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cftlet
Nomad
Posts: 119
Registered: 11-13-2008
Location: Grants Pass,OR.
Member Is Offline
Mood: Modelo Negro on my mind
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crossing at mexicali or yuma ?
I have been wintering in baja sur for the last 12 years and have always crossed at tecate. this year my wife and I want to take mex 5 but Iam not
sure where to cross. Im a little intimidated by Mexicali ( big city with lots of traffic) and Im thinking crossing at Yuma might be better. What are
your thoughts ? any help will be greatly appreciated.
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bajabuddha
Banned
Posts: 4024
Registered: 4-12-2013
Location: Baja New Mexico
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Mood: Always cranky unless medicated
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Just go for it. Like the fly said whilst standing on a mirror, "Well that's another way of looking at it!"
So if you get lost or turned around it's still another view of Mexico, and to drive a road not yet driven is an experience in itself.
'Nuff said. 
I don't have a BUCKET LIST, but I do have a F***- IT LIST a mile long!
86 - 45*
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AKgringo
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6027
Registered: 9-20-2014
Location: Anchorage, AK (no mas!)
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Mood: Retireded
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I see you are departing from Oregon, and unless you intend to head down through Nevada, Yuma is pretty far out of your way. I don't like city driving
either, but I don't stress out much crossing south at Mexicali.
If you are coming down through California and want to cross at Tecate, Mex 2D intersects Mex 5 south of the urban Mexicali area. It is quite a grade!
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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Paulclark
Nomad
Posts: 357
Registered: 10-13-2008
Location: Castillo de Arena
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I crossed at Mexicali on the 29th, quick and easy straight shot using Google. 2 hours from San Felipe to Gonzaga, little rough and 1.5 hours from
Gonzaga to Hwy 1. It is rocky with no grading but drive the condition of the road and you should have no problems. Transports are using it and at
6:00 PM there were lots of cars going my way.
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basautter
Senior Nomad
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Registered: 7-1-2013
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I live in Az, and prefer crossing at Yuma (San Luis). There is a toll road almost immediately that takes you to Highway 5. I have found this to be
more consistent than crossing at Mexicali or Algadones.
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C205Driver
Nomad
Posts: 265
Registered: 8-25-2008
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Mood: Life is Good
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I’m with basautter, crossed at San Luis last year & too fast & too easy....And there’s 3 Walmart in Yuma if you have needs....And gasoline
is inexpensive in AZ....
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mtgoat666
Select Nomad
Posts: 18380
Registered: 9-16-2006
Location: San Diego
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Mood: Hot n spicy
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Quote: Originally posted by cftlet  | | I have been wintering in baja sur for the last 12 years and have always crossed at tecate. this year my wife and I want to take mex 5 but Iam not
sure where to cross. Im a little intimidated by Mexicali ( big city with lots of traffic) and Im thinking crossing at Yuma might be better. What are
your thoughts ? any help will be greatly appreciated. |
Driving in Mexicali is easy. There is only 1 turn to make in the city. Look at map, it is straight shot thru Mexicali.
If Mexicali intimidates you, you can cross at familiar place tecate and take hwy 2 to get to 5.
If you can handle I-5 thru Sacramento, then you can handle Mexicali.
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
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bajaric
Senior Nomad
Posts: 634
Registered: 2-2-2015
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Crossing Calexico west southbound does have a bit of a "run the gauntlet" feel to getting through Mexicali, with lots of traffic, a couple of
roundabouts, a tunnel, and a small bridge to negotiate where you have to be in the correct lane. Like anything, after you do it a couple of times it
is easy. I have done it a dozen times and only got rear-ended once.... The light turned green and a lady was still in the crosswalk and the guy
behind me hit the gas and thumped into my back bumper. We just kept driving (was his fault) and upon examination a few miles down the road the bumper
did not even have a scratch, it hit flat with the other bumper.
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volcano
Nomad
Posts: 348
Registered: 3-5-2007
Location: Cave Junction, Oregon and Boca Del Salado area, Ea
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Mood: always pining to be there
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we're from S. Or.....we avoid the cities..our favorite route: I 5 to Bakersfield, off at Buttonwillow, Needles, Quartzite, Yuma...cross at
Algadonez...to Gonzaga Bay.
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wilderone
Ultra Nomad
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Registered: 2-9-2004
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Once you cross at Mexicali, the highway and street signs are very clear to keep you on track - pretty much direcha.
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David K
Honored Nomad
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Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Algodones south to 2 to 2-D or Yuma/San Luis crossing, go west, get on 2-D to 5 south... Boom, you are on your way!
If you cross at Mexicali, there are many signs pointing to San Felipe.
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cftlet
Nomad
Posts: 119
Registered: 11-13-2008
Location: Grants Pass,OR.
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Mood: Modelo Negro on my mind
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Thanks to everyone for the info, it is very helpful. does anyone know the hours the Yuma crossing is open and where you go to get your paper work?
