Welcome to the exit list guide for Baja California. This page is designed to explain some important notes on the lists provided. 
Mexican Freeways/Highways are built differently from Freeways in the U.S.A. and thus some important notes must be made.

I wanted to be daring and challenge myself by taking on this project. In addition, sources of information on roads in Baja 
California are rather weak. I hope this becomes an excellent source and reference for those who travelling to Baja California or
those who are just seeking information.

Highway Designations

In the U.S.A. a specific highway will be designated with a number (Ex: The freeway from Los Angeles to Santa Ana is Interstate
5 and I-5 only). In Mexico, this system will only apply to the rural roadway that is connecting two seperate cities. Thus, the 
difference is that within a city all major roads will "point" to the highway that leads to the next city. That roadway may not carry 
a numerical designation. In addition, a number of roads will have signs with the same highway number, but all are not actually
that particular highway. Not every road within a city is Highway 1, rather they are pointing towards the area on the edge of the
city where "Highway 1" begins. Think of it as described below:

Example: The freeway connecting Los Angeles and Irvine  and the freeway connecting Long Beach and Irvine are neither 
I-5 nor I-405, but rather will both "point" to Highway 5 towards San Diego.

I hope I described that well. Once you think in this mindset, its much easier to navigate highways in Mexico. However, as
American motorists we will always ask ourselves "What highway are we on???" With this in mind I created a map of the Tijuana
area below that should make some more sense of the area in an American motorist mindset. The lettered roadways will cause
some confusion, thus they will be explained in detail below.

Border Crossings
There are three border crossings along the western end of the border. San Ysidro (I-5), by far the busiest, Otay Mesa (CA-905), less
busy, and Tecate (CA-188), much less busy than the other two.

Libre vs. Cuota
Libre indicates the Free Road (the one without tolls). The Libre Road is usually takes longer to navigate and is in poor condition
when compared to the Cuota (Toll Road). The toll road and the free road usually parallel one another. The toll road will be signed
With "Cuota" meaning toll road, also a "D" will be attached to the number (ex: 2D).

Types of Roads
Red - The red lines are covered by the exit guide. They act more like expressways. There is no cross-traffic, you cannot make a left
turn across the roadway, there are exits, however slow traffic may pull onto the roadway and merge in your direction at any 
moment .
Green - The green lines are tollways that are covered on the exit guide. The tollway will always have an established highway
number (in this case either 1D or 2D). The tollways most resemble an American Freeway. It is entriely access controlled, however,
shoulders are narrow, so beware! In addition, your toll covers towing along the tollway if you break down.
Black - The black roadways are major highways, but will have traffic lights and cross traffic. Try to avoid them.

Definition of the highways lettered above:
A - This is "Calle Internacional". It will be signed as MX-1 or MX-1D. It will also defined as the road that will take you to the
"Scenic Road" (MX-1D), which leads to Ensenada. This roadway runs just south of the fence separating Mexico from the U.S.A.

B - Some maps will refer to this a "Libramiento Sur". This road will be signed as MX-2 but also acts as Libre 1. It is the faster way to
reach the free road to Rosarito. This is also the preferred route to reach the San Ysidro Crossing as opposed to the original Libre 1
Avendia 16 De Septiembre (marked on the map as letter D).

C - This is Avendia Bentio Juarez. This road will lead from the interchange on the west side of Tijuana into the downtown area. It is
littered with traffic lights and cross traffic. Calle Internacional (A) is a much better option to reach the San Ysidro crossing. This
roadway is NOT covered on the exit guide.

D - This is the Old Libre 1 which leads into Avendia 16 De Septiembre and Downtown Tijuana. Like Avendia Bentio Juarez (C),
it has lots of cross-traffic and traffic lights. "Libramiento Sur" (B) is a much better way to reach Libre 1 down to Rosarito. This
roadway is NOT covered on the exit guide.

