Lake Arrowhead
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| John Vetterli from Toronto, Canada, CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons |
Before you reach Big Bear Lake, you'll hit Lake Arrowhead, which is just 1 hour and 39 minutes from L.A. depending on traffic. This is a cute village offering cabins, hotels, shops, and dining. Lake Arrowhead is the perfect location for a romantic getaway, family trip, or even a place to visit solo.
There are a number of activities in this area including a 1-hour Queen Lake Tour that's available year round. Tickets can be purchased at LeRoy's Sports on the waterfront.
If you're looking for outdoor activities, check out SkyPark at Santa's Village. Enjoy hikes, biking, fishing, and ziplines.
Lake Arrowhead on the map:
Big Bear Lake
For my brother's birthday, we decided to spend a long weekend at Big Bear Lake, CA. Located just 2.5 hours from L.A., this was the perfect escape from the city. We rented a cabin through AIRBNB and walked to the lake. We also explored Big Bear Village, checked out a ton of shops, dined at restaurants and had a few drinks at the local bar.
If you're interested in taking a Pirate Ship Tour on Big Bear Lake, it's a fun experience and you can read my full recap or watch the video below.
Big Bear Lake on the map:
Convict Lake
Convict Lake is one of the most beautiful lakes in the Mammoth area that my brothers and I visited. It's located about 5-hours away from L.A., and is off of scenic Highway 395.
If you're into camping, there's a campground but make sure to check availability. We visited when it was snowing the last week of March and the campground was closed.
Not too far from the lake is a resort that includes lodging, a restaurant, and a cute general store.
Read my full recap of Convict Lake and let me know in the comments if you've visited this lake in the past.
Convict Lake on the map:
Mono Lake
If you're looking for a sea-green, blue body of water, look no further than Mono Lake. The salinity of this lake is 3 times that of the ocean. It's located just an hour from Bishop, CA and 5.5 hours from L.A.
When my brothers and I visited, the winds were strong and the surrounding mountains were snow-capped, providing amazing views. It was like we were staring at a postcard or a painting.
Once you park your car, you'll head towards a boardwalk, which will lead you to the water. Read my full recap.
Mono Lake on the map:
June Lake
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| Photo by Steven Buena |
If you're looking for a larger lake surrounded by the Eastern Sierra Nevada mountains, check out June Lake. This lake was reminiscent of Convict Lake and located just down the street. When we visited, it was snowing, the campgrounds were closed, but we were still able to enjoy the views.
When it's not snowing, visitors can fish for rainbow troute, salmon, and brown trout.
Activities at this lake include boating, kayaking, and paddle boarding. Read my full recap and watch as my brothers and I drove past the lake in the video below:
June Lake on the map:
Lake Cuyamaca
This lake is closer to Los Angeles, CA just 3-hours away depending on traffic. Activities around Lake Cuyamaca include dining by the lake, hiking nearby, and visiting the wolves at the California Wolf Center. Tickets were $30 per person.
Read my full recap and watch my videos below.
Lake Cuyamaca on the map:
Overall, all of the lakes offer different scenery, and activities, and all are equally fun to visit. You can visit the Mammoth Lakes in one trip, as they're located off of Highway 395.
Make sure to watch my video if you're heading up to Mammoth from L.A.:
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Trip Resources
If you’re planning a road trip, here are some helpful sites that I use. Note, below are affiliate links, which means I receive a small commission for every booking, with no extra cost to you. Thanks so much, in advance!
Booking.com - Anytime we need a rental car, we use this site to find deals.
Expedia.com - I like to use this site to explore upcoming cruises that I'd like to take. I also refer to it to compare hotel prices, flights, and car rentals.
GetYourGuide.com - Book things to do, attractions, tours and discover new food.
VRBO.com - When we’re not staying in an AIRBNB, we’re in a VRBO rental. We use this option when we want to enjoy a full house with individual bedrooms, a kitchen, backyard and other amenities.
TripAdvisor.com - Anytime I want reputable reviews, tips, and overall advice about a vacation area, I leverage this site.
Viator.com - Looking for cool tours in your vacation area? This site has a number of options.
Hey, I'm Christy Scronce, a Filipina-American Los Angeles native and travel enthusiast. I love visiting new places and trying new food. Welcome to my adventure blog where I capture both State & National Park visits, family excursions, and road trips, while sharing my travel photos and recaps. My goal is to visit as many National Parks using my “America the Beautiful” annual pass. 
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