Mexicali Calexico Border Crossing Wait Times Calexico East & West

Wait times to cross the Mexicali-Calexico border vary depending on the day of the week, time of day, and season.

On our website, bordergarita.com, you can find the live, updated border crossing report, with information on each lane, including Nuevo Mexicali and Centro.

Currently, two border crossings in Mexicali lead to Calexico, California:

- The Mexicali Centro and Nuevo Mexicali border crossings. Both lanes are open, but note that the hours of operation for crossing into Calexico, California, differ.

- The Centro border crossing is open 24/7, while the Nuevo Mexicali border crossing is open only from Monday to Sunday, from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Both crossings lead to Calexico, California.

Since June 2025, some adjustments have been made to the Mexicali Downtown border-crossing line to expedite processing times.

The most significant changes at the Mexicali Downtown border crossings are:

- For the Ready Lane, it is now necessary to enter via Colón Street. Those crossing without Ready Lane or SENTRI must also enter via Colón Street, but from the west side.

- Additionally, the Río Nuevo has been designated as an easily accessible route to the line, with signage. On the U.S. side, in Calexico, concrete barriers have been removed to widen lanes and prioritize the Ready Lane.

- The Río Nuevo will continue to be the access point for the SENTRI line.

Tourists and frequent visitors crossing from Mexico to Calexico are advised to obtain a SENTRI permit. Although applying for it doesn't guarantee approval, if granted, passengers can reduce their crossing time in this lane by up to 90%.

We recommend reviewing the permit requirements on official U.S. government websites to improve your crossing time into Calexico.

The official requirements requested by the U.S. government are:

- A valid laser visa at the time you join the line to cross into Calexico.

- For crossings longer than 25 miles, you need to obtain an I-94 permit, which requires more information about the purpose of your trip and the length of your stay, if applicable.

We recommend checking official U.S. websites to obtain this document before crossing into Calexico.

The border city on the U.S. side is Calexico, California.

It is said that the city's name, "Calexico," is a portmanteau of Mexico and California.

"Cal" from California and "Exico" from Mexico.

Since Calexico is one of the cities with the highest percentage of Hispanic population in the United States, with up to 85% of its total inhabitants, it has a strong border dynamic, where the history, economy, and culture of the cities of Mexicali and Calexico are intertwined.

According to official U.S. government regulations, it is prohibited to carry items such as weapons, drugs, foods containing seeds, fresh food, certain controlled medications, and exotic animals across the border.

We recommend reviewing the complete list of items and declaration requirements on the official U.S. government website.