Mexicali south bound

Quote: Originally posted by bobrehfuss

The last time I went through towing I was redirected from west to east by the Mex authorities and told that all trailers had to go through east. After a cluster turning around on the Mex side of the border and going back against the incoming border traffic with a Mex police escort I exited into US secondary, had to wait an hour in line and was on my way to the east crossing. After crossing at the east I found it smooth sailing as my map routed me around the actual city of Mexicali to go south and avoided the craziness that is sometimes associated with Mexicali. I rarely cross at Mexicali but when I do I just use the east cause it seems easier to me and only about 8 miles farther east off the same highway.

Quote: Originally posted by bobrehfuss

The last time I went through towing I was redirected from west to east by the Mex authorities and told that all trailers had to go through east. After a cluster turning around on the Mex side of the border and going back against the incoming border traffic with a Mex police escort I exited into US secondary, had to wait an hour in line and was on my way to the east crossing. After crossing at the east I found it smooth sailing as my map routed me around the actual city of Mexicali to go south and avoided the craziness that is sometimes associated with Mexicali. I rarely cross at Mexicali but when I do I just use the east cause it seems easier to me and only about 8 miles farther east off the same highway.

Quote: Originally posted by Pacifico

Quote: Originally posted by bobrehfuss   The last time I went through towing I was redirected from west to east by the Mex authorities and told that all trailers had to go through east. After a cluster turning around on the Mex side of the border and going back against the incoming border traffic with a Mex police escort I exited into US secondary, had to wait an hour in line and was on my way to the east crossing. After crossing at the east I found it smooth sailing as my map routed me around the actual city of Mexicali to go south and avoided the craziness that is sometimes associated with Mexicali. I rarely cross at Mexicali but when I do I just use the east cause it seems easier to me and only about 8 miles farther east off the same highway. When was this Bob? I've crossed Mexicali West at least a dozen times towing without any issues. If recently, maybe it was because of the construction going on over there?

Quote: Originally posted by Alan

Quote: Originally posted by Pacifico   Quote: Originally posted by bobrehfuss   The last time I went through towing I was redirected from west to east by the Mex authorities and told that all trailers had to go through east. After a cluster turning around on the Mex side of the border and going back against the incoming border traffic with a Mex police escort I exited into US secondary, had to wait an hour in line and was on my way to the east crossing. After crossing at the east I found it smooth sailing as my map routed me around the actual city of Mexicali to go south and avoided the craziness that is sometimes associated with Mexicali. I rarely cross at Mexicali but when I do I just use the east cause it seems easier to me and only about 8 miles farther east off the same highway. When was this Bob? I've crossed Mexicali West at least a dozen times towing without any issues. If recently, maybe it was because of the construction going on over there? With all this aside, I am driving down in a week or two. Which crossing do you recommend? Not towing anything this time but I will be stopping to get my FMM.

I usually go south through Mexicali West and north through Mexicali East if I have passengers who don't have Sentri. I have asked and they allow you drop off walkers as long as you are up on the hill and not right at the booths. Prob more info than you want but maybe useful....

Anyways, going south through Mexicali West, I find it easiest to go east sooner than later to get back over to the 5. I think I've been taking Calzada Independencia to do so...

As far as getting a FMM, it is easy with plenty of parking.

Welcome to Nomad!
I think that if you follow the signs for San Felipe there is a chance it meets Hwy. 5 just south of Costco...? I am not 100% since I went the left turn at the "Tijuana right" street. In any case, you do come out to the old route very close to Costco.

If you go the way I did (riding in Cameron's new Raptor) you pass right in front of the Costco.

Here are photos I began taking just south of the Mexicali West (#1) crossing on May 12, 2019:




This is where the Tijuana route turns right and we turned left "Centro Civico" for the shortest route to San Felipe (per street map).


See the elevated (bridge) road ahead? That is the former route to San Felipe before the new border crossing opened. You will be turning right to get onto it. It is a short distance between the new and old routes here, like only a couple of blocks.


Following the caravan of Raptors (Trail of Missions Recon, May 2019) turning right to join older route to San Felipe. Notice the well-signed San Felipe to the right, on the overpass.


Fuel prices and dollar value in San Felipe last May.

The full trip report is here: http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=92768

Quote: Originally posted by norte

I don't understand why people give 2 year old information, especially without qualification. Renders the info useless and gets people in trouble.

Quote: Originally posted by norte

That is why I did not give a report. It would have been old, like yours and not up to date. I posted to warn people on these old out of date "Helpfull" pieces of information.

Baja photos taken in mid-2019 are hardly old in the first month of 2020...

Quote: Originally posted by Motofshr

So....... We should bear left on approach and look for parking designated for FMM purchase,..... then proceed back into the traffic that is crossing...where, I assume we will be directed to a secondary area to have our titles & registrations checked. Once on our way, follow the new signs to SF, further guidance appreciated... Gracias amigos

Quote: Originally posted by mjs

There is construction on the road next to West entry for a new bridge. The exit of the crossing requires everyone to funnel into one lane for a tight 180 degree turn onto the road that runs west along the border fence. Left at the first stop sign and side streets south until you want to turn east back to the main road. might be easier to use the East crossing if you are towing anything that prevents a tight u-turn. Valid as of Jan 10, 2020.

The last 2 times I crossed at Mexicali West the streets in the immediate vicinity of the border had detours due to construction as noted above. However, once you get it figured out it is easy. The basic idea is to make your way to the wide boulevard shown on attached map as Boulevar Rio Nuevo (It is called "Presidentes" near the border, in upper left corner of map the "a" in Plaza is on it) and take that all the way to Calzada Hector Teran Teran then on to Hwy 5. The one little trick is that the left turn onto Calzada Hector Teran Teran is a dangerous intersection, easier to make a right and go WEST then hang a u turn to go EAST on Teran Teran. Drops you right on to the 5 past the all the underpasses and bridges etc on Hwy 5 in Mexicali. Also, while en route, ignore the big sign that shows a right turn to San Felipe. As far as FMM Mexicali east dunno, last time I bothered to get one was at the old immigration office down town..

May 2019 GPS Tracks

Southbound from Mexicali West (#1) Connected to original route at the M in Mexicali. Short and easy.
Northbound to Mexicali East (#2)

[Edited on 1-27-2020 by David K]

Quote: Originally posted by Bajazly

First left out of the border gates and then a right at the stop sign puts you on Boulevar Rio Nuevo.

Hello fellow Nomads

Reporting my crossing Mexicali West 02/17/20 1130AM

Truck camper towing a boat:
Flagged to the left side for title & general goods inspection...Truck, boat and trailer..
I hail from Oregon where my light boat trailer under 1800#'s is exempt...so I provided a notarized bill of sale.....
The officer seemed to be aware of Oregon registration rules and it was a non-issue.
Purchased & validated FMM at the same time and place.
Paid in Pesos $575...... or $32.00 USD
On this date no road construction observed.....Smooth sailing to Costco for some supplies (a super Soriana is adjacent) walk to OXXO from Costco parking lot and obtained a TelCel sim.... On the beach with a cold one south of San Felipe that evening.
South to MEX 1 completed as reported.... a few washout detours along the way

Happy trails