajabass - 9-10-2010 at 09:25 PM

I go a little against the norm. I'm leaving OC now, about 9:30, I'll hit the border about 10:45, unless I stop at the In-N Out in Natn'l City, and be at my house in La Mision about midnight, or a little after. No wait going in.
I'll leave La Mision about midnight Sunday, after 4 hours of sleep, hit la linea about one, and be in Orange before 3am. 3 hours more of sleep, and off to work at 7. I don't recommend this for everyone, but I love 5 minutes in line, and more time in Baja! Good Weekend All, I'm outta here! :tumble:

Marc - 9-10-2010 at 10:07 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by woody with a view
don't rub it in, Irene!

I've crossed over from Sonorita to Lukeville AZ three times in the last 18 months. About 5 minutes was the longest wait. :yes:

My travel bud goes stark raving mad crossing back at TJ. "Hey bud, relax, take a deep breath" :fire:

Somehow we always make it throug. :yes:

Bajafun777 - 9-10-2010 at 10:31 PM

Don't know how many are in your group but here is a fast secret if you eat or stay at the right places in Mexico that participate in Fast Trac. You spend $70 dollars at one of the designated places participating and they give you the Fast Trac or some sell them to you for $2 dollars. You drive just like you do to when crossing back from T.J. into the U.S.A. So, where the sign says San Diego at the last one way turn left in T.J. going back to the U.S.A. border you will stay to your right and when you see the Colonial Federal sign you take it and as you proceed stay with your left shoulder towards the cement divider all the way up to the Mexican booth that looks like an outside ticket booth, be aware that the Colonial Federal makes a Y right as you approach this booth, so again I advise you to stay with the cement divider on your left shoulder if you are the driver. The toll operator will come out to your vehicle to take your ticket that you got as described above, toll officer will write you car license down and way you on. NOW, you will drive on up to the U.S.A. border line and find maybe 8 or 10 cars ahead of you. Should be able to do all of this 30 minutes after clearing the last toll pay by Tijuana Playas and going on your way to the border. Worth the money as you have to eat somewhere and if you have a group makes it real easy. Just a suggestion and if you know where Ruben Palm Grill is at Cantamar he participates and so does Rosarito Beach Hotel. At the hotel you buy them at the front desk for $2 dollars. You have the Fast Trac now baby and yes I have crossed this way about 6 times and never found more than 10 cars ahead of me. I have the Sentri but this is faster and faster is always better with me,LOL. "No Hurry, No Worry, Just Fun" Later now, bajafun777

Bajafun777 - 9-10-2010 at 10:32 PM

I forgot to say that everyone in your vehicle is covered when using the one Fast Trac ticket you will have, so again have a fast return. bajafun777

BornFisher - 9-11-2010 at 12:49 PM

Southbound, anytime before 3pm.
North, the evenings are best, try about 5PM!
These times don`t apply to weekends.

Question for Bajafun-- doesn`t the fast trac pass get you in line near the river? That would still mean about a 40 minute wait, or am I missing something? Your statement "faster than Sentri" made me jump!!

Dave - 9-11-2010 at 12:57 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bajafun777
NOW, you will drive on up to the U.S.A. border line and find maybe 8 or 10 cars ahead of you.

You got lucky. After passing the fast trac booth all regular traffic is allowed to merge right and these lanes are notoriously slow. There isn't any magic bullet. It's just a matter of luck.

Otay SENTRI

bajaguy - 9-11-2010 at 01:03 PM

If you have SENTRI, try Otay. My longest wait was 15 minutes and that was on a Monday morning at 7AM.

Bajafun777 - 9-11-2010 at 02:33 PM

Okay, I just tried the Otay Sentri and never again too much time for too little crossing time---still think T.J. crossing is faster using free road to Sentri. Now, the Fast Trac I jump in at the San Diego Rapido and then the Colonial Federal. Have gone this way 5 times now and the other lines even the sentri are longer by far. Yes, the other traffic is allowed to get in but not right after the booth, instead it is allowed to sneak in very close to the metal railing that cuts them off again. I stay close to the concret barrier and keep my lane preventing other cars from crowding in front of me. Not afraid to get aggressive because by then you are in the USA baby and they better have good insurance!! Again, like I said I have done this at all different times during the week and weekend even Sunday and again only 10 or less cars in front of me. If I am lucky then maybe I better head to Vegas fast, in fact in has been a while and I think I will go in November after the "Rock" motorcycle run on the 4th of November.LOL Take Care & Travel Safe bajafun777

BooJumMan - 9-12-2010 at 11:38 AM

I suck at crossing the border at TJ. So, whenever I am planning on crossing, don't be there!

