👉 Jump to: Overview of Big Bear vs Lake Arrowhead | Detailed Comparison | Final Verdict | FAQ

Looking to explore some of California’s mountain towns but aren’t sure how to compare Big Bear vs Lake Arrowhead? Look no further than this complete guide, written by yours truly, a California mountain town local.

I grew up in California only an hour away from Lake Arrowhead and Big Bear. I have spent plenty of time camping, hiking, and exploring each California mountain town.

In this guide, I break down the pros and cons of both towns to help you pick the right option for you.

Disclosure: Travel Lemming is an independent reader-supported blog. You can support us by purchasing via the affiliate links on this page, which may earn us commissions. See our Advertising Policy for further explanation. Thank you!

Lake Arrowhead and Big Bear each have their own advantages, and appeal to different types of travelers.

Big Bear is more popular because it is comparatively more affordable, has more attractions, offers plentiful hiking and mountain biking opportunities, and also has a public lake. For these reasons, more travelers tend to favor Big Bear over Lake Arrowhead.

Lake Arrowhead is a more luxurious, less crowded mountain town that offers a serene mountain escape from the chaos of the big city. Travelers with larger budgets who prioritize exclusivity will prefer Lake Arrowhead over Big Bear.

Your decision on whether you should visit Lake Arrowhead or Big Bear depends on a few factors. These include what activities you have in mind and what your main vacation priorities are. Are you visiting one of these quaint California towns for some R&R or are you hoping to pocket fun mountain adventures? 

Here is a chart breaking comparing Big Bear vs Lake Arrowhead across several categories:

Both mountain towns offer so many fun activities to do.

However, there are more things to do in Big Bear‘s town, like shopping, dining, hiking, an alpine zoo, the Snow Play inner tubing for little ones, a ski resort, and more.

My favorite things to do in Lake Arrowhead are attending a summer concert at the outdoor Arrowhead Village venue, hanging out at the Lake Arrowhead Brewery, and playing bar games at the nearby Dogwood Tavern.

🏆 Winner: Big Bear

Big Bear is one of the most affordable mountain towns in Southern California. From food to accommodation, free things to do, and entertainment prices, it’s completely possible to visit Big Bear on a budget.

Big Bear is one of the most affordable California mountain towns in terms of accommodation. Rent a cozy cabin near the lake without breaking the bank or stay at one of Big Bear’s two economic hostels. See our guide to the best places to stay in Big Bear for more.

Although it’s not hard to find deals in Lake Arrowhead, this mountain town isn’t exactly known as budget-friendly. Accommodation is the biggest cost on a Lake Arrowhead vacation and food and drinks quickly add up too.

🏆 Winner: Big Bear

There are so many fun things to do in Big Bear for the whole family. Take the kiddos on an easy hike through the San Bernardino Mountains, shred down Big Bear Mountain Ski Resort slopes, and learn from interactive exhibits at the Big Bear Discovery Center.

You can also rent a bike in Big Bear City and try your luck mountain biking in the Big Bear Valley mountains. Additionally, kids love taking kayaks or paddle boards out on the water. 

For families visiting Lake Arrowhead, you can Go for a spin on Lake Arrowhead the only way non-residents can via the Arrowhead Queen boat tour or take a relaxing morning walk through the woods via the Will Abell Memorial Trail.

Lake Arrowhead also comes alive during the holidays with festive events like Santa’s Village. Watch Christmas performances, meet your favorite holiday characters, or go for a ride on the ice skating rink during these fun events.

Both Big Bear and Lake Arrowhead are great destinations for families.

🏆 Winner: Tie

I highly recommend renting a car via Discover Cars to drive around the San Bernardino Mountains but public transportation is available in Big Bear. 

The Mountain Transit buses run throughout the mountain town and into surrounding mountain areas like Running Springs, Crestline, Lake Arrowhead, and San Bernardino.

Transportation around Lake Arrowhead is much less frequent and reliable. Buses down the hill to San Bernardino operate three times a day and buses from Big Bear to Lake Arrowhead run about once an hour. 

