Big Bear Lake travel guide
Big Bear Lake Tourism | Big Bear Lake Guide
You're Going to Love Big Bear Lake
With a population of 5,019, Big Bear Lake is a must-see destination in California, United States. Big Bear Lake deserves at least 2 full days for you to see its main sights.
When to visit Big Bear Lake
Looking for warm weather? Then head to Big Bear Lake in July, when the average temperature is 18 °C, and the highest can go up to 27 °C. The coldest month, on the other hand, is January, when it can get as cold as -7 °C, with an average temperature of 1 °C. You’re likely to see more rain in January, when precipitation is around 118 mm. In contrast, June is usually the driest month of the year in Big Bear Lake, with an average rainfall of 4 mm.
How to Get to Big Bear Lake
Plane
Although Big Bear Lake doesn’t have its own airport, you can fly to Ontario Airport (ONT), which is located 66 km from Big Bear Lake. The shortest flight to Big Bear Lake from New Zealand departs from Auckland and takes around 12h 05m.
Train
Amtrak is the only carrier operating train routes to Big Bear Lake. The train journey from Big Bear Lake to Burbank takes 0h 29m and costs around $28 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Fullerton, expect to pay about $23 for a 0h 34m trip.
Car
Another option to get to Big Bear Lake is to pick up a car hire from Los Angeles, which is about 131 km from Big Bear Lake. You’ll find branches of Sixt and Thrifty, among others, in Los Angeles.
Bus
Several bus lines operate bus routes to Big Bear Lake, including Bus, FlixBus and Amtrak. From Santa Ana, the bus ride to Big Bear Lake takes 121 km and will cost you around $41. From Bakersfield, the ticket costs about $51 for a journey of 201 km.
Airlines serving Big Bear Lake
Where to stay in Big Bear Lake
Average rates range from around $346 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to $394 and up for a 5-star experience. If you’re on a budget, well-reviewed accommodations include Ith Big Bear Lake Hostel & Retreat Center and Fireside Lodge.
Where to stay in popular areas of Big Bear Lake
Most booked hotels in Big Bear Lake
Hiring a car in Big Bear Lake
Expect to pay $1.68 per litre in Big Bear Lake (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your car hire, filling up the tank will cost between $20.05 and $26.73. The most frequently booked car type in Big Bear Lake is Full-size (GMC Yukon or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Economy car hire (Chevrolet Spark or similar) is, on average, 68% cheaper than other car hire types in the city.