San Diego airport to Tijuana

[OPIllini]

That's all it takes to get from the San Diego airport to Centro Tijuana. You exit the terminal and look for the bus stop which you can't miss unless you're blind. Get the Pronto app and just scan to get on the 992 bus. Exit the bus at American Plaza station and get on the blue line trolley to San Ysidro. Your initial scan on the bus is good for two hours so no need to scan again. Cross the border and go left when exiting the turnstiles and hop on the van that says Centro. Pay 10 pesos as you exit the van at the Burger King on Revolucion. So easy and cheap a caveman could do it. Having said that, when time isn't abundant, I'll just Uber from the airport.

Another possibility is taking the free airport shuttle bus to the remote parking lot, which is located across the street from the Middletown trolley station. You could board the Blue Line to San Ysidro there.

[Rambo1969]

Here's my recipe for enjoying the day with stops in San Diego on your way to Tijuana. I have done it multiple times including last week.

1. get on 992 and get off at Maritime Museum.

2. Enjoy scenic walk to the next 992 stop at the cruise terminal.

3. get on another 992 bus and get off at Broadway & 3rd ave.

4. Enjoy adjacent Horton Plaza till bus 901 gets there.

5. Get on 901 towards to Iris ave transit center (via coronado).

6. Enjoy views from the bridge and get off at 3rd / Orange ave.

7, Enjoy Ferry Landing area.

8. Take bus 904 to Coronado hotel.

9. Enjoy the beach all around coronado hotel and grab something to eat at adjacent downtown Coronado (orange ave).

10. Take bus 901 at a nearby stop on Orange Ave to the end at Iris ave Transit center.

11. Take trolley to border.

The above gives you a great & liesurely sight seeing day before you enter Tijuana.

I forgot to add you get to enjoy Coronado beach (around the Del hotel) with this itinerary.

You can also get off bus 901 at the beautiful long Silver strand beach to enjoy that beach too if you have time. You would exit bus at Silver Strand Blvd & Coronado Cays blvd.

[Rambo1969]

Here's my recipe for enjoying the day with stops in San Diego on your way to Tijuana. I have done it multiple times including last week.

1. get on 992 and get off at Maritime Museum.

2. Enjoy scenic walk to the next 992 stop at the cruise terminal.

3. get on another 992 bus and get off at Broadway & 3rd ave.

4. Enjoy adjacent Horton Plaza till bus 901 gets there.

5. Get on 901 towards to Iris ave transit center (via coronado).

6. Enjoy views from the bridge and get off at 3rd / Orange ave.

7, Enjoy Ferry Landing area.

8. Take bus 904 to Coronado hotel.

9. Enjoy the beach all around coronado hotel and grab something to eat at adjacent downtown Coronado (orange ave).

10. Take bus 901 at a nearby stop on Orange Ave to the end at Iris ave Transit center.

11. Take trolley to border.

The above gives you a great & liesurely sight seeing day before you enter Tijuana.

[LuvMexicanas]

That's all it takes to get from the San Diego airport to Centro Tijuana. You exit the terminal and look for the bus stop which you can't miss unless you're blind. Get the Pronto app and just scan to get on the 992 bus. Exit the bus at American Plaza station and get on the blue line trolley to San Ysidro. Your initial scan on the bus is good for two hours so no need to scan again. Cross the border and go left when exiting the turnstiles and hop on the van that says Centro. Pay 10 pesos as you exit the van at the Burger King on Revolucion. So easy and cheap a caveman could do it. Having said that, when time isn't abundant, I'll just Uber from the airport.

[CurryMonster]

Has anyone had experience of crossing on foot as a non-US citizen? I live in Canada but thinking of flying to San Diego. My concern is having to get back into the US for my flight home. Is the fact that I'm pretty obviously going for drinking / mongering likely to pose any issues to the US border officials crossing back in?

Not a problem. It is the world's busiest border crossing, so guards are busy enough not to care what you did while out their view, and which they know is none of their business.

Mexican side might try to sell you a visitor visa, but I would expect the remaining shreds of NAFTA might keep you from needing that too.

