If you are heading south from San Diego, Tijuana is a necessary evil (unless you invest 40 more miles of driving and cross the border at Tecate). The best (and quickest) route is to take U.S. I-5 or I-805 south to the border crossings.

Highways I-5 and I-850 merge just north of the border crossing. Prior to the merge point there are several exits for San Ysidro - this is where you should take care of insurance and money exchange, if you haven't already done so. Getting Mexican insurance on your vehicle is a must! (See the Auto Insurance Page for more information.)

Exchanging US dollars for pesos is not required, but it's a smart way to save money (exchanges made along the highway usually result in a very poor exchange rate for the tourist). Warning: Don't use an exchange house ("Casa de Cambio") that charges a commission!

There are two border crossings to choose from: San Ysidro and Otay Mesa. Here are some of the pros and cons as I see it (other experienced Baja travelers will certainly have differing views). I almost always use the San Ysidro crossing as I find it more convenient to the toll road, my usual route south.

Consideration San Ysidro Otay Mesa Drive to the Toll Road Shorter, less driving with stoplights, etc.. Greater distance, with lots of stoplights, etc.. Drive to the Free Road About the same for both crossings. Lots of stoplights, etc.. Ease of crossing Often very crowded. Much less crowded. Insurance/Exchange Stop Right on the way. Must drive about four extra miles to San Ysidro and back. Obtaining Tourist Card Probably equally good. Migración office at each crossing. Hours of operation 24 Hours 6 AM to 10 PM

The Mexican Customs inspection at Tijuana uses the same system as implemented at the Mexican airports - a random selection indicated by a red and green lights. I assume a small computer is making the random selection. If you get a green light there will be no inspection. If you get a red light, you will be shunted off to the right for an inspection.

RVs: Note that all RVs get inspected. This is one case where the random selection process gets turned off!

San Ysidro Border Crossing:

After crossing into Mexico, follow the center/right lane as it loops up and over - then very carefully follow the signs to Ensenada Cuota - Scenic Road (the toll road). It is easy to miss the turn onto the correct road here - the road splits into several parts as it curves to the left and enters an under-pass with a concrete barrier separating lanes.

The lane to the toll road is to the RIGHT of the barrier.

Best to go slow and let the other drivers honk at you. If you miss a turn, keep in mind that the general idea is to parallel the border fence west towards the ocean until the road ("Calle Internacional") bears to the left and merges with a major highway heading west - this highway shortly becomes the Ensenada toll road. Shortly after this first barrier, there is now a second barrier which should be passed on the left side of the barrier using the lane for Ensenada Cuota - Scenic Road (toll road).

MISSED TURN: If you take the turn to the left of the barrier, you should proceed as follows: at the first stop-light turn right, continue through one stop-light and the street will "T" at "Calle Internacional" - turn left and you're back on track. Ignore all the hawkers trying to get you into an upholstery shop!

Otay Mesa Border Crossing:

If you haven't taken care of the Mexican insurance and any money exchange, follow I-5 or I-805 down to San Ysidro to take care of those matters - then return north (I-805 a bit shorter) to pick up California Route 905.

From either I-5 or I-805 take California Route 905 east - there are signs directing you to the border crossing. You'll pass a large airport (Brown Field) on your left, and then eventually turn south to the border.

Once you've crossed the border, you have two choices (in a general sense): drive the city streets to the area of the San Ysidro crossing (not recommended) or drive city streets to the circuit road around Tijuana - look for signs for Libramiento. You generally bear to the west and drop down a hill to a crowded area. Continue on the main street southwest (Blvd. Lazaro Cardenas) - this will merge into the circuit road. Finally, you'll reach the San Ysidro route several miles west of that crossing. Continue on to the toll road.

When driving north through Tijuana, I'm always entering Tijuana from the Ensenada toll road. There are two border crossings: San Ysidro and Otay Mesa (the newer crossing). The traditional San Ysidro crossing is the larger and busier of the two - on Sunday afternoons and on holidays expect at least a one hour wait at the crossing (it could be shorter or longer). While Otay Mesa is quicker to cross, it is more difficult to reach on the Tijuana side. To my mind it's a toss up during the crowded times. If it's not a crowded time, then San Ysidro is probably faster. In either case, be prepared to prove to the U.S. Customs agent both your citizenship and the prices of purchases you made in Mexico. The probability of having to do this may be slight, but it is something you should be ready for.

About 3/4 mile after the Ensenada toll road curves right (to the east) and becomes a local four-lane divided highway, a connector road with a sign to San Diego will exit to the right. Follow this connector road down a hill to merge with the circuit highway around Tijuana ("Circuito Independencia").

San Ysidro Border Crossing:

After merging with the circuit highway immediately get to the left lane and make a U-turn at the first opportunity, i.e., head the other direction on the circuit highway - there will be a small sign to San Diego. Bear off to the right and follow the signs to San Diego or to the "Garita" (border crossing). The road ("Calle Internacional") eventually parallels the border fence and drops you in a congested area. In early '97 the routing was changed - it now takes traffic one block closer to the border then previously. Follow the street until it "T's" at a stoplight, with all traffic turning left. After the left turn, several lanes bear to the right to San Diego.

Click photo for a larger image

The rest is well marked and easy (except possibly for fighting off the hordes of vendors while waiting in line).

Otay Mesa Crossing:

After merging with the circuit highway follow this large divided highway through Tijuana until it becomes a regular city street in a congested commercial area. The way to the border is not well marked, but the idea is to tend to the right (northeast) and rise up on the mesa. The major Tijuana bus station will be passed on the right. Follow only main streets and any signs to the "Garita de Otay" (Otay border crossing). Signs to the airport may be followed until a traffic circle is reached up on the mesa; exit this circle heading east (the airport is north) and continue about 3/4 mile before turning left at a stop-light onto the road leading directly to the crossing. Do not enter the separate crossing for "vehiculos pesados" (heavy vehicles = trucks) which comes first. You want the crossing for "vehiculos ligeros" (light vehicles = autos, RVs, etc.).

Note that the Otay Mesa Crossing is closed between 10 PM and 6 AM.

If you are avoiding Tijuana or driving from the east, then Tecate is where you catch Mexican Route 3 south to Ensenada. It may be difficult to exchange money here - Tecate is not a tourist or "border town" (even though it is on the border). There is a "Casa de Cambio" on the U.S. side of the border (east side of the road), but that is probably the only one in the Tecate area. (No competition probably leads to less favorable exchange rates.)

The road to Ensenada is one or two blocks south and east of the border crossing. The drive from Tecate to Ensenada is a lovely one over the coastal mountains. The road intersects the coast just on the north side of Ensenada.

Be aware that the border crossing at Tecate is closed from midnight to 6 AM.

To reach the border crossing at Calexico/Mexicali, take California Route 111 south from I-8. You can purchase Mexican auto insurance and exchange money in Calexico.

There is a building on your left just after crossing the border south, and it is here that Tourist Cards have been traditionally issued. (I haven't been through the crossing in many years, so things may have changed.)

I used to follow either of two routes through Mexicali heading south. One is to continue on the main throughfare after crossing the border - this takes you through a more congested business area. The alternative is to turn east after crossing the border and continuing to catch a main street heading south. This route used to be less congested, but is longer. The AAA book on Baja California has a city map, and this will be very helpful in working your way through Mexicali (it's a rather large city!).