The Wayro route from Big Bear Lake to Mexicali is 203 miles (326 km), about 4 h 3 min of driving without stops. The U.S.–Mexico border is at about mile 199 on this route, near the Calexico West port of entry.
What the State Department tells travelers on this route:
- Baja California: “Travelers should remain on main highways and avoid remote locations.”
| Distance | 203 mi (326 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 4 h 3 min |
| Main roads, in order | CA-18 → CA-330 → CA-210 → I-10 → CA-86 → US-99 Hist → CA-78 → CA-111 |
| Border crossing | about mile 199 of this route, California → Baja California (near the Calexico West, CA port of entry) |
| Mexican states on the route | Baja California (Level 3) |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 8.1 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 6 |
Crossing into Mexico: what you need for Mexicali
| Passport | Passport book or passport card to enter Mexico by land |
|---|---|
| FMM entry permit | Not needed if you stay within 12 miles (20 km) of the border for 6 days or less; required for longer stays or if you travel farther in |
| Temporary vehicle import permit (TIP) | Not needed: Baja California is in Mexico's hassle-free zone for U.S. vehicles |
| Mexican auto insurance | Required for all vehicles: buy a Mexican policy before you cross |
Sources: U.S. State Department, Mexico travel information (updated August 11, 2026); permits are issued by Banjercito.
Crossing at Calexico West
Calexico West sits in downtown Calexico, directly across from Mexicali, and GSA describes it as the main border crossing linking the Imperial Valley to Baja California. It handles passenger vehicles and pedestrians and is in the middle of a multi-phase federal modernization.
Sources: [1]
What the drive from Big Bear Lake to Mexicali is like
I-10 (66 mi) and US-99 Hist (34 mi) carry about 49% of the 203 miles. The U.S. part of the drive runs through California for about 199 miles; after the border at Calexico West you have about 4 miles left in Mexico. Of the 6 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Big Bear Lake to Mexicali, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA-18 | 0–17 | 17 | California |
| CA-330 | 17–32 | 15 | California |
| CA-210 | 32–36 | 4 | California |
| connecting roads | 36–37 | 1 | California |
| I-10 | 37–103 | 66 | California |
| CA-86 | 103–136 | 33 | California |
| US-99 Hist | 136–170 | 34 | California |
| CA-78 | 170–176 | 6 | California |
| CA-111 | 176–196 | 20 | California |
| connecting roads | 196–198 | 2 | California |
| local roads | 198–203 | 5 | California, Baja California |
- Mile 199 of this route: California → Baja California (international border)
Stops between Big Bear Lake and Mexicali
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Highland Historic District (mile 32), Lincoln Memorial Shrine (mile 38)
- Nature and outdoors: Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument (mile 69), Chino Canyon (mile 78)
- Museums and history: Highland Historic District (mile 32), Lincoln Memorial Shrine (mile 38), Gilman Ranch (mile 58), Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument (mile 69), Sand to Snow National Monument (mile 70)
Highland Historic District
The Highland Historic District in Highland, California, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Lincoln Memorial Shrine
Dedicated in 1932 as a gift from Robert and Alma Watchorn, this octagonal limestone memorial by architect Elmer Grey houses a museum devoted to Abraham Lincoln and the Civil War, with Lincoln's words inscribed on its exterior walls.
Gilman Ranch
Run by Riverside County Parks, this 100-acre ranch in Banning grew from an adobe hut into a stage stop and ranch house. Its wagon museum displays stagecoaches and buggies, and a 1.5-mile trail looks over Banning Pass.
Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument
Rising from the Coachella Valley toward alpine peaks, this monument holds fan palm oases, bighorn sheep habitat, wilderness areas, and part of the Pacific Crest Trail. Its visitor center sits on Highway 74 in Palm Desert.
