seabright_sc
Newbie
Posts: 8
Registered: 11-12-2006
Member Is Offline
|
|
Estimated Border wait time ,Saturday , TJ
We will be headed through TJ This Saturday and have an option of crossing the border, by car no sentri:
Around noon
3pm
Or
5pm
Weather is supposed to be nice (not sure if that makes a Difference ).
Will there be much variation in wait times depending on when we return ? What might we expect ? Traveling with our child so trying to find that
balance of maximizing time in Baja without being stuck in a car for too long .
Thanks !
|
|
Bajazly
Super Nomad
Posts: 1013
Registered: 6-4-2015
Location: Goodbye Cali and Hello San Felipe
Member Is Offline
Mood: More Relaxed Everyday
|
|
Drive up from Ensenada or over from TJ and cross at Tecate, same distance plus or minus, a nicer drive and less wait. Later in the day seems to be
pretty short. New years day at 2 PM was only an hour, the trip before on a Sunday about 4PM was only 15 minutes. On average when I go thru Tecate it's
about an hour.
Believing is religion - Knowing is science
Harald Pietschmann
"Get off the beaten path and memories, friends and new techniques are developed"
Bajazly, August 2019
|
|
seabright_sc
Newbie
Posts: 8
Registered: 11-12-2006
Member Is Offline
|
|
We will be on Rosarito . Is Tecate still a reasonable option ?
|
|
bajaguy
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9247
Registered: 9-16-2003
Location: Carson City, NV/Ensenada - Baja Country Club
Member Is Offline
Mood: must be 5 O'clock somewhere in Baja
|
|
No, Tecate is not a "reasonable" option from Rosarito
I would try noon, just my 2 centavos...........ymmv
|
|
chuckie
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6082
Registered: 2-20-2012
Location: Kansas Prairies
Member Is Offline
Mood: Weary
|
|
Wait should not be more than 15-18 minutes....
|
|
David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64857
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
|
|
Quote: Originally posted by bajaguy |
No, Tecate is not a "reasonable" option from Rosarito
I would try noon, just my 2 centavos...........ymmv |
Using Otay may be an option, too using Corridor 2000 to the very end, then go west on Industrial (at the Bighorn Sheep monument, near the toll gates
for the Tecate toll road ahead). In 4 miles go north to the Otay Border (Garita Otay), a mile north.
Personally, I would go to Tecate from Rosarito... anything other than the Tijuana border wait line! A nice drive instead of sitting in the car and not
moving much for 2-3 hours. See more of Baja! Sure Tecate can have long lines too, but it is not common. Getting to the border closer to noon is a
better bet than the afternoon.
From the Rosarito Beach Hotel (or wherever you start) drive south on the Free Road (Highway 1) to Popotla, pretty close to Rosarito. Just past the
Baja Studios (where Titanic and other movies were filmed), prepare to turn left (signal) onto the Corridor 2000 (Baja Highway 201, a free road). Take
it to Highway 2 (a Free Road) and follow signs for Tecate. There are only a couple signals after you get off the Corridor 2000 before the four-lane
free highway takes you past the factory area (Toyota de Baja California where Tacomas are made is along the road). You will have a few traffic lights
in Tecate... follow the many signs for the U.S. Border (Garita) to the east side of town, then turn north to the border fence and follow it back west
to the crossing.
Map may help visualize this:
Again, miles out of your direct way home, but driving and not waiting miles, usually.
[Edited on 1-9-2018 by David K]
|
|
willardguy
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6451
Registered: 9-19-2009
Member Is Offline
|
|
jump on the free road follow the signs to the airport, Otay crossing has been around 20 minutes
|
|
DanO
Super Nomad
Posts: 1923
Registered: 8-26-2003
Location: Not far from the Pacific
Member Is Offline
|
|
Here are some websites with actual data on wait times at various ports.
http://wp.1045radiolatina.com/garitas/ (this is the most accurate link and here is a Nomads thread on how to interpret the info on it:
http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=87729#pid1094...)
https://bwt.cbp.gov/index.html (cbp also has an iPhone and Android app that provides the same information, reliability is variable)
http://www.garitacenter.com/
https://www.bordertraffic.com/ (cool camera views) (these folks also have an app available on iPhone and Android that includes, for a fee, an
analytical tool that predicts wait times -- see this review: https://www.androidauthority.com/tijuana-border-crossing-782...)
[Edited on 1-9-2018 by DanO]
\"Without deviation from the norm, progress is not possible.\" -- Frank Zappa
|
|
Udo
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6346
Registered: 4-26-2008
Location: Black Hills, SD/Ensenada/San Felipe
Member Is Offline
Mood: TEQUILA!
|
|
I am one that crosses going south at Otay Mesa regularly. My Southbound crossing time is generally between 1-2:30 p.m. At that time there are almost
no cars crossing Northbound into the US.
Udo
Youth is wasted on the young!
|
|
mistahall
Newbie
Posts: 2
Registered: 1-19-2018
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Member Is Offline
|
|
I remember being able to look up average border wait times years ago. Based on what I've found searching forums, it appears that info was published
here: http://traffic.calit2.net/border/border-wait-times.php?type=...
The graphs would look like this: https://bajadock.files.wordpress.com/2015/08/sywait15.jpg
That website now seems to be defunct. Does anyone know if similar info is available online now? I'm planning a trip over Presidents' Day weekend and
wondering whether it makes more sense to plan to cross back on Sunday or Monday (and via anywhere from San Ysidro to Tecate). I know the holiday
weekend (among other factors) would likely mean the reality doesn't match the averages, but figure it could still provide some helpful info if the
data is up to date.
|
|
fandango
Senior Nomad
Posts: 549
Registered: 1-30-2006
Member Is Offline
|
|
Try this site:
Https://bwt.cbp.gov/
[Edited on 1-20-2018 by fandango]
Edited twice to correct website, sheesh.
[Edited on 1-20-2018 by fandango]
sbwontoo
|
|
woody with a view
PITA Nomad
Posts: 15939
Registered: 11-8-2004
Location: Looking at the Coronado Islands
Member Is Offline
Mood: Everchangin'
|
|
3 minutes. Estimated.
|
|
mistahall
Newbie
Posts: 2
Registered: 1-19-2018
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Member Is Offline
|
|
Hunted around, but I don't see info on average wait times anywhere on the CBP site, fandango. To clarify, the sort of thing I'm looking for is data on
what a typical Sunday at 4pm in San Ysidro, or Monday at 7pm in Tecate, etc., is like. Not current wait times.
|
|