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Otay Mesa, CA — Passenger Border Wait Time

Mexico → US (Northbound entry)

Current wait

Passenger vehicles

  • Standard120 min
  • SENTRI20 min
  • Ready Lane120 min

Commercial vehicles

  • StandardN/A
  • FASTN/A

Hours: 24 Hrs/Day

Latest snapshot: 7/6/2026, 9:45:33 PM UTC

Best & worst times to cross

Typical wait times by day of week + hour, averaged from the last four weeks of data. Times are approximate local at the crossing.

Quietest

  • Sat 3am–4am31 min avg
  • Thu 11pm–12am39 min avg
  • Sat 4am–5am45 min avg

Busiest

  • Sat 5pm–6pm143 min avg
  • Sat 6pm–7pm142 min avg
  • Sat 8pm–9pm137 min avg

Nearby crossings

About this crossing

Otay Mesa, CA (Passenger) is a US Customs and Border Protection port of entry on the Mexican border. Wait times shown are for travelers entering the United States. Numbers come directly from CBP and update roughly every hour while the port is staffed.

Frequently asked

Do I need a passport to cross at Otay Mesa, CA?

Yes. US citizens need a passport, passport card, enhanced driver's license, or SENTRI card. Non-US citizens need a valid passport plus any required visa.

Are SENTRI lanes always faster?

SENTRI lanes are typically much faster than standard lanes, especially at peak times, but they can still see delays when traffic is heavy or when a few lanes are open. SENTRI provides expedited US entry for pre-approved low-risk travelers from Mexico. Apply at ttp.cbp.dhs.gov.

What hours is the Otay Mesa crossing open?

24 Hrs/Day. Hours are set by CBP and may change for holidays or staffing.

How often is this wait time updated?

CBP officers at each port update their reported wait time roughly every hour while the port is staffed. We re-poll the CBP feed every five minutes and cache the result for both speed and to be kind to the upstream feed.

Why is the wait time blank or "no data"?

CBP doesn't publish a number for that lane right now — usually because the port hasn't reported in over an hour, the lane is closed, or the port is idle. We show whatever CBP publishes without modification.