Sand to Snow National Monument
Established in 2016, this monument climbs from the Sonoran Desert floor to San Gorgonio Mountain, the highest peak in California south of the Sierra Nevada, and carries 30 miles of the Pacific Crest Trail.
Chino Canyon
Rising from the northern edge of Palm Springs, this rugged canyon frames the ride on the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway, which climbs about 6,000 feet to a mountain station at 8,516 feet with trails into Mount San Jacinto State Park.
When you get to Mexicali
Baja California's state capital sits on the desert floor directly across the border from Calexico, and summer highs here can approach 50°C (about 122°F). Mexicali is known across Mexico for its Chinese food, a tradition that took root when Chinese immigrants settled in the 1910s and built the downtown district called La Chinesca.
- La Chinesca: The historic Chinese quarter downtown mixes Chinese and Mexican architecture and has a Chinese temple, small museums and plenty of Chinese-Mexican restaurants. source
- Museo UABC: Run by the state university since 1977, it covers desert ecology, paleontology, archaeology and the Cucapá, Kiliwa, Pai Pai and Kumiai peoples. source
- Museo Sol del Niño: A hands-on science and environment museum for kids, housed in La Jabonera del Pacífico, a former cottonseed warehouse recognized as heritage by INAH. source
More drives to Mexicali
- Fresno, CA to Mexicali
- Silver City, NM to Mexicali
- Long Beach, CA to Mexicali
- Winslow, AZ to Mexicali
- Poway, CA to Mexicali
- El Centro, CA to Mexicali
From Big Bear Lake to other places in Mexico
- Big Bear Lake, CA to Nogales
- Big Bear Lake, CA to San Luis Río Colorado
- Big Bear Lake, CA to Tecate
- Big Bear Lake, CA to Sonoyta
- Big Bear Lake, CA to San Quintín
- Big Bear Lake, CA to Rosarito
All routes to Mexicali, border crossings and permits in one place: Driving to Mexicali, Mexico from the U.S.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Big Bear Lake to Mexicali?
About 4 h 3 min of driving without stops, over 203 miles.
How far is Mexicali from Big Bear Lake by car?
About 203 miles (326 km) on the Wayro route. Other map services may show a few miles more or less, depending on where they start and end in each city.
Where does the Big Bear Lake to Mexicali drive cross into Mexico?
At about mile 199 of this route, from California into Baja California, near the Calexico West port of entry.
Do I need a permit to drive my car from Big Bear Lake to Mexicali?
No vehicle permit is needed. Baja California is in Mexico's hassle-free zone for U.S. vehicles. You also need Mexican auto insurance and a passport book or card.
Is it safe to drive from Big Bear Lake to Mexicali?
The U.S. State Department rates Baja California Level 3: Reconsider Travel (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Big Bear Lake to Mexicali use?
In order: CA-18, CA-330, CA-210, I-10, CA-86, US-99 Hist, CA-78 and CA-111. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Big Bear Lake and Mexicali?
Closest to the road: Highland Historic District (historic district, mile 32, 0.3 mi from the route); Lincoln Memorial Shrine (historic site, mile 38, 0.6 mi from the route); Gilman Ranch (museum, mile 58, 1 mi from the route). All stops are described above.
How we put this guide together
Wayro calculates the route from OpenStreetMap road data; mile numbers are positions along this route, not highway mile markers, and "from the route" distances are straight-line, so the real detour depends on access roads. Stops are chosen from parks, natural sites, museums, historic sites and attractions close to the route (roughly 2 to 7 miles depending on the type, farther for World Heritage sites): at least one strong stop for each stretch of the drive, then the best-known places nearest the road, with no more than five of one type, up to nine in all. Places that are closed, private or not open to visitors are removed. Place and city descriptions are written by the Wayro team from official park, museum, tourism and government websites and other published sources. Safety levels and entry rules were checked against the U.S. Department of State on September 29, 2026. Conditions change, so check the linked sources before you travel.
Route data © OpenStreetMap contributors.