San Bernardino is a city in the Inland Empire in California. It is the site of the first McDonald Brothers Hamburger Stand

Understand

San Bernardino is the largest city of San Bernardino County. The 2000 census shows the population to be 185,401. Of this, 45.2% are white and 16.4% are African-American. 27.1% is cited as "some other race", the majority of which is most likely Hispanic. The city, along with its outlying areas, has a large Hispanic and Spanish-speaking population. 40.4% of the population speaks a language other than English at home.

The closure of the Kaiser Steel facility in nearby Fontana in the 1980s and the closure of Norton Air Force Base in 1994 were cataclysmic to the economy of the city. Repeated attempts at downtown revitalization have been mostly unsuccessful. In 2012 the city declared bankruptcy in the wake of a stubborn economic decline. It only emerged from bankruptcy in 2017, making it one of the longest municipal bankruptcies in U.S. history. The city was further devastated by a mass shooting by two terrorists that took place in 2015. 14 people were killed, and 22 others were injured.

Get in

By plane

• 1 San Bernardino International Airport (SBD  ^IATA) (on the former Norton Air Force Base 3 mi (4.8 km) east of downtown San Bernardino). Commercial flights with Breeze Airways, from San Francisco to San Bernardino to begin May 2022  
• The next nearest airport for regular commercial flights to San Bernardino is the LA/Ontario International Airport (ONT ^IATA), 22 mi (35 km) west on I-10 and N Archibald Ave (Exit #55A). LA/Ontario is more compact, less crowded, has fewer delays, and usually cheaper and closer in than Los Angeles International Airport(LAX ^IATA) which is 76 mi (122 km) away.
• The next closest airports to San Bernardino are in Palm Springs (PSP ^IATA) which is 57 mi (92 km) east along I-10 and Santa Ana (SNA ^IATA) also 50 mi (80 km) southwest of San Bernardino along I-215 and CA Hwy 91 through Riverside and Corona.

By train

The MetroLink San Bernardino Line from the downtown Los Angeles Union Station (via Rialto and Fontana) and the Inland Empire-Orange County Line from Oceanside through Orange County and Riverside stop at 2 San Bernardino Santa Fe Depot at 1170 W 3rd St (second to last stop). The cost of tickets varies depending on how far you are traveling. Amtrak serves San Bernardino at the same location with the once daily Southwest Chief line between Chicago, Kansas City, Albuquerque, Grand Canyon (at Williams Jct) and Los Angeles and with the Amtrak Thruway Buses connecting San Bernardino to the San Joaquins Line in Bakersfield. From here the Metrolink Trains continue southeast to the 3 Downtown San Bernardino Station south of downtown, along W Rialto St between S 'G' St and S 'E' St, where both Metrolink routes terminate at. The Amtrak train continues north to Victorville (next stop) from the Santa Fe Depot on its journey towards Chicago.

By bus

Intercity bus services

The intercity bus companies maintain separate bus stations or stops in different parts of town and are far away from each other. Travelers will need to use a taxi, local bus (Omnitrans) or Uber/Lyft to transfer between the stations & stops. Some of the stops are in neighboring Fontana or Ontario instead:

• 4 El Paso Los Angeles Limousine Express, bus station at 620 W Mill St (behind strip mall at W Mill St and G St, next to Wisdom Motorsports and just east of the 215 at Exits 42A/42B), ☏ +1 909 824-8424, toll-free: +1 866 691-6732. Travels along I-10 between Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Indio, Phoenix, Las Cruces and El Paso on one route and on I-15 to Las Vegas and North Las Vegas on another route. They have additional depots at 11825 Valley Blvd in El Monte; 260 E 6th St St in downtown Los Angeles, and at 4425 S Atlantic Blvd in East Los Angeles. (updated Apr 2016)
• 5 Flixbus, (bus stop) San Bernardino downtown Transit Center @ 559 W Rialto (Bus will board in the eastbound bus loading zone on Rialto Ave on the north side of the Downtown San Bernardino Transit Center. FlixBus will use the westernmost space in the bus pullout, designated by a sign that reads “BUSES ONLY BEYOND THIS POINT” between "E" and "F" Streets.). Connects San Bernardino to Phoenix/Tempe; Los Angeles, Las Vegas and San Diego. They also have an extra stop at the San Bernardino Santa Fe Depot (1170 W 3rd St). Check tickets and schedules to determine the drop off and pick-up location. (updated Aug 2018)
• 6 Greyhound & Cruceros USA, bus station at 1170 W 3rd St (San Bernardino Depot.), ☏ +1 909 884-4796, toll-free: +1 800 231-2222. Greyhound travels primarily on Interstate 10 (Los Angeles-San Bernardino-Phoenix-El Paso); I-10/SR-78/SR-86 (San Bernardino-Indio-El Centro-Calexico); I-15/I-215 (Las Vegas-San Bernardino-Los Angeles & San Bernardino-San Diego on two separate routes. Some routes bypass San Bernardino between Barstow & Los Angeles); & 405/SR-91 (San Bernardino-Santa Ana-Long Beach). Passengers transfer in Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Phoenix, San Diego, Calexico, El Paso and San Antonio to continue to additional destinations in the U.S. and in Tijuana or Mexicali to continue south of the border. (updated Oct 2017)

