Lake Forest travel guide
Lake Forest Tourism | Lake Forest Guide
You're Going to Love Lake Forest
With a population of 77,264, Lake Forest is a must-see destination in California, United States. We recommend you stay at least 3 days in order to fully appreciate everything Lake Forest has to offer.
Where to Eat in Lake Forest
If you’re looking for affordable options, Bru Grill and Market (23730 El Toro Rd) and AQUA Restaurant and Lounge - Lake Forest (23131 Lake Center Dr) are great picks.
When to visit Lake Forest
How to Get to Lake Forest
Plane
When flying to Lake Forest, you’ll arrive at John Wayne Airport, OC (SNA), which is located 10 miles from the city center. Airlines that fly from the United States to Lake Forest include American Airlines, Air Canada and Alaska Airlines. The shortest domestic flight to Lake Forest departs from Las Vegas and takes around 1h 16m.
Train
Amtrak is the only carrier operating train routes to Lake Forest. The train journey from Lake Forest to Fullerton takes 0h 39m and costs around $14 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Woodland Hills, expect to pay about $14 for a 0h 43m trip.
Car
Another option to get to Lake Forest is to pick up a car rental from Los Angeles, which is about 46 miles from Lake Forest. You’ll find branches of Ace and Kyte, among others, in Los Angeles.
Bus
Several bus lines operate bus routes to Lake Forest, including Bus, FlixBus and Amtrak. From Ontario, the bus ride to Lake Forest takes 40 miles and will cost you around $12. From Santa Barbara, the ticket costs about $64 for a journey of 120 miles.
Airlines serving Lake Forest
Where to stay in Lake Forest
If you’re on a budget, well-reviewed accommodations include Holiday Inn Express & Suites Lake Forest, An IHG Hotel and Best Western Plus Irvine Spectrum Hotel.
Where to stay in popular areas of Lake Forest
Most booked hotels in Lake Forest
Renting a car in Lake Forest
Renting a car in Lake Forest costs $48 per day, on average, or $145 if you want to rent if for 3 days.
You’re likely to save money by renting your car at the airport: locations in the city are, on average, 5% more expensive than at Los Angeles.
Expect to pay $3.94 per gallon in Lake Forest (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your rental car, filling up the tank will cost between $47.24 and $62.99. The most frequently booked car type in Lake Forest is Mini (Dodge Grand Caravan or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Economy rental cars (Mitsubishi Mirage or similar) are, on average, 54% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.