How to Cross the Tijuana Border: San Ysidro and Otay

Are you preparing to cross the Tijuana border? Then you have found the right place!

I will cover every single thing you need to know about crossing the San Diego – Tijuana border, through both the San Ysidro and Otay ports of entry.

I will let you know how to cross walking, where to park, how to cross by car, what are the best times to cross, what documents you will need to bring, and many other details.

Please use the table of contents below to jump to the instructions you need.

Cross Tijuana Border by Car – San Ysidro

San Ysidro is the main port of entry for the San Diego – Tijuana border. The vast majority of people will use San Ysidro to cross into Tijuana, it has the availability of taking vehicle and pedestrian traffic.

Entering Tijuana through San Ysidro

Entering Tijuana via car through the San Ysidro border is very straight forward, simply take either the 5 or 805 Freeways (they will merge) all the way south. The freeway will lead directly to a sharp right turn, which leads into the Mexico Customs entrance.

After the sharp right turn, you will see several lanes with what appear to be traffic lights. You can choose any lane to enter Tijuana, once you cross, the traffic light will either show a green or red light.

If it’s a green light, you may continue through into Mexico, if it’s red, you will be asked to stop for secondary inspection.

You shouldn’t worry if you get the red light, Mexican Customs officials will simply check your vehicle to ensure you are not carrying any illegal items into Mexico. Also, be aware that there will likely be Mexican troops stationed at the Customs building, again, it is expected and you shouldn’t be concerned.

After exiting the Customs area, you will see several signs directing you to various parts of Tijuana, such as Centro, Playas, etc.

Exiting Tijuana through San Ysidro

Returning via car to the United States using the San Ysidro port of entry is a bit more complicated than entering Mexico. There are actually multiple ways to reach the San Ysidro car line.

Exiting Tijuana: San Ysidro Border Crossing – Via Internacional

This entrance is best if you are coming from Rosarito or Playas de Tijuana, as it connects from the 1D highway. Use the map below as a reference, or follow the directions here.

1. Upon exiting Playas via Highway 1D you will start seeing San Diego/5 signs, these will guide you to the Tijuana border crossing.

2. About 2 miles after Playas, there will be a sign (5 San Diego/ Zona Rio) directing you to take a right turn. Take this loop, it will connect you to the Via Internacional.

3. The Via Internacional is a road that hugs the US/Mexico border, you will see the international wall on your left.

4. After continuing on the Via Internacional for about 3 miles, you will see a “5 San Diego / Paseo de los Heroes” sign instructing you to turn right (there will be a gas station there), take this right.

5. Soon after, you must take a left on “Calle Segunda”, you will then see several signs and concrete dividers directing you to the San Ysidro vehicle port of entry.

That’s it, you’ve reached the San Ysidro vehicle Port of Entry, if you’re crossing on the weekend, get ready for a long wait!

Exiting Tijuana: Cross San Ysidro Border – Calle Segunda

The Calle Segunda entrance is a great alternative for when the main Via Internacional road is closed, the directions are simple, though it may be a slower going due to having to pass through the center of Tijuana. Use the map below or click here for directions.

1. Upon leaving Playas via Highway 1D you will start seeing San Diego/5 signs, these will guide you to the Tijuana border crossing.

2. About 2 miles after Playas, there will be a sign (5 San Diego/ Zona Rio) directing you to take a right turn (this is for the Via Internacional entrance). Instead of taking a right into the loop, continue straight.

3. You will continue straight on this road for about 3 miles, make sure to follow the signs directing you to “Calle Segunda”.

4. You will continue on “Calle Segunda” all the way past the Tijuana Centro district, straight into the border line, you will see several signs and concrete dividers

Using the “Calle Segunda” route will still take you to the same vehicle entrance as the Via Internacional. It’s simply a better route if you’re coming from the center of Tijuana.

Tijuana Border Crossing by Car – Otay

Otay receives much less traffic than San Ysidro, though it is the best option if you are going to be in the East side of Tijuana, or will be going to the Tijuana Airport.

Entering Mexico through Otay

Entering Tijuana via car through the Otay border is quite simple, and a great option if you need to go to the Tijuana airport, or visit the East side of Tijuana. You will need to get on the 905 Freeway, which can be accessed via either the 5, 805 or 125 freeways.

