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Phil C
Senior Nomad
Posts: 564
Registered: 3-27-2004
Location: N. San Diego County/ Loreto Centro/Lopez Mateos
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San Diego to San Felipe, which way?
Going S.D. to San Felipe mid day on a Friday. Considering thru Mexicali or thru Ensenada. Any thoughts?
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TMW
Select Nomad
Posts: 10659
Registered: 9-1-2003
Location: Bakersfield, CA
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Ensenada takes longer time wise.
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Bob53
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Location: Fallbrook, CA & Bahia de los Angeles
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I've gone both ways before. Going through Ensenada does take longer but it is a beautiful drive. Especially now after all the rains.
The bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten.
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deanfootlong
Junior Nomad
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Registered: 10-7-2013
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Ive done both. I'd highly recommend going through mexicali. The drive through ensenada is beautiful but takes a long time. Its also somewhat
dangerous. I certainly would not drive that way at night. I did it during the day and somehow managed to almost get run off the road by a semi truck,
almost hit a horse feeding on a shrub a few inches from the asphalt, and had to slam on the brakes to avoid hitting a pack of goats in the road.
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willardguy
Elite Nomad
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ensenada, any day!
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AKgringo
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Another option is through Tecate and east to Mexicali on Mex highway 2. The Libe (free) highway is good pavement, and not too slow. The Cuota (toll)
road is faster, but I wasn't in a hurry.
Keep in mind that gasoline is currently more expensive in Mexico than CA, so it makes sense just to take the interstate to Calexico.
[Edited on 11-17-2014 by AKgringo]
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!
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John M
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Posts: 1919
Registered: 9-3-2003
Location: California High Desert
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Tecate
Tecate would be my recommendation. The toll road (or free road) is within a couple of miles of the border crossing. If you haven't been down the La
Rumorosa grade on the toll road before you've got quite an experience to look forward to. Take advantage of the views from the many pull-outs. When
you exit the toll-road onto Highway 5 you will be near the southern end of Mexicali.
I believe the free road & toll road join just east of the town of La Rumorosa.
John M
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BajaBreak
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Registered: 12-20-2012
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I still haven't crossed through Mexicali, but last weekend rode through TJ to Ensenada to San Felipe, then returned going up the 5 and west to Tecate
via the 2-D, then the 94 back to the miserable 5 North. Ultimately I have to say they are almost the exact same distance either way.
I did like that the toll road to Ensenada only charged me $1.20 US for my motorcycle, but for the 2-D it was $3.40, then I had to pay a toll to get on
the free road before the border at Tecate, wtf? Both receipts listed it as clase M1. Awesome road up through La Rumorosa though. Interested how the
2-D almost parallels the I8's route.
The 3 from Ensenada to San Felipe is as green as I've ever seen it. Even the eastern half of hwy 3 looked alive. I felt it was worh a few extra miles
to avoid the 8 east. Depending on when you're leaving you may not have much daylight. The detour at La Mision was slow going on Friday afternoon
though.
Yes, I'm ready to go back...
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Phil C
Senior Nomad
Posts: 564
Registered: 3-27-2004
Location: N. San Diego County/ Loreto Centro/Lopez Mateos
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Thanks everyone, I think we'ld like a short stop in Rosarito so the Ensanada rout it will be.
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Bajahowodd
Elite Nomad
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Why San Felipe?
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bajaguy
Elite Nomad
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Location: Carson City, NV/Ensenada - Baja Country Club
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Because that is where they want to go
| Quote: | Originally posted by Bajahowodd
Why San Felipe? |
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woody with a view
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Marc
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US 8 Mexicali
[Edited on 11-18-2014 by Marc]
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freediverbrian
Senior Nomad
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Location: Papas Gonzaga Bay
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Bajahowodd
Why San Felipe? |
Trolls like that are why this site has slowed to a crawl. This site used to have 150 posts a day ,down to 20 now .
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bajacalifornian
Super Nomad
Posts: 1117
Registered: 9-4-2010
Location: Loreto/Lopez Mateos/Rosarito
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Hey Phil . . . "a short stop in Rosarito" sounds great! Kindly keep us UTD.
American by birth, Mexican by choice.
Signature addendum: Danish physicist — Niels Bohr — who said, “The opposite of one profound truth may very well be another profound truth.
Jeff Petersen
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Ateo
Elite Nomad
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Registered: 7-18-2011
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| Quote: | Originally posted by freediverbrian
| Quote: | Originally posted by Bajahowodd
Why San Felipe? |
Trolls like that are why this site has slowed to a crawl. This site used to have 150 posts a day ,down to 20 now . |
David K does 20 posts a day alone. Just kidding DK. =)
No way there are only 20 posts per day. The "Stats" say 184 posts per day.
