Otay Mesa (/ˈoʊtaɪ ˈmeɪsə/ OH-ty MAY-sə) is a community in the southern exclave of San Diego, California, just north of the U.S.–Mexico border.

Aviation pioneer John J. Montgomery made the first controlled flights in the western hemisphere using a series of gliders from the west rim of Otay Mesa in 1883/1884.

[7] Since 2010, seven cross-border tunnels have been found linking warehouses in Otay Mesa with entry points within Mexico.

[17] This power plant will be joined with the Pio Pico Energy Center peaker, which will generate an additional 300 megawatts.

[citation needed] Five major law-enforcement facilities are located in an unincorporated area in the Otay Mesa region:[19] Otay Mesa is in the San Ysidro School District (SYSD) and the Sweetwater Union High School District (SUHSD).