I've taken my child to this park quite a few times already. I like how it is somehow "isolated" from the city although it's close to the city. The park charges $5 for all day parking. Plenty of parking, the park itself is huge and lot of activities to do. We recently went for the easter activities. They had Easter egg hunt (which you have to pay for and limit is 10 eggs per child), bounce houses, train rides, and other activities. They a photo with the bunny ($20 per pose which includes 1 printed copy). On a regular day, you can visit the OC zoo, go biking, fishing, picnic or just simply hang out. Overall, I would recommend this park for all family weekend! read more

Tourist trap The train station, area and train itself is well decorated. The ride is smooth and the employees were friendly. The price for one loop was expensive and only lasted a few minutes. It may be a good one-time visit for toddlers and small children but not worth going again. The young one did not like the ride as much as the pony ride. She found the train announcer/tour guide to talk too much and not allow kids to enjoy the views. read more

Only 4 out of 5 stars because it's expensive. Our first time at the Irvine Park Railroad for their Easter Eggstravaganza! We typically come for the pumpkin patch, but we thought we would try out their Easter event this year too. It was a lot of fun for my 3 year-old; she enjoyed the bounce house, the face paint, the games, and the Easter egg hunt. It was a successful trip, and we will now come every year too for the Easter Eggstravaganza, and the pumpkin patch. (: read more

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Such a fun and clean park with so much to do! My toddlers got to ride horses, do a train ride, walked by the pond, played in the playground and we didn't realize there was also a mini zoo located inside the park as well! The zoo had more animals than I expected and even a little petting zoo section where the kids got to play with the goats. We loved it here and I'd recommend it to anyone visiting the area. read more

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I love the Irvine Park Railroad! It's such a hidden gem. This was my first visit at Halloween, and it's just as much fun as at Christmas! And, it's fun for adults and kids too! We saw multiple peacocks on the property, horses, and then they have the railroad, activities, and plenty of photo ops! I enjoyed that our conductor gave us lots of history about the park and surroundings. I felt like I was in a fun field trip. I also love their goodies for sale, little kettle corn and pumpkin bread! This place is so cute, whimsical and a genuine good time! read more

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This review is for the pumpkin patch that happens annually from September to October. The Irvine Park Railroad is the location of the OC Zoo, farmers markets that happen every Tuesday, horse rentals, pony rides, paddle boat and bike rentals, and hiking trails. Parking costs $3 on weekdays and $5 on weekends. Unlike its name might suggest it is located in Orange. At the pumpkin patch you buy tickets and use the tickets for rides and other attractions. Each ticket costs $8 and some games are always a winner. It wasn't a big place and is definitely more kid-focused. If you have kids you could spend hours here but we only spent about an hour total. We went on the train ride which went through parts of the park and only took 10 minutes. It is so packed during weekends in October that they moved to a reservations-only system where you make reservations online. I actually went one time a previous year and the line of cars going into the park was so long that we turned around and drove away. I definitely recommend going during the weekday because it wasn't nearly as busy. read more

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I will preface my review by saying Halloween is our favorite holiday and we have been going to pumpkin patches with the kids for 7 years now. This place by far has been our favorite pumpkin patch and it's not even close. The pumpkin patch is attached to a ginormous park in Irvine that I didn't even know existed prior to this visit. There is so much to do here we ended up spending two hours and had to drag the kids away when it was finally time to go. Probably the two biggest cons: EXPENSIVE and crazy crowded--what isn't crowded in socal? We went on a Monday in late Sept so for us it was free to enter and no reservation needed. There are carnival style games, tractor riding, train ride, bounce house, face painting, cookie decorating, etc that all cost tickets. 1 ticket is $8. Every activity is either 1 or 2 tickets so cost adds up quick! I bought the 15 tickets for $100 "deal" and let me kids cut loose for a few hours and they had a blast. If you're trying to save money, you definitely can do so. The haunted house is free, the hay maze is free (our kids ran around in it for like 20 minutes it was their favorite thing there), and you can enter for free as long as it isn't a weekend in Oct. Weekends in Oct require reservations and costs $20 per person. Yikes. Make sure you come late Sept to avoid crowds and holes in your wallet ;) Overall, had so much fun. The train ride is awesome! Costs one ticket per person. Haunted house is tiny and very kid friendly. Hay maze was perfect for the little ones to run around and burn some energy while I could sit and give my lower back a rest. It was very hot when we went but the entire area is covered by giant trees that provide great shade to keep cool. Really enjoyed ourselves. I think this place will definitely be an annual tradition now every spooky season. read more

