How far is San Bernardino, CA from South Lake Tahoe, CA?
The driving distance from San Bernardino, CA to South Lake Tahoe, CA is about 423.2 miles (681 km), with a travel time of about 08h 53m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 365.4 miles (588 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 17h 46m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM PDT.
Reverse, save, or send this route
This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.
This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.
Flight Distance
Driving Distance
Gas Cost Calculator
Leave and Arrive Planner
Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.
Drive time stays fixed at 08h 53m.
Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.
You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.
Halfway Point
A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.
Census-designated place in Inyo County, California
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Mostly Sunny
Snow Showers Likely
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between San Bernardino and South Lake Tahoe.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between San Bernardino and South Lake Tahoe.
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1
Start on West 5th Street
1.1 km · 1 min · West 5th Street
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2
Take the ramp right toward I 215 North: Barstow
1769 ft · 45 sec
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3
Merge slight left onto San Bernardino Freeway
1.5 mi · 2 min · San Bernardino Freeway
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4
Continue on Barstow Freeway
8.9 mi · 10 min · Barstow Freeway
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5
Keep slight left
1141 ft · 14 sec
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6
Continue on Barstow and Mojave Freeway
6.8 mi · 7 min · Barstow and Mojave Freeway
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7
Continue on CHP Officer Larry L. Wetterling and San Bernardino County Sheriff's Lieutenant Alfred E. Stewart Memorial Highway
5.4 mi · 6 min · CHP Officer Larry L. Wetterling and San Bernardino County Sheriff's Lieutenant Alfred E. Stewart Memorial Highway
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8
Continue on Barstow and Mojave Freeway
2.8 mi · 3 min · Barstow and Mojave Freeway
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9
Take the exit right toward US 395 North: Adelanto, Bishop
1549 ft · 38 sec
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10
Continue on US 395 North: Adelanto, Bishop
1.4 km · 2 min
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11
Continue on Blue Star Memorial Highway
66.7 mi · 1 hr 21 min · Blue Star Memorial Highway
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12
Continue on Red Mountain Road
1.5 km · 2 min · Red Mountain Road
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13
Continue on Blue Star Memorial Highway
36.7 mi · 43 min · Blue Star Memorial Highway
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14
Continue on Grand Army of the Republic Highway
56.1 mi · 1 hr 5 min · Grand Army of the Republic Highway
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15
Continue on South Main Street
2.2 mi · 5 min · South Main Street
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16
Continue on Grand Army of the Republic Highway
15 mi · 18 min · Grand Army of the Republic Highway
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17
Continue on South Edwards Street
1.1 km · 2 min · South Edwards Street
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18
Continue on Grand Army of the Republic Highway
26.1 mi · 31 min · Grand Army of the Republic Highway
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19
Continue on North Main Street
1317 ft · 32 sec · North Main Street
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20
Continue on Grand Army of the Republic Highway
7.4 mi · 9 min · Grand Army of the Republic Highway
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21
Continue on El Camino Sierra
5 mi · 6 min · El Camino Sierra
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22
Continue on South Main Street
2.4 mi · 4 min · South Main Street
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23
Turn left onto West Line Street
1.5 mi · 3 min · West Line Street
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24
Turn right onto North Barlow Lane
1 mi · 2 min · North Barlow Lane
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25
Turn left onto North Sierra Highway
87.4 mi · 1 hr 44 min · North Sierra Highway
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26
Turn right onto Sinclair Street
549 ft · 13 sec · Sinclair Street
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27
Turn left onto Emigrant Street
2635 ft · 41 sec · Emigrant Street
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28
Continue on Route 395
43.3 mi · 56 min · Route 395
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29
Continue on Main Street
18.7 mi · 26 min · Main Street
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30
Turn left onto Riverview Drive
3027 ft · 2 min · Riverview Drive
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31
Continue on Dresslerville Road
1.4 mi · 3 min · Dresslerville Road
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32
Continue on Centerville Lane
1.1 km · 1 min · Centerville Lane
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33
Continue on Centerville Lane
1.2 mi · 2 min · Centerville Lane
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34
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Centerville Lane
19 m · 3 sec · Centerville Lane
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35
Exit the roundabout onto Centerville Lane
2.8 mi · 5 min · Centerville Lane
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36
At the end of the road, turn right onto Foothill Road
1.3 mi · 2 min · Foothill Road
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37
Turn left onto Kingsbury Grade
11.1 mi · 20 min · Kingsbury Grade
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38
Take the ramp straight
31 m · 5 sec
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39
Merge slight right onto Lincoln Highway
1.1 km · 2 min · Lincoln Highway
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40
Continue on Lake Tahoe Boulevard
2.6 mi · 5 min · Lake Tahoe Boulevard
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41
Turn right onto Los Angeles Avenue
1185 ft · 38 sec · Los Angeles Avenue
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42
Turn left onto Oakland Avenue
1994 ft · 56 sec · Oakland Avenue
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43
Turn right onto El Dorado Avenue
688 ft · 19 sec · El Dorado Avenue
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44
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · El Dorado Avenue
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between San Bernardino and South Lake Tahoe.
Long-distance drive
This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.
North Sierra Highway
Turn left onto North Sierra Highway
87.4 mi · 01h 44m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
Better with a longer stop
This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.
Mostly Sunny leaving San Bernardino and Snow Showers Likely near South Lake Tahoe.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from San Bernardino to South Lake Tahoe?
The road trip is about 423.2 miles (681 km) and usually takes 08h 53m in normal driving conditions.
Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?
This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.
What is the halfway point on this route?
Big Pine is a useful midpoint, sitting about 211.8 miles from San Bernardino and 211.4 miles from South Lake Tahoe.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 365.4 miles (588 km), while the road route adds roughly 57.8 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.
When is the best time to leave for this route?
A good departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM PDT. Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $86.13 one way or $172.26 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 132.7 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around San Bernardino and Snow Showers Likely near South Lake Tahoe.
Stop Ideas Near Big Pine
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Big Pine.
Mammoth Lake, California
June Lake, California
Lee Vining, California
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between San Bernardino and South Lake Tahoe. Straight-line distance: 365.35 mi (587.98 km).
#1 San Bernardino
The second most populous city in San Bernardino County, California.
| Population | 217,491 |
| Coordinates | 34.1083400, -117.2897700 |
| Altitude | 321 |
| Country | United States |
#2 South Lake Tahoe
City in California
| Population | 22,847 |
| Coordinates | 38.9332400, -119.9843500 |
| Altitude | 1901 |
| Country | United States |
End: South Lake Tahoe (-119.98435, 38.93324)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 681 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 14h 05m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 10h 34m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 08h 27m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 07h 03m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 06h 02m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 05h 16m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $86.13 | $172.26 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $90.57 | $181.13 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $93.21 | $186.42 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $112.98 | $225.95 |
Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.
Prices in California · Apr 23, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.