In the print dialog pick “Save as PDF” to keep it on your phone. A5 makes a pocket booklet; A4 suits a desk printer.
Voykit pocket guide · United States
Lake Arrowhead
Spend a day in Lake Arrowhead: 6 h for village, lake views, short hike and a meal – no need to stay overnight.
Lake Arrowhead is a mountain resort community in the San Bernardino Mountains. Most attractions cluster around Lake Arrowhead Village and nearby trails, all reachable within a few hours by car from San Bernardino. One full day covers the village, a short hike to the Pinnacles, and a meal, with optional boat‑tour if you have lake access.
- Country
- United States
- Best months
- May–Oct (warm days, less snow)
- Avoid
- Dec–Feb (snow may close some roads)
- Stay
- 0–1 (optional night at resort) nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- USD
- Money
- Currency is the US dollar (USD, $). Cards and phone payments work almost everywhere; carry a little cash for tips and small vendors.
- Daily spend
- Budget $70–$120 excl. lodging · Mid $120–$200 excl. lodging · High $200+ excl. lodging (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile cover the country; prepaid SIMs at their stores and Walmart/Target (passport required), or an eSIM before you fly.
- Emergency
- Police/Fire/Ambulance 911
- Plugs
- Types A, B · 120 V · 60 Hz · Chargers are dual-voltage; hair dryers and straighteners from 230 V countries need a converter.
- Tipping
- Sit-down restaurant: 18–22% of the pre-tax bill.; Bar: US$1–2 per drink or 20% of the tab.; Taxi / ride-hailing: 15–20%, in the app.; Hotel housekeeping: US$3–5 a night.; Porter / valet: US$2–5 per bag or car.; Tour guide: US$10–20 per person for a day tour.; Counter service / tablet prompts: Optional; 0–15%.
- Water
- Tap water is drinkable nearly everywhere; boil or treat water from streams in parks.
- Toilets
- Free public toilets are scarce in big cities; use cafés, department stores, libraries, stations. Rest areas on highways are free.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee at a café | $3–$5 |
| Meal at Papagayo's | $12–$20 |
| Bottle of wine (mid‑range) | $15–$25 |
| Parking (metered) | $2–$4 per hour |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- SBD · San Bernardino International Airport
- —
Typical fares
- Highway 18 drive from San Bernardino
- ≈45 min, $0 (self‑drive)
- Mountain Transit day pass
- about $12 (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Car is the most reliable; Mountain Transit runs limited routes to the village. No regular taxi; rides can be arranged via local services.
See and do
Known for
- Lake Arrowhead Village shopping and dining
- The Pinnacles granite peaks
- Strawberry Peak fire lookout
- Lake Arrowhead Country Club
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| The Pinnacles | Drive 5 km (3.1 mi) north on Hwy 18, park at trailheadDrive 3.1 mi (5 km) north on Hwy 18, park at trailhead | ≈30 min round trip |
| Strawberry Peak fire lookout | Drive 8 km (5 mi) east on Bear Springs Rd, walk 2 km (1.2 mi)Drive 5 mi (8 km) east on Bear Springs Rd, walk 1.2 mi (2 km) | ≈1 h |
| Big Bear Lake | Drive 30 km (19 mi) east on Hwy 18Drive 19 mi (30 km) east on Hwy 18 | ≈1 h each way |
Sleep
- Lake Arrowhead Resort & Spa
- Full‑service resort; good for a night if you prefer a hotel.
- Vacation rentals (Airbnb/VRBO)
- Over 1,200 licensed rentals; self‑catering.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | Disculpedis‑kul‑pe |
| Thank you | Graciasgra‑see‑as |
| How much is it? | ¿Cuánto cuesta?kwan‑toh kwes‑ta |
| Where is the restroom? | ¿Dónde está el baño?don‑de es‑ta el ba‑nyo |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake and 'hi, how are you?' — reply 'good, thanks'; avoid: Treating the question as a real health enquiry
- Restaurants: Tip 18–22% and wait for the check; avoid: Leaving without tipping
- Personal space: Keep an arm's length in queues; avoid: Standing close to strangers
- Politics and religion: Listen more than you speak; avoid: Opening with hot-button topics
- Smoking: Smoke only in marked areas; avoid: Smoking near doors or in parks where banned
Scams and watch-outs
- Lake is private – swimming or boating requires property permission.
- Roads are winding; allow extra travel time in winter snow.
- Public transport is infrequent; plan trips around Mountain Transit schedule.
Generally safe; watch for private‑property restrictions on lake use and winter road conditions.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Lake Arrowhead yet. Suggested stay: 0–1 (optional night at resort) nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Lake Arrowhead Village shopping and dining
- The Pinnacles granite peaks
- Strawberry Peak fire lookout
- Lake Arrowhead Country Club
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Lake Arrowhead, revision 5185697 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5185697
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Lake Arrowhead
A esta dirección, por favor
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- Police/Fire/Ambulance911
US consulate in Los Angeles; other nations in LA or San Diego.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/lake-arrowhead). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.