1 / 3Irvine Park Railroad
📍 Orange, CA
Scenic train ride operator inside Irvine Regional Park offering 15-minute loop rides past the Orange County Zoo and lake features, plus pony rides, paddle boats, bike rentals, and party pavilions with BBQ areas.
The Irvine park is beautifully maintained and staffed with a kind crew. The railroad is $8 per person, (most purchases are in cash), and takes about 15 minutes to ride around the park where you get to experience the parks history. There’s two lakes (lower and upper) which are great for pictures and have turtles and fish. If you have a family of four, I suggest taking the bike rentals to explore the park. It’s $42 a hour, but 50% off before noon. They’re great for traversing the dirt paths. Overall a great experience, I’d highly recommend and hope to come in the future!
🏆 Family Action Verdict
Families with toddlers and children through primary school age get a stacked activity menu in one visit — train ride, pony ride, paddle boats, and zoo entry are all accessible without relocating. The well-maintained facilities and reliably friendly staff make repeated visits consistent.
ℹ️ What to Know Before You Go
💬 What Families Are Saying
View all reviews →3,774 Google reviews
Jake Wu
7 months ago
“The Irvine park is beautifully maintained and staffed with a kind crew. The railroad is $8 per person, (most purchases are in cash), and takes about 15 minutes to ride around the park where you get to experience the parks history. There’s two lakes (lower and upper) which are great for pictures and have turtles and fish. If you have a family of four, I suggest taking the bike rentals to explore the park. It’s $42 a hour, but 50% off before noon. They’re great for traversing the dirt paths. Overall a great experience, I’d highly recommend and hope to come in the future!”
Melodie Shreiner
a month ago
“What a gem! This has been on my list to check out and definitely coming back! The train ride is cute goes around area to see where the zoo entrance is and the water features. All completely walkable. The pony rides right there next to train is cool! Just a fun vibe! Loved it. My 4yr granddaughter had a fun time! You pay for entrance but honestly worth it to have access to areas. Nice for picnic.”
Jessie Mott
a month ago
“My kids absolutely love coming here. There are so many fun things to do, including the zoo, pony rides, train rides, and paddle boats. They have events almost every big holiday. The whole park is very well maintained, and every staff member we’ve met has been kind, welcoming, and helpful. It’s such a great place for families with young kids. We always have a wonderful time.”
Scott
5 months ago
“Very well maintained train, the engine is absolutely beautiful. The staff and conductors are super friendly too. I hope they plan on adding more track, maybe have it go all the way around the rest of the park. Tons of fun.”
Reviews from Google
Overview
Irvine Park Railroad runs a narrated loop train around Irvine Regional Park's scenic core, passing the zoo entrance, two lakes, and native landscape. Pony rides and paddle boat rentals operate adjacent to the train station. Bike rentals are available with a morning discount window. A snack bar serves the main station area. Seasonal holiday events — pumpkin patch, Christmas trains — run throughout the year. Most purchases require cash payment.