I would agree that coming back north, the best time is mid morning 10am to noon.

krafty - 9-12-2010 at 12:29 PM

We have been over and back all hours of the day and I don't see any hard and fast rules-every trip and time is different-no specific formula on a "good time" We have been quite lucky with the SENTRI line, barring the 3 times in one month we were pulled into secondary..........

GEMcC5150 - 9-12-2010 at 02:19 PM

THE BEST TIME TO CROSS IT SOME OTHER TIME THAN WHEN YOU ARE CROSSING.

Bajafun777 - 9-12-2010 at 03:15 PM

LOL, LOL ---- You Bad So Bad GemcC5150, but then we know what the 5150 stands for,LOL!! Take Care & Travel Safe! Later------------------ bajafun777

schwlind - 9-13-2010 at 01:39 PM

So is there any good time to cross in TJ if you're crossing on a Saturday??? (YIKES!). I have a 2:30p flight leaving from San Diego and am contemplating spending the night in Ensenada then crossing the next morning... Dumb thought???

Linda

Woooosh - 9-13-2010 at 01:44 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by krafty
We have been over and back all hours of the day and I don't see any hard and fast rules-every trip and time is different-no specific formula on a "good time" We have been quite lucky with the SENTRI line, barring the 3 times in one month we were pulled into secondary..........

What's the point of being one of the "trusted" if you're not?

bajabass - 9-13-2010 at 02:01 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by schwlind
So is there any good time to cross in TJ if you're crossing on a Saturday??? (YIKES!). I have a 2:30p flight leaving from San Diego and am contemplating spending the night in Ensenada then crossing the next morning... Dumb thought???

Linda

I would stay in a TJ hotel very close to the border, or spend the night in S.D. Or just leave WAY early, and plan on killing some time before you hit the airport. JMHO

Woooosh - 9-13-2010 at 02:08 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by bajabass

Quote:

I would stay in a TJ hotel very close to the border, or spend the night in S.D. Or just leave WAY early, and plan on killing some time before you hit the airport. JMHO

I would just leave two hours for the northbound border wait and another hour and a half for the airport parking/check-in. Saturday mornings are not as bad as the Mon-Fri work day commutes. If you do stay the night in Mexico- don't leave your packed luggage in the trunk (but you already know that).

knuckles - 9-13-2010 at 02:30 PM

Quote:

What's the point of being one of the "trusted" if you're not?

The trusted get secondary way more than everyone else.

But of course, I am a "Threat to Homeland Security", what would I know?

sanquintinsince73 - 9-14-2010 at 01:02 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bajafun777
Don't know how many are in your group but here is a fast secret if you eat or stay at the right places in Mexico that participate in Fast Trac. You spend $70 dollars at one of the designated places participating and they give you the Fast Trac or some sell them to you for $2 dollars. You drive just like you do to when crossing back from T.J. into the U.S.A. So, where the sign says San Diego at the last one way turn left in T.J. going back to the U.S.A. border you will stay to your right and when you see the Colonial Federal sign you take it and as you proceed stay with your left shoulder towards the cement divider all the way up to the Mexican booth that looks like an outside ticket booth, be aware that the Colonial Federal makes a Y right as you approach this booth, so again I advise you to stay with the cement divider on your left shoulder if you are the driver. The toll operator will come out to your vehicle to take your ticket that you got as described above, toll officer will write you car license down and way you on. NOW, you will drive on up to the U.S.A. border line and find maybe 8 or 10 cars ahead of you. Should be able to do all of this 30 minutes after clearing the last toll pay by Tijuana Playas and going on your way to the border. Worth the money as you have to eat somewhere and if you have a group makes it real easy. Just a suggestion and if you know where Ruben Palm Grill is at Cantamar he participates and so does Rosarito Beach Hotel. At the hotel you buy them at the front desk for $2 dollars. You have the Fast Trac now baby and yes I have crossed this way about 6 times and never found more than 10 cars ahead of me. I have the Sentri but this is faster and faster is always better with me,LOL. "No Hurry, No Worry, Just Fun" Later now, bajafun777

Thanks for the info. I just looked fast trac up online and it appears legit. I am going to try it. Gracias.