With a population of 5,019, Big Bear Lake is a must-see destination in California, United States. It is among the most popular tourist destinations in the country. 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 41 miles from Big Bear Lake. Los Angeles Airport is the most popular, with regular flights from American Airlines, Alaska Airlines, Qantas Airways and other airlines departing from Australia. The shortest flight to Big Bear Lake from Australia departs from Melbourne and takes around 14h 10m.
Amtrak is the only carrier operating train routes to Big Bear Lake. The train journey from Big Bear Lake to Burbank takes 0h 27m and costs around $17 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Fullerton, expect to pay about $22 for a 0h 39m trip.
Another option to get to Big Bear Lake is to pick up a car hire from Los Angeles, which is about 81 miles from Big Bear Lake. You’ll find branches of Thrifty and Dollar, among others, in Los Angeles.
Several bus lines operate bus routes to Big Bear Lake, including Bus, FlixBus and Busbud. From Santa Barbara, the bus ride to Big Bear Lake takes 120 miles and will cost you around $99. From San Diego, the ticket costs about $77 for a journey of 125 miles.
Average rates range from around $354 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to $333 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 $1.61 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 $19.23 and $25.64. Intermediate (Hyundai Elantra or similar) is the most popular car type to hire in Big Bear Lake, while also 52% cheaper than other types, on average.