The 905 Freeway runs from San Ysidro to Otay, parallel to the Mexican border, simply follow it until you see signage instructing you to enter Mexico.

Similar to the San Ysidro crossing, you might receive a red light at Mexican Customs, which means you will have to go through secondary inspection. Overall, crossing into Mexico via Otay is usually faster than San Ysidro.

Exiting Mexico through Otay

Returning to the United States via the Otay border crossing can be a great way to avoid the massive lines that you will see at San Ysidro on busy days.

The instructions are a bit more complicated than when you entered Mexico, but overall not too hard.

If you want to enter the regular lines (green line in map above- this is if you only have the regular Passport Book), you must get on the CD Industrial Avenue and turn onto the Blvd Garita de Otay, that’s it, your on your way to the United States.

If you want to use the Ready Lanes (blue in map above), you must get on the Blvd de las Bellas Artes. Make sure you have the Passport cards, as this entrance is only for Ready Lane. If you enter via the entrance off CD Industrial, you will not be able to enter the Ready Lanes.

Upon crossing the border, simply get on the 905 and take either the 5 or 805 Freeways to continue North.

Tijuana Border Parking

If you are walking into Tijuana, you will most likely end up parking in either San Ysidro or Otay, depending on which Port of Entry you decide to use.

Of course, you always have the option of taking the Trolley down to San Ysidro, or having someone drop you off.

San Ysidro Border Parking

San Ysidro has plenty of parking options available, though you might have trouble finding available spots if you go during a busy time, such as over a long weekend.

Please use the map above as a reference (click to see a bigger version). The green circle is where the pedestrian crossing into Tijuana is located. Personally, I prefer to park in any of the lots located on the East side of the 5 Freeway (green square), as the walk to the border will be much shorter.

To reach any of these parking lots, you must take the 5 South until you see the LAST USA EXIT sign and exit onto Camino de la Plaza. From this point, you will have access to the parking lots on either side of the 5 freeway.

The parking lot behind the Jack in the Box is a great spot, as it is located relatively close to the border and charges $8 for 8 hours, with a minimum purchase of an 8 hour block.

Given the high volume of visitors San Ysidro gets, expect to pay for somewhat expensive parking all around this area.

If you want to find cheaper parking, park on the West side of the freeway (yellow square), there are several lots that offer better rates than on the East side, specially if you plan on parking there for more than one day.

However, the cheaper cost comes at the expense of a much longer walk. You will need to use the pedestrian bridge that crosses over the 5 Freeway, and then make your way to the border, this can easily take 20+ minutes.

The red box represents mall parking, please do not park in any of the mall parking lots, as you run the risk of getting your car towed. It’s much better to use a paid parking lot than to deal with the headache and expense of getting your car towed.

Even though parking at San Ysidro comes at a cost and involves a bit of walking, it is definitely worth it to avoid the long vehicle wait times you can expect on a weekend.

Otay Border Parking

In comparison to San Ysidro, the Otay border crossing is much more limited in parking capacity. Parking is located on the East side of the 905, as the map below shows, you can see that the parking lots are very close to the Otay pedestrian crossing.

Make sure to not park in any of the strip malls in the area, as you run the chance of getting you car towed. Seriously, don’t even try to risk it, you will most likely get towed!

To reach the parking lots, you must drive on the 905 East until you reach Otay Mesa Road. Once you are on Otay Mesa Road, you will have access to all of these parking lots.

Due to the limited amount of parking in this area, I do not recommend you leave your car here if you are expecting a long trip. 24-hour rates can cost $24+.

If you are parking at Otay because you will be using the Tijuana Airport, I recommend you use the Cross Border Xpress instead. You can check out my step by step Cross Border Xpress guide here.

The map above shows the Pedestrian entrance in the green circle, and the available parking lots in the green box. As you can see, parking is limited and will be on the expensive side.

Nonetheless, Otay is a great place to cross if you have to be on the East side of Tijuana, or need to go to the Tijuana Airport. Though I recommend you use the CBX bridge for that.

Cross Tijuana Border Walking – San Ysidro

Walking across the San Diego Tijuana border via San Ysidro can be a great way to explore Tijuana without having to deal with the potential issues (insurance, directions, etc.) that you might have when crossing in a vehicle.

