BajaNomad

Sentri - Otay or San Ysidro

Ateo - 10-25-2013 at 04:28 PM

Well, my Sentri appointment is tonight. I've been searching for directions to the Sentri lane the past few minutes and this thought came to mind:

Which Sentri POE do you prefer? San Ysidro or Otay?

Ateo - 10-25-2013 at 04:35 PM

Now I just need to find the darn lanes. I've been doing a search on Nomad, but it's only giving one result. I think there may be something wrong with the search function. Will try later. I enter "Sentri" and get one result.

MMc - 10-25-2013 at 04:36 PM

San Ysidro. Longest wait in 6 years was 40 min 1 time. We average 10 to 15 mins. We take a poll as to how long to cross starting when the car comes to a full stop in line. A group of us will dawn patrol No. Baja and be back across by 11:00 in the morning. don't tell anybody:lol:
SY is super easy. Try looking for north bound crossing lanes. The road starts on the north side of the river and It's just you join it from.

[Edited on 10-25-2013 by MMc]

Ateo - 10-25-2013 at 04:38 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by MMc
San Ysidro. Longest wait in 6 years was 40 min 1 time. We average 10 to 15 mins. We take a poll as to how long to cross starting when the car comes to a full stop in line. A group of us will dawn patrol No. Baja and be back across by 11:00 in the morning. don't tell anybody:LOL:


My buddy just got his pass too and the plan is to hit up Baja Malibu or something, then cruise back across in 15 minutes. It makes it doable again!!!

Ateo - 10-25-2013 at 04:41 PM

BTW, I did find Bajaguys Otay directions. Very helpful.

I know Ken posted something on SY, but the search ain't finding the post right now.

MMc - 10-25-2013 at 04:44 PM

Go to google maps and figure it out not very hard. Just back track from the lanes that way when they shut down the access to some of it, you can get around it.

BajaGeoff - 10-25-2013 at 05:33 PM

Here are videos we put together on getting to the SENTRI lanes....

Tijuana:



Otay from the airport:

DanO - 10-25-2013 at 05:51 PM

Definitely San Ysidro, unless you are traveling with people without passes who need to walk across. My wait time experience is similar to MMc's. From Via Internacional take a right at the sign pointing to Paseo de Los Heroes (at the corner where they've built a new Pemex, just before the regular crossing turnoff). Make a left at the first stop light, get into the Paseo de Los Heroes lanes, merge onto Paseo de Los Heroes, and then go left at the first roundabout onto Ave. Independencia. Cross over the bridge and make a U-turn around the next roundabouton Independencia. Stay right instead of going back up over the bridge, then turn right onto Via Rapida Ote, which is the street paralleling the river on the north side. Stay to the right to avoid non-Sentri traffic. About half a mile down Via Rapida turn right at the signs pointing to the Sentri lanes, stay left after the cross street where there's a stop sign and speed bump, and you're there.

tjsue - 10-25-2013 at 08:18 PM

I like the video. I'll make sure and watch it again if I ever get my Sentri pass. I still have the problem of being sent to secondary walking and driving, but I'm going to start writing letters next month about that and my Sentri. I'll just keep letting them run my card a while longer, and not find anything.

elgatoloco - 10-25-2013 at 10:17 PM

Sentri is the bomb. It changed our life in magical ways.:saint:
I have always been fond of the libre between Rosarito and TJ. When I was a kid it was a somewhat winding two lane backroad with some great taco joints, some segundas a few ranchos and not much else. Things have changed, a lot, and it is now my road of choice when heading northbound because its mucho mas grande and traffic really flows nicely, especially during daylight hours. I would not use from Baja Malibu but from anywhere south of the turnoff it works for us. You just follow it all the way into town past the statue of Cuahutemoc cross the river and you can go straight to Otay (follow signs to aeropuerto then see video above) and drop off any passengers as DanO mentioned (don't let the DHS/CBP see you doing that-technically its grounds for eviction from the program) or make the left at Paseo Centeņario via Aviacion (tricky intersection-technically you need to make a right and quick jog straight to make a left-no left turn off of Boulevard Cuahutemoc)
I will note that during rush hour you may find that access to Sentri from Paseo Centeņario may be blocked at Alfonso Reyes, in that case you turn right and follow signs to Col. Federal and follow directions in video above, making sure to actually stop at the stop signs like BajaGeoff did. :biggrin:

Your mileage may vary. :dudette:

Ateo - 10-25-2013 at 11:17 PM

I was APPROVED!!!!!

Thanks all for these informative posts. The directions, the videos......can't wait to just drive down for tacos and not stress about long waits.

MMc - 10-26-2013 at 07:28 AM

Go break that thing in!!!!
Glad you got it!

gallesram - 10-26-2013 at 07:58 AM

Sentri is life-changing; the border is now a non-issue for us. It's so cool to be able to just pop down to Puerto Nuevo for lobster on a Saturday afternoon and pop back; like we used to do in the 80s. It also makes that very long drive back from BCS much less of a hassle since you don't have the dreaded 3-hour wait gnawing at the back of your brain the whole way back.

55steve - 10-26-2013 at 08:05 AM

It would be excellent if I could use it while towing the boat - maybe someday....

bajadock - 10-26-2013 at 08:14 AM



Geoff/Bajabound's website is full of goodies about Baja travel, like his videos posted above. This map shows one of the many options to get to San Ysidro SENTRI.

elgatoloco - 10-26-2013 at 09:56 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by 55steve
It would be excellent if I could use it while towing the boat - maybe someday....


When we have the camper mounted on the truck we use Sentri in the Ready Lanes. Next best thing. :coolup:

Ateo - 10-26-2013 at 10:38 AM

And just some follow up on my interview..............

Started at 8 PM and was done with whole appointment by 9:30 including the vehicle inspection. The vehicle inspection lasted less than minute. The interview was mellow compared to what I was expecting. Spent most of the hour and half sitting down waiting to be called. The staff was cordial, happy and in good moods. Well trained. Nice job.

BajaGeoff - 10-26-2013 at 11:52 AM

Congrats!

55steve - 10-26-2013 at 12:02 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by elgatoloco
Quote:
Originally posted by 55steve
It would be excellent if I could use it while towing the boat - maybe someday....


When we have the camper mounted on the truck we use Sentri in the Ready Lanes. Next best thing. :coolup:


I'll hit the ready lanes with boat in tow next time I cross.

I did use the ready lanes last time I crossed with the boat (w/o Sentri) and as usual, I was sent to secondary.

dasubergeek - 10-28-2013 at 11:57 AM

Either. If I'm coming from Ensenada or further south (or from Tecate, which doesn't have a SENTRI lane), I'll use Otay. I've never waited longer than 20 minutes in either SY or Otay, and I've often been the only car at Otay.

Here is a post about how to get to the various lines at both spots: http://blogs.ocweekly.com/stickaforkinit/2013/10/traffic_us_...