BajaNomad

Place to stay between Mexicali and San Felipe

K7BVT - 10-29-2018 at 10:18 PM

We heading down to Baja and plan on crossing the border at Mexicali on Sun 11/4 around 5PM bound for San Felipe and wonder about staying some place in-between to avoid driving in the dark.

mjs - 10-29-2018 at 10:27 PM

Probably best choice to just stay in Mexicali. Fiesta Inn, Real Inn Mexicali and Colonial Inn are all conveniently located on Hwy 5. That said, we drive the road south to San Felipe at night on a regular basis.

JZ - 10-29-2018 at 10:45 PM

I'd feel better about driving at night to SF than staying the night in Mexicali.

PaulW - 10-30-2018 at 07:06 AM

We do that drive all the time with no issues. Night travel is not an issue. Road is in great condition and I have not seen any issues since the new road was completed.
Agree staying in Mexicali is a crap shoot. Between Mexicali and San Felipe there are no known places to spend the night.
If you are really afraid just stop at a hotel in El Centro or Calixico and do the drive the next morning.

bajaguy - 10-30-2018 at 07:14 AM

This.....VVV
Quote: Originally posted by PaulW  

If you are really afraid just stop at a hotel in El Centro or Calixico and do the drive the next morning.

TMW - 10-30-2018 at 09:31 AM

I've stayed at several different hotels in Mexicali with out any problems. There is a cluster of hotels near the Colonial that are good to stay at.

bonanza bucko - 10-30-2018 at 10:53 AM

I agree completely with PaulW......just start the trip in the morning from El Centro. There are also some nice places to stay in Calexico.

JZ - 10-30-2018 at 11:05 AM

If you are rolling into Calexico at 7-9 pm, continue on to SF for sure. Super easy drive.

If you are rolling in at 10pm or later, stay in Calexico.

I wouldn't stay in Mexicali.

willardguy - 10-30-2018 at 11:16 AM

enjoy some wonderful chinese food and stay at the Lucerna in mexicali:P

Barry A. - 10-30-2018 at 12:03 PM

Quote: Originally posted by willardguy  
enjoy some wonderful chinese food and stay at the Lucerna in mexicali:P



I TOTALLY agree!!!! Many fine restaurants within the Hotel Lucerna area.

David K - 10-30-2018 at 05:15 PM

Quote: Originally posted by K7BVT  
We heading down to Baja and plan on crossing the border at Mexicali on Sun 11/4 around 5PM bound for San Felipe and wonder about staying some place in-between to avoid driving in the dark.


If this is your first drive into Baja or into Mexico, you will be driving in darkness, there are NO motels along the highway between Mexicali and near San Felipe, which is 2.5 hours drive from the border.

While I agree with others that it is generally safe and an easy drive, doing a new area in the dark is just poor planning. The Hotel Lucerna is big, fancy and close to Mexico's greatest Chinese restaurants. I just don't know if rush hour city traffic in Mexico (to get there or other hotels) is the thing you want to do right away?

[Edited on 10-31-2018 by David K]

Early darkness

bajaguy - 10-30-2018 at 05:30 PM

Clocks get set back one hour on Sunday the 4th. You will be losing an hour of daylight.

freediverbrian - 10-30-2018 at 06:19 PM

Quote: Originally posted by bajaguy  
Clocks get set back one hour on Sunday the 4th. You will be losing an hour of daylight.






Good point it will be dark at 5:00pm

TMW - 10-31-2018 at 08:38 AM

The Best Western on the right as you enter Calexico on Route 111 is an excellent hotel.

thebajarunner - 10-31-2018 at 08:57 AM

For me, a night at the Lacerna would be far preferable to anything in GringoLand. Really enjoyed my stays there and in TJ Lacerna.
And, anyone fearful of spending first night in Mexico really needs to rethink the scary aspect of venturing further into this dark and mysterious, always treacherous country.