[Edited on 11-18-2014 by Ateo]
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David K
Honored Nomad
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Location: San Diego County
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Ateo
| Quote: | Originally posted by freediverbrian
| Quote: | Originally posted by Bajahowodd
Why San Felipe? |
Trolls like that are why this site has slowed to a crawl. This site used to have 150 posts a day ,down to 20 now . |
David K does 20 posts a day alone. Just kidding DK. =)
No way there are only 20 posts per day. The "Stats" say 184 posts per day.
[Edited on 11-18-2014 by Ateo] |
I can't catch a break, even from my amigos here!?? 
Hey Phil, you can call me anytime, and not just for sprinkler work! I have driven from San Diego to San Felipe since I was 16 in 1974, and before then
with my folks in their Jeep... I have been on all the routes described above... and while you have decided already which way, for those who read these
threads to get details for themselves, but don't post for fear of being harassed or teased as being noobies:
Not always, but usually...
1) FASTEST (time wise): I-8 to El Centro, south on 111 to Calexico, south of Mex 5 to San Felipe... 5 hrs. A little slower is using Hwy. 98 from
Ocotillo to Calexico.
2) PRICIEST (money wise): Hwy. 94 to Tecate, 2-D to Mexicali South, Hwy. 5 to San Felipe... US$10 in tolls (the drive down the side of the mountain is
scenic, but I-8 is a lot safer road than 2-D). Cheaper by $4 is using the free road from Tecate to La Rumorosa. The grade has a toll of $1.25, and I
would highly recommend using the toll road around the south side of Mexicali to get to San Felipe without the city traffic of Hwy. 2 going east.
3) MOST SCENIC (vision wise): Otay Mesa to Corredor 2000 to Hwy. 1 (Popotla) to Ensenada to Hwy. 3 to San Felipe. This is a great road EXCEPT for
crossing the city of Ensenada and the 20 mile twisty highway east to Ojos Negros, on the way to San Felipe. These two things will add an hour to the
overall time if there was no traffic or signals/ stops.
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bajaguy
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9247
Registered: 9-16-2003
Location: Carson City, NV/Ensenada - Baja Country Club
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Mood: must be 5 O'clock somewhere in Baja
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Crossing through Ensenada to Hwy 3 is easy.
As you are coming into town on Hwy 1, stay to the left and take the San Quintin turn (street name - Bahia de la Paz) by the Coral Hotel/new Soriana
market.
Follow the signs for the 9th/10th street diversion to Reforma (Hwy 1).
Right turn onto Reforma (Hwy 1)
Proceed 3 blocks south to Calz de las Aguilas....... Left turn onto Aguilas to Hwy 3
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bajaguy
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9247
Registered: 9-16-2003
Location: Carson City, NV/Ensenada - Baja Country Club
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Mood: must be 5 O'clock somewhere in Baja
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Some other random thoughts
Took Hwy 1 from San Ysidro to Ensenada on Sunday around 3PM.
Pulled in by Customs, quick look in truck, face lick by dogs, sent on way
From Popotla to La Mision, paving of the northbound toll road in progress. No problems or traffic.
The diversion from La Mision to San Miguel was 30 minutes on a well paved road, traffic was moderate and moving quickly.
Important note - NO large semi-trucks on the toll road or the diversion around the landslide, which made the trip somewhat pleasant
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bajabuddha
Banned
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Location: Baja New Mexico
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Mood: Always cranky unless medicated
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Here's an alternate reality; like the young bull and the old bull on the hill, take your time and DO 'EM ALL. Go down one way, back the other; or are
you ''too American"? Time constraints being your Franklin Planner? Never drive the same road twice; that way you see and feel more of Baja, and make
the journey as much a part of your trip as the destination..... if you can.
I love the back-road from Ensenada to San Flip. Especially the grade coming down the backside of El Pinacate, great agri-ranching areas, and the last
20 miles stunning desert. Once 10 miles east of Ensenada the traffic dissipates. Slower going, but a new bunch of scenery. T'was moi, i'd go
west-to-east that way, and home up the 4-lane from Mexicali home. Hope you're not pulling too big a rig though, then i'd be looking at safest and
smoothest. But, IT'S ALL GOOD! Happy trails.
I don't have a BUCKET LIST, but I do have a F***- IT LIST a mile long!
86 - 45*
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