Getting Around Victorville
Victorville sits at the southwestern edge of the Mojave Desert in San Bernardino County, and it anchors a wider urban area that also includes Hesperia and Apple Valley. The city is bordered by Apple Valley to the east, Hesperia to the south, and Adelanto to the west. Because the region is spread out across the High Desert, getting around generally means relying on a car, with public transport filling in for specific routes and connections.
By Car
For most visitors, driving is the most practical way to move around Victorville and the surrounding valley. Interstate 15 is the main artery in and out of the area, linking Southern California with Las Vegas and Lake Havasu, and it is heavily traveled — often by tractor trailers and trucks towing boats or dirtbikes. The California Highway Patrol patrols the I-15 corridor in Victorville heavily, so keep to the speed limit.
Several highways branch off from I-15 and are useful for reaching neighboring communities:
- Highway 395 heads west toward Palmdale. It is a hilly two-lane highway for much of its length and is known for being quite dangerous, with frequent CHP speed traps.
- Highway 18 splits off from I-15 at D Street and continues through Apple Valley, on into Lucerne Valley, and eventually to Big Bear.
Note that the nearest city to the south is San Bernardino, with Barstow to the north, so a car makes day trips and regional connections far easier.
By Train
Victorville is served by rail at the Victor Valley Transportation Center, located at 16858 South D Street. The city is a stop along Amtrak's daily Southwest Chief line between Los Angeles and Chicago. Be aware that the train calls at inconvenient hours: the westbound train to Los Angeles arrives at 4:18 AM, and the eastbound train toward Flagstaff arrives at 9:10 PM.
The platform has no staff or facilities on site other than a simple shelter, so tickets must be purchased in advance. Plan your onward transport accordingly, since you will not be able to buy a ticket or get assistance at the station itself.
By Bus
Intercity bus service connects Victorville with other communities in the region. B-V Link (☏ +1 760 948-3030) runs between San Bernardino, Fontana, Barstow, and Victorville, operating on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 7:50 AM to 6 PM. A one-way fare is $6.50, a round trip is $12, and seniors and disabled riders pay half price.
If you need to connect to Greyhound or other intercity bus companies, the nearest connection points are in San Bernardino and Barstow rather than in Victorville itself.
By Plane
Victorville Airport, also known as Southern California Logistics Airport (VCV), handles general aviation only and has no scheduled flights. There is therefore no commercial airport in the city itself, and visitors arriving by air will need to reach Victorville from a larger airport elsewhere.
Getting Into the City from the Airport
Because Victorville Airport offers no scheduled passenger service, the practical approach is to fly into a major airport outside the area and continue overland. The nearest large city to the south is San Bernardino, and Barstow lies to the north; both are regional hubs for onward bus connections. Intercity bus service such as B-V Link links San Bernardino and Barstow with Victorville, and Amtrak's Southwest Chief provides a rail connection along its Los Angeles–Chicago route. From Los Angeles, the drive northeast to Victorville runs through the Cajon Pass on Interstate 15.
Walking and Local Movement
Victorville is a sprawling High Desert city, and the practical guidance for visitors is to plan on driving or arranging a ride for most trips rather than expecting to walk between destinations. The climate reinforces this: summers are hot to sweltering, with average highs approaching 100 °F, and winters bring cool temperatures with overnight lows that can drop to or below freezing. Snowfall and wintry precipitation are possible in winter, and black ice can form. In summer, thunderstorms from the North American Monsoon can bring flash flooding, lightning, and hail. Whatever your mode of transport, check conditions before setting out.
Practical Tips
- Buy your Amtrak ticket before you travel — the Victor Valley Transportation Center platform is unstaffed and has only a simple shelter.
- Time your rail travel carefully: the westbound train to Los Angeles arrives in the very early morning, and the eastbound train departs late at night.
- For intercity bus travel beyond the region, plan to connect through San Bernardino or Barstow.
- Expect heavy traffic and active CHP patrols on I-15, and drive cautiously on Highway 395, which is known for its hazards and speed traps.
- Pack for extremes — hot summer days, cold winter nights, and the possibility of snow, ice, or monsoon storms depending on the season.