And, dare I mention this..... driving south to San Felipe after dark is hardly a challenge, nor is there much 'scenic beauty' that you will miss. Maybe that drive needs to be done in the dark so you don't waste good daylight hours that can be enjoyed elsewhere.

Got dogs??

bajaguy - 10-31-2018 at 08:59 AM

Best check out places that are pet friendly

JZ - 10-31-2018 at 09:57 AM

Quote: Originally posted by thebajarunner  
For me, a night at the Lacerna would be far preferable to anything in GringoLand. Really enjoyed my stays there and in TJ Lacerna.
And, anyone fearful of spending first night in Mexico really needs to rethink the scary aspect of venturing further into this dark and mysterious, always treacherous country.

And, dare I mention this..... driving south to San Felipe after dark is hardly a challenge, nor is there much 'scenic beauty' that you will miss. Maybe that drive needs to be done in the dark so you don't waste good daylight hours that can be enjoyed elsewhere.


My Mexican friends don't like to hang out in Mexicali.

For me I'm more concerned about theft. We have our bikes and a ton of gear.

bajaric - 10-31-2018 at 10:38 AM

When driving south from the border through Mexicali I have noticed several motor court motels with brightly lit signs that say "Desde xxxx pesos" that would probably do in a pinch. However, driving into Mexicali in the dark during rush hour might be a bit of a challenge if not familiar with the route. When presented with the same scenario we stayed at the Motel 6 in El Centro, very basic accommodations, but the bright side is you can get food at nearby Lucky Chinese Restaurant; excelente! Nothing like chowing down on some Chinese takeout in a Motel 6, that's living the good life --

willardguy - 10-31-2018 at 11:02 AM

Quote: Originally posted by bajaric  
When driving south from the border through Mexicali I have noticed several motor court motels with brightly lit signs that say "Desde xxxx pesos" that would probably do in a pinch. However, driving into Mexicali in the dark during rush hour might be a bit of a challenge if not familiar with the route. When presented with the same scenario we stayed at the Motel 6 in El Centro, very basic accommodations, but the bright side is you can get food at nearby Lucky Chinese Restaurant; excelente! Nothing like chowing down on some Chinese takeout in a Motel 6, that's living the good life --


and they'll leave the light on for you!

BajaMama - 11-2-2018 at 05:00 AM

It's only a two hour drive to San Felipe from Mexicali... I drove it heading north before sunrise a few days ago. Of any road in Mexico, I would feel pretty safe at night - I didn't see any animals on/near the road, there is a fence to keep them away. Do NOT however drive at night on Mex 1, there were more animals than I have ever seen on and near the road.

TMW - 11-2-2018 at 10:04 AM

No doubt Hwy 5 from Mexicali to San Felipe is safer now but back in the early 90s there were a string of robberies along the area from about KM70 to KM90. Late night after midnight a car would pull up next to you and a guy would show a badge and say he was the police and you need to pull over. They would rob you with a gun then leave. This went on for a couple of months before the cops finally caught them.

Place tp stay between Mexicali & SF

K7BVT - 11-2-2018 at 10:00 PM

Thanks for all of the suggestions. We have driven this stretch in the dark a couple of times in recent years and was hoping there would be a place midway with color TV and large margaritas but apparently not. At 76 my night vision isn't so good but usually keep in the correct lane with the help of screams from my passengers.

David K - 11-3-2018 at 10:16 AM

Quote: Originally posted by K7BVT  
Thanks for all of the suggestions. We have driven this stretch in the dark a couple of times in recent years and was hoping there would be a place midway with color TV and large margaritas but apparently not. At 76 my night vision isn't so good but usually keep in the correct lane with the help of screams from my passengers.

If you have driven it before, the memory of the 75 miles of salt flats and empty desert (between the Colorado Delta farms south of Mexicali until you are a dozen miles from San Felipe) should be fresh? No hotels. Funny about the screams of your passengers!
Do post when you get back to share the fun with us!