I know it probably is a silly question, but I am going to ask anyhow.We will be leaving Estero Friday Morning, thinking after the work traffic has
passed.From what I read here, there is no "better" time to hit the border.What about late nite Thursday? Hate to lose those precious hours we have ,
but just hoping to avoid the border stress.I think I know the answer.I haven't done the crossing in at least four years.Any and all help, comments,
like which lanes are better, welcome and I won't hold you responsible !!!(if it isn't so)BornFisher - 8-23-2012 at 10:13 PM
If you do the late Thurs. crossing, you will save 30 minutes or so as compared to Friday. So I`d stay and have a longer wait on Fri.!!sancho - 8-24-2012 at 11:23 AM
If you find the 'Secret' time, let me know. We crossed
last Mon. 11 am, at Otay, 1 3/4 hr., don't know if Mon.
is any different than Fri., I assume, right or wrong,
that Otay, generally, is perhaps 30-45 min. shorter,
so I 'm taking a stab that Fri. morn SY would be
2 1/2hr, as you said, you are not holding me to itDavidE - 8-24-2012 at 01:05 PM
So..........
How is Mex 3, from El Sauzal to Tecate these days? Take it starting 3 years ago and compare that to today. Have they softened any curves, repaved any
long sections, or widened the roadway?sancho - 8-24-2012 at 01:55 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by DavidE
How is Mex 3, from El Sauzal to Tecate these days? Take it starting 3 years ago and compare that to today.
I've been to Ensenada a couple times in the past mo.,
took Hwy 3 to Tecate form Sauzal, I don't have any
history on that rd., a couple 200 yd. dirt detours,
otherwise fine, 1 Military checkpoint, crossed Tecate Sun.
12 noon, crossing just at 3 hrs., I'm sure it is a good place to
cross mid week, due to the fact that it wouldn't have
daily crossers, + workers, + 1 million residents or so
like TJ, I peg the drive to Tecate at maybe 25 mi. or so longer than SY,
that is I ballparked the mileage from El Sauzal up Mex Hwy1 thru
the border at SY to Interstate 5 and the 94 close to
downtown San Diego, and compared it to El Sauzal/
Tecate to the same I5 and the 94wilderone - 8-27-2012 at 07:36 AM
"Have they softened any curves, repaved any long sections, or widened the roadway?"
You would be thrilled with the new changes in the past couple years along the entire highway. TWO LANES! Very impressive road building. Probably
still working on some stretches which slow you down a bit for 10 minutes or so, but not too inconvenient.
RE: a secret time to cross? I'd pick thursday night and cross at Tecate. Or about 1:00 am in SY.tripledigitken - 8-27-2012 at 08:27 AM
Tecate last fri at 5pm... 15 mins.BornFisher - 8-27-2012 at 08:48 AM
Otay Ready lane 10am Friday, 23 minutes.
Otay Ready Lane 3:30pm Saturday, 27 minutes.BAJA.DESERT.RAT - 8-27-2012 at 05:46 PM
tecate at 3:30 P.M. this past friday, about 20 cars and 18 minutes !!!!
a first for me.
BIEN SALUD, DA RATSallysouth - 8-30-2012 at 09:13 PM
We are back from our trip.We had lots of fun and made some great memories but every day we had something unexpected happen to us.We left my house
(Capo Beach) at 8;30 am on Sunday.The whole trip was like driving on a ghost freeway! Right thru the border (SY) and down to La Fonda.Had to stop and
show the G-girls and have a Margi! On to Estero, still no traffic.I cannot beleive how much Ensenada has grown.It was kinda depressing for me.All my
old landmarks were unrecognizable or gone.its been four years since I have driven down.Estero was stunning as always, and deserted.We left yesterday
due to a really bad fall I took, my daughter getting some strange sinus infection and stopped at La Fonda for lunch.We thought about staying the nite
but they wanted $86 for a ratty little room and wouldn't budge on the price.We had a great lunch tho and drove for the border.There is No sign or
signs to direct one to the SY border after the "fence road".We drove aruond Zona Rio, asked a taxi guy, a girl in a store and finally after an hour of
bad directions, we found a policia and he steered us toward the right way.Even that was a b***tch! Past the shops,almost to the border! There were so
few lanes open! 20 mins and we were two cars next up.All of a sudden, a bunch of CBP guys are surrounding the cars and us telling us to turn off our
engines.Silence.Then really loud yelling."Put your hands above your head!!""Turn around and sit!"They had pulled a huge guy out of that car, and he
was reaching in his pockets!! I told the G-girls to get on the floor.It was all very smooth and well handled by the CBP guys, the cuffed him, and we
were almost thru.Guns were drawn and the kids saw it, scaring them , but we had altogether, 40 minute wait time, even with that!! This was at 4:30
pm!!Carpool most of the way home, a breeze.I' ll post a trip report tomorrow with "dining' reports and our adventures.Never a dull moment this trip!!
Sallylizard lips - 8-31-2012 at 05:17 AM
Stop at Las Rosas for breakfast and get the pass.durrelllrobert - 8-31-2012 at 08:12 AM
Quote:
Originally posted by sancho
Fri. morn SY would be
2 1/2hr, as you said, you are not holding me to it
Especially since this is the start of a 3 day holiday weekend. Otay and Tecate will also be much longer than usual.
Hope you guys enjoyed your stay at Estero.
[Edited on 8-31-2012 by durrelllrobert]
Sorry, I didn't notice that you posted on 8/23 which meant you were going to be crossing on 8/24 which was not the start of a 3 day holiday.
[Edited on 8-31-2012 by durrelllrobert]lizard lips - 8-31-2012 at 01:09 PM
Sorry, I didn't notice that you posted on 8/23 which meant you were going to be crossing on 8/24 which was not the start of a 3 day holiday.
Ooops. Estero Beach also has the fast pass for guests. All you gatta do is ask! Friends of mine stayed there a month ago and they came back on a
Sunday afternoon. The line was L O N G but they crossed in 30 minutes with the pass.
THANK GOD I HAVE SENTRI!!!!Sallysouth - 8-31-2012 at 10:14 PM
Well thanks anyhow.No one told me about "the pass"! I asked you guys about info for our trip in plenty advance time.Now you tell me...It is ok, I
realized that no one here had the info we needed, or so it seems.I won't be going south anytime soon.Only reason I would go would be to find my
Grandaughters.That is another story..
