Travelers should brace for extensive delays at the Tijuana–San Diego border this Labor Day weekend, one of the busiest travel periods of the year.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials are reporting wait times of up to two hours at the San Ysidro and Otay Mesa ports of entry as holiday traffic surges. The extended weekend, concluding with the Labor Day holiday on Monday, has prompted a significant increase in northbound border crossings.
As of Friday morning, regular vehicle lanes at San Ysidro faced 90-minute delays with six open gates, while Ready Lane waits exceeded 70 minutes despite twelve operating gates. Conditions proved even more challenging at Otay Mesa, where limited gate availability, just two in standard lanes and five in Ready Lanes, resulted in consistent two-hour delays throughout the morning.
Social media reports from earlier today confirmed painfully slow progress at both crossings, with some travelers describing near-gridlock conditions at Otay Mesa.
When to Cross to Avoid Long Delays
Border traffic analysts at Solo Traveller App recommend strategic planning for those intending to cross this weekend. They recommend using digital tools that provide real-time border monitoring, such as:
- BorderTraffic App: Live video feeds and constantly updated wait projections in San Ysidro and Otay Mesa
- Bordify: Lane-by-lane status updates for vehicle and pedestrian crossings
- CBP Border Wait Times: Official government data from U.S. Customs and Border Protection regarding wait times for both pedestrian and vehicular lanes
According to this website, the key is avoiding peak hours entirely. The window between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. will be particularly problematic due to holiday travel patterns.
Recommended crossing times are before 6:00 a.m. or after 7:00 p.m., when volume typically decreases substantially. Midday crossings are discouraged due to the long weekend.
To stay updated, follow social media groups for real-time reports or use reliable border wait time apps.
