San Ysidro
Tijuana – San Ysidro
Passenger vehicles
- Standard4 h
- Ready Lane3 h 20 min
- SENTRI15 min
Pedestrians
- Standard30 min
- Ready Lane5 min
Tijuana, Baja California ↔ San Diego, CA · How long will it take me to get there?
Tijuana border wait times today
LiveChecked with CBP 4 min ago · 5:55 p.m. (Tijuana time)
Quick answer: right now, crossing from Tijuana to San Diego by car takes San Ysidro 4 h (standard); Otay Mesa – Passenger 2 h 40 min (standard). On foot: San Ysidro 30 min (standard); Otay Mesa – Passenger 1 h 30 min (standard). Source: CBP, checked at 5:55 p.m. (Tijuana time) on Sunday, November 8, 2026.
- Fastest: Otay Mesa – Passenger
- 2 h 40 min
- Dollar today (MXN)
- $18.63
Otay Mesa
Tijuana – Mesa de Otay
Passenger vehicles
- StandardPending
- Ready LanePending
- SENTRIPending
Pedestrians
- StandardPending
- Ready LanePending
Commercial vehicles
- StandardPending
- FASTPending
Otay Mesa – Passenger
Tijuana – Mesa de Otay
Passenger vehicles
- Standard2 h 40 min
- Ready Lane3 h 30 min
- SENTRI50 min
Pedestrians
- Standard1 h 30 min
Otay Mesa Port of Entry
Tijuana – Mesa de Otay
Passenger vehicles
- StandardPending
- Ready LanePending
- SENTRIPending
Pedestrians
- StandardPending
- Ready LanePending
Commercial vehicles
- StandardPending
- FASTPending
San Ysidro – Cross Border Express
Tijuana – San Ysidro
Pedestrians
- StandardNo wait
- Ready LaneNo wait
San Ysidro – PedWest
Tijuana – San Ysidro
Pedestrians
- Standard15 min
- Ready Lane15 min
Otay Mesa – Commercial
Tijuana – Mesa de Otay
Commercial vehicles
- StandardClosed
- FASTClosed
Up to 20 min 21 to 60 min Over 60 min Closed · Hover over a wait time to see how long ago CBP measured it.
What the community is reporting
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Statistics
What is the best time to cross at San Ysidro?
We are collecting data. We save every CBP report to calculate the average wait by hour and day. So far we have 5 of the 24 readings needed for Cars · Standard.
In the meantime, see the best times to cross guide.
How to cross from Tijuana to San Diego
Tijuana has the busiest border crossings on the border: tens of thousands of cars and pedestrians pass through San Ysidro every day on their way to San Diego, making it the busiest land crossing in the Western Hemisphere. About 10 kilometers to the east is Otay Mesa, which handles cars, pedestrians and almost all cargo traffic. For travelers flying out of Tijuana Airport there is also the CBX (Cross Border Xpress) pedestrian bridge.
San Ysidro has two pedestrian entrances: PedWest, via El Chaparral, and the east-side building. Cars are split into Standard, Ready Lane and SENTRI lanes, and each one has its own approach route from the city, so follow the signs well before you reach the line.
The longest lines form on weekdays from 5 to 9 a.m., with students and workers, and on Sunday afternoons, as people return from the weekend. If your schedule is flexible, cross mid-morning or after 9 p.m. When one crossing is backed up, compare before you leave: Otay often has a shorter wait than San Ysidro, or vice versa.
Tips for crossing at Tijuana
- Compare San Ysidro and Otay before you leave: the difference can be more than an hour.
- If your laser visa or passport has a chip, use Ready Lane: it usually moves faster than the Standard lane.
- If you're crossing on foot, PedWest is usually less crowded than the east entrance at peak hours.
- CBX only works if you have a flight out of Tijuana Airport and a bridge ticket.
- Carry car insurance that covers you in the U.S.: Mexican insurance isn't valid in California.
Are you in line?
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Frequently asked questions about the Tijuana border crossings
How long is the wait right now to cross from Tijuana to San Diego?
According to the latest CBP report, by car: San Ysidro 4 h (standard); Otay Mesa – Passenger 2 h 40 min (standard). On foot: San Ysidro 30 min (standard); Otay Mesa – Passenger 1 h 30 min (standard). The data on this page refreshes every 5 minutes.
Which crossing is faster, San Ysidro or Otay?
It depends on the time. San Ysidro has more lanes but also more demand; Otay sometimes has a shorter wait for cars and almost always a shorter one for pedestrians. Compare the times on this page right before you leave.
What is PedWest?
It's the pedestrian crossing on the west side of San Ysidro, accessed via El Chaparral. It has Standard and Ready Lane lines and is usually a good alternative when the line at the east building is long.
Are the Tijuana border crossings open 24 hours?
San Ysidro and Otay Mesa operate 24 hours for passenger vehicles; some special lanes and the commercial crossing have set hours. Check each crossing's hours on its page.
What documents do I need to cross at Tijuana?
A valid passport and a B1/B2 visa or Border Crossing Card (laser visa); if you drive, your license, vehicle registration and insurance valid in the U.S. See the full list of documents.
What is the dollar exchange rate today in Tijuana?
The reference exchange rate is $18.63 pesos per dollar. Banks and exchange houses apply their own buy and sell margin. Check today's exchange rate.
Guides for crossing at Tijuana
All guidesBefore You CrossCar Insurance to Cross Into the United States: What It Covers and What It CostsWhy your Mexican insurance doesn't work in the US, what coverage you need to drive in California, Arizona or Texas…Money & PaymentsWhere to Exchange Dollars at the Border: Exchange Houses, Banks and CardsHow to get the best exchange rate at the border: exchange houses, banks, ATMs and no-fee cards. What to avoid and what…Documents & PaperworkSENTRI and Ready Lane: Differences, Requirements and How to Apply for SENTRIWhat SENTRI is, what Ready Lane is, which documents work for each lane and how to apply for SENTRI step by step to…Documents & PaperworkWhat Documents Do I Need to Cross Into the United States? Full ChecklistDocuments to cross into the US at a land border: passport, B1/B2 visa or laser visa, I-94, vehicle papers, minors and…
Tools
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