| Pages:
1
2 |
Alm
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 2729
Registered: 5-10-2011
Member Is Offline
|
|
Just curious - a future trip
If I were to go from BOLA to Chula Vista-ish, Sweetwater Summit campground in particular.
Is it better 1) taking Hwy 5 via San Felipe and then Mex D2 toll road to Otay and 125 toll on the US side, or 2) cross North at Mexicali and then Hwy
98 and 8?
It's been a long time since I drove Hwy 98 and 8 there and never been on Mex D2, there was no need. Google says that Mex D2 is a little shorter but
this is 2 toll roads, D2 and 125, with toll stops I doubt it's faster.
|
|
|
PaulW
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3063
Registered: 5-21-2013
Member Is Offline
|
|
My suggestion what I would do is Hwy1-5, San Felipe, Mexicali east, 8 and skip the other choices.
|
|
|
David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64766
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
|
|
North on the 5, then a toss up between long lines at hot Mexicali or go west to Tecate and cross there (my typical route of past years).
|
|
|
AKgringo
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6008
Registered: 9-20-2014
Location: Anchorage, AK (no mas!)
Member Is Offline
Mood: Retireded
|
|
I haven't driven those roads enough to compare them, but I did drive D 2 to Tecate and crossed there. What I liked about it was avoiding Mexicali
traffic, and some pretty great scenery.
It is a steep, winding grade though, and you will be sharing it with trucks. The day I drove it I encountered both rain and hail showers near the
summit, which added a bit to the thrill of the ride!
If you are not living on the edge, you are taking up too much space!
"Could do better if he tried!" Report card comments from most of my grade school teachers. Sadly, still true!
|
|
|
mjs
Nomad
Posts: 308
Registered: 2-20-2013
Location: Off grid in San Felipe
Member Is Offline
|
|
We make the drive from San Felipe to San Diego fairly often. The fastest and least stressful way (for us) is 5 north, cross at Mexicali west (we have
Sentri), then 98 to 8.
You have to climb the mountain regardless but always seems to take longer going through Tecate and from there into SD. Naturally YMMV.
|
|
|
Lee
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3498
Registered: 10-2-2006
Location: High in the Colorado Rockies
Member Is Offline
|
|
Quote: Originally posted by PaulW  | | My suggestion what I would do is Hwy1-5, San Felipe, Mexicali east, 8 and skip the other choices. |
x2
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.
|
|
|
pacificobob
Super Nomad
Posts: 2302
Registered: 4-23-2006
Member Is Offline
|
|
| Quote: Originally posted by mjs | We make the drive from San Felipe to San Diego fairly often. The fastest and least stressful way (for us) is 5 north, cross at Mexicali west (we have
Sentri), then 98 to 8.
You have to climb the mountain regardless but always seems to take longer going through Tecate and from there into SD. Naturally YMMV.
|
Good council above
|
|
|
mtgoat666
Select Nomad
Posts: 18192
Registered: 9-16-2006
Location: San Diego
Member Is Offline
Mood: Hot n spicy
|
|
Mexicali is slightly faster route.
If you got sentri, and are just vacationing, i suggest taking 1 and crossing at TJ since it is a prettier and more interesting route.
But if time is limited and you care more about the destination than the journey, then take mexicali route.
Woke!
“...ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country.” “My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America
will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man.”
Prefered gender pronoun: the royal we
|
|
|
JZ
Select Nomad
Posts: 10232
Registered: 10-3-2003
Member Is Offline
|
|
| Quote: Originally posted by mtgoat666 | Mexicali is slightly faster route.
If you got sentri, and are just vacationing, i suggest taking 1 and crossing at TJ since it is a prettier and more interesting route.
But if time is limited and you care more about the destination than the journey, then take mexicali route. |
Ignore this. Cross at Mexicali and go down the 5.
TJ is a mess, and the traffic through all the little town is annoying.
It's not any pretty on the 1. The 5 is great.
|
|
|
surabi
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4573
Registered: 5-6-2016
Member Is Offline
|
|
I think people are capable of making their own choices, based on the various answers they receive, without anyone dictating to them what to "ignore",
just because it wouldn't be your choice.
|
|
|
Alm
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 2729
Registered: 5-10-2011
Member Is Offline
|
|
Thanks everybody, it seems like Mexicali and 98-8 is the consensus. I've been leaning towards this already, maybe because I've been on 98-8 before,
also trucks traffic seems to be less of an issue on the US side.
Hwy 1 doesn't appeal to me anymore, I've been there too many times. While the first 2/3 of the way from BOLA is stunningly beautiful, it is a constant
balancing between speed and safety on many curves, and the last 1/3 is dusty, slow and nothing to look at.
I recall there was Indian gas on reservation on Hwy8, love filling up at those places.
|
|
|
AKgringo
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6008
Registered: 9-20-2014
Location: Anchorage, AK (no mas!)
