The last time I went I was in May - we crossed at about 6:30 pm and it took about an hour to come back.  The reason was the construction going on in the US Building side.  

What is it like coming back on Tuesday around 6:30 or 7pm - how much time should we allocate ?  

Thank You

It's about the same unfortunately....I usually wait until midnight before the bars let out and it takes about 15 minutes to cross. But, if you have to be home  before then, then you're looking at at least an hour if not longer. If you have internet connection you can also check here:

http://traffic.calit2.net/border/border-wait-times.php?type=passenger&sub=standard&port=250401

enjoy!!!

I am often asked questions by people who without knowing it do provide enough information to properly answer their questions.  With respect, I feel that is what is happening here.

You do not say if you are returning by car or on foot.  Or if you will be crossing at San Ysidro or Otay.  (Both San Ysidro and Otay have had construction issues--admittedly minor ones at Otay-- which have impacted all lanes used by both cars and people.)  It matters because the wait at Otay, especially for pedestrians, will be substantially less than at San Ysidro.

Nor do you say if you will use the regular lanes, the Ready Lane, or the SENTRI lane.  That could change a 60 minute wait to a 1 minute wait.

I am guessing you will cross at San Ysidro on foot using the regular lane.  Returning by foot around 7pm on a Tuesday at San Ysidro between now and the holiday shopping season will probably be about an hour wait in the regular lane, less in the Ready Lane (if it is open), and non-existent in the SENTRI lane. The darker and colder it gets the shorter the wait will become.  (Meaning after Day Light Saving Time ends the wait will improve.)

If you call (011-52) 664-700-7000 you will get an actual count in Spanish update every 15 minutes between 6am and 10pm provided by Telnor.

If you call:
619-671-8999 you will get info from the CBP about Otay  
619-690-8999 you will get info from the CBP about San Ysidro

The CBP info is provided 24 hours a day in English and Spanish, supposedly updated hourly, and IME is often optimistic.  (I prefer Telnor's information.)

http://apps.cbp.gov/bwt/ provides the CBP information on line.

There are times you can cross quicker by car than on foot.  Furthermore, crossing times are like NFL games:  on any given day anything can happen.  

Have fun!  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

-- Modified on 10/11/2013 11:37:43 PM

Thank you Mr. Details...luckily I answered first....he might have fallen asleep reading your reply!! Funny how ultimately I gave him the same pertinent information in a third of the time.

You could have saved a letter though as their is no "a" in border.

Well I love it soooo much I decided to add another letter to give it more importance.

I just got back.  I left at 3AM and there was no line at all except until the very end.  Then when the line splits up into the gates I picked the wrong one.  There was 1 guy who was just grilling everyone it seemed like and the line didn't move.  Then the gate to my left the guy was just swiping passports and DL on the scanner and waving people through.    

God damn.

But that line went fast so I left my line and went there and a bunch of people followed me.  I was through in about 10 minutes after waiting 30 minutes for the other CBP guy.

When I arrived earlier (about 7PM) the line was probably 2-3 hours long so you're better going back late night.

For me, 3am is too close for comfort to when commuter hours begin.   (Especially for auto traffic.)  If you had been there a little earlier it probably would have been 5-10 minutes tops.

Sunday is by far the worse time to cross.  At 7pm on a Sunday night the line could well have been 2-3 hours.  Others days it is no where near as long.