San Bernardino County

The largest county in the contiguous United States, where sand dunes, lava tubes, and alpine lakes coexist, offering both desert and ski experiences.

San Bernardino County is located in southern California, bordering the Los Angeles metropolitan area to the west and the Colorado River to the east, making it the largest county by area in the contiguous United States. The eastern Mojave National Preserve features Kelso Dunes, the Kelso Depot Visitor Center, the Lava Tube, and the Hole-in-the-Wall Ring Loop; the southern part includes sections of Joshua Tree National Park, with Mitchell Caverns also located in the desert. In the San Bernardino Mountains, Big Bear Lake offers boating and hiking in summer, and skiing at Big Bear Mountain and Snow Summit in winter. The desert is best visited in autumn, winter, and spring, as summers are extremely hot. The gateway is Ontario International Airport, with desert access via Interstates 15 and 40.

Destinations

• Mojave National Preserve
• Big Bear Lake
• Palm Springs & Joshua Tree
• Lake Havasu City

Itineraries

• US West National Parks & Coast Grand Loop – A Los Angeles loop passing through Las Vegas, the Grand Canyon, Antelope Canyon, Yosemite, and San Francisco, returning…
• Southern California Coast & Desert Loop – From Los Angeles to San Diego, then to Palm Springs and Joshua Tree, split evenly between beaches and deserts
• Route 66 Southwest Road Trip – Drive west from Tulsa along historic Route 66, passing through Amarillo, Santa Fe, and Flagstaff, ending in Las Vegas.