Planning an airport ride from El Centro
Because the big airports are a long drive from the valley, a little planning makes the day calmer. Here is what we talk through with riders.
Getting onto I-8
State Route 86 meets I-8 at an interchange on the edge of town, so riders from most addresses are on the freeway quickly. From there the trip to San Diego is a single westbound route, which is why we focus on pickup time rather than turns.
San Diego International
Rome2Rio puts the road distance between SAN and El Centro near 117 miles. We ask for your airline and flight time, then pick a departure that leaves a cushion at the terminal.
Palm Springs International
Travelmath lists the drive from El Centro to PSP at about 106 miles. That makes it a reasonable alternative when your itinerary flows through the Coachella Valley.
The county airport in Imperial
IPL, at 1099 Airport Road in Imperial, is a small commercial airport. The county lists the carrier currently flying there, so check that page for schedules, then send us the flight time and we book the ride.
Timing the departure
Airlines publish their own check-in advice, and we build the pickup around it. A flight before sunrise means a pickup in the dark, which is fine with our 24/7 phone line.
Hotel pickups
Guests at the hotels along Dogwood Avenue can name the lobby entrance. For a house or office, send the full street address and any gate details.
Luggage and car choice
One traveler with a carry-on fits the sedan easily. A family with checked bags should take the SUV, which seats up to six with luggage.