I highly encourage crossing without a vehicle if you’re just planning being in Tijuana for a short time, like a dentist visit, Doctor’s appointment, shopping, etc.

Entering Tijuana through San Ysidro walking

Crossing into Tijuana from San Ysidro as a pedestrian is a fairly easy process that involves plenty of walking. You better be ready for a nice workout!

The pedestrian crossing into Mexico is found in the blue circle in the map above. There is a pedestrian walkway that will take you into Tijuana (blue lines), you can reach the walkway by taking Rail Ct, walking past the Jack in The Box and turning right.

Another option is to walk past the trolley station, and turn left right after passing the building housing the McDonalds.

The McDonalds in the picture above is a great stop if you want to get some food or use the bathroom before heading into Mexico. As you’re walking South towards Tijuana, take a left as soon as you pass the McDonalds building, the walkway there will lead you towards the pedestrian crossing into Tijuana.

Once you reach the walkway, be prepared for about 1/4 mile walk uphill, thankfully, there are benches and water fountains along the way. At the end of the walkway, you will see turnstiles and a massive “MEXICO” sign, leaving no doubt you are entering another country.

Upon passing the turnstiles, you will immediately enter Mexican Customs, if a US citizen, you must line up in the “Foreigner” line.

Once it’s your turn to reach the Customs Official, present your passport. If you are staying in Mexico for more then three days, you will need to fill out a Customs form and pay a visitor’s fee of around $25 USD.

After the Passport check process, you will continue walking until you reach the baggage check spot. You might be asked to press a button at what looks like a traffic light, if you get a red light, you will be sent to a more thorough inspection, if green, you will be allowed through.

The red light inspection process will just involve Mexican Customs officials checking your luggage. It really is nothing to be worried about. Obviously, don’t bring anything illegal into Mexico.

Upon exiting the Customs building, simply follow the walkway for about another 1/4 miles, at which point you will reach a large Taxi stand, where you can grab a Taxi or order an Uber. Enjoy Mexico!

Exiting Tijuana through San Ysidro walking

You have two options when walking through the San Ysidro border back into the United States. PedWest is the new way to enter the United States (please note this entrance is closed during the COVID-19 Pandemic). The second option is PedEast, or the original pedestrian port of entry.

PedWest

To reach the PedWest entrance, have your Uber/Taxi drop you off at the Plaza Viva Tijuana, found to the West of the vehicle port of entry (map above, green line).

Tell them you want to be dropped off at PedWest, or in Spanish “Cruce Peatonal Nuevo” (new pedestrian crossing), or “Plaza Viva Tijuana, PedWest”. The Taxi/Uber driver should have no problem knowing what port of entry you want.

Simply follow the signs, and walk through the mall and get on the pedestrian bridge that will take you directly to the PedWest entrance, expect to walk about 1/3 mile.

Once you go through US immigration, you will enter San Ysidro on the West side of the 5 Freeway, across the Las Americas Outlet Mall. Keep this in mind when choosing where to park.

There is a bus hub at PedWest on the USA side, so it’s a great option if you use the bus.

However, the trolley line is on the East side of the 5 Freeway, so you will have to cross over the pedestrian bridge, this can easily be a 20 minute walk. If you are taking the trolley, make sure to use the East pedestrian entrance.

PedEast

The second option (map above, blue line) is to use the original East walking entrance, which is found to the East of the car port of entry. This entrance has been available for decades, hence why it’s referred to as the “Old Entrance” vs PedWest called the “New Entrance”.

Have your Uber/Taxi drop you off in the same spot where you saw the large Taxi stand when you first entered Tijuana.

Tell the Uber/Taxi to drop you off at the East Pedestrian entrance or in Spanish “Cruce Peatonal Este” (East pedestrian crossing) or “Cruce Peatonal Viejo” (Old pedestrian crossing). The Taxi/Uber driver will know what you are referring to.

From there follow the sidewalk, which will be lined with shops, until you reach the line of people waiting to enter the USA. There should be plenty of signs to guide you, though you shouldn’t have any trouble finding the entrance (there’s literally only one way to go).

During the COVID-19 Pandemic, this is the only way to cross back into the USA via San Ysidro. The PedWest entrance has remained closed.

