| Pages:
1
2 |
phoenix2121
Junior Nomad
Posts: 85
Registered: 8-16-2008
Member Is Offline
|
|
Crossing in Tecate Questions
I've crossed at San Ysidro (uggh) and Otay Mesa (a little better), but I've never crossed at Tecate. In fact, I didn't know it existed.
For someone living between TJ and Ensenada (which will be our settling point - unless someone can show me some rentals in San Felipe - love it there),
it seems to be about 45 minutes out of the way... When we do cross, it'll typically be to go to San Diego, so my question is... is it worth it to
drive the extra 45 minutes to cross at Tecate (still waiting on Sentri decision)... I've never crossed in under 2 hours at Otay or San Ysidro, and
even though it might add 90 minutes to the drive, at least we're moving... right?
Can someone who has crossed there give me some info? Is the wait time really 30 minutes or less most of the time or am I getting bad information?
“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn\'t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines.
Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.”
|
|
|
Bob53
Senior Nomad
Posts: 661
Registered: 2-24-2014
Location: Fallbrook, CA & Bahia de los Angeles
Member Is Offline
|
|
That's the only way I go now. Going north that is. I have heard stories of people having to wait an hour or two but the longest I have ever had to
wait so far is about 20 minutes. There have been a couple times that there was no cars in line at all. I just drove right up to the gate. I have never
crossed on a weekend though.
I would rather drive two hours out of the way than sit two hours in line, breathing exhaust and saying "no thanks" 200 times to the street peddlers.
|
|
|
absinvestor
Senior Nomad
Posts: 725
Registered: 11-28-2009
Member Is Offline
|
|
When we lived in Ensenada we always crossed at TJ. However. once we relocated to Playa El Burro (Mulege) we crossed at Tecate. We have crossed at
Tecate over a dozen times and never waited more than 30-40 minutes. Maybe we have just been lucky but even when the line seems to be miles long it
moves steady and again never has it taken us more than 40 minutes to get to the entrance. (Everytime we crossed in our motorhome we were sent to
secondary but even there seldom spent more than 20-30 minutes)
|
|
|
Udo
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6364
Registered: 4-26-2008
Location: Black Hills, SD/Ensenada/San Felipe
Member Is Offline
Mood: TEQUILA!
|
|
One thing that all the northbound crossers need to remember...
Tecate has only one line, and that line feeds between two and four gates, depending on (?) (haven't figgered that one out yet). I'm with Bob53, yes,
the line may be 1/2 mile long, but it keeps moving. Our average wait has been about 15 minutes. That takes into account the no wait times, and the
times it takes us an hour (very few of those).
And Mex 3 is such a gorgeous drive!
I did a measured run from the 5 & 55 freeways in Tustin, Ca (central Orange County, near Disneyland.
From our front door to Tecate, was 12 miles farther than crossing (southbound) at Otay. I stay away from San Ysidro.
Udo
Youth is wasted on the young!
|
|
|
Gulliver
Senior Nomad
Posts: 651
Registered: 11-18-2013
Member Is Offline
|
|
When you hit town from the South (from Ensenada) watch for a sign turning you to the right a couple of blocks form the border that says 'border'. It
will take you about quarter of a mile East and then a couple of rights and then you end up headed West right along the border fence.
A couple of days ago we hit a 1/2 hour wait in line that might have been due to lunch staffing. There are some Mexican army guys directing traffic as
you make the last right into the gates. We got selected for inspection (towing a closed cargo trailer) but it was only a half hour in line (mostly
stopped due to the previously mentioned stoppage) and then maybe a half hour stooging around parked in the shade while a polite guy asked us a few
ordinary questions.
Declare everything, especially food stuff like fruit and vegies.
Best place to cross. No squeegie guys and only a couple of polite vendors with push carts.
Mike
|
|
|
phoenix2121
Junior Nomad
Posts: 85
Registered: 8-16-2008
Member Is Offline
|
|
Awesome info. You guys are great.
