Tecate, California

Tecate is an unincorporated community in the Mountain Empire area of central southeastern San Diego County, California, adjacent to (directly north of) the Mexican border and the Mexican city of Tecate, Baja California; it is affectionately nicknamed Tecatito (or "Little Tecate") on account of its smaller size compared with the Mexican city Tecate. The community is best-known for its border crossing between the United States and México and nearby Tecate Peak. This area of San Diego County is somewhat desolate and rugged, located roughly an hour’s drive from downtown San Diego.