Question for El Paso area based members

I'm looking for information from anyone who has first hand experience with crossing the border from El Paso into Mexico (Juarez) and then back into the U.S.

I'm planning an IronButt ride (Border to Border) for later this year.  I need to cross into Mexico, obtain proof I was there (dated receipt or photograph) and then cross back into the United States and head for Canada. As I have a specific time window for the ride, I need to make the excursion into Mexico as quick as possible. I'm looking for feedback on how long to expect, and any tips for getting back in line quickly to return to the U.S. What time of day is the best? I'm hoping someone here has made a crossing like this recently, and can give me some tips.

Thanks,
Garry

I'm not there now but lived there for a while and still travel (drive) into Mexico frequently.

If all you are doing is going over to take a picture I would try the Santa teresa, NM crossing.  All of the bridges in El Paso will be a circus except for maybe a small window before the morning commute.  I've spent hours in those lines and can't imagine a) navigating  that mess on a bike, or b) feathering my clutch up a bridge for that long without hurting my bike or my hand.  There ain't much in Santa Teresa (on either side) and it's a bit out of the way - but depending on how you are getting there and where you are going, it might be a viable option.

The Zaragoza bridge on the far east (Avenue of The Americas IIRC) would be my choice if I HAD to go through ELP or was coming from the east.  It's still a circus but nothing like the downtown and free bridges.  It's a heavy truck-traffic bridge but they are fairly well segregated so all you have to contend with is passenger vehicles... which will be a challenge enough in itself.

Actually, do you even have to cross the border, or just be in sight of it?  There are parking areas and turnarounds on the American side where you could get a shot of the bridge, river, maybe even the Mexican POE structures.  That might save you some hassle and a few bucks in tolls.  Though if you linger too long taking pictures you will probably get hassled by CBP.

Check this out also.

Good luck!

Thanks carlitos92, that is exactly the kind of advice and information I'm looking for. Yes, I must physically have my bike inside Mexico, but I'm hoping for not more than a few minutes. My plan is to cross into Mexico, buy some gas or something to get a dated and time stamped receipt, and cross back into the U.S. as quickly as possible. The Santa Teresa port looks to be the best choice by far.
Thanks for the input.

Garry

Keep in mind that Pemex stations are all full-serve -  a friendly gentleman will be waiting to assist you and take your money.  They'll take dollars but I'm not sure about the receipt part.  You might have to get creative as the businesses there are somewhat lax when it comes to documentation of sales.  If you pay tolls on either side you might could get a receipt for that since business travelers go through there routinely.

Also (I didn't even know this until I saw that CBP wait time page) some bridges apparently have operating hours, though I'd be surprised if you'd show up outside those hours.

If I were you, I'd cross the border in Arizona or New Mexico.  The bridges connecting El Paso / Cd. Juarez can get quite congested.  If your goal is to get in and out as quickly as possible, this isn't the place to do it.

Also, if you haven't already, check out mctourer.com for tips on (very) long distance trips.  I recently met a couple forum members who logged 22,000 miles in five weeks.  They started in San Diego went to Point Barrow, Alaska, and then the northern tip of Labrador.  I met them in New Jersey when they were on their way to Key West, Florida.  They told me some forum members have ridden from the southern tip of Argentina to the Point Barrow (the northern tip of Alaska.)

Thanks Steve.
From what I've learned so far, the Santa Teresa NM crossing looks to be the best choice. I have called U.S. Customs at the Santa Teresa port, and was told if I do this ride mid-week, and not during a holiday time like Christmas or Thanksgiving, the turnaround time should be under 20 minutes. They also said to bring documentation explaining my ride, and why I was only in Mexico for 15 minutes. Hopefully that would avoid a time consuming inspection.
As far as long distances go, this trip isn't all that long... my planned route is about 1450 miles to Saskatchewan. The goal is to make it from Mexico to Canada in less than 24 hours. While I have done almost 1600 IBA documented miles in  less than 24 hours before, the northern most part of the route is obviously not interstate, and will be a little slower going. This is why I will need to "waste" as little time as possible at the border. I plan to leave Mexico about 6PM and make it to Canada before 6PM the next day. This way, I'll do the majority of the night riding while I'm still fresh, and arrive at the Canadian border before dark.

Garry