E - This is Libre 1 leading away from the interchange on the south side of Tijuana and heading towards Rosarito and the
tollway that leads to Ensenada (MX-1D). For northbound traffic leaving Rosarito and Ensenada, use this road to head towards 
"Garita Otay" (Otay Mesa Port of Entry) to bypass the busy San Ysidro (I-5) Port of Entry.

F - Some maps will refer to this as "Libramiento Oriente". It will also be signed as Libre 2 heading East towards Tecate. This 
expressway will connect one from the "South Tijuana Interchange" to the "East Tijuana Interchange" and vice versa. For 
northbound traffic leaving Rosarito and Ensenada, use this road to head towards "Garita Otay" (Otay Mesa Port of Entry) to 
bypass the busy San Ysidro (I-5) Port of Entry.

G - 1. This roadway leading eastbound will be signed as Via Poniente and also as Libre 2. This highway follows the Rio Tijuana
along its southern bank right through Central Tijuana. It then leads to the interchange on the east side of Tijuana where one 
can choose to take the road towards Cuota 2D (H) or Libre 2 or to head west on Libramiento Oriente (F) to reach Libre 1.
2. This roadway heading westbound will be signed as Via Oriente, it acts as Libre 2 Westbound reaching the San Ysidro
crossing. This highway follows the Rio Tijuana along its northern bank right through Central Tijuana.

H - This is the roadway that will connect motorists from the "East Tijuana Interchange" to the Cuota 2D, which is also referred to
as the Tijuana-Mexicali Toll Road. There is a traffic circle to navigate and lots of cross traffic. For northbound traffic leaving 
Rosarito and Ensenada, use this road to head towards "Garita Otay" (Otay Mesa Port of Entry) to bypass the busy San Ysidro 
(I-5) Port of Entry.

This is Federal Highway 1. It is free to use and parallels the better toll road MX-1D. Many roadways will carry 
the MX-1 degination (A, B, C, and D in the map above). They will all lead you to the south end of Tijuana where 
the roadway (E) will lead you towards Rosarito. The road will parallel the tollway south or Rosarito. MX-1
ultimately will lead you all the way along the Baja Peninsula to Cabo San Lucas.

This will usually be referred to as the Tijuana-Ensenada Toll Road, or Cuota 1D. It begins west of Tijuana and 
ends a few miles outside of Ensenada.

This is Federal Highway 2. There are no tolls along MX-2. Many roadways will carry the MX-2 designation 
(B, G, F, and possibly H). They will all lead you (except for H) to the free road that begins southeast of Tijuana, 
From here the roadway heads northeast back over MX-2D to Tecate. From here the road parallels MX-2D as 
it heads towards Mexicali.

This will usually be referred to as the Tijuana-Mexicali Toll Road, or Cuota 2D. It begins east of Tijuana near
the U.S. / Mexico border and heads east towards Tecate and Mexicali. It is important to note that the 
roadway (H)  leading from East Tijuana over to the beginning of the tollway may be signed as MX-2D, but
no toll is required. (H) is a major street that connects motorists to the Otay Mesa Port of Entry and the 
Industrial Sector in Northeast Tijuana.

This is the rural highway that connects Tecate and Ensenada. It is NOT covered on the exit guide.

This is the new highway that is being built around Tijuana. It leads from MX-2D east of Tijuana over to MX-1D
and the city of Rosarito. This highway is also nicknamed as "Tijuana 2000". The northern portion (north of Libre 2)
is open to traffic. The southern end that connects to Rosarito is under construction. I am unsure when it will be
finished, any information will be helpful.

(I've tried my best here. If there are any corrections feel free to e-mail me info@westernexitguide.com)

Cuota - Toll Road

Libre - Free Road

Autopista - Freeway or Highway (More of a controlled access highway)

Comience Autopista - Begin Freeway

Terminar Autopista - End Freeway

Oeste - West

Este - East

Norte - North

Sur - South

Garita - Gate (When heading back into California look for "Garita San Ysidro" and "Gartia Otay"). These are the ports of entry.

hacia - towards

puente - bridge

E.U.A. (Estados Unidos de America) - United States of America

Centro - Center (as in Center or Downtown portion of a city)