Day trips

The 14 Best Day Trips from Mexicali

Drive times, distances, what to see, and a sample day plan for every place worth the trip.

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There are 14 good day trips from Mexicali, Mexico, led by Tijuana, San Luis Río Colorado, El Cajon. The closest is El Centro, about 30 min by car, and 1 of them fit into half a day. Below: drive times, distances, what to see, and a sample day plan.

Day trips from Mexicali at a glance

DestinationDistanceDrive timeBest as
Tijuana146 km W2 hr 15 minLong day or overnight
San Luis Río Colorado67 km E1 hr 15 minFull-day trip
El Cajon142 km W2 hr 15 minLong day or overnight
Yuma78 km E1 hr 30 minFull-day trip
Indio141 km NW2 hr 10 minFull-day trip
Tecate111 km W1 hr 45 minFull-day trip
La Mesa148 km W2 hr 20 minLong day or overnight
Palm Desert149 km NW2 hr 20 minLong day or overnight
Coachella135 km NW2 hr 5 minFull-day trip
El Centro21 km NW30 minHalf-day trip
La Quinta140 km NW2 hr 10 minFull-day trip
La Presa145 km W2 hr 15 minLong day or overnight
San Luis65 km E1 hr 15 minFull-day trip
Fortuna Foothills98 km E1 hr 30 minFull-day trip

Drive times are estimates from the distance. Check live traffic before you leave.

The best day trips from Mexicali

  1. 1

    Tijuana, Mexico

    Long day or overnight
    About 2 hr 15 min by car146 km west of Mexicali4 hr 30 min round trip

    Known for Sesame Place San Diego.

    Also nearby: Pórticos de San Antonio.

  2. 2

    San Luis Río Colorado, Mexico

    Full-day trip
    About 1 hr 15 min by car67 km east of Mexicali2 hr 30 min round trip
  3. 3

    El Cajon, United States

    Long day or overnight
    About 2 hr 15 min by car142 km west of Mexicali4 hr 30 min round trip
  4. 4

    Yuma, United States

    Full-day trip
    About 1 hr 30 min by car78 km east of Mexicali3 hr round trip
  5. 5

    Indio, United States

    Full-day trip
    About 2 hr 10 min by car141 km north-west of Mexicali4 hr 20 min round trip
  6. 6

    Tecate, Mexico

    Full-day trip
    About 1 hr 45 min by car111 km west of Mexicali3 hr 30 min round trip
  7. 7

    La Mesa, United States

    Long day or overnight
    About 2 hr 20 min by car148 km west of Mexicali4 hr 40 min round trip
  8. 8

    Palm Desert, United States

    Long day or overnight
    About 2 hr 20 min by car149 km north-west of Mexicali4 hr 40 min round trip
  9. 9

    Coachella, United States

    Full-day trip
    About 2 hr 5 min by car135 km north-west of Mexicali4 hr 10 min round trip
  10. 10

    El Centro, United States

    Half-day trip
    About 30 min by car21 km north-west of Mexicali1 hr round trip
  11. 11

    La Quinta, United States

    Full-day trip
    About 2 hr 10 min by car140 km north-west of Mexicali4 hr 20 min round trip
  12. 12

    La Presa, United States

    Long day or overnight
    About 2 hr 15 min by car145 km west of Mexicali4 hr 30 min round trip
  13. 13

    San Luis, United States

    Full-day trip
    About 1 hr 15 min by car65 km east of Mexicali2 hr 30 min round trip
  14. 14

    Fortuna Foothills, United States

    Full-day trip
    About 1 hr 30 min by car98 km east of Mexicali3 hr round trip

A sample day trip: Mexicali to Tijuana

A realistic pace for Tijuana, 146 km from Mexicali. Packy AI builds this for any place on the list, with a route, opening hours and timings you can edit.

  1. 07:30Leave Mexicali
  2. 09:45Arrive in Tijuana (2 hr 15 min drive)
  3. 10:00Sesame Place San Diego
  4. 12:00Lunch
  5. 13:15Explore the old town, markets and cafes of Tijuana
  6. 15:45Head back to Mexicali
  7. 18:00Home in Mexicali

Good to know

Frequently asked questions

What are the best day trips from Mexicali?
The best day trips from Mexicali are Tijuana, San Luis Río Colorado, El Cajon, Yuma, Indio. The closest is El Centro, about 30 min away by car.
What is the closest day trip from Mexicali?
El Centro is the closest, 21 km north-west of Mexicali, roughly 30 min by car. Best as a half-day trip.
Where can I go within an hour of Mexicali?
One place is within about an hour's drive of Mexicali: El Centro (30 min).
What is the biggest city near Mexicali for a day out?
Tijuana is the largest city in day-trip range, 146 km west of Mexicali and about 2 hr 15 min by car. With that much to see, start early or stay the night.
How far is too far for a day trip from Mexicali?
Up to about two hours each way keeps the day relaxed. The farthest place on this list is Palm Desert at 149 km, around 2 hr 20 min by car, which is better as a long day or an overnight stay.

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