Marc
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 2802
Registered: 5-15-2010
Location: San Francisco & Palm Springs
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Mood: Waiting
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Mexicali East or West
What's the difference? I have never crossed at Mexicali going south and going north only twice many years ago. Seems the west is more convenient for
me from Palm Springs but all I see is info on the east particularly going north.
I assume Mex 5 goes into Cal 111.
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Bajazly
Super Nomad
Posts: 1010
Registered: 6-4-2015
Location: Goodbye Cali and Hello San Felipe
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Mood: More Relaxed Everyday
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Going south west is a breeze. Easy parking on the left going in on either side of the border for FMM. We used to always go to east going north but
last time I crossed Mexicali going north I went to the west crossing and it was better. YMMV due to the border debacle but to get to the west crossing
just drive along the border and you will run into it.
From 5 you need to work your way east to get to the east crossing and it is better to enter from the east, drive past it and turn around and head west
to enter. There seems to always be a line coming from the west but not one coming from the east. And when you make the right turn to enter, don’t be
affraid of being in the right lane that is always empty. It all goes to the same place.
The two crossing are only a couple miles apart and like I say, if you are at the east gate and you don’t like the look of the line, just drive west
along the border fence and you will run right into the line for west.
Believing is religion - Knowing is science
Harald Pietschmann
"Get off the beaten path and memories, friends and new techniques are developed"
Bajazly, August 2019
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Marc
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 2802
Registered: 5-15-2010
Location: San Francisco & Palm Springs
Member Is Offline
Mood: Waiting
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Thanks, guess I'll stay with the west going both ways.
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PaulW
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3070
Registered: 5-21-2013
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Depends on your privileges?
Standard, Sentri, or Ready are the choices. Going south only one type = standard. Going north East is way best if you value your time to wait compared
to west.
At teh east Ready always slower than Sentri and Sentri is no wait.
Other places I use. Algodones fast
San Luis slower than Algodones.
Northbound - If you have a trailer you can only use east or San Luis and standard is required even it you have ready or Sentri status. Tecati will
work with trailer most times.
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JZ
Select Nomad
Posts: 10521
Registered: 10-3-2003
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South use West. North go East. Crossed back over 2 weeks ago and it took <30 mins.
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bkbend
Senior Nomad
Posts: 693
Registered: 11-27-2003
Location: central OR or central baja
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What JZ said. Northbound at east gate three weeks ago was 12 mins from stopping in line to going out the other side using the regular line
mid-morning. Can't beat that. West gate has better parking for the FMM and no x-ray for southbound traffic.
Mex 5 does meet up with Ca 111 at the west gate but you travel through Calexico before it turns into a freeway. East gate dumps you onto Ca 7 and you
can head north to I-8 then west a couple miles to the Ca 111 exit.
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