Eagle Rider (www.eaglerider.com) Motor-
cycle rentals in the LA and San Francisco
Bay areas, San Diego, Orange County, Palm
Springs, Fresno and Lake Tahoe.
Dubbelju Motorcycle Rentals (www.
dubbelju.com) In San Francisco.
Route 66 (www.route66riders.com) Harley
Davidson rentals in LA’s South Bay.Recreational
Vehicles & Campervans
Book Recreational Vehicle (RV) and camp-
ervan rentals as far in advance as possible.
Rental costs vary by size and model; rates
often don’t include mileage, bedding or
kitchen kits, vehicle prep or taxes. Pets are
sometimes allowed (surcharge may apply).
Cruise America (www.cruiseamerica.com)
Over 20 RV-rental locations statewide.
El Monte (www.elmonterv.com) Almost 20
RV-rental locations in NorCal and SoCal.
Road Bear (www.roadbearrv.com) RV rent-
als in San Francisco and LA.
Happy Travel Campers (www.camperusa.
com) Rentals in San Francisco and LA.
Vintage Surfari Wagons (www.vwsurfari.
com) LA-based rentals.BORDER CROSSING
California is an important agricultural
state. To prevent the spread of pests and
diseases, certain food items (including
meats, fresh fruit and vegetables) may not
be brought into the state. Bakery items
and hard-cured cheeses are admissible. If
you drive across the border from Mexico
or the neighboring states of Oregon, Ne-vada or Arizona, you may have to stop for
a quick agricultural inspection.
If you’re driving across the Mexican
border, check the ever-changing pass-
port and visa requirements with the US
Department of State (http://travel.
state.gov) beforehand. US Customs &
Border Protection (http://apps.cbp.gov/
bwt) tracks current wait times at every
border crossing. Between San Diego and
Tijuana, Mexico, San Ysidro is the world’s
busiest border crossing. US citizens do
not require a visa for stays in Mexico of
72 hours or less within Baja California’s
border zone.
Unless you’re planning an extended stay
in Tijuana, taking a car across the Mexican
border is more trouble than it’s worth.
Instead, ride the trolley from San Diego or
leave your car on the US side of the border
and walk across. If you drive across, you
must buy Mexican car insurance either
beforehand or at the border crossing.MAPS
Visitor centers and tourist information of-
fi ces distribute free (but often very basic)
maps. GPS navigation cannot be entirely
relied upon, especially in remote desert or
mountain areas. If you are planning on do-
ing a lot of driving, you’ll need a more de-
tailed road map or atlas. Benchmark Maps’
comprehensive California Road & Recrea-
tion Atlas ($25) is the gold standard, show-
ing campgrounds, recreational areas and
topographical land features, although it’s
less useful for navigating congested urban
areas. Members of the American Automo-
bile Association (AAA) or its international
affi liates can pick up free driving maps
from any of AAA’s California offi ces.ROAD HAZARDS & CONDITIONS
For highway conditions, including road
closures and construction updates, dial
%800-427-7623 or visit http://www.dot.ca.gov.
In places where winter driving is an
issue, snow tires and tire chains may be
required, especially on mountain high-
ways. Ideally, carry your own chains and
learn how to use them before you hit the
road. Otherwise, chains can usually be
bought (but not cheaply) on the highway,
at gas stations or in nearby towns. Most
car-rental companies don’t permit the use
of chains. Driving off -road, or on unpavedv a b p D s B b b T b n 7 bin
bWarning!
As of February 2012, the US State
Department (http://travel.state.gov)
has issued a travel warning about
increasing drug-traffi cking violence
and crime along the US–Mexico
border. Travelers should exercise
extreme caution in Tijuana, avoid
large-scale gatherings and demon-
strations, and refrain from venturing
out after dark, especially in cars
with US license plates.366
CALIFORNIA DRIVING GUIDE(^) BORDER CROSSING
50-driving-california-tr-cal2.indd 36650-driving-california-tr-cal2.indd 366 19/09/2012 1:11:47 PM19/09/2012 1:11:47 PM