Irvine Park Railroad - Angel loves first Halloween - Amusement Parks Near Me - Orange, California

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Amazing park with tons of things to do. A bit of a way for my family and I but always worth going when we go out there. Highly recommend for anything and everything. read more

We came on a pretty hot and humid day back in August. Since it was still summer it seems that this place can get jam packed with families even on weekdays. The day we were there I noticed it was packed with grandparents and stay-at-home mama bears and remote working papa bears. My toddler thoroughly enjoyed the train ride. It costs $3 per person (free for babies). The conductor was also very friendly and lovely host, giving us a little history lesson of the park while we rode. We also ended up at the zoo, which was $2 per person. I was shocked at how many animals were actually housed there. The bears and owls were my son's favorite to see. There's a lot more going on at this park, however, due to it being so close to nap time for both kids, we didn't stay too long there. read more

My first pumpkin patch here. It's nice and very open. Pumpkins aren't cheap here and we bought one for the fun of it. Clean park. One thing I didn't like was the schools that visited got a separate line where they immediately went on the train ride; while we waited in line twice. Do they know that kids attention span is less than a minute of time? It needs to change to where there is no line and they tell everyone to come back whenever the train is ready because there was a ton of mad moms in line with me. Imagine waiting for 3 train rides before we went. We were already in lien and have waited and we paid. $8 per ticket per any event. I would come again at a later time. There was already people lined up even before they opened. Was very busy after 11am. $3 to enter the park on weekdays read more

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We paid $42 per person for "Christmas train ride" and honestly... never again!! For that price, you'd expect at least 'something' be included. Nope. The train ride itself lasts about six minutes, drops you off, and you're in a line to take a picture with Santa. That's the main event. After that, you get back on the train for another short ride back to the starting point. Total ride time is maybe 12 minutes and you pass through a tiny tunnel at the end. That's it. Once you're off the train, there are stalls for coffee, hot cocoa, popcorn, and activities ... all extra. None of it is included in the ticket price. At $42 per person, that was pretty shocking. Train by itself would maybe make sense at $10-15 since lightning was nice but at this price point, it feels wildly overpriced. You also pay 5$ to park in the park. Also, it was sold out so clearly there are plenty of people like us who were curious and gave it a try. Lesson learned. For the same money, we could've taken our kids somewhere that gives us way more time, way more fun and a much better experience overall. Cute idea. Terrible value. read more

Irvine Park Railroad - Menu - Amusement Parks Near Me - Orange, California

This is specifically for the train of the lights photos and taking pictures with Santa. All I can say is this is a rip off on the photos they take. You pay for tickets, and they charge you an arm and a leg for a few photos they take which should be included as part of the ticket purchase. They ended up messing up and provided us the wrong QR code and password and it came up with someone else's pictures. I had to call multiple times and got email addresses that didn't work in which they had to forward to the photography booth. The photos they took on your personal phone were horrible and I think that's done on purpose so that you buy their expensive shots. read more

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Great park to visit especially if you have kids. The railroad is inside the Irvine park and it's about a 15 minute ride. On Wednesdays you can ride for free if you are wearing Irvine park rail gear which you can buy online and pick up at the store there. The OC zoo is also located inside the park. There's lot to explore in the park. read more

Family Tradition So adorable and fun for families of young ones. Free weekdays parking is a few bucks. read more

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We love this park. Iits always a different adventure each visit. We've been to the zoo, Easter event, Pumpkin Patch, ride the train, ride the ponies, and just to picnic and play on the grass. Parking fee isn't too bad for the amount of fun you get inside. But parking is free of you are going to the Farmers Market on Tuesdays. We have not been to the Farmers Market yet. We intended to but my son just wanted to bounce in the bounce house during the pumpkin patch. Getting the booklet of tickets is worth it if you are local and plan on doing the activities throughout the year. I have emailed them with questions and gotten responses very quickly. The staff is very nice. I do like getting there early in the day because it can get crowded. read more

