Getting Around
San Diego: Travel Tips
Southern California is generally not a good place to rely on taxis and public transportation, so unless you plan to spend the bulk of your time in a specific area — around the convention center, for example, or in one of the beach communities — you'll almost certainly want to have your own wheels while in San Diego. Before getting behind the wheel, here are a few important points to keep in mind:
— It's easy to get disoriented on the city's sprawling network of roads and freeways. Whenever possible, set out with point-to-point driving directions in hand.
— Local drivers tend to be assertive and fast. When driving the freeways, prepare to accelerate quickly on entrance ramps, and try to get in the correct lane well before exiting or navigating an interchange.
— Avoid longer trips during the morning and afternoon commute hours when freeways and major thoroughfares tend to slow to a crawl. You're also likely to encounter heavy traffic around the beach communities on sunny weekends.
— Parking is usually not a problem in San Diego, except if you drive to the beach on a sunny weekend. Go early for the best chance of getting a good spot. Parking garages are plentiful downtown, though rates are high in the most desirable locations. Many hotels charge extra for parking, so be sure to ask when booking your room.
— Increasingly, automatic cameras are being used to finger motorists who run red lights in San Diego, and authorities are able to track you down even you're driving a rental car or a vehicle with out-of-state license plates. Better not risk accelerating through a changing light.
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