Picking the Right Mexico Border Crossing for Your Drive

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Reviewed September 2026: There are more than two dozen official land crossings between the U.S. and Mexico, and picking the wrong one for your route can turn a quick trip into a long wait. Below, every major crossing is grouped by region so you can find yours, then click through to On the Road in Mexico’s crossing-specific guide for route notes. Hours, lanes and restrictions shift often, so always confirm the current status before you travel.

Check wait times before you commit to a route.

Look up official U.S. Customs and Border Protection wait times and hours first. A port showing “open” for passenger vehicles doesn’t mean the immigration office or vehicle-permit window you also need is open.

Documents You’ll Need
Get Mexican Auto Insurance
Official Import-Permit Info

California to Baja California

Arizona to Sonora

New Mexico to Chihuahua

Texas to Chihuahua, Coahuila and Tamaulipas

Five things to confirm before you pick a crossing

  1. Lane hours aren’t uniform. Passenger, pedestrian, commercial, Ready and SENTRI lanes can run on entirely different schedules — check the specific lane you’ll use.
  2. Immigration is a separate stop. Your entry document doesn’t come from the same office as the vehicle lane, and that office may keep its own hours.
  3. Vehicle permits need their own confirmation. If you need a Temporary Import Permit, go through an authorized Banjercito channel and confirm where it can be issued and later cancelled.
  4. Insurance isn’t optional. A U.S. or Canadian auto policy won’t cover you in Mexico — buy Mexican liability coverage before you cross.
  5. Match the crossing to your rig. A crossing that’s simple in a sedan can be a real headache in a motorhome or towing a trailer — plan accordingly.
A note on accuracy: We’re working through each individual crossing guide to replace outdated fixed-hour claims with current official sources and clear review dates. Until a specific guide shows a recent review date, confirm every operational detail yourself before relying on it.