San Diego & Tijuana Cross-Border Travel & Transit Guide

Park at one of the independent long-term parking lots situated along Roll Drive or take a rideshare directly to the Otay Mesa border entrance. Parking here is noticeably cheaper than the official CBX lots.

Follow the pedestrian signs to enter the Otay Mesa Port of Entry. The walkway is clean, well-lit, and straightforward with minimal wait times when entering southbound into Mexico.

Present your passport and your pre-printed Mexican FMM tourist card to the INM immigration officer. If your stay in Mexico is 7 days or less, the tourist card stamp is free; if staying longer than 7 days, you will pay the FMM fee directly at the cashier booth.

Step outside the Mexican customs exit and walk approximately 5 minutes past the turnstiles to the official Sitio taxi stand. A taxi ride to the Tijuana Airport terminal takes only 7 to 8 minutes and costs roughly $12 to $15 USD.

Arrive at the main terminal building of Tijuana Airport. If checking bags with airlines like Volaris or VivaAerobus, arrive at least 2.5 hours before departure as check-in lines can be lengthy.

Grab a quick Mexican coffee or fresh torta at the departures food court while waiting for gate announcements. The terminal offers numerous local quick-service dining spots past security.

After landing at Tijuana International Airport, follow the signs for CBX / Cross Border Xpress before leaving the secure baggage claim area. Have your boarding pass and CBX barcode ticket ready on your phone.

Walk across the enclosed 390-foot skybridge connecting Tijuana directly to the United States across the international border fence. It takes roughly 5 to 7 minutes to cross at an easy pace.

Pass through U.S. Customs and Border Protection processing inside the CBX San Diego terminal. The primary inspection lines here move faster than standard vehicle or pedestrian border crossings.

Exit into the main CBX San Diego terminal lobby. The facility features clean restrooms, car rental counters, snack shops, and automated boarding kiosks.

Head directly to the CBX curbside pickup zone to catch your pre-arranged rideshare or retrieve your vehicle from the secure on-site CBX parking lot.

Before driving back toward downtown San Diego or Interstate 5, stop for California-Baja style fish tacos and refreshments along nearby Otay Lakes Road.