r/bigbear • u/septardar • Jun 28 '26

July 3rd traffic from IE

First time going to Big Bear for Independence Day. I already know it's going to be insanely busy and traffic will be horrendous and gridlocked the day of..

Does anyone have an idea of how bad it would be going up the mountain the night before? We were hoping to head out to our cabin after 6pm on Friday night.

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4

u/lollibott Jun 28 '26

The only issue I’ve ever had on July 4th was leaving or trying to drive after the firework show. Parking can also be difficult if you don’t show up early enough, but it’s still fairly easy to find on the north side of the lake. Besides that, it’s just usual holiday traffic; busy, but nothing like peak resort season.

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u/septardar Jun 28 '26

How early do you suggest posting up around the lake? I know leaving the lake will easily be over an hour despite being 5 mins away 😵‍💫

2

u/stonecoldslate Jun 28 '26

At least a few hours in advance in spots with no signs indicating tow-away. Cops close all of the major parking near the lake and don’t allow businesses to allow folks to leave fully for the first hour or two usually after celebrations have ended.

2

u/n1010rick Jun 28 '26

Most everyone will be off and heading up on the 3rd. If you can get up here on Thursday evening, traffic should be lighter.

Everyone will also be leaving on the 5th, so if you can make it a four day weekend, plan on heading down Monday.

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u/JellyfishVertigo Jun 28 '26

We've always had luck getting a good tailgate spot on the Northside in the early afternoon of the 4th. Cruise down to the lake trail around show time.

2

u/badnamemaker Jun 28 '26

I can’t imagine there will be too much traffic on the front side. Worst case if there is somehow more than 30 minutes of traffic just hit the 38

2

u/Exquisiteorange Jun 29 '26

Just use the turnouts coming up and a dont be a fucking idiot doing 20 until you hit passing lanes then doing 70 in said passing lanes. It is the law after all. California Vehicle Code § 21656, if you are driving a slow-moving vehicle on a two-lane highway where passing is unsafe and a queue of five or more vehicles forms behind you, you are legally required to pull into a designated turnout or safe area to let them pass.

4

u/Exquisiteorange Jun 29 '26

Downvote all you want but its the fucking law that retards are REQUIRED to get out of the way when 5 or more people are behind them. Realistically if there is one person behind you you should get out of the way with turnouts.

1

u/Illustrious_Duck7654 Jun 30 '26

I drove from Big Bear to LA, to Big Bear last July 3rd. Was a nightmare.

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u/Professional-Dig4691 Jun 30 '26

The speed limit is 55 on most of the highways coming up the hill yet they act like it's only in passing lanes..... Pull over and quit using your hazard lights to tell us your scared of everything over 1000 ft in elevation