• 7 D&M Fiesta Travel, 1016 E Cooley St, Ste E2, Colton (Office park at the end of E Cooley St from S Mt Vernon Ave.), ☏ +1 909 424-1680. M-Sa 10AM-3PM; Su 10AM-1:30PM. Travel agency for bus travel on Tufesa and Intercalifornias and air travel to Mexico, Central America and South America with multiple airlines. 

See By bus under Get in of the Ontario article for a list of additional bus and shuttle companies serving the area.

By public transportation

The following services provide rides to the surrounding cities in the Inland Empire (San Bernardino and Riverside Counties) from the 8 Downtown Transit Center next to the Downtown Metrolink Station:

• OmniTrans. Operates local city and commuter buses in-town and to the neighboring cities of Fontana, Rialto, Ontario, Rancho Cucamonga, Redlands, etc. Connections to Foothills Transit in Pomona, Chino and Claremont. They also operate an inter-county express from Riverside on route #215. (updated Aug 2018)

• For going to the airport by public transport take the Metrolink San Bernardino Line train to Rancho Cucamonga Station and transfer to ONTConnect (#380) bus to the Ontario International Airport (ONT) or stay on the same train to the downtown L.A. Union Station and transfer to the LAX FlyAway bus to get to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).

• Mountain Transit, ☏ +1 909 878-5200. Goes up to Crestline by Lake Arrowhead on the RIM Off the Mountain route and to Running Springs and Moonridge by Big Bear Lake. They offer local services between communities surrounding Lake Erwin, Lake Arrowhead and Big Bear Lake on the Big Bear Off the Mountain route and connections from Victorville through Moonridge (updated Aug 2018)
• Pass Transit (City of Beaumont Transit System), ☏ +1 951 769-8530. A cooperative to provide local public transportation to the Cities of Beaumont and Banning. Route #120 connects Beaumont to Calimesa, San Bernardino Transit Center, San Bernardino Metrolink Station and Loma Linda. (updated Aug 2018)
• Riverside Transit (RTA) #200. Operates local buses in and around Corona, Riverside city, Beaumont, Banning (Rt #31), San Jacinto and other cities in western Riverside County. The #200 bus connects Anaheim to San Bernardino via Riverside Metro Link Station along Hwy 91. Likewise travelers can also board Omnitrans #215 bus to get to/from Riverside. (updated Aug 2018)
• Sun Line Transit Agency #10. Sun Line operates local buses in and around Palm Springs, Palm Desert, 1000 Palms, Indio and Coachella in the Coachella Valley. The Commuter Link Service (#10) Connects San Bernardino to Indio via CSUSB (San Bernardino main campus); Beaumont (2nd & Commerce) and CSUSB (Palm Desert Campus @ Cook & Berger). Passengers can transfer to the Sun Line Transit #5 bus in CSUSB Desert Springs to the Town Center/Shops of Palm Desert Malls (Town Center Way) and transfer to the #1 bus going west to Palm Springs or transfer directly to the #1 bus from Indio. (updated Jun 2022)
• Victor Valley Transit (VVTA) #15, ☏ +1 760 948-3030. Regular commuter route route to/from Barstow and Victorville. $6.50 regular fare; $3.25 for seniors, veterans, disabled, medicare. (updated Aug 2018)

Get around

The city is fairly navigable with I-210, I-10, I-215, and I-15 as the freeways in the city.

See

San Bernadino City Hall

Downtown San Bernardino is definitely a neat place to check out. It has angled parking, festivals, stores, lower speed for vehicles, and street appeal, this place is a hit! It is a very lively core with all kinds of stuff to do and lots of parking despite not being shown. It incorporates beautiful, generous wall-to-wall structures and scenic landmarks.