Member Is Offline
Mood: Retireded
|
|
I like driving
Even if I have and idea about the "best road" to get where I am going, I look forward to taking other roads just to see what's there.
If I have a reason to head toward L.A. I will probably take a different route that 2D to Tecate, just because that is the route I traveled last time.
If you are not living on the edge, you are taking up too much space!
"Could do better if he tried!" Report card comments from most of my grade school teachers. Sadly, still true!
|
|
|
David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64766
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
|
|
| Quote: Originally posted by AKgringo | Even if I have and idea about the "best road" to get where I am going, I look forward to taking other roads just to see what's there.
If I have a reason to head toward L.A. I will probably take a different route that 2D to Tecate, just because that is the route I traveled last time.
|
Bravo to you! It's about the journey (not the destination), after all.
|
|
|
surabi
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4573
Registered: 5-6-2016
Member Is Offline
|
|
I once drove from Ottawa to Austin. I drew a straight line on the map between the two and took every road that was closest to that line. Sometimes
that meant I was on the freeway, but I mostly was on a lot of country roads and drove through lots of small towns. It was a great trip.
|
|
|
Alm
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 2729
Registered: 5-10-2011
Member Is Offline
|
|
| Quote: Originally posted by AKgringo | Even if I have and idea about the "best road" to get where I am going, I look forward to taking other roads just to see what's there.
If I have a reason to head toward L.A. I will probably take a different route that 2D to Tecate, just because that is the route I traveled last time.
|
It's been a long time since I drove to SD via Hwy 8, was mostly bypassing SD and LA to the East or taking Mex 1 via SY/Otay. So it's going to be be a
fresh-er experience this time. Besides, Mexicali crossing has not reached the saturation point for me yet, I am still making unnecessary turns and
loops before getting on the Blvd to Calexico West Sentri.
|
|
|
AKgringo
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6008
Registered: 9-20-2014
Location: Anchorage, AK (no mas!)
Member Is Offline
Mood: Retireded
|
|
I don't think I have ever made it through Mexicali west without discovering different detours than I had encountered before!
If you are not living on the edge, you are taking up too much space!
"Could do better if he tried!" Report card comments from most of my grade school teachers. Sadly, still true!
|
|
|
surabi
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4573
Registered: 5-6-2016
Member Is Offline
|
|
| Quote: Originally posted by AKgringo | | I don't think I have ever made it through Mexicali west without discovering different detours than I had encountered before! |
Worst detour experience ever was in Guatemala in '76 right after the huge earthquake. The highway was blocked by a huge landslide, so traffic was
routed on a dirt road that was barely wide enough for 2 small cars to pass by each other from each direction. Of course there were larger vehicles, so
traffic would inch along for a few minutes, then people would get out of their vehicles and talk and argue like "Okay, well if you back up a foot and
move a bit to the left, I'll be able to squeeze past you, etc."
This went on for about 8 hours, throughout the night, but the detour was only around a section of the highway that had it not been blocked, would have
taken maybe 5 minutes to drive.
|
|
|
Tioloco
Super Nomad
Posts: 2379
Registered: 7-30-2014
Member Is Offline
|
|
| Quote: Originally posted by surabi | | Quote: Originally posted by AKgringo | | I don't think I have ever made it through Mexicali west without discovering different detours than I had encountered before! |
Worst detour experience ever was in Guatemala in '76 right after the huge earthquake. The highway was blocked by a huge landslide, so traffic was
routed on a dirt road that was barely wide enough for 2 small cars to pass by each other from each direction. Of course there were larger vehicles, so
traffic would inch along for a few minutes, then people would get out of their vehicles and talk and argue like "Okay, well if you back up a foot and
move a bit to the left, I'll be able to squeeze past you, etc."
This went on for about 8 hours, throughout the night, but the detour was only around a section of the highway that had it not been blocked, would have
taken maybe 5 minutes to drive. |
My... how worldly and adventurous you are..... Tell us more of your wild real life experiences, please!
|
|
|
surabi
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4573
Registered: 5-6-2016
Member Is Offline
|
|
What's wrong with you? How does your personal attack add to this thread?
|
|
|
Tioloco
Super Nomad
Posts: 2379
Registered: 7-30-2014
Member Is Offline
|
|
| Quote: Originally posted by Alm | If I were to go from BOLA to Chula Vista-ish, Sweetwater Summit campground in particular.
Is it better 1) taking Hwy 5 via San Felipe and then Mex D2 toll road to Otay and 125 toll on the US side, or 2) cross North at Mexicali and then Hwy
98 and 8?
It's been a long time since I drove Hwy 98 Chand 8 there and never been on Mex D2, there was no need. Google says that Mex D2 is a little shorter but
this is 2 toll roads, D2 and 125, with toll stops I doubt it's faster.
|
Choice number 2 is probably a faster route. If no Sentri, try to avoid Sunday afternoon as your border crossing day.
|
|
|
| Pages:
1
2 |
![[*]](images/xmbforum/default_icon.gif){kind=icon}