Once you pass US immigration, you will enter San Ysidro on the East side of the 5 Freeway, directly across the Trolley stop and the McDonalds building.

Tijuana Border Crossing Walking – Otay

Entering Tijuana through Otay

The Tijuana border crossing via the Otay port of entry is fairly straight forward. Please use the map below as a reference, follow the blue line.

The pedestrian entrance is on the West side of the 905, you will need to be dropped off on Nicola Tesla Ct, you will see a large bus drop off area.

At this point, follow the walkway into Mexico, it will be lined with fences on both sides. Simply continue walking until you reach Mexican customs.

Once you complete the Customs process, you will continue on the same walkway until you reach a Taxi stand. At this point, it’s time to enjoy your Tijuana trip.

I wouldn’t recommend the Otay pedestrian entrance unless you are more familiar with Tijuana. The Otay entrance leads into the East side of Tijuana, which does not have many tourists spots. Leave this pedestrian entrance for the more experienced Tijuana travelers.

Exiting Tijuana through Otay

The Otay walking border crossing is found on the East side of the vehicle port of entry. See the blue line in the map below.

There is a side road to the East of the car line, you can have a Taxi/Uber drop you off in that area, and then you simply continue via the walkway until you reach US immigration.

Tell the Taxi/Uber driver to drop you off at the Otay pedestrian crossing, or in Spanish “Cruce Peatonal Otay”. There is only one drop off point, so the Taxi/Uber will know what you’re referring to.

Once you complete the immigration process, you will enter Otay on the East side of the 905 freeway, where you will find plenty of taxis and parking.

Again, the Otay port of entry is not close to any of Tijuana’s most touristy spots (other than the Tijuana Airport), so I really recommend you stick to San Ysidro unless you know Tijuana fairly well.

Tijuana Border Wait Times- When to Cross

Crossing back into the United States can be a nightmare if you cross during the busiest times of the week.

If traveling by car, you will want to avoid the following times, or face spending 3+ hours to cross the San Diego Tijuana border:

• Saturday after 12PM (even crossing late Saturday night is a nightmare)
• Sunday after 10AM
• Any Sunday/Monday of a long weekend
• Weekdays during the morning rush hours of 6-9AM

If you’re walking across the Tijuana border, it’s best to avoid the following times:

• Weekday rush hours of 6-9AM
• Saturdays 10AM – 2PM
• Any Sunday/Monday of a long weekend

You can always check the official US. Customs and Border Patrol website for current waiting times:

• San Ysidro Wait Times
• Otay Wait Times

If you want to avoid wasting hours upon hours in line, but have to return on a Saturday night or Sunday (when you should expect very long car border wait times), I suggest you walk across the border instead of driving.

The San Diego Tijuana pedestrian border crossing is relatively fast on Saturday nights and Sundays, specially when compared to using a car. If you must travel by car on a weekend, try to cross very early Sunday morning, like plan to be at the border before 8AM.

There’s nothing worse than having a great trip to Baja ruined by the experience of waiting 6 hours in line trying to cross the border over a long weekend.

Instead, use the tips I provided, refer to the official border wait time websites, and keep an eye out on the news. Sometimes, the border can experience very long delays due to the Pandemic, strikes, political issues, etc.

If you follow my tips, you’re experience crossing the border back into the United States will be pleasant.

If you are going to use the Tijuana Airport, using the Cross Border Xpress bridge is a no-brainer, it will save you many hours and is just more convenient.

Travel Documents Needed for the Tijuana Border Crossing

If you are a United States citizen, you must bring one of the following:

• US Passport Book
• US Passport Card
• Enhanced driver’s license
• Trusted Traveler Program card (SENTRI or Global Entry)

If traveling by car, make sure to also bring:

• Car registration
• Proof of Insurance (USA)
• Driver’s License

I personally recommend the US Passport Card, as it is a credit card sized ID that easily fits into a wallet, much more comfortable than a more bulky Passport.

Frequent travelers should take the time to get SENTRI or Global Entry, the process is involved, but will definitely reduce the Tijuana Border wait times.

If you cross the Tijuana border walking, you will need to show your documents to Mexican Customs upon entering the country.

It’s unlikely you will be asked to show documents upon driving into Tijuana. However, when returning to the United States, you will most definitely need to have one of the documents mentioned above.

