Trip from Fontana, CA to Big Bear City, CA

Q: How long is the trip from Fontana, CA to Big Bear City, CA?

The drive from Fontana, CA to Big Bear City, CA covers 53.8 miles and takes about 1h 29m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

Q: What are the main roads on this route?

The main roads are Steve Faris Memorial Highway, Foothill Freeway, Rim of the World Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

Q: Is this a good same-day trip?

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

Q: Where should I stop halfway?

The midpoint is about 26.9 miles from Fontana, CA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

Q: How much does gas cost for this trip?

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $12.37 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.

Q: What is the best time to leave?

Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.

Q: What towns show up on signs driving from Fontana, CA to Big Bear City, CA?

The route from Fontana, CA to Big Bear City, CA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

1h 29m

Distance

53.8 mi

87 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$12

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 21 min

4 AM

1h 22m ★

6 AM

1h 29m

8 AM

1h 43m

10 AM

1h 34m

12 PM

1h 33m

3 PM

1h 35m

5 PM

1h 42m

8 PM

1h 25m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Trip Overview

If you are planning a quick getaway from Fontana to Big Bear City, you are looking at a 53.8-mile journey that typically takes about 1 hour and 29 minutes to complete. This trip is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, allowing you to head up into the mountains and return without needing an overnight stay. You can expect to spend roughly $12 on fuel, making it a very budget-friendly transit within the Pacific Coast region. By utilizing Sierra Avenue and the CA 210 East, you will transition quickly from the valley floor toward the higher elevations. It is a straightforward trip that provides a clear connection between these two California locations, offering a practical way to reach your destination efficiently.

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 29m. Total distance: 53.8 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 29m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (24%). Straightforward navigation.

Scenic Drive

Turn-heavy local drive route profile.

Drive Character

Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate cruise, as this route features zero percent highway travel. You will spend your time navigating local roads that demand your full attention, especially as you leave the flatter stretches of the valley behind. Because the path is composed entirely of local roads, there is no single long, uninterrupted stretch to settle into, meaning the driving experience remains engaging from start to finish. The character of the road shifts significantly as you gain elevation, trading urban infrastructure for the more technical, winding conditions required to reach Big Bear City. Stay alert, as the lack of highway miles means you will be managing frequent turns throughout the entire 1 hour and 29-minute duration.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.

There are about 12 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

Steve Faris Memorial Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 15 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Sierra Avenue.

Driving Effort 3/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a straightforward 1h 29m drive. You will face about 5 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: near the start (Sierra Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.9 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 3.3 miles (CA 210 / Foothill Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 5 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

6

0 mi into trip | ~0m in | Sierra Avenue

Turn right onto Sierra Avenue

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left / straight lanes.

5

2.9 mi into trip | ~4m in

Take the ramp toward CA 210 East

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward CA 210 East

5

3.3 mi into trip | ~5m in | CA 210 / Foothill Freeway

Merge onto CA 210 / Foothill Freeway

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

7

16.4 mi into trip | ~20m in

Take the exit toward CA 330 North: Big Bear

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Exit 81 Toward CA 330 North: Big Bear

4

48.5 mi into trip | ~1h 18m in | CA 18 / Big Bear Boulevard

Continue onto CA 18 / Big Bear Boulevard

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Steve Faris Memorial Highway	15 mi	25m
Foothill Freeway	13.1 mi	15m
Rim of the World Highway	10.2 mi	18m
Big Bear Boulevard	9.2 mi	18m
Sierra Avenue	2.9 mi	4m
Hilltop Boulevard	2.2 mi	4m
Big Bear Bridge	<0.1 mi	<1m
Merrill Avenue	<0.1 mi	<1m

Longest stretch: Steve Faris Memorial Highway — 15 mi, about 25m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Fontana, CA and Big Bear City, CA.

1

Start on Merrill Avenue

205 ft · 6 sec · Merrill Avenue

2

Turn right onto Sierra Avenue

2.9 mi · 4 min · Sierra Avenue

Use the left / straight lanes.

3

Take the ramp

0.4 mi · 51 sec

Toward CA 210 East Use the straight / slight right lanes.

4

Merge onto CA 210

13 mi · 15 min · Foothill Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

5

Take the exit

0.6 mi · 1 min

Exit 81 Toward CA 330 North: Big Bear Use the slight right lane.

6

Continue on CA 330

15 mi · 25 min · Steve Faris Memorial Highway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

7

Continue on CA 18

2.2 mi · 4 min · Hilltop Boulevard

8

Continue on CA 18

10 mi · 18 min · Rim of the World Highway

9

Continue on CA 18

501 ft · 7 sec · Big Bear Bridge

Use the straight lane.

10

Continue on CA 18

3.9 mi · 7 min · Big Bear Boulevard

11

Continue on CA 18

5.3 mi · 10 min · Big Bear Boulevard

Use the left lane.

12

Arrive at destination

CA 38

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 26.9 mi from Fontana, CA · 38m into the drive

census-designated place in San Bernardino County, California, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Lake Arrowhead, CA

27 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.

Pacing Suggestions

San Bernardino, CA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Lake Arrowhead, CA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 26.9 miles from Fontana, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Big Bear City, CA

The final approach into Big Bear City, CA usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$12.37 one way

$24.73 round trip

$5.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 19 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$6.02	$12.74	$25.49
premium	$6.18	$13.08	$26.17
diesel	$5.61	$11.88	$23.76

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$12

Estimated CO2 emission: 18.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	16.1	$5.65	$2.58
Efficient EV	13.5	$4.71	$2.15
EV Truck/SUV	21.5	$7.53	$3.44

Gas CO2

19 kg

EV CO2

6 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.

Travel Intel

Current conditions at both ends of the drive.

Forecast as of Apr 16, 2026

Origin

Fontana, CA

Afternoon in Fontana on Thursday

Local time

3:45 PM

PDT

Current temp

74°F

Patchy Fog then Mostly Sunny

SW 0 to 15 mph 0% chance Live forecast

Wind Advisory

Wind Advisory issued April 16 at 7:07AM PDT until April 16 at 9:00PM PDT by NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard CA

Wind Advisory

Wind Advisory issued April 16 at 7:07AM PDT until April 17 at 3:00AM PDT by NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard CA

Destination

Big Bear City, CA

Afternoon in Big Bear City on Thursday

Local time

3:45 PM

PDT

Current temp

30°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Time zone

Same local time

Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.

Temperature spread

44 degrees cooler at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

1h 29m on the road

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Fontana, CA to Big Bear City, CA covers 53.8 miles and takes about 1h 29m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Steve Faris Memorial Highway, Foothill Freeway, Rim of the World Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 26.9 miles from Fontana, CA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $12.37 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.

Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.

This is a straightforward 1h 29m drive. You will face about 5 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

The main spots that need attention: near the start (Sierra Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.9 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 3.3 miles (CA 210 / Foothill Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.

The route from Fontana, CA to Big Bear City, CA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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