Canadian needing info on US Road Trips

[Erin]

Hi, I wondering if anyone could help me out, I'm planning to drive down the west coast from Vancouver Canada to California over to Arizona and Mexico possibly...I have a few questions. What are the gas prices in the various states I'll be travelling? What sort of cost am I looking at for the trip? (just for fuel and overnight camping etc...) What is the border crossing like these days? Anyone been? Thanks for your help!
PS Anyone up for the drive?

[Frank]

Sounds like a very cool trip. However, if you are going into mexico, you must find out if you auto insurance is valid there. I am of the understanding that most U.S. auto insurance policies are not valid once crossing into Mexico. It may be different with Canadian insurance, I'm not sure.

[dan]

I took a road trip from seattle to Baja last spring. Camping is really cheap ranging from $10-16 per night for one vehicle at the state parks go online and find Oregon state parks or california state park web sites that will tell you if there is pottable water or showers available. Gas in Cali is more expensive than in OR or WA so expect to pay around $1.50-1.75 or even more but I bet it is comparable to your prices in B.C.
If you go to Mexico get the insurance! And if you go across Baja expect to meet a lovely band of federalie check points with automatic weapons... don't bring anything that could wind you up in a mexican prison. Because they don't play. I would recommend going to San Felipe, it's pretty cool. The border crossings in Tejuana are a joke getting in but are more stringent getting back into the states Bring a passport even though I didn't have to use one last year it is good to have. Other than that have a good trip. go see the Redwood forest on highway 101 its great and if you get the chance stop by in Jashua Tree national park its pretty cool but bring your own water.

[Don Woodmancy]

I echo the comments that you absolutely need to buy Mexican auto insurance before you cross the border. Even if your insurance says it will cover you in Mexico (unlikely), Mexican authorities will not recognise that coverage unless your company is licensed there. I also agree that it is usually very east to crosss into Mexico - but not always. If they decide to stop you, and they sometimes do, and they find contraband, you are going to have an unpleasant period of time - often weeks or months. Their number 1 item of contraband is firearms. They have no sense of humor whatever about any sort of gun being carried across the border. I would also be extremely careful driving there. There are any number of cases where foreign (that's us)drivers who injure Mexican citizens in accidents are held until extremely large cash bonds are posted. In a few cases, such drivers have been held while they needed medical treatment, resulting in their unnecessary deaths. Let's be careful out there!

[Mark Sedenquist]

Years ago, while driving support for a Baja racing team, I was in a vehicle that was stopped by a local police officer near San Felipe. In the course of a "normal" poice inspecftion the officer found a loaded .38 under the seat upon which I was sitting. The ensuring excitement was one of the more grim and intense stand-offs I have ever had the unhappy pleasure to be in the middle of. So, word to the wiser...

Do not ever carry any kind of firearm into Mexico!

Editor

[Mark Sedenquist]

Years ago, while driving support for a Baja racing team, I was in a vehicle that was stopped by a local police officer near San Felipe. In the course of a "normal" police inspecftion the officer found a loaded .38 under the seat upon which I was sitting. The ensuring excitement was one of the more grim and intense stand-offs I have ever had the unhappy pleasure to be in the middle of. So, word to the wiser...

Do not ever carry any kind of firearm into Mexico! (Unless you are looking for some "serious" excitement!)

Editor