If you plan to visit Tijuana, you’ve probably wondered about crossing the border and how the process works. As such, if you’ve done some research, you’ll know you have plenty of crossing options, and one of them is the Otay Mesa Port of Entry.
The Otay Mesa Port of Entry is one of the four ports of entry when crossing into Tijuana from San Diego and vice versa. As a result, this border crossing is a popular spot for tourists visiting Tijuana from the United States.
If you’re considering using the Otay Mesa Port of Entry into Tijuana, this article is for you. Here, we’ll give you an in-depth guide to using this crossing to visit Tijuana or return to San Diego after a day or two of exploration.
Without further ado, let’s get into it!
About the Otay Mesa Port of Entry
The Otay Mesa Port of Entry is one of the four ports of entry between Tijuana and San Diego, with the other three being El Chaparral, San Ysidro, and Tecate.
This port of entry connects the Otay Mesa of San Diego in the US and the Otay Centenario Borough of Tijuana in Mexico.
Moreover, the Otay Mesa Port of Entry houses two crossings, one a pedestrian and passenger port of entry and the other a commercial port of entry.
This port of entry continues to get busier due to the commercial ports that accommodate importations and exportations of goods. Currently, it’s the third busiest port among all the border crossings between the US and Mexico.
Location
As mentioned earlier, the Otay Mesa Port of Entry is located between the border in Otay Mesa of San Diego and the Otay Centenario borough of Tijuana. This port of entry is located 5.2 miles or 8.4 kilometers west of the San Ysidro Port of Entry.
You can access the Otay Mesa Port of Entry through the northern side of California State Route 905.
Since commercial vehicles cannot access the San Ysidro Port of Entry, they all gather in the Otay Mesa Port of entry to cross from the US to Mexico and vice versa.
Wait Times at Otay Mesa Port of Entry
The wait times at Otay Mesa Port of Entry depend on the time and date you’re crossing. It can be quicker in the off-season but slower during peak hours, weekends, and holidays.
To know the precise wait times of the day, you can check the CBP Website. This site gives accurate information on the wait times so you can plan your schedule for the date of your crossing.
To know more about the required documents when crossing the border, read What Do You Need to Cross Tijuana Border?
Parking at Otay Mesa Port of Entry
The parking at Otay Mesa Port of Entry is the same as other ports between Tijuana and Mexico. As such, you can expect paid parking around the area should you wish to leave your car and cross the border on foot.
If your concern is parking safety, you can rest assured that the border parking spaces are well-lit, secure, and under surveillance 24/7. Moreover, it includes insurance for your car if ever something unwanted happens.
To know more, read Can You Park and Walk into Tijuana?
Otay Mesa vs San Ysidro: Which Crossing is Faster?
In general, the San Ysidro Port of Entry is the traditional one, and it’s larger and busier than the one at Otay Mesa. As such, the Otay Mesa Port of Entry will always be the faster crossing.
Nonetheless, it’s best to note that the Otay Mesa Port of Entry can be challenging to reach, especially if you’re coming from the Mexican side of the border.
As such, below is a guide for you if you plan on getting to San Diego through the Otay Mesa Port of Entry.
How to Get to Otay Mesa Port of Entry from South of the Border?
If you’re from south of the border, you’ll find it best to use the Otay Mesa to cross the border into Mexico since it will save you from Tijuana’s traffic and the crowded crossing of San Ysidro. However, the best way to reach Otay Mesa is by taking the Boulevard 2000.
The starting point of Boulevard 2000 is at Popotla, the area located south of Baja Studios. You can get to this road by taking KM 33 or the north toll road.
You can follow signs from this road to Tijuana or San Diego. Then, you can take the exit and drive through it until you reach Mex 2.
Once you reach Mex 2, you’ll see several large signs, including the term Garita de Otay. You can follow it until you reach the Otay Mesa Port of Entry.
Conclusion
When traveling to Tijuana from San Diego, the San Ysidro Port of Entry is the most common border crossing to use. However, if you want to steer clear of the crowds and traffic at this crossing, the Otay Mesa Port of Entry is an option.
Even reaching Downtown Tijuana from Otay Mesa can be challenging, which is why many people prefer the more crowded San Ysidro Crossing. If you wish to know more about border crossings, read Can You Walk Across the Border to Tijuana?
