1358 Jasper Avenue

Discover Mentone
Mentone, California, is located in San Bernardino County, and holds a distinctive geographic location at the eastern edge of the San Bernardino Valley, making it a scenic gateway to the high-elevation mountain resorts. The community is strategically situated within the Inland Empire region of Southern California, benefiting from its historical ties to agriculture and its proximity to major natural and metropolitan areas. Mentone is nestled at the base of the dramatic San Bernardino Mountains, which include peaks like the snow-capped San Bernardino and San Gorgonio Mountains, providing a stunning backdrop and a slightly cooler microclimate. Mentone is located directly east of the city of Redlands and lies along State Route 38, which serves as a primary route into the nearby San Bernardino National Forest and destinations like Big Bear Lake. This places the community at a crucial juncture, connecting the valley floor with the mountain recreation areas. The community is approximately 14 miles east of the county seat, the City of San Bernardino, offering reasonable access to major municipal centers and transportation corridors like Interstate 10.



Mentone’s economy is characterized by its structure as a smaller, geographically distinct community within the broader, diversified San Bernardino County job market. Its economic profile is historically linked to the citrus industry and, more recently, to its function as a residential community with strong ties to nearby economic hubs like Redlands and San Bernardino. The community benefits from its position at the base of the San Bernardino Mountains, which naturally attracts local services and retail catering to residents and mountain-bound travelers. As a Census Designated Place, Mentone’s workforce largely commutes to surrounding cities in the Inland Empire, which boasts a robust transportation infrastructure via major freeways (I-10, I-210, and I-215). The local economy employed approximately 4,710 people in 2023, reflecting a modest growth rate of 1.42% from the prior year. The largest employment sectors for Mentone residents are predominantly service-based, reflecting its residential nature: Health Care & Social Assistance, Educational Services, and Retail Trade.



Mentone, California, leverages its unique location at the base of the San Bernardino Mountains to emphasize outdoor recreation and a quintessential rural lifestyle, distinguishing its entertainment scene from larger metropolitan centers. The community acts as a primary gateway to the vast San Bernardino National Forest via State Route 38, providing residents and visitors with immediate access to year-round adventures. This includes countless opportunities for hiking, camping, mountain biking, and horseback riding in the summer, and snow play, skiing, and snowboarding during the winter months in nearby mountain resorts like Big Bear Lake. For water-based activities and camping closer to the valley floor, Yucaipa Regional Park is a short drive away, offering fishing lakes, picnic areas, and waterslides. While Mentone itself maintains a quiet, small-town atmosphere, local dining and community events are focused along the Highway 38 corridor, and the close proximity to Redlands provides ready access to a wider variety of dining, retail shopping (like the Redlands Mall and Cinema 14), and cultural institutions.