The Wayro route from Del Mar to Tijuana is 39 miles (62 km), about 43 min of driving without stops. The U.S.–Mexico border is at about mile 35 on this route, near the San Ysidro 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 | 39 mi (62 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 43 min |
| Main roads, in order | I-805 |
| Border crossing | about mile 35 of this route, California → Baja California (near the San Ysidro, CA port of entry) |
| Mexican states on the route | Baja California (Level 3) |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 1.5 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 6 |
Crossing into Mexico: what you need for Tijuana
| 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 San Ysidro
San Ysidro links San Diego with Tijuana where Interstate 5 ends at the border, just south of its junction with Interstate 805, and a federal fact sheet calls it the busiest land border crossing in the Western Hemisphere. It handles passenger vehicles, pedestrians and buses, with dedicated SENTRI lanes for pre-screened travelers.
Sources: [1]
What the drive from Del Mar to Tijuana is like
I-805 (28 mi) carries about 72% of the 39 miles. The U.S. part of the drive runs through California for about 35 miles; after the border at San Ysidro you have about 4 miles left in Mexico. None of the 6 stops below is right on the road, so plan each as a short side trip.
The route from Del Mar to Tijuana, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–6 | 6 | California |
| I-805 | 6–34 | 28 | California |
| local roads | 34–39 | 5 | California, Baja California |
- Mile 35 of this route: California → Baja California (international border)
Stops between Del Mar and Tijuana
- Nature and outdoors: San Clemente Canyon (mile 9)
- Museums and history: Mission San Diego de Alcalá (mile 16), Cabrillo National Monument (mile 21), Living Coast Discovery Center (mile 25)
- With kids: San Diego Zoo (mile 18), Sesame Place San Diego (mile 30)
San Clemente Canyon
Running between I-5 and I-805 in San Diego, San Clemente Canyon holds Marian Bear Memorial Park, with more than three miles of mostly flat trails and picnic areas off Genesee Avenue and Regents Road.
Mission San Diego de Alcalá
Founded by Junípero Serra on July 16, 1769, California's first mission moved to this site in 1774 and was named a basilica in 1976. Visitors find a museum of excavated artifacts, courtyard gardens, and the campanario with original bells.
San Diego Zoo
More than 12,000 animals from over 680 species and subspecies live on 100 acres in Balboa Park, where a guided bus tour and the Skyfari Aerial Tram help visitors cover the grounds. Giant pandas live in the Denny Sanford Panda Ridge habitat, opened in 2024.
Cabrillo National Monument
The monument tells the story of Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo, who in 1542 became the first European to set foot on what is now the U.S. West Coast. It sits at the southern tip of the Point Loma peninsula.
Living Coast Discovery Center
Set in Chula Vista, this nonprofit zoo and aquarium focuses on the wildlife of San Diego Bay. Visitors meet sea turtles, sharks and rays, plus hawks, eagles, falcons and owls along Raptor Row.
Sesame Place San Diego
Sesame Place San Diego is a children's theme park and water park in Chula Vista, operated under license from Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit behind Sesame Street.
When you get to Tijuana
Right across the line from San Diego, Tijuana stretches from its downtown border crossing west to the Pacific shore at Playas de Tijuana. Avenida Revolución, the city's old main drag, is where the Caesar salad was first tossed in 1924, and the Centro Cultural Tijuana anchors a busy arts and museum scene.
- Centro Cultural Tijuana (CECUT): Designed by Pedro Ramírez Vázquez and Manuel Rosen Morrison, the complex is known for its spherical IMAX dome, El Cubo galleries and a botanical garden. source
- Museo de las Californias: Inside CECUT, this museum traces the border region's story from its original cultures to the present with more than 1,000 historical pieces. source
- Caesar's on Avenida Revolución: The restaurant where the Caesar salad was improvised on July 4, 1924, is still open, and the original salad is still on the menu. source
Morelos Park
Families come to this Tijuana park for its central lake with ducks, fish, and turtles, shaded walking paths, Oriental and Arab-style gardens, and plenty of rides and play areas for kids.
Tijuana Cultural Center
Opened in 1982 in Tijuana's Zona Río, the cultural center designed by Pedro Ramírez Vázquez and Manuel Rosen holds the Museo de las Californias, the El Cubo galleries, a Domo IMAX theater, an aquarium, and the Jardín Caracol.
More drives to Tijuana
- Salinas, CA to Tijuana
- Sacramento, CA to Tijuana
- Goodyear, AZ to Tijuana
- Tiburon, CA to Tijuana
- Glendale, CA to Tijuana
- Anaheim, CA to Tijuana
From Del Mar to other places in Mexico
- Del Mar, CA to Rosarito
- Del Mar, CA to Mexicali
- Del Mar, CA to Sonoyta
- Del Mar, CA to Agua Prieta
- Del Mar, CA to Cananea
- Del Mar, CA to Guerrero Negro
All routes to Tijuana, border crossings and permits in one place: Driving to Tijuana, Mexico from the U.S.
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Del Mar to Tijuana?
About 43 min of driving without stops, over 39 miles.
How far is Tijuana from Del Mar by car?
About 39 miles (62 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 Del Mar to Tijuana drive cross into Mexico?
At about mile 35 of this route, from California into Baja California, near the San Ysidro port of entry.
Do I need a permit to drive my car from Del Mar to Tijuana?
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 Del Mar to Tijuana?
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 are good stops between Del Mar and Tijuana?
Closest to the road: San Clemente Canyon (canyon, mile 9, 1 mi from the route); Mission San Diego de Alcalá (spanish mission, mile 16, 2 mi from the route); Sesame Place San Diego (amusement park, mile 30, 2 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.