Columbia Bridge is 20 miles NW of downtown Laredo.
Laredo is considered a “safe” border crossing these days. The Columbia Bridge is considered the safest choice. Most tourists, especially RVers, prefer the Columbia Bridge to the downtown Laredo bridges, even though it is way to heck and gone. It is an easy crossing to Mexico with little traffic. The officials are used to dealing with foreigners, and are friendly. The highway from the bridge to the Monterrey Highway is divided multi-lane all the way. Columbia has a lot going for it.
My roadlogs and Trip-plans can start at Columbia to take you just about anywhere in Mexico. It is a good jumping off point for San Miguel de Allende, Mexico City, Veracruz (surprisingly), Guatemala, Belize, Yucatan, Guadalajara, Pto. Vallarta, Mazatlan, Oaxaca. That pretty well covers mainland Mexico.
| Category | Columbia Bridge | Downtown Laredo |
|---|---|---|
| Hours | 8-Midnight M-F, 10-4 Sat, Sunday Noon-4 | 24 Hrs Every Day |
| Distance from Laredo | 20 Miles in USA, 35 in Mex. Adds 1 hour to trip | None. Cars can negotiate city street turns to Aduana. RVs will have difficulty. Drive time 1/2 hour shorter than Columbia due to congestion. |
| Advantage | No Traffic, Easy drive to Monterrey Hwy. | Hotels, RV park, Change Pesos, Restaurants |
If you are coming directly from San Antonio, TX, the Columbia Bridge is actually closer for you than the downtown bridge. If you time it right, you could cross here and arrive in Saltillo or Matehuala by sunset.
Rebekah’s Experience Crossing at Columbia
Crossing the border, the most daunting part of my trip. I had already packed my possessions and rented out my house. There was no turning back. The only thing between me and my new life was the border.
I chose to cross the border at Colombia which is just south of Laredo, Texas, and feeds into Nuevo Leon, Mexico. I chose this crossing because it was one of the closest borders on my drive, but also because it was a very popular suggestion by other tourists including Mexico Mike. I was told it was also one of the easiest borders to cross for tourists, especially ones traveling by RV. I will only speak about this specific border in this article.
Mexico Border Crossing Columbia: What to Expect
I stayed in San Antonio the night before crossing. It was only two hours to Laredo and I would be able to cross the border around noon, as suggested by other travelers. I arrived at the border around 11 am. I came up to four or five lanes, each with a gate arm at the end. I waited for the car in front of me to go through the gate, then I entered the lane. I waited for a red or green light. If you receive a green light, the arm will raise and you may go on your way. If you receive a red light, an alarm will sound, the arm will raise, and you will be directed to veer right over to an officer. The officer will then search your vehicle and may ask some questions. The lights seem to be random and automated. If you do receive a red light no need to worry. I received a green light as I went through, but the car in front of me received a red light. I observed his search, which consisted of the officer opening the door to do a quick visual search. He inevitably did not see anything suspicious as he let the man pass. As I watched other cars pass through the terminal, I was expecting a red light to be a rare occasion but that was not the case. As I said, I believe it is on an automated system, so if you receive a red light do not panic, you have done nothing wrong. Answer the officer’s questions and you will be waived on.
Click here to see a complete checklist of Mexico border crossing requirements
Paperwork at the Colombia Border Crossing
After, I went through the gate and parked on the right-hand side in a small parking lot, and entered the building to apply for my Forma Migratoria Múltiple (FMM), and Temporary Import Permit (TIP). To obtain my FMM, I went to the door furthest from the parking lot. I entered and found a very empty room. I considered myself lucky for not having to experience a long line and the predicted wait time of 2 hours. I found the man responsible for issuing the FMM. I filled out the form and it was stamped; a fairly simple process. Then I was directed to the TIP line. This line took about 30 minutes with 5 people ahead of me. It is incredibly important that you have all your documents in order before getting in the line. I had proof of insurance, copies of my passport, license, original registration, and original title. I also needed a copy of my FMM, which I didn’t have because I had just received it. Luckily there is a copy store inside the building and it can be copied for very little money (around 5 pesos per page), however, you do need to have pesos to pay for the copy. Once I got to the front of the line, I gave the officer all of my documents. He issued the TIP and I paid him in dollars, although they do accept credit cards. Once I received my TIP, I was ready to hit the road!
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