Trying to exchange CAD in MX is tough. Banks on 4th do, I used this one successfully once: https://goo.gl/maps/1FYgx7UeW66DUweD6.

[Uncle Al]

Hello,

I'm flying into San Diego next Tuesday and plan on crossing the border on foot around 9-9:30 PM and I'll catch a taxi straight to Hong Kong. This will be my first trip and I was just wondering if it's safe to cross at this time of night (I'll be carrying a small suitcase and a backpack) Thanks in advance for any advice and sorry if this question has been answered before. Cheers.

No problem at all.

You can take uber or taxi or have HK pick you up.

[FlagRunner77]

Has anyone had experience of crossing on foot as a non-US citizen? I live in Canada but thinking of flying to San Diego. My concern is having to get back into the US for my flight home. Is the fact that I'm pretty obviously going for drinking / mongering likely to pose any issues to the US border officials crossing back in?

[Buckley808]

Yes, it is safe to cross at that time.

Thank you!

[TomJackin]

Hello,

I'm flying into San Diego next Tuesday and plan on crossing the border on foot around 9-9:30 PM and I'll catch a taxi straight to Hong Kong. This will be my first trip and I was just wondering if it's safe to cross at this time of night (I'll be carrying a small suitcase and a backpack)

Yes, it is safe to cross at that time.

[Buckley808]

Hello,

I'm flying into San Diego next Tuesday and plan on crossing the border on foot around 9-9:30 PM and I'll catch a taxi straight to Hong Kong. This will be my first trip and I was just wondering if it's safe to cross at this time of night (I'll be carrying a small suitcase and a backpack) Thanks in advance for any advice and sorry if this question has been answered before. Cheers.

[ZWang5]

There are no restrictions any longer, and there has never been a quarantine for land crossings. You'll be fine. Be prepared to pay $30 for the 180-day FMM. That's worst case. If you're staying for fewer than 7 days they may allow you to get the free 7-day FMM but YMMV. Regardless, you'll have no problems except for the king-sized wait times returning to the USA, depending on when you decide to return.

Much appreciated! Last time I returned with the boys through the border at 5 AM, got stuck standing until 7 AM for whatever the reason and barely able to stay awake.

[Phordphan]

Coming from out of state. Planning to cross by pedestrian border. Is there any restrictions for US citizens going through and back from the San Ysidro border?

The official embassy website descriptions have been a bit contradictory and confusing. I'm trying to avoid the two week quarantine or test requirements if I'm just staying at Hotel Cascadas for 2 nights.

Any tips appreciated!

There are no restrictions any longer, and there has never been a quarantine for land crossings. You'll be fine. Be prepared to pay $30 for the 180-day FMM. That's worst case. If you're staying for fewer than 7 days they may allow you to get the free 7-day FMM but YMMV. Regardless, you'll have no problems except for the king-sized wait times returning to the USA, depending on when you decide to return.

[ZWang5]

Coming from out of state. Planning to cross by pedestrian border. Is there any restrictions for US citizens going through and back from the San Ysidro border?

The official embassy website descriptions have been a bit contradictory and confusing. I'm trying to avoid the two week quarantine or test requirements if I'm just staying at Hotel Cascadas for 2 nights.

Any tips appreciated!

[Phordphan]

If I were going to Tijuana for a week and need to park my car, wouldn't it be better to park at say the airport and go this route? It's $10 a day to park by the airport compared to $30 a day at border. That's a difference of $20 a day.

Obviously you also have to factor in the time and cost of getting from SAN to the border. Bus and trolley are pretty cheap, but a PITA if you have luggage, and they are slow. How much is your time worth?

Taxi / Uber is easier but expensive, and any daily savings you have will probably be eaten up by the cost.

I suggest checking out the long term parking options in the Otay Mesa area. The prices are much cheaper than San Ysidro, and an Uber or Taxi Libre from Otay to Centro isn't much money.

[DonkeyPuncha]

If I were going to Tijuana for a week and need to park my car, wouldn't it be better to park at say the airport and go this route? It's $10 a day to park by the airport compared to $30 a day at border. That's a difference of $20 a day.