Thanks for all the help. We plan on crossing on jan 9 ( two months later than normal) cant wait for cervasa and menudo.
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KasloKid
Nomad
Posts: 326
Registered: 8-29-2009
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Yuma to Mexicali.
At the San Luis Colorado crossing, turn right at the FIRST street after crossing. You're now on the toll road... Mex 2-D
Drive 49 KM/30 Miles, then take the San Felipe turnoff which crosses over Mex 2.
Drive another 11 KM/7 Miles, take the exit to San Felipe/Mexicali exit.
You have to travel north towards Mexicali a couple of hundred yards and make a U-Turn. You'll plainly see where others have done so.
You're now heading south on Mex 5.
If you get your FMM at San Luis, you're better off to park on the USA side and walk across and get it. Parking is tough to find on the Mexico side.
Go through US Customs back to your rig then drive across.
Just a heads up, the road south of San Felipe has a lot of storm damage from recent hurricanes, as well as the "new" road from Gonzaga Bay to Mex 1.
Lots of detours and sharp rocks. Take your time, and add some extra time to your trip planning.
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KasloKid
Nomad
Posts: 326
Registered: 8-29-2009
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| Quote: Originally posted by cftlet | | Thanks to everyone for the info, it is very helpful. does anyone know the hours the Yuma crossing is open and where you go to get your paper work?
Thanks for all the help. We plan on crossing on jan 9 ( two months later than normal) cant wait for cervasa and menudo. |
INM is on your immediate right after crossing into San Luis. It practically touches the actual border.. see my post above about walking across to get
your FMM...
I'm not sure of the hours.
[Edited on 12-31-2018 by KasloKid]
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cftlet
Nomad
Posts: 119
Registered: 11-13-2008
Location: Grants Pass,OR.
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Mood: Modelo Negro on my mind
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Thanks for the info Kelso it will be very helpful. Yea Ive been told mex 5 was a bit rough but it will be better than mex 1 through Tecate (time
wise). I will just kickback drive slow and decompress from the last 6 months in the states (retirement is great).
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daveB
Nomad
Posts: 244
Registered: 11-6-2003
Location: B.C. Canada
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Mood: wondering about Nomads!
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You could extend your drive to see some new roads and country, by driving on Hwy I-8 and turning south at Gilla Bend to cross at Sonoyta, Senora, and
head for Rocky point / Puerto Penasco on the east side of Sea of Cortez. Take the road west, through the Altar desert, a good road with some view of
the Sea intermixed with straight sand dunes. Turn north a bit at Santa Clara and again west a Santiago to gain HWY 5 in Baja and south to San Felipe -
and beyond.
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RogerMears
Junior Nomad
Posts: 30
Registered: 3-7-2014
Location: Bahia de Los Angeles
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| Quote: Originally posted by cftlet | | Thanks to everyone for the info, it is very helpful. does anyone know the hours the Yuma crossing is open and where you go to get your paper work?
Thanks for all the help. We plan on crossing on jan 9 ( two months later than normal) cant wait for cervasa and menudo. |
We always cross at Los Algodones as we spend a lot of time in AZ. You can park in the huge parking lot on the right before you cross the border, walk
across and the Immigration office is right there. Walk back through the US side (show your passport), continue to parking lot, grab your vehicle and
head to the border. Super simple. Border opens at 6am closes at 10pm. We always travel through the farm country...2 to 3 to 4 to 5. It's slower but we
like the simple drive.
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daveB
Nomad
Posts: 244
Registered: 11-6-2003
Location: B.C. Canada
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Mood: wondering about Nomads!
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San Luis de Colorado, considered the Yuma Crossing, has a lot of action, as some 25,000 Mexicans join another 25,000 who live in the Yuma area, to
harvest the 100,000 acres of crops grown nearby. Of course, Los Algodones gets a lot of attention as well because Mexican prices on their northern
fringe of the Mexican border welcome thousands of visitors from north of that border. For many, that will be the sum total of visitations to Mexico.
However, the taste of Mexico avalable there is quite like Mexico in general. This border town shares the border with California and is near the state
of Arizona and not far from Yuma.
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KasloKid
Nomad
Posts: 326
Registered: 8-29-2009
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| Quote: Originally posted by cftlet | | Thanks to everyone for the info, it is very helpful. does anyone know the hours the Yuma crossing is open and where you go to get your paper work?
Thanks for all the help. We plan on crossing on jan 9 ( two months later than normal) cant wait for cervasa and menudo. |
I found a note on my phone that the San Luis Rio Colorado border is open from 8AM to Midnight, 7 days a week.
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cftlet
Nomad
Posts: 119
Registered: 11-13-2008
Location: Grants Pass,OR.
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Mood: Modelo Negro on my mind
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Just a update, we crossed the boarder in Yuma on the 9th with no problems. Thanks for the help( the directions from Kaslokid were right on. We went
down mex 5 with no problem (it was a bit bouncy from time to time but not bad at all). Made it to G.N. long before dark without pushing it.
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