Live border wait times
Northbound (returning to the U.S.) passenger-vehicle waits, live from U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
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Heading south? Get your Mexican auto insurance
These are the official wait times published by U.S. Customs and Border Protection. CBP refreshes its feed through the day (the reported time is shown on the hour) and can pause updates overnight – so if the reported date above is not today, those crossings have not been re-measured since. Southbound crossings into Mexico are generally not metered.
You park on the Yuma side, walk a few hundred yards past the turnstiles, and suddenly you’re in a town built for your appointment. Whitewashed dental clinics line the first three blocks, optical shops flash glasses in the windows, and a man in a doorway calls out the name of his orthodontist cousin. Snowbirds in golf shirts compare crown prices over fish tacos. It’s small, sunbaked, and weirdly efficient – a place you can cover on foot in an afternoon.
Here’s how to make the trip smooth.
Route at a glance: Yuma, AZ to Los Algodones
Interactive map · drag to explore. Distances and times are approximate – always check current road, weather and border conditions before you travel.
Los Algodones – nicknamed “Molar City” – is the tiny Baja border town that draws hundreds of thousands of visitors a year for affordable dentistry, eyewear, and prescriptions. Sitting just across from Andrade, California (about 10 minutes from Yuma, Arizona), it is one of the easiest border trips in the Southwest.
Why people go to Molar City
Within a few square blocks you will find hundreds of dental offices, optical shops, and pharmacies, with prices a fraction of what US patients pay. The town is geared entirely toward visitors – English is widely spoken and the walk from the border is short. It is especially popular with snowbirds wintering in Yuma and the Arizona desert.
Park and walk, or drive across?
The simplest plan is to park in the large lot on the US side run by the Quechan tribe (typically a few dollars for the day) and walk the short distance across. You avoid Mexican driving altogether. If you would rather drive in – to carry supplies, mobility needs, or to continue elsewhere in Baja – then you are driving in Mexico and must carry Mexican auto insurance.
Hours and the afternoon line
The Andrade-Algodones crossing keeps daytime hours and closes in the evening, so go early and head back with time to spare. The northbound (return) pedestrian line into the US can get long by early afternoon, especially in peak winter season – patience and a hat help.
What to bring
Bring a valid passport or passport card for the return crossing, any prescriptions or records for your appointments, and cash for parking and purchases. If you are driving, keep your Mexico driving documents and insurance proof in the car. A little planning makes Molar City a smooth, money-saving day trip.
Get Mexican auto insurance in minutes – a fast online quote means you are covered before you reach the border.
Related guides
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- How much does Mexican auto insurance cost?
- What to bring to drive into Mexico
- Park in the U.S. Lot up on the Quechan land by the Andrade crossing and walk across – far easier than driving in.
- Book ahead: confirm your dental or optical appointment by phone and bring your X-rays or prescription.
- Go early: cross before 9 a.m. to beat the lines and finish before the afternoon return crush.
- Bring passports & cash: many clinics take cards, but small shops and pharmacies prefer dollars.
- Lunch break: grab tacos or a michelada on the main strip while crowns or lenses are made same-day.
- Re-entry tip: the walk-back line peaks 2-4 p.m.; cross earlier or wait it out with a paleta.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need Mexican insurance to visit Los Algodones?
Only if you drive into Mexico. Most visitors park on the US side and walk across, which needs no Mexican insurance. If you drive in, your US policy will not cover you and you need a Mexican auto insurance policy.
Where do you park to walk into Los Algodones?
Most people use the large parking lot on the US (Andrade) side run by the Quechan tribe, which charges a few dollars for the day. From there it is a short walk across the border.
What are the Los Algodones border crossing hours?
The Andrade-Algodones crossing operates daytime hours and closes in the evening. Go early, and expect the northbound return line to be longest in the early afternoon during winter season.
Do I need a passport for Los Algodones?
Yes. You need a valid passport or passport card to re-enter the United States, even for a quick walk-across day trip.