So just how much of a hassle to cross back and forth these days?  I've got a biz trip to SD coming up and thought if it wasn't too much of a pain in the butt, I'd check out the chicas.

Took me 5 minutes to walk through Customs/INS from Mexico to the US yesterday -- Friday afternoon at about 3pm. Easy-peasy.

-- Modified on 11/14/2004 4:02:12 AM

the border crossing is always unprecitable by both car and walking. By car, you can bet that it will be at least a 2-4 hour wait on a Sunday afternoon until early evening.

If you are on a time table and need to be back in the US by a certain time, always leave early.

I always come back in the late evening to early mornings and never have a wait. At other times, I am not sure about.

I have asked the border guys when they are busy and they say: "you just never know", and they are right.

There are some webcams on the internet to look at the border wait for cars.....  

I was in SD in late Sept. and had no problems or delays crossing the border (to and from Mexico) on foot.  I went on 4 consecutive days (Friday-Monday).  I crossed into Mexico in the late afternoon or evening without any delays.  On Friday I returned around 5 am and the next 3 days around 1 am.  The longest wait I had at US customs was around 5 minutes Tues. morning.

IMO, crossing the border by car is a big hassle if you're just heading to la zona norte for a few hours of fun ....taxis are plentiful and convienent.

It varries, depending on the day and time of day. Expect a 2 to 4 hour wait by car and 30-60 minute wait on food during peak times.

Sunday afternoons are worst for cars and pedestrians.  I try avoiding Sundays.  Also I usually cross by foot as I spend less time in line that way.

Most evenings--excluding Sundays--the line is short after about 7pm. If you go down in the afternoon and return at night you should't be troubled by a long wait.

IMO, especially during peak times is to take the bus from Revolution. They cruise past almost everyone.

When entering, driving across is insane. Unless there is a REALLLLLLLLY great reason to drive, leave the car at one of the train stops and take the train to the border. Walk across and take a $5.00 cab to all the action.

The walking lines are much quicker these days for several reasons.  First of all summer and the warmer weather is over.  Less tourists.  Secondly, the metal detector contract was not renewed and they were removed.  Talk about a lack of security!  They are talking about a finger print machine like they are trying in other border towns. This would slow things down. Right now you're pretty good to go at most times.  Weekends can still be the heaviest in the late afternoons coming back.