Cross Border Xpress drop-off · Updated October 2026
San Diego Airport to CBX Car Service
Detailed Drivers drives you from San Diego International Airport, your hotel or your home to the Cross Border Xpress (CBX) terminal on the US side of the border in Otay Mesa. From the curb you walk across the CBX bridge to your flight at Tijuana International Airport. SAN to CBX is $250 in a Business Sedan, all-in.
San Diego to CBX · Quick Facts
SAN → CBX (~23 mi): $250 sedan / $310 SUV / $730 Sprinter
Downtown → CBX (~19.2 mi): $230 sedan / $280 SUV
Drop-off: CBX terminal, US side, Otay Mesa, San Diego
You need: CBX ticket, Tijuana boarding pass, passport
All-in estimates · gratuity, tax and card fees included · call (888) 420-0177
Drop-off at the US-side CBX terminal; no driving into Mexico
Pickups from SAN, downtown, Coronado, La Jolla and North County
Sprinter Van for families and groups of up to 14
Price set at booking, no surge
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Cross Border Xpress is the enclosed pedestrian bridge that connects a terminal in San Diego's Otay Mesa area to Tijuana International Airport. A private car service gets you to the US-side CBX terminal from anywhere in San Diego County at a price set when you book. The ride stays in the United States; you cross on foot.
This route is part of the San Diego car service hub. Travelers connecting from a domestic flight often land at SAN first; see San Diego airport car service and the San Diego airport transfer page for SAN pickups. Companies sending executives through Tijuana set it up through corporate transportation in San Diego, and large families book a Sprinter van rental in San Diego. Compare vehicles on the Detailed Drivers fleet page or reserve online.
CBX at a glance
Drop-off point
Cross Border Xpress US terminal · 2745 Otay Pacific Drive, San Diego, CA 92154 · Otay Mesa, next to the border
What it connects
A walkway across the border into Tijuana International Airport (TIJ) · for passengers with a TIJ boarding pass
Documents
CBX ticket · airline boarding pass for a TIJ flight · passport or other accepted travel document
Highways
I-5 South or I-805 South to CA-905 East · I-15 South from Temecula
Pickup areas
SAN · downtown and the Gaslamp · Coronado · Chula Vista · Mission Valley · UTC · La Jolla · Del Mar · Carlsbad · Temecula
Service limits
No pickups or drop-offs inside Mexico · no Tijuana city service · the chauffeur does not cross the border
What is Cross Border Xpress, and why fly from Tijuana airport?
Cross Border Xpress is a privately run terminal in Otay Mesa, San Diego, joined to Tijuana International Airport by an enclosed pedestrian bridge over the border. It opened in December 2015 and is often described as a bi-national airport terminal: you check in on the US side, walk across the Cross Border Xpress bridge and reach your gate at Tijuana airport without using a land port of entry such as San Ysidro.
Travelers from San Diego use Cross Border Xpress mainly for flights within Mexico and for some international routes from Tijuana International Airport, which can offer direct flights and fares that are not available from San Diego airport. To use the Cross Border Xpress facility you need a CBX ticket and a boarding pass for a flight at Tijuana airport, and returning passengers use the same bridge in the other direction.
Our part is the drive to the Cross Border Xpress terminal building on the US side. We do not sell CBX tickets, and the price of the CBX ticket is separate from the car. Rental cars, paid parking and drop-offs all use the same US-side terminal area on Otay Pacific Drive.
How much is a car service from San Diego to CBX?
Every price is a point-to-point, all-in estimate from the rate engine that powers the booking widget.
| Route | Business Sedan | First Class SUV | Sprinter Van | Road miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chula Vista City Hall → CBX | $190 | $230 | $620 | ~11.2 mi · 4th Avenue / Beyer Way / CA-905 E |
| Hotel del Coronado → CBX | $230 | $270 | $680 | ~17.8 mi · Silver Strand / I-5 S / CA-905 E |
| Downtown / San Diego Convention Center → CBX | $230 | $280 | $690 | ~19.2 mi · I-5 S / CA-905 E |
| San Diego International (SAN), Terminal 2 → CBX | $250 | $310 | $730 | ~23 mi · I-5 S / CA-905 E |
| Mission Valley / Fashion Valley → CBX | $250 | $310 | $730 | ~23 mi · I-8 E / I-805 S / CA-905 E |
| Westfield UTC → CBX | $290 | $360 | $790 | ~29.7 mi · I-805 S / CA-905 E |
| La Jolla Cove → CBX | $310 | $380 | $810 | ~32.7 mi · I-5 S / CA-905 E |
| Del Mar / Camino del Mar → CBX | $330 | $400 | $850 | ~36.6 mi · I-5 S / I-805 S / CA-905 E |
| Carlsbad Village Station → CBX | $410 | $500 | $980 | ~51.2 mi · I-5 S / I-805 S / CA-905 E |
| Temecula City Hall → CBX | $530 | $660 | $1,180 | ~73.8 mi · I-15 S / I-805 S / CA-905 E |
All-in estimates: gratuity, tax and card processing included, rounded to the nearest $10. Road miles are OSRM reference routes from the named pickup points to the CBX US-side road entrance, checked October 7, 2026. Your confirmation uses the exact pickup address. CBX tickets and parking are separate and paid to CBX, not to us.