A cute and festive holiday experience for kids and families. There are plenty of games and activities, making it a fun-filled day overall. I recommend booking the train ride in advance. Keep in mind, tickets are on the pricey side -- my kids only enjoyed two games, which came out to $32. read more

I was so happy my friend introduced me to Irvine Park Railroad. It's a great place to take the family especially during the major holidays. I went when it was decorated for Halloween and the little ones had a blast! Obviously, the train ride was a huge attraction but they also enjoyed the activities/games that were set up around the property. Then Christmas came around and I was fortunate to have gotten tickets for the train to see Santa. Another hit! I highly recommend taking the family especially the little ones. It is pricey (especially for those games/activities that require two tickets to play). Each ticket was $8 each. But it's still cheaper than other outings in Southern California. Heads up: I recommend signing up for their emails. Sometimes they give free activity ticket that can be redeemed there. read more

I went with the intention of spending sometime with my baby and husband, get a few cute photos, and ride the train. Coming after work meant we only had an hour and a half. I'm not going to say anything here is cheap, but $100 for two people to ride the train is extremely overpriced. Yes I was charged $100 for two train tickets. The woman (no name tag) asked for my phone to tap and didn't offer a receipt. Only reason I knew was because apple wallet showed me. The manager (again no names with any of these people) went to get help from someone else who thinks she refunded the difference "but call us in three days if it's not fixed." Zero apologies and 30 min of my afternoon gone. Not family friendly in my book and I doubt we will ever go back. read more

Drove for almost 2 hours to come here as per a friend recommendation-- and my girlfriend and I enjoyed visiting Irvine Railroad! Once you step through the smell of pony manure and get deeper in through the park, it really feels like I had stepped into Santa's Village! The area itself was super charming, with beautiful lights and decorations that really added to the festive spirit. Finding parking was a bit of a challenge since it's in a pretty dark area with dim lighting, but luckily we managed to find free parking without any issue. The gate staff were friendly too--they let us in even though they initially said it was $5 for entry, which was a little odd but totally fine with us! Anyways, the whole place was bustling with activity, and it had that magical, cozy holiday atmosphere that made me feel excited. Kids were running around everywhere and everyone was in holiday get-up. The snack shack selling food was nice with really reasonable prices. I tried their seasonal pumpkin spice bread for just $6 and it was delicious!! I had it the next day and it was super good. We also grabbed a hot cocoa and a churro--both being perfect for staying warm on a cool evening. The photo spots here are not bad--the trees beautifully decorated with lights and some backdrops make for some great pictures! I was also initially hoping to ride the train while we were there, but unfortunately, they were fully booked for rides up to three months in advance. Wild! Still, there are plenty of other activities to explore if you purchase tickets, things like ice fishing and other themed activities. This place is super family-friendly and a great way to spend a couple of hours, especially during the holiday season. We got here around 6pm, and it was magical at that time with the lights and festive energy walking in. Even though I missed out on the train ride, the whole experience was still fantastic, and I'd absolutely recommend it if you're in the area or looking for a fun holiday outing!! P.S. The area around the park once again is super dark so just a FYI! read more

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Located inside Irvine Regional Park. It costs $5 per a car on the weekend to enter the park. Irvine Park Railroad has something for everyone! Free admission to come inside! They have some free activities like a child friendly "haunted house" and a maze. The rest of the activities will cost tickets. One ticket cost $8 and you can purchase 15 tickets for $100. You can save $20 this way. Must activities cost 1 ticket. Some will require 2 tickets. There's plenty of instagram-worthy photo-ops. They got you covered in that regard. If you want your child to play some carnival games. They got that too! Take a ride on the Choo-choo train! This was a fun activity for the whole family. Our son really enjoyed the bouncy house. They have bouncy houses for different age groups which was a really good idea. They also limit the amount of child playing in the bouncy house at one time to 6 children. The children could jump non-stop for 10 minutes. It was really cute seeing parents trying to get their young children exit the bouncy house. We've all been there! We all enjoyed panning for gold. It was a fun activity to do as a family. They give you a bag to put all of your gold nuggets. Our son had a fun time decorating the cookie! The John Deere Racer and Mini Diggers were also a lot of fun. The mini diggers required the longest wait time of almost 40 minutes. Prepare yourself for that! All in all, there were so many different types of activities for everyone! I was very pleased with this pumpkin patch. I wasn't a fan of anyone who plays a carnival game gets a prize. This is not a good lesson to teach children. You need children to understand that in life. You don't always win! This is an important life skill. This is my only complaint. They had a variety of different types of food available for purchase. Standard carnival fare like cotton candy, nachos, pretzels and other snacks. They also had several delicious farm stand types of bread available for purchase like pumpkin breads and cinnamon pull apart sweet bread. I really liked the chocolate chip pumpkin bread. I highly recommend coming here with your family. It was a fun pumpkin patch to explore! Looking forward to coming here for Christmas! read more

