Crossing The Border

Getting to San Felipe from the United States

The border crossing between downtown Calexico and downtown Mexicali is moving in September 2018. The old border crossing, both south and northbound closed as of 11 September. Roads and routes to the new northbound port of entry (called Garita Rio Nuevo) are presently in chaos. If you can possibly avoid this area, I recommend that you use the East crossing for the foreseeable future. The East crossing has a SENTRI lane, a READY lane and standard lanes for other vehicles.

Virtually every visitor to San Felipe comes here by road. The most popular route from Southern California and points north is to take Interstate 8 (San Diego-Yuma) to El Centro and then head south on California Route 111 to Calexico. In Calexico you must now TURN WEST  on W 2nd. St. and take the following route to get into Mexicali:

Once you are through customs and are on the road south (Calzada de los Presidentes) proceed about 4 miles and make a left turn on Blvd. Lazaro Cardenas. There is an overhead signpost directing you to San Felipe. You will pass car dealerships and Sams Club/Walmart will come up on the right hand side just before Route 5 to San Felipe. Turn right and join the usual route south.

NOTE FOR YOUR RETURN TO CALIFORNIA:

If you and all your passengers have  SENTRI passes, you may retrace this route on your way back from San Felipe and enter the new US Port of Entry that you passed by when you came south. If you do not have SENTRI passes, your best return method will be to go to the Mexicali East port where there are SENTRI, READY and regular vehicle lanes.

Buy Mexican insurance for your vehicle before you enter Mexico as your US liability coverage is not valid here. A new law in Baja California took effect in 2012 and it requires all drivers to have at least third party insurance coverage. At a minimum, you should buy this coverage (cost is around $10/day for short-term visits but you can get good deals for long term coverage) so that you are not automatically in violation of the law if you are stopped by a policeman.

619-470-RENT (7368)

From Arizona, many people come through Yuma and cross at Algodones or San Luis. There is a good highway (Mexico 2) that heads west and connects to Mexico 2D (the Libramiento bypassing Mexicali) that lands you on Mexico 5 to San Felipe.

Around 10% of the visitors traveling by car from coastal areas of Southern California cross the border at Tijuana and take the scenic toll road to Ensenada. From Ensenada, there is a well maintained two lane highway that runs across the Baja peninsular and joins up with the Mexicali-San Felipe road about 30 miles north of town. While many people are afraid of going through Tijuana, there is little danger if you are heading to Ensenada because the road system guides you straight to the toll road without having to go into the city. Immediately on crossing the border from San Diego, follow the signs saying “Rosarito Cuota”.

An interesting and very pleasant trip from the San Diego region to San Felipe can now be made by crossing the border at Tecate. This route gets you on to the Mexican toll highway (Mexico 2D – the Libramiento) towards Mexicali. It enables you to completely bypass the traffic jams of Mexicali and all the new road construction that is being undertaken in the capital city.

Do not bring any guns (or ammunition!) into Mexico – the Mexican government has very strict firearms regulations.  If you are caught with a gun, your vehicle will be confiscated and you will go to jail. The presumption seems to be that if you have a gun you are associated with a drug cartel in some way.

Each vehicle crossing into Mexico will be weighed and scanned by electronic devices to ensure that the occupants are not bringing prohibited items into the country. Primarily this is aimed at smugglers of weapons and cash that are being funneled to the drug cartels. However, the new screening process will also catch electronic goods and you may have to pay duty on any devices that are detected. One thing to bear in mind is that tourists are permitted to bring 3 liters of alcoholic beverage per adult whereas returning residents are not allowed this privilege.  Typically 20% of vehicles will be pulled over for a more thorough inspection by the Mexican Customs authorities.

Driving

Do not drive at night! Do not speed in Mexicali! Try to stay with a pack of other cars and obey all traffic laws. Watch for stop signs and be aware that traffic lights can change very rapidly from green to red. Speed limits tend to be quite low, around 25 mph equivalent in cities and 50 mph on the highways. If you do get stopped by the police in the city be polite.  Don’t argue with the policeman and don’t offer a bribe – it is a punishable offense. If you have broken a law, ask to go to the police station to pay the ticket. Tickets are in the $20-50 dollar range but the policeman may tell you it is $200 or more as an inducement to “pay” him now.

The road to San Felipe is in good condition and has relatively free-flowing traffic.  Check on our Road Conditions Page for the latest information. On typical mid-week days the flow is rarely more than 50 vehicles/hour. Weekends may see peaks of 300 vehicles/hour but everyone moves at (or well above) the posted speed limit.

