BajaNomad

SB Mexicali East or West & Directions (please)

BajaMama - 2-16-2020 at 10:00 AM

Howdy, I have decided on my original plan to travel Mex 5 to BCS in May. Which Mexicali crossing is less confusing, east or west? Specifically for finding the INM office. I can get flustered and find it comforting to have specific directions in my head... May I please have directions (and a map if possible) on where to park to get my FMM stamped and how to continue on to Mex 5? I will really really appreciate your help.

David K - 2-16-2020 at 10:51 AM

The INM office is in the first building inside Mexico (Tijuana, Tecate, Mexicali). Park as soon as you see a place, it may be before the automatic gates (as it is at Tijuana and Mexicali West). If you cannot park before the gates, then as soon as you can after.
In 2019, we parked after the gates on the right curb and walked across the lanes to the building (on the left) inside which is the INM desk.

Since street construction is happening often, all you can do is follow the many signs for San Felipe... even though there may be shorter routes. Try using Google or Waize app on your phone GPS.

From Mexicali West, we took a left at the intersection signed for Tijuana right (and San Felipe straight). This cut over to the original route south easily and on the map is shorter than the new route ahead that often confuses drivers before it reaches the original route near Costco.

[Edited on 2-16-2020 by David K]

Alan - 2-16-2020 at 10:57 AM


Last week at Mexicali West I simply pulled into the Declaracion Area. I explained I need to go to IMN. They pointed to where I could park and then had an officer lead me to IMN. Super nice guys, super easy.

PaulW - 2-16-2020 at 11:17 AM

Do the same thing for Mexicali east.
Quote: Originally posted by Alan  

Last week at Mexicali West I simply pulled into the Declaracion Area. I explained I need to go to IMN. They pointed to where I could park and then had an officer lead me to IMN. Super nice guys, super easy.

bajafreaks - 2-16-2020 at 12:04 PM

West is extremely easy. Covered area to the left before you go thru the gates, you cant miss it. Park there walk into the white building to the right of the parking area, cant miss it either. Go inside do your fmm. When you leave the parking area head towards the gates and youre done.

Howard - 2-16-2020 at 12:17 PM

So if you don't need an FMM, what is the best way to cross going southbound?

Alan - 2-17-2020 at 08:40 AM

Quote: Originally posted by Howard  
So if you don't need an FMM, what is the best way to cross going southbound?
I don't know the best answer because I haven't crossed here that often in recent years but with Hwy 5 now open it will become my goto route. Last week I crossed at Mexicali West and it was very straight forward. I had read on here about construction in the area that was causing problems for some so as suggested I simply stayed straight south from the border and ignored some of the signs that suggested I turn left for San Felipe. I merely continued straight for about a mile and a half before finally following one of the signs for San Felipe. My copilot tracking us on Google Maps kept us on track and it was a piece of cake.

[Edited on 2-17-2020 by Alan]

BajaMama - 2-17-2020 at 08:59 AM

Thank you all so much! It's funny, Google Maps ALWAYS used to route me through TJ when searching time and distance for stops. Now, with the new paving of Mex 5, it routes that way. Kinda nice to break up the routes as my father in law and I will travel Mex 1 when we return north.

Bajazly - 2-17-2020 at 09:45 AM

Quote: Originally posted by Howard  
So if you don't need an FMM, what is the best way to cross going southbound?


If you are heading to San Felipe, west is very easy. Once thru, the new road is open and it puts you right on Calzada de Los Presidentes which you can follow to the intersection of 5 or a couple miles from the border turn left on Lazaro Cardeanes and that takes you to 5. There is a big sign pointing left to San Felipe

mtgoat666 - 2-17-2020 at 10:05 AM

Quote: Originally posted by Bajazly  
Quote: Originally posted by Howard  
So if you don't need an FMM, what is the best way to cross going southbound?


If you are heading to San Felipe, west is very easy. Once thru, the new road is open and it puts you right on Calzada de Los Presidentes which you can follow to the intersection of 5 or a couple miles from the border turn left on Lazaro Cardeanes and that takes you to 5. There is a big sign pointing left to San Felipe


Map apps work well in TJ and Mexicali. With map on your phone, you won’t get lost— you might even be confident enough to overcome fear of foreign urban environments and explore the cities, as the navigation is so easy with phone apps working well in TJ and Mexicali.

Good luck in other cities

thebajarunner - 2-17-2020 at 10:21 AM

Quote: Originally posted by mtgoat666  
Quote: Originally posted by Bajazly  
Quote: Originally posted by Howard  
So if you don't need an FMM, what is the best way to cross going southbound?


