Costa Mesa to Mexicali flights
Mexicali lies 256 km (159 mi) south-east of Costa Mesa, in the same time zone. What the numbers say about getting there, and where to book.
A nonstop flight would take about 1 h 5 min gate to gate, based on the distance and typical cruise speed with taxi and climb allowed for; connecting itineraries add the layover on top.
| Costa Mesa | Mexicali | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | United States | Mexico |
| Population | 113,204 | 1 million |
| Elevation | 33 m (108 ft) | 4 m (13 ft) |
| Time now | UTC-7 (America/Los_Angeles) | UTC-7 (America/Tijuana) |
| Nearest large airport | SNA, 6 km out | MXL, 20 km out |
| Postal codes | 92626–92628 | 21396–22703 |
What changes when you arrive in Mexicali
Crossing from United States into Mexico: money changes from the Dollar to the Peso (MXN); the dialling code becomes +52; the emergency number is http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q533806.
Airports at each end
Leaving Costa Mesa
Costa Mesa is served by 6 airports with scheduled flights within 100 km. The closest large one is John Wayne Orange County International Airport (SNA), 6 km (4 mi) from the centre, with a longest runway of 5,700 ft, which limits it to short and medium-haul aircraft. The alternatives are Long Beach International Airport (LGB, 29 km), Ontario International Airport (ONT, 55 km), Los Angeles International Airport (LAX, 56 km), Hollywood Burbank/Bob Hope Airport (BUR, 74 km), San Bernardino International Airport (SBD, 81 km).
Arriving in Mexicali
Mexicali is served by 3 airports with scheduled flights within 100 km. The closest large one is General Rodolfo Sánchez Taboada International Airport (MXL), 20 km (12 mi) from the centre, with a longest runway of 8,530 ft, which limits it to short and medium-haul aircraft. The alternatives are Imperial County Airport (IPL, 26 km), Yuma International Airport / Marine Corps Air Station Yuma (YUM, 79 km).
| Airport | Code | From centre | Longest runway | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Rodolfo Sánchez Taboada International Airport (regional) | MXL | 20 km (12 mi) | 8,530 ft | 74 ft |
| Imperial County Airport (regional) | IPL | 26 km (16 mi) | 5,308 ft | -54 ft |
| Yuma International Airport / Marine Corps Air Station Yuma (regional) | YUM | 79 km (49 mi) | 13,300 ft | 213 ft |
Book a flight to Mexicali
Our airline partner is activating live fares for this site; the search below opens the moment that is done. Hotels can be booked now.
Flights are sold here by AirOrSeaTravel through our booking partner, Nuitée, which takes the payment; the ticket is issued by the airline. How this works.
Staying in Mexicali
Our booking partner lists 79 places to stay in Mexicali. Of the 40 with a star rating, the largest group is 3-star (21), and 3 are five-star. Across 28 properties with at least 50 reviews, the average guest score is 8.2 out of 10. Guests have left 15,602 reviews in total.
Book a hotel in Mexicali
Live rooms and prices from our booking partner, booked and paid for here. Free cancellation is marked where it applies.
Common questions
How far is Mexicali from Costa Mesa?
256 km (159 mi) in a straight line, south-east of Costa Mesa.
How long does it take to get from Costa Mesa to Mexicali by air?
About 1 h 5 min, estimated from distance and typical speeds for a nonstop flight. Timetables and traffic decide the real figure.
Is there a time difference between Costa Mesa and Mexicali?
No, both are on the same offset at the moment.
Which airports are used for Costa Mesa to Mexicali flights?
Typically John Wayne Orange County International Airport (SNA) to General Rodolfo Sánchez Taboada International Airport (MXL); Mexicali also has IPL, YUM.
What currency do I need in Mexicali?
The Peso (MXN).
Where can I stay in Mexicali?
Our booking partner lists 79 places to stay in Mexicali, bookable on this site.
Where these facts come from
- GeoNames (CC BY 4.0): population, elevation, time zone, postal codes
- Wikidata (CC0): area, sister cities, visitor numbers, heritage listings, stations and ports
- OurAirports (public domain): airports, runways
- Natural Earth (public domain): map outlines
Data compiled 13 September 2026. Hotel figures are from our booking partner’s catalogue on that date. Journey times on this page are estimates from distance, not timetables; check the operator before you rely on one.