“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn\'t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines.
Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.”
|
|
|
Whale-ista
Super Nomad
Posts: 2009
Registered: 2-18-2013
Location: San Diego
Member Is Offline
Mood: Sunny with chance of whales
|
|
FYI, Supposedly a ReadiLane is being planned for Tecate. Not sure of timeline, but noticed a sign announcing it when I crossed there last month.
I drove up from Ensenada and crossed on a Tuesday morning the day after a Monday holiday. It took about one hour 15 minutes. I think it was long
because of the holiday though.
Also Highway 3 from Ensenada has been much improved so it's a nice drive.
\"Probably the airplanes will bring week-enders from Los Angeles before long, and the beautiful poor bedraggled old town will bloom with a
Floridian ugliness.\" (John Steinbeck, 1940, discussing the future of La Paz, BCS, Mexico)
|
|
|
absinvestor
Senior Nomad
Posts: 725
Registered: 11-28-2009
Member Is Offline
|
|
If you go to search and put in "directions to tecate border north" you'll find excellent directions and maps with arrows etc that David K posted. I
used them and the crossing went slick!!
|
|
|
David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 65276
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
|
|
Getting to Tecate USA is pretty easy... the border wait can be nearly none to 5 hours long... all depends. Best to avoid Sunday afternoon or the last
day of a holiday weekend/ week!
From Ensenada take the Ruta de Vinos / Hwy 3 north.
From Rosarito/La Mision take the Corredor 2000 north to Hwy. 2 east.
From San Felipe/ Mexicali take Hwy. 2-D west, exit for Tecate onto the free road (Mex. 2) a few miles east of Tecate.
The northbound border line is accessed from the free Hwy 2, on the east side of downtown Tecate, well signed. So coming into Tecate from Hwy. 3 or
Corredor 2000/ Hwy 2, head to the east side of town, as if you were going to Mexicali ON THE FREE ROAD.
|
|
|
dasubergeek
Senior Nomad
Posts: 694
Registered: 8-17-2013
Member Is Offline
|
|
Just stay away from crossing north on Sunday afternoons and holidays (like this week's Benito Juárez/St. Patrick's Day fustercluck), as David K says.
When I cross on Sundays I can count on an hour.
I don't have that issue with Otay, though—I've never waited, even without SENTRI, for more than an hour at Otay except the one awful, awful day that
the scaffolding collapsed at San Ysidro and they sent everyone through Otay.
|
|
|
mtgoat666
Select Nomad
Posts: 19901
Registered: 9-16-2006
Location: San Diego
Member Is Offline
Mood: Hot n spicy
|
|
| Quote: | Originally posted by phoenix2121
I've crossed at San Ysidro (uggh) and Otay Mesa (a little better), but I've never crossed at Tecate. In fact, I didn't know it existed.
For someone living between TJ and Ensenada (which will be our settling point - unless someone can show me some rentals in San Felipe - love it there),
it seems to be about 45 minutes out of the way... When we do cross, it'll typically be to go to San Diego, so my question is... is it worth it to
drive the extra 45 minutes to cross at Tecate (still waiting on Sentri decision)... I've never crossed in under 2 hours at Otay or San Ysidro, and
even though it might add 90 minutes to the drive, at least we're moving... right?
Can someone who has crossed there give me some info? Is the wait time really 30 minutes or less most of the time or am I getting bad information?
|
if you are going to live there and cross often, then get SENTRI pass and cross at SY or Otay.
