Car hire and driving in Mexicali
Driving distances to the cities around, the rules that change at the border, and where to compare rental prices.
In Mexico traffic drives on the right. Picking up at MXL means 20 km (12 mi) into the centre before the trip starts. The emergency number is http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q533806.
Drives from Mexicali
| Route | Country | Distance | Estimated time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mexicali to San Luis Río Colorado | Mexico | 67 km (42 mi) | about 1 h 1 min |
| Mexicali to Ensenada | Mexico | 137 km (85 mi) | about 2 h 5 min |
| Mexicali to El Cajon | United States | 142 km (88 mi) | about 2 h 10 min |
| Mexicali to Tijuana | Mexico | 146 km (91 mi) | about 2 h 13 min |
| Mexicali to Rosarito | Mexico | 152 km (95 mi) | about 2 h 19 min |
| Mexicali to Chula Vista | United States | 153 km (95 mi) | about 2 h 20 min |
| Mexicali to San Diego | United States | 160 km (100 mi) | about 2 h 27 min |
| Mexicali to Escondido | United States | 162 km (101 mi) | about 2 h 28 min |
| Mexicali to Vista | United States | 179 km (111 mi) | about 2 h 43 min |
| Mexicali to Temecula | United States | 185 km (115 mi) | about 2 h 49 min |
| Mexicali to Carlsbad | United States | 187 km (116 mi) | about 2 h 51 min |
| Mexicali to Oceanside | United States | 190 km (118 mi) | about 2 h 54 min |
| Mexicali to Los Angeles | United States | 304 km (189 mi) | about 4 h 38 min |
| Mexicali to Phoenix | United States | 328 km (204 mi) | about 5 h |
| Mexicali to San Antonio | United States | 1,653 km (1,027 mi) | about 25 h 12 min |
| Mexicali to Ciudad Juárez | Mexico | 852 km (530 mi) | about 13 h |
| Mexicali to Zapopan | Mexico | 1,783 km (1,108 mi) | about 27 h 12 min |
| Mexicali to Guadalajara | Mexico | 1,790 km (1,112 mi) | about 27 h 18 min |
| Mexicali to Dallas | United States | 1,743 km (1,083 mi) | about 26 h 34 min |
| Mexicali to Monterrey | Mexico | 1,658 km (1,030 mi) | about 25 h 17 min |
Distances are straight-line; road and rail routes run about 15–25% longer. Times are estimates from distance and typical speeds, not timetables.
Where to compare car hire
We take no bookings for these providers and hold no reservation with them. The provider you choose handles payment, confirmation, changes and refunds. How that works.
Common questions
Which side of the road do they drive on in Mexicali?
The right, as everywhere in Mexico.
How are the journey times on this page worked out?
From straight-line distance and typical speeds for each mode, so they are estimates for planning, not timetables. Road and rail routes run 15–25% longer than the straight line.
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 14 September 2026. Hotel and hostel 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.