BajaNomad

Best Time to Cross the Border on Sunday

tjsue - 10-29-2013 at 04:39 PM

I'm looking for the best (earliest) time to cross at SY on Sunday mornings. I'm scheduled to work the rest of the Chargers games which are on Sundays. Kickoff time is 1:25, and I have to be there no later than 10am.

Is 5am early enough, or should I leave earlier?

Chupacabra - 10-29-2013 at 04:45 PM

Check the CalIT site for best crossing times:

http://traffic.calit2.net/border/border-crossing-wait-times-...

Chupacabra - 10-29-2013 at 04:47 PM

San Ysidro specific:

http://traffic.calit2.net/border/border-wait-times.php?type=...

DENNIS - 10-29-2013 at 04:48 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by tjsue

Is 5am early enough, or should I leave earlier?



Walking or driving?

DENNIS - 10-29-2013 at 04:50 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Chupacabra
San Ysidro specific:

http://traffic.calit2.net/border/border-wait-times.php?type=...



Good site, Choop. Haven't seen this before. Thanks.

tjsue - 10-29-2013 at 05:02 PM

Driving.

Unfortunately, that application isn't accurate. I have it on my phone and computer, and even without getting sent to secondary every time (walking and driving) it's not accurate.

I'm looking for someone who has crossed on Sunday mornings. It normally takes me 2 hours to cross driving (including secondary), and 30-45 minutes walking, including secondary.

[Edited on 10-30-2013 by tjsue]

dasubergeek - 10-29-2013 at 05:17 PM

I crossed at 8:15 the day before yesterday (Sunday) and waited 10-15 minutes in the general-use lines. Of course, we were sent to secondary, but we had enough time to go have brunch at Aquí Es Texcoco in Chula Vista and still be back to Irvine by 10 a.m.

tjsue - 10-29-2013 at 05:24 PM

If I crossed at 8:15, I'd be late for work. I also don't park at the stadium, because I would have to pay, so I park at Hazard Center and take the trolley.


I'll ask when I cross tomorrow morning. I'm working Mexican Soccer, and have to be at work by 4:00.

dasubergeek - 10-29-2013 at 05:34 PM

My point was more that traffic was extremely light going north on Sunday morning, not that you should cross at 8:15 to get to work at 10.

We were also sent to secondary, but the secondary was pretty light as secondary goes. I think if you leave at 5 a.m., you'll be cooling your heels in a Starbucks, but maybe that's okay. You can also call to get the official line on what the wait is. The US phone number is 619-690-8999 and the Mexican phone number (Spanish only) is 664-700-7000.

tjsue - 10-29-2013 at 05:38 PM

I'd rather be early, then I can just stop and have breakfast when I get across the border. I also try to consolidate my errands into the times that I have to cross for work. Starbucks is out of my price range, and I don't drink that stuff, I go to JIB, and get food.

dasubergeek - 10-29-2013 at 05:57 PM

You can chill in a Starbucks without buying anything... nobody's going to say anything. :)

DENNIS - 10-29-2013 at 05:58 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by tjsue
I'd rather be early,



Leave Thursday. :biggrin:

tjsue - 10-29-2013 at 06:07 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by DENNIS
Quote:
Originally posted by tjsue
I'd rather be early,



Leave Thursday. :biggrin:


Dennis, You can pay for my motel room if I leave Thursday, and make sure that you pick one that allows pets. I don't want to leave my cat alone for that length of time.

[Edited on 10-30-2013 by tjsue]

tjsue - 10-29-2013 at 06:09 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by dasubergeek
You can chill in a Starbucks without buying anything... nobody's going to say anything. :)


I have no reason to even go into a Starbucks, let alone chill in one.

acadist - 10-29-2013 at 06:16 PM

don't bother, it's only the Chargers.........GO BRONCOS :lol:

BornFisher - 10-29-2013 at 06:38 PM

Last three Sundays I have crossed at Otay and used the Ready Lane. Arrived at the border say about 7:30 AM. Waits were 8, 10, and 4 minutes. The regular lanes were very short and they had to be under 20 minutes. At 7:30 on Sunday, no one is working or going to school, and many are in church and some are recovering from Saturday night!! Now after Thanksgiving, lines get longer, but for now, Sun. AM is a get out of Mexico pronto time!!

fdt - 10-29-2013 at 06:54 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by tjsue
.

I'm looking for someone who has crossed on Sunday mornings.


None of the sites ever posted here are accurate, the least trust worthy being the reports from CBP.
The best of the best is crossing on Sunday mornings between 4:30 and 7:30 when you can expect a max wait time of 20 minutes, regardless what sunday it is. From 7:30 to 9am it can be anywhere from 30 minutes to 1½ hours, you never know. and you could be late.
Check this site out on Saturday morning since almost the same holds true as on Sunday, http://www.bordertraffic.com/

BTW I am that someone who crosses on Sunday morning.
saludos,
Fernando

liknbaja127 - 10-29-2013 at 06:59 PM

HAY HAY now! GO CHARGERS:biggrin:

DENNIS - 10-29-2013 at 07:04 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by fdt
None of the sites ever posted here are accurate, the least trust worthy being the reports from CBP.



For sure. It's seem they feel if they give truthful times, they're giving aid and comfort to the enemy. :?:

fdt - 10-29-2013 at 07:13 PM

Whoever gives information on the border wait in "wait time" is dead wrong! There could be 2 lanes when you get to the wait and one can be moving way faster than the other and you and the guy next to you got there at the same time. Reason beeing that one of those could be merging into 3 or 4 or more lanes, while one is just that single lane all the way and with a not so nice CBP agent.
And then you get to the booth and the officer asks you, How long were you in line? hahaha

tjsue - 10-29-2013 at 08:33 PM

I don't care about the Chargers, I only care about getting paid. Since Qualcomm is a City building, working there pays more, rather than working other places, since the City imposed a Living Wage Ordinance for working in City buildings.

tjsue - 10-29-2013 at 08:40 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by fdt
Quote:
Originally posted by tjsue
.

I'm looking for someone who has crossed on Sunday mornings.


None of the sites ever posted here are accurate, the least trust worthy being the reports from CBP.
The best of the best is crossing on Sunday mornings between 4:30 and 7:30 when you can expect a max wait time of 20 minutes, regardless what sunday it is. From 7:30 to 9am it can be anywhere from 30 minutes to 1½ hours, you never know. and you could be late.
Check this site out on Saturday morning since almost the same holds true as on Sunday, http://www.bordertraffic.com/

BTW I am that someone who crosses on Sunday morning.
saludos,
Fernando


Thank you, I should be ok leaving at 5. By the time I unlock the gate, drive out, park, relock the gate, then leave, I'll get to the border around 5:30.

fdt - 10-29-2013 at 09:24 PM

To get to Qualcomm by 10am on Sunday, you need to be at San Ysidro the latest by 7:45am, just in case. So if you're early, you can take a nap or get B'fst.

tjsue - 10-29-2013 at 09:40 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by fdt
To get to Qualcomm by 10am on Sunday, you need to be at San Ysidro the latest by 7:45am, just in case. So if you're early, you can take a nap or get B'fst.


I'll be at SY way before 7:45. After I cross, I'll stop and eat. I don't sleep in my Astrovan anymore, because my back doesn't like it.