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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.