BJSoccer16
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Tecate to Tijuana instructions
Does anyone know how to get (turn by turn) from the Tecate border to playas of Tijuana using the Tecate toll road. Thank you
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DENNIS
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Tecate toll road, or free road, west to Blvd 2000. 2000 toward the coast to HWY 1 toll road. North on toll road to Playas turn off.
[Edited on 3-25-2010 by DENNIS]
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David K
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What Dennis said:
Getting across Tijuana will be the interesting part... or better to circle around Tijuana on the Blvd. 2000 to Popotla, then north to Playas through
Rosarito... ?
It would be far easier to not cross into Mexico at Tecate, but to cross in at Tijuana where the directions are plastered for the route to Playas,
Rosarito, Ensenada...
Click here for photo directions from the border to playas de Tijuana: http://www.rosaritobeachhotel.com/directions_to_rosarito.php

To get on Blvd. 2000 from the Toll road out of Tecate (2-D), it continues south from just past the toll gate (note huge bighorn sheep monument there).
There is an interchange with the Tecate free highway (2), as well.
If you are determined to go across Tijuana instead... I can only tell you how I have done it, and that is from the Big Horn monument, head west on
Blvd. Industrial see signs for the airport... once near the airport, (and past the Otay Border access street), follow signs for Rosarito (and perhaps
Playas) that should take you to the Libramente de Tijuana... the road that circles the city, around to Highway 1-D near Playas de Tijuana.
Where is Ferna... ???
[Edited on 3-25-2010 by David K]
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BJSoccer16
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I am going through Tecate to avoid the hour and a half wait to get into Tijuana; since I pass Tecate on my way to San Ysidro it makes sense to cross
at Tecate. I don't know if any of you have gone into TJ on a weekday between 3 and 9 pm, but it is utter chaos. Mexico has two entry gates closed
and the people waiting in line don't use common sense, so I prefer to drive through TJ, as that will be saner. Thank you for the directions. Is it
quicker timewise to go all the way through Rosarito? If not, I don't mind the TJ traffic. Thanks again for the directions.
Upon crossing into Tecate, is the Toll Road easy to find?
[Edited on 3-25-2010 by BJSoccer16]
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David K
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Dennis says the free road is just as fast as the toll road and it's free!
The toll road can be reached by taking the free road west from Tecate (turn righ at the park, downhill from the border) or the Ensenada road (left at
the park one block, then right onthe far side of the park).
I never heard of so much trouble getting into Tijuana... maybe a 1/2 hour on Friday afternoons southbound... wow.
Instead of going way south through Popotla on Blvd. 2000, since Tijuana traffic isn't a concern, get onto the Libramente de Tijuana (the highway the
circles around town... plenty of signs fo Playas de Tijuana & Rosarito should help.
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k-rico
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Dennis's route using Blvd 2000 is more miles and more tolls to playas but still a good one if driving Mexican style (agressively) bothers you. It
seems the trick is drive faster than everyone else and everyone knows the trick. 
Approaching TJ from the east and getting to playas will require some navigating centro city streets. I've done it a few times and is the route I would
use again, but I can't describe all the turns.
TJ is repaving many streets and a month ago there was a lot of repaving going on in the area you would be going through just east of centro. It may be
better now, I don't know.
Plus TJ during the afternoon rush hours is slow going.
I know what you mean about southbound San Ysidro in the afternoon. You have jam packed 805 and 5, what 10-12 freeway lanes, funneling down to 4 or 5
crossing lanes. Plus the yahoos are using the shoulders of the freeways to get a jump on people. Sheer bedlam. Plan on an hour in the line up, my
neighbor said it took him 3 hours one Friday afternoon. Much more intense than a busy northbound crossing.
Your best bet is to avoid weekday rush hours. Get south before 2:30 PM if you can.
Also, the last two times I crossed southbound SY, both times Sunday around noon, American border guards were stopping cars about 100 yards north of
the Mexican border guards, really slowing things down. I haven't seen them the few times I've crossed during rush hours, that would cause a HUGE
back-up.
[Edited on 3-25-2010 by k-rico]
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bajaguy
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BJ
When you get off of the Tecate toll road near Blvd 2000, continue west on what will become Industrial Blvd headed to the airport. Stop at the first
7-11/PEMEX station you find. They usually carry a good Tijuana city street map. Should solve your problem.
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BJSoccer16
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| Quote: | Originally posted by k-rico
Dennis's route using Blvd 2000 is more miles and more tolls to playas but still a good one if driving Mexican style (agressively) bothers you. It
seems the trick is drive faster than everyone else and everyone knows the trick. 
Approaching TJ from the east and getting to playas will require some navigating centro city streets. I've done it a few times and is the route I would
use again, but I can't describe all the turns.
TJ is repaving many streets and a month ago there was a lot of repaving going on in the area you would be going through just east of centro. It may be
better now, I don't know.
Plus TJ during the afternoon rush hours is slow going.
I know what you mean about southbound San Ysidro in the afternoon. You have jam packed 805 and 5, what 10-12 freeway lanes, funneling down to 4 or 5
crossing lanes. Plus the yahoos are using the shoulders of the freeways to get a jump on people. Sheer bedlam. Plan on an hour in the line up, my
neighbor said it took him 3 hours one Friday afternoon. Much more intense than a busy northbound crossing.
Your best bet is to avoid weekday rush hours. Get south before 2:30 PM if you can.
Also, the last two times I crossed southbound SY, both times Sunday around noon, American border guards were stopping cars about 100 yards north of
the Mexican border guards, really slowing things down. I haven't seen them the few times I've crossed during rush hours, that would cause a HUGE
back-up.
[Edited on 3-25-2010 by k-rico] |
The past three days I have spent an average of an hour and a half fighting the idiots in the traffic on the 805. People would rather rear end each
other than let people in and people drive on the shoulder, cutting in....called CHP - they did not care.
Took the free road (did not see turn off for toll); it was very easy - straight west; a left turn where it indicates and Via Rapido Oriente to the
road that goes from the border to Playas.... very smooth ride; traffic not too bad at 4:30 and missed the San Ysidro chaos...thank you for those who
helped to orient me
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