Benefits of the Passport Card- Ready Lanes

If you are planning on traveling to Mexico somewhat often, I highly recommend you take the time to apply for a Passport Card.

The Passport Card application costs $65 and can be handled via mail, you can check out the US Department of State website for all of the information.

The US Passport Card can be used at land border crossings from Canada and Mexico. Most importantly, the US Passport Card allows you to use the “Ready Lanes” at the San Ysidro and Otay ports of entry, both pedestrian and vehicle crossings.

The Ready Lanes are special lanes that only US Citizens who have the US Passport Card can use. If traveling by car, follow the Ready Lane signs (available at both San Ysidro and Otay).

Ready Lanes tend to have shorter wait times than the regular lanes, and the actual process with the Immigration official will be a bit faster, as the US Passport Card has a RFID that speeds up the passport check process.

The pedestrian Tijuana crossings will also have Ready Lanes available to US Citizens, these will also have shorter wait times than the regular lanes.

Even though the Ready Lanes are faster, don’t expect to breeze through on a Saturday or Sunday, you will still take a couple of hours to cross if you don’t avoid peak wait times.

Nonetheless, I would highly recommend the US Passport Card, not just because of the option to use the Ready Lanes, but also because it is less bulky than the US Passport Book.

Benefits of SENTRI- SENTRI Lanes

If you plan to visit Tijuana very often, then applying for the SENTRI is a must.

SENTRI is an acronym for Secure Electronic Network for Travelers Rapid Inspection. It is a U.S. Customs and Border Protection program that allows quick border crossing for pre-approved, low risk travelers.

The SENTRI costs $122.50, and does involve a lengthy process that includes an in-person interview. You can see full details on the DHS website here. Nonetheless, if you are traveling to Tijuana constantly, it’s well worth the cost and effort.

Once you receive your SENTRI, you will be allowed to use the SENTRI vehicle lanes at both Otay and San Ysidro.

The SENTRI lanes are much shorter than even the Ready Lanes, and you are unlikely to wait for more than 1 hour even at the busiest of times. Typically, you would expect to wait for less than 15 minutes.

If you are going to be traveling constantly to Tijuana, I highly suggest you get the SENTRI.

What to Expect during the US crossing process (CBP)

Now that I’ve covered almost everything there is to know about crossing the Tijuana Border, I wanted to dedicate some time to the actual US Customs & Border Protection process.

When crossing back into the USA in a vehicle, the US CBP Officer will ask you to provide documents for everyone in the car. The Officer will then scan each document into the computer.

After completing the document scanning process, the Officer will likely ask the driver what you did in Mexico, what you have in your car (luggage, food, etc.), and where you are headed to in the USA.

It’s also likely the Officer will ask a couple of questions to every other person in the car (the Officer uses this interaction to make sure the pictures in the document matches the person).

It is also possible that the Officer will check your trunk or other parts of the vehicle.

If the Officer confirms that everything is normal, he will return all of the documents to the driver, and wave you on through. At this point, simply follow the signs leading you towards the exit.

The pedestrian crossing process is nearly identical, expect the same document check process and questions.

Secondary Inspection

If the CBP Officer believes further inspection is necessary, he will attach a document on your windshield and guide you towards the secondary inspection area.

The Secondary Inspection area will look like a big covered parking lot. You will be instructed to park, and wait in the vehicle until a CBP officer arrives.

You could have been sent to Secondary Inspection because the first CBP Officer believed the vehicle required a more thorough inspection, someone didn’t have a Passport, or if you got in the wrong lane (e.g. got in the SENTRI lane without having SENTRI).

CBP Officers will likely inspect your car and/or follow up with anyone having Passport issues. If you’re there because you got in the wrong lane, you might get a fine or a warning, try to avoid doing so again.

Overall, there’s nothing scary about Secondary Inspection, it’s just a way to make sure the main line does not slow down unnecessarily when further inspection is necessary.

San Diego Tijuana Border Crossing Conclusion

I appreciate you taking the time to read over this entire post on how to cross the San Diego Tijuana border. Although it might seem scary for first timers, it really is not that complicated, as long as you prepare yourself and do some research.

If you have any questions, please feel free to drop a comment below and I’ll make sure to answer.