Is a car service better than a shuttle, Uber, transit or parking at CBX?
Searches for a CBX shuttle in San Diego usually come from travelers comparing these options. Here is how they differ for a ride to the US-side terminal.
| Option | Getting to CBX from San Diego | Best fit |
|---|---|---|
| Detailed Drivers | Private car from your door to the CBX curb, luggage handled, price set at booking. $250 sedan from SAN. | Families, executives, anyone with bags or a tight connection. |
| Shared shuttle | Scheduled or shared vans make other stops and run on their timetable rather than yours. | Solo travelers with time to spare. |
| Uber or Lyft | Works to the US terminal; price changes with demand and early-morning availability varies. | Light packers on a flexible schedule. |
| Taxi | Pricing depends on the provider and booking method. Confirm an upfront quote or meter rate before riding. | A quick ride with no planning. |
| Transit | MTS buses and the Trolley reach the border area, but a trip from SAN or downtown with luggage takes connections and time. | Travelers with a carry-on and no deadline. |
| Driving and parking | CBX has paid parking on the US side. Convenient for a weekend, but it adds up on a longer trip and you drive home after the flight. | Short trips when you want your own car on return. |
For a taxi comparison, RideYellow describes advance quotes before booking. Check the provider and booking method you plan to use rather than assuming every taxi trip uses only a meter.
How the ride to Cross Border Xpress works
Booking
Book with your pickup address and your Tijuana flight time. We work back from the flight to suggest a pickup that leaves room for the drive, CBX check-in, the border process and the airline's check-in at TIJ. Buy your CBX ticket before the day if you can; it saves time at the terminal.
The drive south
The SAN and downtown reference routes use I-5 South and CA-905 East toward Otay Mesa. The Carlsbad and Del Mar reference routes use I-5 South and I-805 South before CA-905 East; the Temecula route uses I-15 South and I-805 South. The chauffeur selects the route for your exact address and current traffic, so leave a buffer before your flight.
Otay Mesa is a busy commercial area as well as a border district, with truck traffic heading to the commercial port of entry. The chauffeur follows the signs for Cross Border Xpress off CA-905 rather than the land crossing, which is a separate facility. If you are unsure which crossing you need, check your booking: Tijuana flights use CBX, while driving or walking into Tijuana uses the San Ysidro or Otay Mesa ports of entry, which we do not serve.
Drop-off at the US terminal
The chauffeur drops you at the CBX terminal entrance on Otay Pacific Drive and helps unload your bags. From there you check in with CBX, cross the enclosed bridge and arrive inside Tijuana International Airport. The chauffeur does not cross the border, and we do not pick up or drop off anywhere in Mexico.
Crossing times
How long CBX takes varies with the time of day, the day of the week and holiday travel. We do not publish a fixed crossing time because it changes; check current guidance from CBX and your airline and give yourself a generous buffer, especially before early-morning departures and around Mexican and US holidays.
Connecting from a SAN arrival
Some travelers land at San Diego International and connect to a flight out of Tijuana the same day. Book the SAN pickup with your arrival flight number: the chauffeur tracks it, and on sedan and SUV pickups meets you inside the terminal, then drives straight to CBX. Leave a comfortable gap between the two flights, because a delay into SAN eats into the time you need at the border.
Policies
If your chauffeur isn't at your booked pickup address by your scheduled pickup time, we refund the full fare. Every booking, every vehicle, every city, 24/7. Free cancellation up to 48 hours before pickup for sedans and SUVs, 72 hours for Sprinters. No charge if your flight is cancelled. Event and high-demand bookings follow the window in your quote.
Which vehicle fits a CBX drop-off?
| Vehicle | SAN → CBX | Downtown → CBX | Capacity | Hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Business Sedan | $250 | $230 | 3 pax · 3 bags | $120/hr |
| First Class SUV | $310 | $280 | 6 pax · 6 bags | $150/hr |
| Sprinter Van | $730 | $690 | 14 pax · 12 bags | $240/hr |
Most CBX passengers are flying within Mexico or onward from Tijuana, often with checked bags. A Business Sedan suits one to three travelers with a suitcase each. Families visiting relatives usually need the First Class SUV for luggage and gifts, and extended families or tour groups fit in one Sprinter Van with up to 14 passengers. A Mercedes S-Class is available in select markets on request.