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This place need to do better!!!!! I've gone a handful of times since my toddler was 6 months old. I'm solely writing this review due to the changes that they have made this year regarding Halloween and the process on buying tickets for the Christmas train. Prior years no reservations were required but weekends are now required for Halloween which means more $$$ to spend. They want your money! To purchase tickets for Christmas train, you get on a queue system (not first come first served) 2 hours before tickets go on sale. For the last two years, I've gone on the queue system right when it opened waited, 3 hours to be able to purchase tickets and to find out all the night times were sold out. How is this fair for those that waited 3 hours while others waited less time and got the chance to purchase night tickets! read more

This is our favorite pumpkin patch. We love to go here every year. It's located in the Irvine park which is $3 per car to get in on week days and $5 on weekends. We always make sure to come here on a week day because it can get crazy busy. We've attempted to come on a weekend but it gets packed and you end up having to park outside the park and walk a mile or two. Save yourself some trouble and go on a week day, it's worth it. Theres plenty of parking inside and it didn't take us long to find a spot. Entrance to the pumpkin patch is free. The pumpkin patch is one of the largest ones I've been to. They have a lot of spots to take those family pictures we all love. They have different activities you can do inside like pumpkin decorating, a bounce house, carnival games and a train. All of these activities require a ticket which you can purchase at booths around the pumpkin patch. Each ticket is $8 or you can get a pack of 15 for $100. Each game is 1 ticket and some games you get prizes. However if you don't want to spend money on tickets there are a lot of places to explore and take pictures. They also have food inside for purchase. It's a great spot for families and we always enjoy hanging out here every year. Once finished you can always drive around the park and check out other things which is a pretty cool perk as well. We'll be coming back! read more

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Railroad was great but the games for Easter were $8-$16. Biggest rip off I have ever seen. $8 for 10 minutes in a bounce house. $16 for face painting and carnival games. Better off going to Disneyland at these prices. We won't be back. Also, there were too many workers. Each carnival game had 6-10 workers, which was unnecessary. Be more efficient with staff and lower your prices. read more

Great place for kids to ride a train January to November for $7, get the coupons online before you go for their BOGO deals too. Avoid the Christmas train in December because that is like $25 to $55 a ticket because of some extra lights and photos with Santa. read more

We came here for the zoo while on vacation and discovered they had so much more in this park! After the zoo, we came to ride the train. Tickets were $7 per person, so $21 for myself, husband, and 6 year old. The train ride was nice taking us throughout the park. It was a narrative ride helping us to learn more about things offered and a little history. We enjoyed it. read more

Took my 4 year old daughter and she had an amazing time. It was during Easter time so they had a bunch of Easter activities.

We have a 2 year old and this place was an absolute dream in April! Baby ducklings had just hatched, peacocks walked free... petting zoo is free under 3 as is nature center. You can bike and paddle boat. The train was perfect! We'd come here over Disney or the Zoo any day because you're in nature! read more

Visited Irvine Park Railroad with my family on Saturday, 10/19, around 4 PM, for the pumpkin patch and it was a mixed experience. To start, the lines to enter the place to park were incredibly long, and finding parking looked impossible. Honestly, don't bother trying to park there--just park at the nearby college campus and take a 20-minute walk. It's much quicker and peaceful than sitting in line in the car, waiting for who knows how long. Once inside, we tried out the free corn maze and haunted house. Both were fun but could use some improvements. I wish the corn maze had been longer and a bit more challenging, and the haunted house also felt short. The kids enjoyed it, but I think both attractions could have had more to offer. All the other attractions seemed like a very long wait. The worst part, though, was the dust. There was so much in the air that it became pretty uncomfortable. You can definetly feel it up in your nose and lungs. If you go, I highly recommend wearing a mask, especially if you're sensitive to dust. Overall, it's a fun family spot, but there are definitely a few things they could improve. read more