after you got SENTRI, driving to tecate is huge waste of time
|
|
|
DavidE
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3814
Registered: 12-1-2003
Location: Baja California México
Member Is Offline
Mood: 'At home we demand facts and get them. In Mexico one subsists on rumor and never demands anything.' Charles Flandrau,
|
|
AFTER You Cross At Tecate
You will drive a 1-1/2 mile long road to a T intersection
Turn LEFT on CA 94 to go to San Diego, Right Turn for Arizona
Left turn descend steep windey grade. Watch for rock fall after rain
About 10 miles after you turn there will be a Border Patrol Stop
If you wish to cut across to CHULA VISTA watch for OTAY LAKES intersection
If you take OTAY LAKES ROAD eventually it crosses 815, 805, and I-5 on Avenue L Chula Vista
If you proceed past the Otay Lakes Road 12 miles later you will come to a T intersection
A right turn follow the Jacumba boulevard and it will enentually cross I-8
Turn left and encounter several freeways like CA 52 all with good signage This is the way to BYPASS downdown San Diego
CA 52 eventually loops around and crosses I-15, I-805, I-5 North of the city.
A Lot To See And A Lot To Do
|
|
|
Lee
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3597
Registered: 10-2-2006
Location: High in the Colorado Rockies
Member Is Offline
|
|
| Quote: | Originally posted by dasubergeek
Just stay away from crossing north on Sunday afternoons and holidays (like this week's Benito Juárez/St. Patrick's Day fustercluck), as David K says.
When I cross on Sundays I can count on an hour.
I don't have that issue with Otay, though—I've never waited, even without SENTRI, for more than an hour at Otay except the one awful, awful day that
the scaffolding collapsed at San Ysidro and they sent everyone through Otay. |
Just curious: Sunday afternoon defined as late in the day or after Noon time?
And, why is there almost never a wait at Otay? And does that include Sunday afternoon?
US Marines: providing enemies of America an opportunity to die for their country since 1775.
What I say before any important decision.
F*ck it.
|
|
|
Martyman
Super Nomad
Posts: 1904
Registered: 9-10-2004
Member Is Offline
|
|
I tried Tecate once. Once you cross into the states it's another hour back to the coast. So 1 hour inland extra to Tecate and 1 hour back=2 hours
more.
A person would be better off timing their crossings (in TJ) to early or late in the day.
|
|
|
Gulliver
Senior Nomad
Posts: 651
Registered: 11-18-2013
Member Is Offline
|
|
For me the whole point of crossing at Tecate is to avoid San Diego. After I cross I head to the right and Anza Borrego State Park.
After months in Baja, the last thing I want to do is get tangled up in Southern California cities. Horrors!!
Mike
|
|
|
1bobo
Nomad
Posts: 116
Registered: 2-5-2010
Location: Mulege
Member Is Offline
|
|
Last June we got in line at 8:45 PM on a Sunday (I know...) and were next in line when the border closed at midnight. Had to drive to Otay or find a
room. It can be bad.
|
|
|
willardguy
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6451
Registered: 9-19-2009
Member Is Offline
|
|
30 minutes in the san ysidro ready lane yesterday at 10 am, last half dozen crossings were no more than 45 minutes, always mid morning. yup, go to
otay or tecate, pleeeze!
|
|
|
Gulliver
Senior Nomad
Posts: 651
Registered: 11-18-2013
Member Is Offline
|
|
The last two times I went through as Ysidro the squeegee dudes pestered me half to death. And when I smiled and waved off one of them, he swung his
grubby plastic jug of soap and dirt against one of my windshield wiper blades and knocked it off.
By the time I get there I've driven through the whole god awful mess from San Quintin and I'm usually pretty road tired and I just don't need the
hassle.
I'll take Tecate. Besides, where else can you watch the Mexican bob sled team practice in trucks between Ensenada and Tecate. Wheee!
Mike
|
|
|
willardguy
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6451
Registered: 9-19-2009
Member Is Offline
|
|
sweet! that'll make it 29 minutes next time!
|
|
|
Cliffy
Senior Nomad
Posts: 993
Registered: 12-19-2013
Member Is Offline
|
|
Next year when the road south of Gonzaga gets finished the stories will change :-)
|
|
|
| Pages:
1
2 |
![[*]](images/xmbforum/default_icon.gif){kind=icon}