When should you book a ride to CBX?
Holiday travel
December holidays, Easter week and summer are busy at CBX. Book the car early and leave extra time at the border.
Early-morning flights
Book the night before so the chauffeur is confirmed before you sleep; rideshare availability before dawn is less predictable.
Same-day SAN connections
Book the SAN pickup and the CBX drop-off as one ride with your arrival flight number so the timing follows your landing.
Group and business trips
Sprinter Vans for groups are limited; book a week or more ahead when a team or family travels together.
Who uses Cross Border Xpress from San Diego?
Families visiting Mexico
Many San Diego families fly from Tijuana airport to cities across Mexico to see relatives, often with checked bags and gifts. A First Class SUV or a Sprinter Van gets the whole family and the luggage to the Cross Border Xpress terminal in one trip, with nobody left to find parking.
Business travelers
Executives with meetings in Mexico City, Guadalajara or Monterrey often fly from Tijuana. Companies book the ride through a corporate account so it lands on the monthly invoice with the rest of the trip, and the chauffeur times the drop-off to the flight rather than to a shuttle schedule.
Travelers connecting from SAN
Visitors who fly into San Diego and continue on a Tijuana flight book one ride: SAN pickup with flight tracking, then straight to Cross Border Xpress. Leave a generous gap between the two flights so a delay into SAN does not put the Tijuana departure at risk.
Tips for a smooth drop-off
Buy the CBX ticket in advance, keep passports and boarding passes in a carry-on rather than a checked bag, and tell us the flight time when you book. If you are traveling in a holiday week, add time for longer lines on the US side and at Tijuana airport.
San Diego to CBX FAQs
Direct answers about pricing, the drop-off, documents and timing for Cross Border Xpress.
San Diego International (SAN) to the Cross Border Xpress terminal is about 23 road miles. The all-in estimate is $250 in a Business Sedan, $310 in a First Class SUV and $730 in a Sprinter Van for up to 14 passengers, with gratuity, tax and card processing included.
At the CBX terminal on the US side of the border, 2745 Otay Pacific Drive in the Otay Mesa area of San Diego. From there you walk through the terminal and across the enclosed bridge into Tijuana International Airport. The car ride begins and ends in the United States; we do not drive into Mexico.
No. Detailed Drivers does not pick up or drop off inside Mexico, including Tijuana and Tijuana International Airport. We drive you to the Cross Border Xpress terminal on the US side, and you cross on foot through CBX.
CBX requires a CBX ticket and a boarding pass for a flight at Tijuana International Airport, and you are crossing an international border, so carry a passport or other accepted travel document. Requirements can change, so check the current rules with CBX and your airline before you travel.
Plan for the drive, the CBX check-in and the border process, plus the airline's own check-in time at Tijuana. Crossing times through CBX vary with the time of day and the season, so build in a generous buffer, especially for holiday travel and early-morning departures. Tell us your flight time and we will suggest a pickup time.
It depends on the length of the trip. CBX has its own paid parking, which is convenient for a short trip but adds up over a week or more. A one-way drop-off from downtown San Diego is $230 in a sedan, all-in, and you do not have to come back to a parked car after a flight.
Yes. A First Class SUV carries up to 6 passengers with luggage and a Sprinter Van up to 14. Downtown San Diego to CBX in a Sprinter is $690 and keeps larger groups together; choose by passenger and luggage count.
Non-airport pickups include 15 minutes of complimentary waiting. If your plans change, call (888) 420-0177 and dispatch will adjust the pickup. If your chauffeur isn't at your booked pickup address by your scheduled pickup time, we refund the full fare. Every booking, every vehicle, every city, 24/7.
About 19.2 road miles from the San Diego Convention Center, mostly on I-5 South and CA-905 East. The all-in estimate is $230 in a Business Sedan and $280 in a First Class SUV.
No. The CBX ticket is sold by Cross Border Xpress and paid to them, online or at the terminal. Our all-in price covers the ride to the US-side terminal, including gratuity, tax and card processing.
Yes, if you book by the hour. A 3-hour Business Sedan block is $360 all-in and lets the chauffeur wait on the US side while you check in, in case you need something from the car. The chauffeur never crosses the border.
Yes. Carlsbad Village Station to CBX is about 51.2 miles ($410 sedan) and Temecula City Hall about 73.8 ($530 sedan). Leave extra time from North County, because the whole length of I-5 or I-805 is between you and the border.
Per vehicle. A family of five in a First Class SUV pays $280 in total from downtown San Diego to CBX, and a group of up to 14 in a Sprinter Van pays $690. The CBX tickets are bought separately for each traveler.
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Last updated October 2026 · All-in pricing, no surge, no hidden fees
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