We are considering visiting my brother who has a beach house in Ensenada Mexico. Would be flying into San Diego and they will pick us up. Going into Mexico is no problem since they have a cabin and leasing papers. Returning to the states is the slow part as my husband doesn’t have Global Entry so we can’t use the expedited drive through lane. Anyone know if there is a quicker way to cross the border to US. The standard drive through border crossing can take hours. We would have a 11:45am flight back east from the San Diego airport.
Posted by
113 posts
If you have an "enhanced driver's license" you can use the "Ready Lanes" - see: https://www.cbp.gov/travel/clearing-cbp/ready-lanes
Posted by
Colorado Springs
2980 posts
There really isn't any easy way to do this given current conditions.
To avoid the worst of the wait times I'd suggest crossing the day before - in the late afternoon or early evening when traffic is lowest, and just staying at or near Lindbergh Field to avoid any potential drama on your final travel day. I certainly wouldn't risk trying to cross the morning of your flight.
Posted by
11569 posts
Isn’t the border with Mexico still closed? It is in Arizona. Friends can’t visit their family across the border.
Posted by
OP
388 posts
Thanks for the quick answers. They all were helpful if we were going. We decided not to go with the long airplane trip. Do have an enhanced drivers license and my husband has his global Entry interview in September if the offices stay open. I did look at entry a day early and a hotel at the airport. We might have walked across the border and taken the tram and bus to save my brother from extra hours of driving. Thanks again. Maybe we will celebrate Labor Day by the Pacific Ocean next year.
Posted by
OP
388 posts
My brother has a cabin in Ensenada so they can cross the border with proof of a long term land lease. They just own the building not the land. They have driven in and out of Mexico 3 times in the last 2 months. We would have tagged along with them. This situation only fits a few people.