• 1 Site of the first McDonald Brothers Hamburger Stand, 1398 North 'E' St (N 'E' St & 14th St), ☏ +1 909 885-6324. M-F 9AM-5PM, Sa Su 10AM-5PM. Location of the world's first McDonald's, now an unofficial museum. The original building no longer exists, but look for the huge red sign advertising 15-cent hamburgers which can't be purchased in the adjoining museum. 
• 2 Robert and Frances Fullerton Museum of Art, 5500 University Pkwy, ☏ +1 909 537 7373. (updated Jul 2021)

Eat

• 1 Happy Family Vegetarian Restaurant, 2150 South Waterman Ave (south of the I-10 freeway). It specializes in vegetarian and vegan meals, and is often packed. (updated Nov 2016)
• 2 Mitla Café, 602 N. Mt. Vernon Ave. (Along N Mt Vernon Ave just north 6th Ave), ☏ +1 909 888-0460. Tu-Th 9AM-2:30PM & 4:30PM-8PM; F 9AM-9PM; Sa Su 9AM-8PM. 

Sleep

• 1 Best Western Hospitality Lane, 294 E Hospitality Ln, ☏ +1 909 381-1681, fax: +1 909-888-5120. $105-160 (Doubles). 
• 2 Days Inn, 1386 E. Highland Ave (E Highland Ave & Mountain Ave), ☏ +1 909 881-1702. 
• 3 Econo Lodge, 606 N 'H' St (Along 'G' St between N 4th and W 5th St. Accessed from the 5th St exit from I-215 (Exit #44 & 44A)), ☏ +1 909 884-4488, fax: +1 909 884-4489. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 11AM. $65-70. 
• 4 Motel 6 San Bernardino Downtown, 777 W 6th Ave (W 6th Ave & 'H' St, Next to Greyhound Station), ☏ +1 909 763-2561. 
• 5 Motel 6 San Bernardino North, 1960 Ostrems Way (University Pkwy & I-215 at Exit #48), ☏ +1 909 887-8191, fax: +1 909-880-9231. 
• 6 Motel 6 San Bernardino South, 111 West Redlands Blvd (W Redlands and S Club Way, accessed from Exit 73A from the eastbound lanes; and Exit 73 (Hospitality Ln) from the westbound lanes of I-10), ☏ +1 909 825-6666, fax: +1 909-872-1104. 
• 7 Wigwam Motel, 2728 W. Foothill Blvd. (Route 66 at Rialto town line), ☏ +1-909-875-3005, fax: +1-909-421-0844. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: 11AM. Novelty motel established 1949 with each room as a free-standing concrete wigwam. Wi-fi, refrigerator, A/C, cable TV, telephone, outdoor pool, picnic area. $60-80.  

Cope

Consulates

Most of the foreign consulates are located along Wilshire Blvd in/around the Wilshire neighborhood and West Los Angeles, between downtown and Santa Monica in Los Angeles. The following countries maintain consulates in downtown San Bernardino:

• Guatemala, 330 N 'D' St Suite 120 (Along N 'D' St between W Court & 3rd St, next to Chase Bank), ☏ +1 909 572-8800, fax: +1 909 572-8801. M-F 8AM-4PM. They also have another consulate in Los Angeles. (updated Oct 2017)
• Mexico, 293 N 'D' St (SE of intersection of N 'D' St & 3rd St, across 'D' Street from the city hall building), ☏ +1 909 889-9836, +1 909 889-9837, +1 909 633-1982 (emergencies only), fax: +1 909, consulmexsbd@sre.gob.mx. M-F 8AM-5PM, By appointment only. They also have consulates in Calexico, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Santa Ana and San Diego. Contact +1 424 309-0009 on WhatsApp to make appointment. (updated Oct 2017)

Go next

San Bernardino is a good launching point for Joshua Tree National Park.

Routes through San Bernardino

Los Angeles ← Riverside ←	W  E	→ Victorville → Albuquerque
Los Angeles ← Colton ←	W  E	→ Loma Linda → Indio
Victorville (via ) ←	N  S	→ Colton → Riverside
Pasadena ← Rialto ←	W  E	→ Redlands → END at
END ←	W  E	→ Lake Arrowhead → Big Bear Lake
Santa Monica ← Fontana ←	W  E	→ Victorville → Barstow