Driving to Tecate, Mexico from the U.S.

Every Wayro route we publish from U.S. cities to Tecate, Baja California, with the border crossing each one uses and what you need to bring a U.S. car across.

About Tecate

Right on the border about an hour east of Tijuana, Tecate is the only Pueblo Mágico sitting directly on the U.S. line, a title SECTUR gave it in 2012. The town grew up around its namesake brewery and it calls itself the northern gateway to Baja California's wine country. Locals are also proud of their artisanal bread.

• Tecate brewery: The brewery that put the town's name on beer cans worldwide offers tours of its facilities that walk you through the brewing process. source
• Cerro Cuchumá: The mountain rising over town is a sacred site for the Kumiai people and has more than 12 kilometers of hiking trail. source
• Tecate Community Museum: This museum was created to preserve Kumiai culture, telling the story of the Indigenous people who lived in these hills long before the border. source
• Wine Route: Puerta Norte: More than ten wineries around Tecate form the northern door of Baja California's Wine Route, an easy add-on before heading south. source
• Tecate bakeries: Stop for pan dulce at one of the town's artisanal bakeries; the local bread has become a symbol of Tecate itself. source

Crossing into Mexico: what you need to drive to Tecate

Sources: U.S. State Department, Mexico travel information (updated August 11, 2026); permits are issued by Banjercito.

Where drivers cross the border

Tecate

The Tecate crossing sits about 40 miles southeast of San Diego and connects Tecate, California, with Tecate, Baja California. It is the smallest of the San Diego-area ports and handles both passenger vehicles and pedestrians. Used by 171 of the routes below.

Drives to Tecate from the U.S.

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.