There is a permanent military checkpoint about 30 miles north of San Felipe at the junction with the Ensenada road. You will have to get out of your vehicle and it will be checked for guns and drugs both on the southbound and the northbound trip. The soldiers are very courteous and the search will take only a few minutes. Check our Checkpoints Page for more info.

When you get to the outskirts of San Felipe (from El Dorado Ranch south) the traffic volume increases dramatically and there are now accidents as old, slow, vehicles pull on to the main highway from side roads. Be very careful on this last stretch of road as police patrols are very active here.

Maps of the border region, the road to San Felipe and a simple street map of the town may be found on the Maps Page. Links to Google maps are also available for you to plan your journey. Most recent GPS navigation units have detailed maps of northern Baja California available for download.

Gasoline and Diesel Fuel

It’s a good idea to fill your tank in Calexico or Mexicali before heading south. Once you leave Mexicali, there are no gas stations for roughly 120 miles until you reach San Felipe. The former stations at La Ventana (midway to San Felipe) and Three Poles (near the Ensenada junction) are no longer in service, though you can still stop there for snacks, drinks, and basic restrooms.

Fuel prices in northern Baja are generally similar to those in Southern California. Unleaded gasoline is available in 87 and 91 octane, with quality comparable to U.S. brands. In fact, much of the gasoline sold in Baja’s border region comes directly from the United States.

As with anywhere, there’s occasional concern about water or contaminants in underground tanks. For peace of mind, many visitors choose to fill up in the U.S. before crossing, ensuring they have enough fuel to return without needing to buy gas in Mexico.

For diesel vehicles, Pemex certifies that its ultra-low sulfur diesel (ULSD) meets the requirements of modern engines. However, be cautious standard low-sulfur diesel is still sold in some places for agricultural and marine use. Owners of newer diesel vehicles often prefer to top off in the U.S. before entering Mexico.

Emergencies in San Felipe

Most U.S. smartphones (3G/4G/LTE) work in Mexico, including along the route to San Felipe, though you may experience some dead zones in the mountains. Before traveling, contact your mobile carrier to make sure your plan includes service in Mexico.

For assistance while in Baja California, you can call 078 to reach bilingual operators at the Baja State Tourism Department. They can help with roadside issues, directions, or general travel questions.

In case of an emergency, dial 066 to be connected with the nearest police station.

For more details about using your phone in Mexico, including tips on making calls and coverage information, see our page on Telephones.

Flying in to San Felipe

San Felipe International Airport (SFH / MMSF) is located about 11 km south of downtown. At the moment, there are no commercial airline services operating here. The airport is mainly used for private planes, charters, and general aviation.

If you’re planning a visit, the simplest option is to fly into a larger airport nearby and continue to San Felipe by road.

Closest Major Airports

• Mexicali International Airport (MXL): About 180–220 km north. This is the most convenient choice for travelers already in Mexico.
• Imperial County (IPL) and Yuma (YUM): Both in the United States, offering regional flight connections.
• Tijuana (TIJ) and San Diego (SAN): Larger international airports, especially useful for visitors coming from outside Mexico.

Getting to San Felipe

From any of these airports, you’ll need ground transportation to reach San Felipe. Options include car rentals, buses, or shuttles. When planning your trip, keep in mind driving times, border crossing requirements, and road conditions.

Money

Money & Currency in San Felipe, Mexico

If you’re visiting San Felipe, Baja, this is what you need to know about money and spending.

Exchange Rate: As of September 2025, $1 USD ≈ 18.35 MXN (Mexican Pesos).

Do You Need to Use Pesos?

US dollars are accepted in many stores and services in San Felipe, but you usually get better value using pesos. You can withdraw pesos once you arrive, no need to exchange large sums beforehand.

Using ATMs & Debit/Credit Cards

ATMs are available in town, but using a non-Mexican bank card often comes with fees such as a fixed ATM service charge + foreign transaction / currency conversion fees.

Withdrawal amounts might be limited by the ATM and your home bank.

Expect ATM fees ranging from ~20 to ~150-200 pesos, depending on the bank.

Using credit cards is fine, especially in hotels and restaurants, but fees and less favorable exchange rates may apply.

Traveler’s Checks are rarely used nowadays, and many places won’t accept them, so it’s safer to rely on cash or cards.