Irvine Regional Park is a large, year-round park in Orange, California, with trails, picnic areas, a pond, playgrounds and the Orange County Zoo. You can plan a visit around its outdoor setting, then add independently operated attractions such as train and pony rides.
- Location: 1 Irvine Park Road, Orange, California.
- Park hours change by season: 6:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m. in fall and winter; 6:00 a.m.–9:00 p.m. in spring and summer.
- Vehicle entry is $3 on weekdays and $5 on weekends, with some holiday and event fees higher.
- The Orange County Zoo is inside the park and charges separate admission.
Getting to Irvine Regional Park from Orange
Irvine Regional Park is at 1 Irvine Park Road in Orange, and Metrolink identifies Tustin as the nearest station. OC Parks manages the park, which is in the same city as Orange Tustin Inn in Orange, a hotel in Orange.
If you arrive by Metrolink, the operator recommends taking a rideshare or taxi for the 8.5-mile trip from Tustin station to the park. A park map identifies the entrance and parking, along with facilities and trail routes, so you can orient yourself when you arrive.
Park activities and facilities
Irvine Regional Park combines shaded natural areas with family activities and facilities. Its landscape includes heritage oak and sycamore trees, rolling foothills, Santiago Creek and a central pond with a stone-work waterfall and footbridge.
You can choose from hiking and equestrian trails, bike rentals, fishing, ball fields and picnic areas with shelters and barbeques. The park also has playgrounds, food concessions, boarding stables, pony rides and train rides. Leashed dogs are among the permitted park amenities.
The Orange County Zoo is located inside the park, while the Irvine Park Railroad operates attractions including train rides, paddle boats and pony rides. These attractions are independently operated, so their schedules and charges are separate from park entry. If you want another Orange outing focused on art, the Hilbert Museum of California Art visit guide covers that museum.
Admission, tickets and opening hours
The park is open every day of the year, with seasonal opening hours and a vehicle fee at entry. Fall and winter hours are 6:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m.; spring and summer hours are 6:00 a.m.–9:00 p.m. OC Parks manages the park, and you should check the official site before you go because hours and fees can change.
Opening hours
- Monday to Sunday: 6 AM–9 PM
Last checked November 2026. Hours can change on holidays and for special events.
Vehicle entry costs $3 per entry Monday through Friday and $5 per entry Saturday and Sunday. Some holidays and events have higher fees.
An OC Parks annual parking pass costs $55 at the regular rate or $35 for seniors aged 60 or older and people with disabilities; it is valid for one year from purchase at county regional and wilderness parks with controlled-access parking.
Zoo admission is an additional $2 for visitors aged 3 and older; children under 3 enter free. Pay this fee at the zoo entrance, separately from the park vehicle fee.
The railroad lists regular train rides at $8 per person or a 15-ticket book for $100. Paddle-boat rentals cost $22 per half hour, and pony rides cost $8 per person; pony rides are cash only.
The railroad’s regular train schedule is 10:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m. on weekdays and 8:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m. on weekends, so don’t assume attraction hours match the park’s opening hours.
Parking and arrival tips
Parking can fill early on high-attendance holidays, and weekend vehicle access may close when the park reaches capacity. OC Parks says this can typically happen between noon and 2:00 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays, so arriving earlier can help you avoid a capacity-related closure.
Picnic tables and barbeques are first-come, first-served and do not require reservations. If you bring a dog, keep it on a 6-foot leash; dogs are not allowed in special-event areas at the train station.
Planning a day at the park
Start by checking the seasonal park hours and deciding whether you want to include the zoo or railroad attractions. Once inside, you can use the park map to find the picnic areas, playgrounds, zoo, railroad and trail routes, then build your visit around the activities that interest you.
For a picnic, bear in mind that tables and barbeques are not reservable. If train rides, paddle boats or pony rides are part of your plans, budget for their separate charges and check the railroad operator’s current schedule.
The park’s history stretches back to its origins as an oak-grove picnic ground for nearby communities: the land was part of Rancho Lomas de Santiago, a Mexican land grant from the 1840s, and was sold to Orange County ranchers in the 1860s.
OC Parks describes it as California’s first regional park. For broader local context, a guide to Orange and Old Towne Orange covers the area.
FAQs
Is Irvine Regional Park open every day?
Open daily. Yes. The park is open 365 days a year, with hours that vary by season.
How much does it cost to enter Irvine Regional Park?
Vehicle entry is $3 per entry on weekdays and $5 per entry on weekends. Some holidays and events have higher fees.
Is the Orange County Zoo inside Irvine Regional Park?
Yes. The zoo is inside the park, and its admission fee is separate from the vehicle entry charge.
Can you reserve a picnic table or barbeque?
No reservation is required: picnic tables and barbeques are first-come, first-served.