Border CrossingSan Diego–Tijuana

Live border wait times at Otay Mesa & San Ysidro between San Diego and Tijuana, with official CBP data.

Live CBP data · 10:00 pm PDT

Otay Mesa

Passenger

70 min

Vehicle

70 min

1 lane

Pedestrian

0 min

Ready Lane

70 min

24 hrs/day

San Ysidro

130 min

Vehicle

130 min

4 lanes

Pedestrian

45 min

SENTRI

10 min

Ready Lane

60 min

24 hrs/day

San Ysidro

Cross Border Express

0 min

Vehicle

0 min

Pedestrian

0 min

24 hrs/day

San Ysidro

PedWest

Closed

Vehicle

Pedestrian

6 am-2 pm

Live cameras

LIVE

Latest snapshots of the crossings, refreshed every few minutes.

San YsidroLIVE
San Ysidro
Caltrans
San Ysidro · I-5LIVE
San Ysidro · I-5
Caltrans
Otay MesaLIVE
Otay Mesa
Caltrans

Southbound traffic · Caltrans

San Ysidro vs Otay Mesa: which to use

San Ysidro is the busiest land port in the world and connects straight to downtown San Diego and the trolley, so it tends to have long lines, but it is the most convenient if you are on foot or heading downtown. Otay Mesa is farther east, handles heavy commercial and vehicle traffic, and often flows better for driving across. Compare the live times above before you decide.

Best times to cross into San Diego

Northbound, the heaviest hours at San Ysidro are weekday afternoons, Sundays, and holidays, when weekend travelers head back. The fastest crossings are usually early morning and mid-morning on weekdays. Since it is a 24-hour crossing, if your schedule is flexible, leaving very early makes a big difference in the wait.

SENTRI, Ready Lane and pedestrian lanes

Both San Ysidro and Otay Mesa have SENTRI and Ready Lane, which cut the wait dramatically if you have the document. San Ysidro also has pedestrian crossings, including PedWest, and at peak hours walking across and taking the trolley is sometimes faster than waiting in the car. If you cross often, SENTRI is the best time investment.

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San Diego–Tijuana crossing FAQ

Which crossing is faster between Tijuana and San Diego?+

It depends on the time. San Ysidro is the world's busiest and usually has longer lines; Otay Mesa often flows better for vehicles. Compare the live times above before you go.

What time has the shortest wait at San Ysidro?+

On weekdays, early morning and mid-morning usually have the lightest waits. Afternoons, Sundays and holidays are heaviest. Check today's live number above.

Does San Ysidro have a pedestrian crossing?+

Yes. San Ysidro has pedestrian crossings, including PedWest. During peak hours, walking across is sometimes faster than driving.

Does SENTRI work to cross into San Diego?+

Yes. San Ysidro and Otay Mesa have SENTRI and Ready Lane, which greatly reduce wait times if you have the document.

What is the Otay border wait time right now?+

The live Otay Mesa wait time is shown above on this page, next to San Ysidro, with CBP data updated every 5 minutes. Compare both before you go: Otay often flows better for vehicles.

Why check San Diego–Tijuana wait times on Fila de Puentes?+

Fila de Puentes gathers live San Diego–Tijuana wait times alongside the busiest US–Mexico border crossings, powered by official CBP data. We’re constantly adding more bridges and refining our own proprietary algorithm to deliver a more accurate crossing estimate than what’s available today, built for the people who cross the border every day.