I came here with my daughter to check out the pumpkin patches. It small, quant, but enough for a 20 months old to wonder around for at least 45 minutes. I basically came here to take pictures for my daughter since I'm a cheap mom. The train rides, games and other activities all cost additional. I didn't waste my money buying tickets for those activates because any with a toddler know they change their mind every 2 seconds. The train ride, I think, is the only activity that I think is worth the extra coast because it's 12 minutes longs. The train takes you around the whole park. Parking here is $3.00. The parking fee can be paid by credit card or cash, so it's easy and convenient. It is a bit hot if you come during noon hours. Food choices are pretty selective. It's basically all junk food. read more

I wanted to bring my son here who is 2 because he absolutely loves trains. I was so surprised by the entire pumpkin patch. There was so much fun stuff to do. The train ride was super cute! They had so many great photo ops. The only negative was how long it took to get into the park. The line down the street was so long! It took like 30 minutes to get it. CRAZY! read more

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Cute small train takes you around the park as the conductor provides some information about the park nice relaxing ride saw some peacocks on our ride as we went around the lake read more

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Love it here. My teens grew up going here and now I take my youngest multiple times a year. Love the train and the zoo. Their special events are always a highlight of the holidays. read more

Cute spot! Pumpkin patch is great, train is fun, and there are a ton of activities. It does get very crowded though. read more

This review is specifically for the Christmas train of lights. I paid $300 for a group of 8 to take our kids to see Christmas lights, ride the train, and meet Santa. The boarding time was easy to misinterpret and arriving a half hour early was completely unnecessary and felt as if they wanted to force you to spend money in the village area before the train, when I had already spent a great deal. The train is cute and lights are done well throughout the park. When wet got to the North Pole we arrived to a long slow moving line. After a half-hour in line, we had barely moved. The kids were tired and cranky. They don't allow strollers so I had to hold my 10 month old the whole time except for a few times I let him sit on dirt to avoid him getting overly squirmy and restless. Fast forward another hour... still in line. Total wait time TWO HOURS!!! Completely unacceptable. Then we see Santa, he's a very realistic Santa with cute stage set up. Professional pictures taken which you had to pay even more for and were very poor quality. Luckily my girlfriend was able to snap some decent ones. Then we try and get on the train to go back to the village and it's completely full. Unable to bare the thought of standing and waiting for another 15 minutes for the next train with some very tired children we managed to squeeze 8 people and 2 babies in 2 rows. My father is also disabled and walks with a cane. There was no where for him to sit the entire time: Overall the experience was awful and exhausting and I would never do it again. It's a shame cause it would be very adorable and pleasant if we were not expected to wait standing in a 2 hour line. read more

Irvine Regional Park's pumpkin patch offers a great variety of fun activities for kids. I love that they have games where everyone wins a prize. There are also plenty of adorable photo opportunities and free or affordable activities for children. The hayride provides beautiful views, while the train ride is both enjoyable and educational. Pumpkin decorating is a fun hands-on experience, and the cookie decorating was not only enjoyable but the cookies were delicious too. The food is tasty and reasonably priced. Overall, this has definitely been one of the best pumpkin patches I've visited this year. 10/10 read more

Irvine Park Railroad - Such a cute photo opp - Amusement Parks Near Me - Orange, California

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Came on Friday to check out their infamous pumpkin patch and activities. We came here on Friday thinking we might beat the crowds but nope, it was very crowded. However it was very worth it. The park is huge and there are so many things and activities for children. My kids were excited for train but the line was way too long. It's ok next time. You only pay for parking which was only 3 dollars and activities and food which were reasonable. Highly recommend and will come back read more

