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Drive Time
2h 13m
Distance
96.7 mi
156 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$22
one way
EV Charging
None
0 DC fast
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Big Bear Lake, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Los Angeles, CA
Stephen Leonardi
Transitioning from the mountains of Big Bear Lake to the urban sprawl of Los Angeles is a manageable 96.7-mile journey that typically takes about 2 hours and 13 minutes. Because this is a relatively short trip, it works perfectly as a single-day excursion, allowing you to easily bridge the gap between these Pacific Coast locations. Budgeting around $13 for fuel should cover your needs for the duration of the trip. Navigating this route involves a combination of the Steve Faris Memorial Highway, the Foothill Freeway, and the San Bernardino Freeway. Whether you are heading back to the city after a getaway or just exploring the region, this straightforward drive offers a practical connection between two distinct California settings.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
48.4 miles from Big Bear Lake, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 16m into the drive .
Loading map...
Expect a highway-focused experience, as roughly 65% of your travel time will be spent on major thoroughfares. You will face your longest uninterrupted segment while covering 43.9 miles on the Foothill Freeway, which dictates the pace of the drive. The personality of the road shifts from the initial mountain descent onto more heavily trafficked freeway lanes as you approach the Los Angeles basin. While the drive is efficient, you should be prepared for the transition from the Steve Faris Memorial Highway to the faster-paced freeway system. It is a functional, high-speed route designed to move you efficiently from the elevation of Big Bear Lake down to the Pacific Coast metropolitan area.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Foothill Freeway and Steve Faris Memorial Highway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 31.7 miles in.
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 19 significant decision points across 96.7 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 31.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 60.8 miles (CA 210 / Foothill Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 81.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Keep slight right at fork toward CA 210 West: Pasadena
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 210 / Foothill Freeway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward I 10: San Bernardino, Los Angeles
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork toward I 10 West: Los Angeles
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward Alameda Street, Union Station
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Foothill Freeway | 43.9 mi | 50m |
| Steve Faris Memorial Highway | 14.8 mi | 25m |
| San Bernardino Freeway | 13.3 mi | 15m |
| Rim of the World Highway | 10.2 mi | 18m |
| San Gabriel River Freeway | 4.9 mi | 5m |
| Big Bear Boulevard | 4.4 mi | 8m |
| Hilltop Boulevard | 2.2 mi | 4m |
| Santa Ana Freeway | 0.4 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Big Bear Lake, CA and Los Angeles, CA.
Start on Pine Knot Avenue
Turn right onto CA 18
Continue on CA 18
Continue on CA 18
Continue on CA 18
Continue on CA 18
Continue on CA 330
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto CA 210
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 210
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 210
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 210
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 210
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 210
Take the exit
Continue on I 605
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto I 10
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10
Merge onto US 101
Take the exit
Continue on I 10 EXPR
Turn left onto North Los Angeles Street
Turn right onto East 1st Street
Arrive at destination
Since the trip is only 2 hours and 13 minutes, you have significant flexibility with your departure time, though avoiding peak traffic hours on the San Bernardino Freeway is always a smart move. Because there are zero formal stops scheduled along this 96.7-mile corridor, ensure your vehicle is fueled up before leaving Big Bear Lake to keep your $13 estimate accurate. You won't need to plan for an overnight stay, making this a stress-free travel day. Keep a close eye on your navigation as you transition between the Foothill Freeway and the San Bernardino Freeway to ensure you remain on the fastest path to your specific destination in Los Angeles.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 80 miles or 1h 52m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 48.4 miles or 1h 16m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 52m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Los Angeles, CA than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Big Bear Lake, CA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Big Bear Lake, CA
This is one driving day of about 96.7 miles and 2h 13m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 48.4 mi from Big Bear Lake, CA · 1h 16m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
48 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 48.4 miles from Big Bear Lake, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Los Angeles, CA usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Los Angeles, CA.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$22.23 one way
$44.45 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $22.90 | $45.81 |
| premium | $6.18 | $23.52 | $47.03 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $21.35 | $42.70 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$22
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$47–$72
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 33.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 29 | 0 | $10.15 | $4.64 |
| Efficient EV | 24.2 | 0 | $8.46 | $3.87 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 38.7 | 0 | $13.54 | $6.19 |
Gas CO2
34 kg
EV CO2
11 kg (68% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Evening in Big Bear Lake on Tuesday
Local time
5:12 PM
PDT
Current temp
53°F
Sunny
Destination
Evening in Los Angeles on Tuesday
Local time
5:12 PM
PDT
Current temp
72°F
Sunny
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
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