Crossing the border: plan both directions

Choose the trip before the lane

Decide whether you are walking or driving and which port you will use. Save the correct approach and your destination after crossing. San Ysidro and Otay Mesa are separate crossings; do not change ports solely because of one wait-time number without considering the additional journey.

Check documents for everyone

Requirements depend on citizenship, immigration status and how you travel. CBP lists accepted documents for U.S. citizens returning by land, including a valid passport book or passport card. Check Mexico’s entry requirements separately through an official Mexican source. Confirm the documents for children and anyone with a different status rather than assuming the same rule covers your whole group.

General, Ready and SENTRI are different

CBP says Ready Lanes require eligible RFID travel cards; a standard passport book or REAL ID alone does not qualify. SENTRI has separate trusted-traveler and vehicle requirements. Verify eligibility for every traveler and your vehicle before choosing that lane. Follow current lane signs and officers’ directions.

Read the timestamp

On CBP’s wait-time page, match the port, pedestrian or passenger-vehicle view, and lane type. Read when the number was reported. A closed lane or missing report is not a zero-minute wait. Treat the figure as a planning estimate, then add the trip to the line and any onward travel.

Leave a buffer

Keep documents reachable and build extra time into flights, appointments and work plans. Recheck before departing. TJ Gringo’s border bar may display an updating message when fresh data is unavailable; use the official CBP link for the current published report.