After tacos, I headed to Irvine Park Railroad for a nostalgic train ride through shaded groves of oak and eucalyptus. From the first whistle to the last, the little engine chugged along scenic loops that feel worlds away from the freeway traffic just beyond the park gates. What makes this spot stand out is how immersive it feels for all ages. Kids on board rub their eyes in delight as the engineer waves from his raised cab, and adults snap photos of turtles sunning themselves beside the pond. The train cars are open-air, so you get a gentle breeze and unobstructed views of the picnic grounds and nearby pedal boat lagoon. The grounds themselves are impeccably maintained. Manicured lawns, towering shade trees, and flowering shrubs line each stretch of track. Benches and picnic tables are scattered throughout, inviting pauses between laps. A small snack stand sells refreshing lemon-ade and cookies baked on site--perfect for a quick pick-me-up. Staff here strike the ideal balance of friendliness and efficiency. The conductor shared a brief history of the railroad, and attendants guided kids safely on and off the cars. Ticket lines moved swiftly, even on a busy Saturday, and everyone seemed genuinely happy to be there. read more

I took my grandkids to the Irvine Park Railroad for Christmas Lights & to ride the train because we had such a good time there when it was a pumpkin patch. I bought 3 books of tickets so we all could ride the train & kids could play some games. The Park books train rides by reservations & the day was booked up. The 1st & 2nd train was half empty. I asked if we could be standby if people don't show? I was told no over and over again. My 3 grandbabies & their parents were disappointed. I was hurt for them. There are less games & activities than the pumpkin version. We will not return. read more

Irvine Park Railroad - Who could say no to these faces & 2 half empty of trains drove past them? - Amusement Parks Near Me - Orange, California

Located within a sprawling 495-acre park, this destination offers a wide variety of amenities perfect for outdoor enthusiasts, families, and groups. Convenient parking and restroom facilities are available throughout the park, along with numerous tables and barbecue stations for picnics. A paved bike and walking trail winds through the central area, providing easy access to six playgrounds, four softball fields, two horseshoe pits, and a scenic lake. For equestrian lovers, a three-mile trail encircles the park's perimeter, offering stunning views of the natural surroundings. Horse trailers can be parked at the train station's northern lot, while a lookout trail on the north slope features a covered shelter, water trough, and fountain. It has group picnic areas. The park has four large picnic areas, each equipped with built-in barbecues, sinks, and permanent tables. Groups of 100 or more must secure a permit at least 15 working days in advance. Rates vary by group size and type, and parking fees are separate. Squirrel Square: Near the lake and boathouse, this area accommodates up to 200 people. It's reservable on weekdays from March to November and available on a first-come, first-served basis on weekends during the same period. From December to February, it can be reserved any day. Nearby facilities include a ball field and volleyball area. Deer Den: Located by the bandstand, this area also has a 200-person capacity with similar reservation rules as Squirrel Square. Coyote Corner: Tucked away in a quieter part of the park, this area holds up to 250 people and features a nearby playground and ball field. Falcon Flats: Situated in the Villa Park Loop, it's the largest area with a 350-person capacity. A playground is close by for added convenience. Recreation and concessions which visitors can enjoy a variety of activities, including bicycle and paddle boat rentals available near the historic boathouse during summer, weekends, and holidays. The Lakeside Snack Bar offers both hot and cold foods, along with picnic supplies, with hours that vary seasonally. Children's pony rides are available year-round, except Mondays, with hours of operation differing slightly between weekdays and weekends. The Irvine Park Railroad is another highlight, providing a charming 10-minute train ride that loops around the lakes and oak woodlands. Party pavilions near the Train Station can be reserved for groups of up to 40 people. For larger private events, the new Sycamore Hill area can be reserved through Irvine Park Railroad. The park is packed with features, including ball fields, bike rentals, fishing areas, hiking and equestrian trails, pony rides, picnic shelters, playgrounds, and interpretive programs. Dogs are welcome on leashes, and food concessions are available to keep visitors fueled during their adventures. The parking fees are, entry costs $3 per vehicle on weekdays and $5 on weekends, with higher fees for holidays and special events. This park truly offers something for everyone, whether it's a relaxing picnic, a scenic train ride, or an action-packed day of outdoor activities. read more

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Super overpriced for what it is. Tickets are too expensive then you arrive and spend an outrageous amount of money on the "activities" they have. I took my son who is only two and was really disappointed to see he was only able to participate in a few things. Most of the activities are for 5 year olds and older. 1 ticket is 8 dollars. Each activity is 1-2 tickets. So lame in my opinion. Parking is crazy and then you wait about 30 minutes just to get on the train that doesn't last more than 5 minutes. The staff can be friendlier. Definitely won't be returning. Save yourself some money. read more