Day trip from Costa Mesa to Mexicali
Mexicali lies 256 km (159 mi) south-east of Costa Mesa, in the same time zone. What the numbers say about getting there.
At 256 km (159 mi) apart, Mexicali is a realistic day trip from Costa Mesa: about 4 h 9 min each way by road.
| 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) |
| 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.
Where to book tours and tickets in Mexicali
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.
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; by road roughly 312 km (194 mi).
How long does it take to get from Costa Mesa to Mexicali by road?
About 4 h 9 min, estimated from distance and typical speeds. 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.
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 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.