Tecate is a small town in the Mexican state of Baja California, on the border with the United States and near Tecate, California. There is a border crossing is much quieter than nearby Tijuana or Mexicali, making it a more accurate representation of Mexican culture of the people.

The crossing is not open 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Although the city is only 40 miles from San Diego, the link is a winding mountain road, so Tecate is not viable as an alternative to long lines at the Tijuana-San Ysidro. Tecate is located on a spur of the toll road that connects Tijuana to Mexicali in the central highlands. It is also two-lane road the road runs east to west and is free.