I don’t recommend relying heavily on public transportation in Lake Arrowhead due to the poor cell service. If you miss your bus or have a breakdown, you may be in an area with no reception and unable to arrange another ride.

🏆 Winner: Big Bear

There are so many fun hikes in the San Bernardino Mountains of Big Bear. My favorite hiking trail is the Pine Knot Trail, from which you can see the shimmering Big Bear Lake in the distance. Additionally, a stretch of the Pacific Crest Trail runs through Big Bear, one of the coolest hikes in California.

Keep in mind that an Adventure Pass is required to park at all Big Bear trailheads. This can be obtained from the Big Bear Visitor Center. You can also leave an America the Beautiful pass on your dashboard (national parks pass).

Lake Arrowhead hikes are shorter and more suited for the whole family. There are longer hikes just outside of town, though, that exceed 10 miles. You will need your own car to get to these trailheads.

🏆 Winner: Big Bear

Big Bear Lake is free for all! This public lake allows everyone to enjoy its cooling waters year-round (although I suggest sticking to summertime dips). 

Rent a kayak or paddleboard, go boating, or sunbathe on the lake shores. Hanging out by the lake is one of my favorite things to do in Big Bear after a hot hike under the sun.

Unfortunately, Lake Arrowhead is a private lake. Only Lake Arrowhead residents are allowed access to the lake but visitors can still enjoy a spin around Lake Arrowhead via the Arrowhead Queen tourist boat.

Another loophole for spending time on Lake Arrowhead is staying at the Lake Arrowhead Resort. Guests have a private beach and access to swim in the lake.

🏆 Winner: Big Bear

Both Big Bear and Lake Arrowhead have plenty of options for accommodations. Cabin rentals are the most popular type of accommodation, so there’s no shortage of short-term rentals in both towns.

Cabin rentals are more affordable in Big Bear but are a bit more luxurious in Lake Arrowhead in my opinion. Big Bear also offers two hostels and an RV resort. 

There are also plenty of free places to camp in Big Bear, being that the location is a huge stomping ground for hikers on the PCT.

🏆 Winner: Big Bear

Big Bear is a popular California destination and receives a lot of foot traffic as a result. Lake Arrowhead, on the other hand, is a popular mountain town but receives far fewer crowds due to the small amount of tourist activities.

Lake Arrowhead takes the cake for the less crowded California mountain town. A retreat into the Arrowhead woods is sure to be a relaxing vacation.

🏆 Winner: Lake Arrowhead

📚 Related Reading: Best Time to Visit California

I prefer Lake Arrowhead restaurants to restaurants in Big Bear but you can’t go wrong dining in either location. Lake Arrowhead happens to have higher-quality restaurants in my opinion, as well as no chain restaurants. So, it’s nice to support small businesses!

🏆 Winner: Lake Arrowhead

Overall, Big Bear is the more well-rounded choice for vacationing in a Southern California mountain town.

There are more activities in Big Bear suited for visitors of all ages and the cost of living (and visiting) is more affordable than Lake Arrowhead. Not to mention, Big Bear has its own ski resort that was rated one of the best ski resorts in California by Travel Lemming experts!

That being said, if you’re looking for more luxury and exclusivity, Lake Arrowhead might be perfect for you.

Lake Arrowhead is smaller than Big Bear Lake with a surface area of around 780 acres. Big Bear Lake is much bigger at 2,971 acres. The surrounding mountain town of Big Bear is also bigger than the town at Lake Arrowhead.

Lake Arrowhead is worth visiting to trade in the madness of the big city for a quiet, peaceful retreat into the mountains.

Lake Arrowhead is about a 45-minute drive from Big Bear Ski Resort.

Lake Arrowhead town and village are open to the public but Lake Arrowhead itself is a private, residents-only lake.

👉 Read Next: Mammoth Lakes vs Big Bear

***

Thank you for reading my comparison article on Lake Arrowhead vs Big Bear! Check out our top things to do in the Inland Empire guide if you’re looking for more fun things to do around the area.

How useful was this post?

Click on a star to rate (you can leave feedback after clicking submit)

Help us help you travel better!

Your feedback really helps ...

What did you like about this post? Or how can we improve it to help you travel better?