CALIFORNIA
200 miles
PACIFIC COAST HIGHWAY
Mendocino MEXICO
San Francisco Berkeley Santa Cruz
Monterey BIXBY BRIDGE San Luis Obispo
CHANNEL ISLANDS NATIONAL PARK
P A CIFIC O CEAN
Santa Monica
San Diego Los Angeles
MEXICO Nevada
Oregon
CANAD A California
UNITED STATES OF
AMERICA
A view of Downtown Los Angeles from Elysian Park
& travel essentials
How long would it take to drive the length of California? Technically, under ideal driving conditions, you could get from north to south across the state in around 13 hours. However, traffic, particularly around LA, San Francisco and the Pacific Coast Highway, usually puts paid to this, and most travellers schedule a couple of weeks to properly enjoy the journey.
Can you drive in California with a UK licence? You don’t need an international driving permit (IDP), so long as your UK licence covers the type of vehicle you’re planning to drive (car, truck, motorcycle) and you’re at least 18 years old.
Are there any rules of the road to be aware of? Always drive on the right and overtake on the left. Right turns on a red light are allowed in California if you stop first, the road is clear and there are no signs prohibiting it. As a general rule of thumb, the speed limit in a residential or business district is 25mph, while on a two- lane, undivided highway it’s 55mph, and on an interstate or highway road the top speed is between 65–70mph.
86
NATIONALGEOGRAPHIC.COM/TRAVEL
Can I rent a classic car? Nothing says you’ve arrived in La La Land quite like cruising down Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills, the wind in your hair as you lower the soft top of a sporty vintage Corvette. It’s now easier than ever to rent a classic car directly from its owner, with websites such as Turo and Vinty listing hundreds of retro vehicles available to hire from many of California’s biggest cities. Hertz also has a collection of muscle car rentals, which are two-door, American-made sports cars with powerful engines.
How can I save money? There’s no escaping it: California is arguably one of the United States’ most expensive destinations to visit. But if your budget is stretched, there are ways to save a few dollars along the way. Travelling off season, hiring an RV and using campsites, and planning museum visits to coincide with their monthly free entry days will all help to lower costs. Don’t forget to factor in tipping — around 20% when dining out, a dollar or two per drink for bartenders and between 15–20% for taxi drivers is standard across California. ZG
GETTING THERE & AROUND British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, United and American Airlines all fly direct from the UK to California’s gateway airports — Los Angeles, San Diego and San Francisco.
ba.com
virginatlantic.com
united.com
aa.com Average flight time: 11h. Once on the ground, it’s worth using public transport, for example San Francisco’s underrated BART system. Sweeps of LA are also covered by Metro Rail, which is easy to navigate with a prepaid TAP card. The Amtrak Pacific Surfliner train runs between San Diego and San Luis Obispo, stopping at LA, Ventura and Santa Barbara along the way. A single journey between San Diego and LA takes 2h45m and costs from $35 (£28).
bart.gov taptogo.net
amtrak.com In the cities, Ubers are plentiful and a good way to avoid parking.
WHEN TO GO March to May is a perfect time to visit, with blue skies, wildflowers and temperatures in the 20Cs. September to November is also ideal, with plenty of sunshine, autumnal foliage, grape harvests and celebrations such as Monterey Jazz Festival (27–29 September) — although rainfall is higher. June to August is busiest, and the state also experiences extreme weather, with rolling fog on the coast and hotter temperatures up to around 42C.
MORE INFO
visitcalifornia.com
HOW TO DO IT Purely California has a tailormade 10-night coastal California itinerary, travelling from San Francisco to San Diego, from £2,499 per person, including flights and car hire.
purelycalifornia.co.uk
Arizona
IMAGE: GETTY. ILLUSTRATION: JOHN PLUMER
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