Make Sure You Have a Current US Passport
US Border Patrol requires you to have a passport or passport card to cross back into the United States.
Los Algodones, Mexico
Driving:
Los Algodones is the most convenient location to visit a dentist in Mexico. The dental offices are right across the border. All the Molar City dentists are within walking distance once you cross the border.
The Los Algodones border is also within driving distance from major cities in the Southwest. Here are driving distances to Los Algodones from major Southwest cities:
Driving Distance and Los Algodones Map / Directions
Phoenix, AZ – 3.5 hours (directions to Los Algodones from Phoenix)
Yuma, AZ – 15 minutes (directions to Los Algodones from Yuma)
San Diego, CA – 2.5 hours (directions to Los Algodones from San Diego)
Los Angeles, CA – 4 hours (directions to Los Algodones from Los Angeles)
Las Vegas, NV – 4.5 hours (directions to Los Algodones from Las Vegas)
The Los Algodones border near Yuma is within driving distance from major cities in the Southwest.
Parking:
Park on the US side of the border
There is a huge parking lot on the US side of the border run by the Native Americans. It is safe and gated. The cost to park for the day is $6, cash only.
Your dentist in Los Algodones is likely within 2-3 short blocks from the border. Some dental offices have shuttles that pick you up once you arrive on the Mexico side of the border. It’s harder to find parking on the Mexico side. And although Mexican car insurance is not required when you cross the border to Mexico, it is often recommended. Check with your car insurance company.
Oftentimes, especially during the slow season, it’s faster to go through the US customs by walking. The Los Algodones border crossing car line is always longer to go back to the US.
Flying:
Yuma International Airport is the closest airport to Los Algodones
Option 1: Fly to the major airports nearby. Then take a rental car to drive to Los Algodones.
Here are the closest major airports to Molar City, Mexico:
Phoenix International Airport (PHX) – 3-hour drive to Los Algodones
San Diego International Airport (SAN) – 2.5-hour drive to Los Algodones
Option 2: Fly to major airports, then take a connecting flight to Yuma International Airport (YUM).
You can then take a taxi or rental car to Molar City, Mexico from the Yuma Airport. It’ll cost approximately $30 each way by taxi or Uber to go from the Yuma Airport to the Los Algodones border.
Rental cars would be cheaper. You can probably get a rental car as cheap as $15 per day during your stay in Yuma, Arizona. Again, you don’t have to bring the car into Mexico. You’ll just park on the US-side of the border and walk to your dentist in Los Algodones.
You can also book with hotels that offer free shuttles back and forth from the airport and Los Algodones. Inquire about hotel packages.
Option 1 is generally cheaper than Option 2 to fly to Molar City. The cost of taking that connecting flight to Yuma can get pricey.
Option 3: Fly directly to Yuma airport:
Yuma airport is a smaller airport with limited flights. As of this writing, American Airlines appears to be the only major airline that has flights to Yuma, Arizona.
Make Sure You Have a Current US Passport
US Border Patrol requires you to have a passport or passport card to cross back into the United States.