BajaNomad

Ensenada Toll Road to San Felipe

SFandH - 1-17-2024 at 01:29 PM

Google maps is confusing me. I'll be headed southbound on the toll road to Ensenada and I want to cut over to San Felipe.

It looks like I turn off the toll road after the last toll, head northeast on the road to Tecate, and then turn off that to get on Highway 3.

Google maps says to drive past the Tecate road into El Sauzal and then make a u-turn and head back north to get on the Tecate road.

Does anybody know for sure if that's correct?

Don Jorge - 1-17-2024 at 02:41 PM

Quote: Originally posted by SFandH  
Google maps is confusing me.
It looks like I turn off the toll road after the last toll, head northeast on the road to Tecate, and then turn off that to get on Highway 3.

The turnoff to Tecate is right before you get to El Sauzal, perhaps one mile south of the last toll booth. Right at the cannery/El Sauzal harbor there is a clover leaf on ramp to the beginning of Hwy 3 and the clearly marked Ruta del Vino.

Take Hwy 3 east perhaps another 2 miles and right before the first hill climb there is a marked turnoff to Ojos Negros.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/75aDtPYPhD4Fso3z5

This bypasses Ensenada and takes you to Hwy 5 to Ojos Negros/San Felipe.

SFandH - 1-17-2024 at 03:37 PM

Quote: Originally posted by Don Jorge  
Quote: Originally posted by SFandH  
Google maps is confusing me.
It looks like I turn off the toll road after the last toll, head northeast on the road to Tecate, and then turn off that to get on Highway 3.

The turnoff to Tecate is right before you get to El Sauzal, perhaps one mile south of the last toll booth. Right at the cannery/El Sauzal harbor there is a clover leaf on ramp to the beginning of Hwy 3 and the clearly marked Ruta del Vino.

Take Hwy 3 east perhaps another 2 miles and right before the first hill climb there is a marked turnoff to Ojos Negros.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/75aDtPYPhD4Fso3z5

This bypasses Ensenada and takes you to Hwy 5 to Ojos Negros/San Felipe.


Thanks!

David K - 1-17-2024 at 03:48 PM

The route is on the Benchmark Baja Atlas (digital and paper book). It is the Libramiento de Ensenada and connect the two different parts of Mex. #3, avoiding city traffic.

More:
https://elmirador.sct.gob.mx/diario-de-campo/libramiento-de-...

Udo - 1-17-2024 at 04:00 PM

I regularly take that road. The Tecate turnoff is just past the last toll booth heading South. Take that road for about 1.5 miles. You will see the sign to turn right. HOWEVER, the sign does not say San Felipe. It says Ojos Negros. The Ojos Negros military checkpoint is about 39 Km from the Tecate road turnoff.
Mex 3 is in really great shape. It will take you about 2 hours to get to Mex 5 toward San Felipe.

BornFisher - 1-17-2024 at 07:50 PM

Forget Ensenada. Just go to Tecade, take a left, and enjoy the beautiful descent from La Rurmarosa to the desert floor. Lots of turnouts with amazing views.

[Edited on 1-18-2024 by BornFisher]

StuckSucks - 1-19-2024 at 03:41 PM

Don't mess with Tijuana or the beach cities traffic. Cross the border at Tecate, take the toll road east, bypass Mexicali's headache by staying on 2D to the south of town. Then south on 5 to San Felipe. Easy-peazy.

In the past dozen years, I've driven down there more than 50 times and this has always worked as the absolute least hassle. Unless I'm forced to, I avoid northwest Baja's humans and traffic.

RFClark - 1-19-2024 at 04:46 PM

My map seems to show that the exit that lets you bypass Ensenada is currently closed. Might want to check.

stillnbaja - 1-19-2024 at 05:01 PM

just be sure if you do choose SY you do so before 2pm or after 7 southbound at rush hour can be hours! Otay not much better with all the construction of elevated lanes on Industrial and the traffic thru the 5&10