BajaNomad

Best option for spending the night before crossing the border into Baja at Tecate

BajaBuckeye - 3-17-2017 at 06:25 PM

Is there a campground on the U.S. Side to spend the night before crossing the border into Baja at Tecate? Thanks in advance!

Lee - 3-17-2017 at 07:02 PM

Quote: Originally posted by BajaBuckeye  
Is there a campground on the U.S. Side to spend the night before crossing the border into Baja at Tecate? Thanks in advance!


Potrero State Park, up 94 a couple miles from 188 (Tecate road).

Huge area, remote, hookups, leave money if office is closed. Minutes from border.

ehall - 3-17-2017 at 07:54 PM

Quote: Originally posted by Lee  
Quote: Originally posted by BajaBuckeye  
Is there a campground on the U.S. Side to spend the night before crossing the border into Baja at Tecate? Thanks in advance!


Potrero State Park, up 94 a couple miles from 188 (Tecate road).

Huge area, remote, hookups, leave money if office is closed. Minutes from border.



Agreed. Very nice park. Clean restrooms with running water.

Timo1 - 3-18-2017 at 12:30 AM

We stayed there a couple days ago on our way north.
Excellent park and our Telcel internet stick even still worked there.

BajaBuckeye - 3-18-2017 at 07:36 AM

Thanks for the replies!

bajabuddha - 3-18-2017 at 07:44 AM

Depends on time of year, Buckeye. In the winter Potrero can be rally cold at night, and depending on how soon you want to cross, I have my fave RV park.... WallyWorld in Yuma (coming from the east on I-8) at exit 12-A. Large parking lot, the price is right, free Wi Fi, and a great place to stock up last minute necessities, including a plethora of dinner choices, including a Mickey D's if you wanna get in your last french-fry-fix before heading south. An early up is a good start for the boring drive across the CA desert, and up the hill at daybreak. 2 hours to Tecate.

unbob - 3-18-2017 at 08:21 AM

Quote: Originally posted by BajaBuckeye  
Is there a campground on the U.S. Side to spend the night before crossing the border into Baja at Tecate? Thanks in advance!
Yup, Potrero County Park is the place. Very nice campground. And most definitely the closest camping spot to Tecate crossing (6 miles). East of the hwy 188/94 junction. My only complaint is the cost - somewhere over $20 ($24?) - but it's CA so there you go.

Not camping - but for free overnight parking there's the casinos. Golden Acorn at I-8 exit 61 and Viejas Casino at I-8 exits 33 or 36. And, yes, it can be really cold at these spots in the winter months. Golden Acorn can be especially frigid with howling wind - over 4,000' elevation! So take note.

Then there's the Wal-Mart in El Centro - nice and warm down there and mucho shopping - Costco across the street too!

Happy trails amigos!

mtgoat666 - 3-18-2017 at 08:45 AM

Potrero is OK, not much to write home about.
Prettiest campgrounds near tecate are Mt Laguna NF campgrounds.
Some are closed in winter, and they are at 5k ft, so a bit nippy at night.