If you are heading to San Felipe, west is very easy. Once thru, the new road is open and it puts you right on Calzada de Los Presidentes which you can follow to the intersection of 5 or a couple miles from the border turn left on Lazaro Cardeanes and that takes you to 5. There is a big sign pointing left to San Felipe


Map apps work well in TJ and Mexicali. With map on your phone, you won’t get lost— you might even be confident enough to overcome fear of foreign urban environments and explore the cities, as the navigation is so easy with phone apps working well in TJ and Mexicali.


Been a long time since I have spent any time in Tecate.
Month ago I headed into downtown for a quick meal, then asked my map to send me to Tecate USA. Figured it would find me an easy route to the Garita….
Sent me to Otay, up to I-8 and then back to Tecate
By then I had spotted the border fence and just tracked it back to the east and got myself re-oriented.

mtgoat666 - 2-17-2020 at 10:46 AM

Quote: Originally posted by thebajarunner  
Quote: Originally posted by mtgoat666  
Quote: Originally posted by Bajazly  
Quote: Originally posted by Howard  
So if you don't need an FMM, what is the best way to cross going southbound?


If you are heading to San Felipe, west is very easy. Once thru, the new road is open and it puts you right on Calzada de Los Presidentes which you can follow to the intersection of 5 or a couple miles from the border turn left on Lazaro Cardeanes and that takes you to 5. There is a big sign pointing left to San Felipe


Map apps work well in TJ and Mexicali. With map on your phone, you won’t get lost— you might even be confident enough to overcome fear of foreign urban environments and explore the cities, as the navigation is so easy with phone apps working well in TJ and Mexicali.


Been a long time since I have spent any time in Tecate.
Month ago I headed into downtown for a quick meal, then asked my map to send me to Tecate USA. Figured it would find me an easy route to the Garita….
Sent me to Otay, up to I-8 and then back to Tecate
By then I had spotted the border fence and just tracked it back to the east and got myself re-oriented.


Yes, map apps should be used with an ounce of common sense :light:

BajaMama - 2-18-2020 at 10:28 AM

Quote: Originally posted by mtgoat666  
Quote: Originally posted by Bajazly  
Quote: Originally posted by Howard  
So if you don't need an FMM, what is the best way to cross going southbound?


If you are heading to San Felipe, west is very easy. Once thru, the new road is open and it puts you right on Calzada de Los Presidentes which you can follow to the intersection of 5 or a couple miles from the border turn left on Lazaro Cardeanes and that takes you to 5. There is a big sign pointing left to San Felipe


Map apps work well in TJ and Mexicali. With map on your phone, you won’t get lost— you might even be confident enough to overcome fear of foreign urban environments and explore the cities, as the navigation is so easy with phone apps working well in TJ and Mexicali.


That is too funny - and maybe someday I will be comfortable with it. A couple of years back my son and I attempted Merida in the Yucatan. Sooooo confusing even navigating with Waze. We both voted to abandon the city and went back to our planned route to Uxmal and beyond.

PaulW - 2-18-2020 at 03:18 PM

My car nav was not getting to a place in Ensenada so I opened Google maps on my phone and found the place I wanted. I had previously loaded Ensenada for offline use.
BTW Google just did an update with lots of places like restaurants and various eating places. Tons of places even in San Felipe.
Google maps is a free app for all platforms.
It uses voice directions to get where you where you want.

eguillermo - 11-29-2021 at 06:55 PM

I somehow mess up getting to 5 from the border about half the time, so what Bajazly said a few msgs back about going down Calz. de los prez and then going left on 2 makes sense: "Once thru, the new road is open and it puts you right on Calzada de Los Presidentes which you can follow to the intersection of 5 or a couple miles from the border turn left on Lazaro Cardeanes and that takes you to 5."

If you DID want to try to get on 5 as quick as possible, it looks like you'd have to do kind of a back-up-and-over via Zorilla -- a truly rich milieu for the error-prone. This link with endless URL parameters may or may not show the area I'm talking about :

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Tienda+Truper/@32.6633603,...

Happy to hear any recent advice on getting onto 5 and down the road as quick as possible. I'm not eager to explore any Mexican city such as Mexicali because I'm not eager to explore any city anywhere in traffic, period :)

[Edited on 11-30-2021 by eguillermo]

Lee - 11-29-2021 at 09:00 PM

Crossing at Calexico East, skip Mexicali Centro traffic. Connect to 5 where 2 splits going South.