Best time to cross
Best Time to Cross Otay Mesa
The typical best time to cross Otay Mesa is Saturday at 3:00 AM, with an average wait of ≈24 min in the general lane. The heaviest moment of the week is usually Saturday at 9:00 PM (≈170 min). The day-by-day breakdown for vehicles, pedestrians and cargo is below.
Vehicles
| Day | Best hour | Typical wait | Usual range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | 3:00 AM | 1h 6m | 10–120 min |
| Tuesday | 11:00 PM | 47m | 10–75 min |
| Wednesday | 10:00 PM | 42m | 10–110 min |
| Thursday | 10:00 PM | 42m | 15–90 min |
| Friday | 12:00 AM | 49m | 20–90 min |
| Saturday | 3:00 AM | 24m | 0–60 min |
| Sunday | 4:00 AM | 47m | 10–75 min |
General lane. Typical best hour per weekday, computed from CBP's official hourly statistics; closed hours are never recommended.
Pedestrian
| Day | Best hour | Typical wait | Usual range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | 11:00 PM | 5m | 0–5 min |
| Tuesday | 12:00 AM | 5m | 0–5 min |
| Wednesday | 2:00 AM | 5m | 0–5 min |
| Thursday | 9:00 PM | 6m | 5–10 min |
| Friday | 12:00 AM | 5m | 0–5 min |
| Saturday | 12:00 AM | 5m | 0–5 min |
| Sunday | 4:00 AM | 5m | 0–5 min |
General lane. Typical best hour per weekday, computed from CBP's official hourly statistics; closed hours are never recommended.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the best time to cross Otay Mesa?
- Typically Saturday at 3:00 AM, with an average wait of ≈24 min in the general lane. The number comes from CBP's official hourly statistics and refreshes daily.
- What is the worst time to cross Otay Mesa?
- The heaviest point of the week is usually Saturday at 9:00 PM, with a typical wait of ≈170 min. Check the live wait times before you leave — any given day can behave differently from the typical pattern.