Absolutely amazing OC Irvine Park grounds in the middle of Orange County over 500 acres that is very easy to get to off of Santiago Canyon Rd and the 241 Toll road. Inside of this park they have the Orange County Zoo which is only a two dollar entry fee and quite a few animals that they rotate in each month with local animals from our local mountains and habitat. Mountain lions, coyotes and bobcats with various other predators from the area! On the weekends they have certain safe reptiles out that you can pet Also inside of this Park is the small Irvine train that takes you about a mile and a half throughout the park. The small kids and family love the train as it travels throughout the park and past a couple of the ponds that are full of wildlife like migratory birds, ducks and turtles. The Park is also home to lots of peacocks. This Park has extensive open area with plenty of room for the big private birthday parties on the weekends and also areas that you can rent out and be catered too with food and jump houses. They pretty much do it all. It's kind of a hidden secret for a small 5 dollar entry fee that gets you out of the city's hustle and bustle. Within the park there's also the Irvine Ranch outdoor education center that can be rented for special outdoor activities separate from everything else. It is operated and run by the Orange County Council Boy Scouts. Youth groups utilize it for camping outdoor activities and learning leadership skills. There's so much going on here you have to visit to take it all in. Not to mention also small ponies for the youngsters to ride and horses for teenagers and adults. read more

OC Zoo Irvine Regional Park - Small train ride throughout the park - Parks Near Me - Orange, California

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While not as vast as the San Diego zoo, this place had a decent offering of wildlife that will keep the family engaged for 2-3 hours on average. The zoo had various animals such as, but not limited to, reptiles, snakes, a lynx, birds of prey, a tortoise, and goats that you kids could feed and pet. We paid $2 per person above toddler age, which a more than reasonable price. The zoo was clean. I liked reading each exhibit information and the zoo keepers were friendly. The zookeepers had stations to provide interesting presentations about certain animals. It is Good place to go if you have never been and keep kids engaged for 2-3 hours. Finding parking was decent--you can opt to park at other nearby parking lots that are associated with the train station but it would be a bit longer walk. I like that you can bring food and snacks in the park. Bags were unchecked. Just dont feed the animals with food that you bring inside. read more

I love the OC Zoo at Irvine Regional Park--it's the perfect size for young kids who aren't old enough to handle a huge place like the San Diego Zoo. Plus, it's close enough for adults who want a quick wildlife fix without driving over an hour to SD or LA. AND tickets are only $2!!! There are a lot of cool animals that would excite any kid... especially if it's their first time to a zoo - ie bears, mountain lions, eagles, hawks, panthers and beavers! Fun fact: all animals here are rescued, injured or orphaned - native to Southern California. There is also a petting zoo section where you can play with goats, sheep, pot-bellied pigs, doves, chickens, and pheasants. You can purchase grains to feed the animals! The zoo is small enough that's it's super walkable, even if you are walking/carrying a toddler. (You can get through the zoo in 30 min - 1 hour at a moderate pace) read more

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I took my kiddos here on a Wednesday afternoon and for the price of $3 parking and $2 fee for each person for the zoo, it was worth getting my kids out and about instead of zombie mode on the tv and gaming consoles. They had a great time seeing the animals and were so amused when a peacock flew over and walked around like it owned the place. There's also a petting area for goats and honestly i didn't care for it because it STANK but I held it in for my kids sakes so they can brush the goats. I'd recommend it for small kids if you want to kill an hour! read more

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This little zoo odd located in a big regional park! You pay to get into the park, and follow the signs to get to the zoo. When you find the lot closest to the zoo, you walk up to the ticket booth and pay another fee to get into the actual zoo. The OC Zoo is actually quite small, but they do get you up close and personal with some of the animals they do have in their exhibits. They have a few large cats, a bear, birds, reptiles and a little petting zoo area where you can feed and pet goats! They also have a little scavenger hunt sheet up by the ticket booth that could help provide you with a bit of purpose while exploring exhibits and learning about different animals! Unfortunately I could not partake because my baby was "all done" with the whole idea of looking at animals that day. Nice little excursion, and will definitely visit again in the future! read more

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$5 to park on weekends and $3 on weekdays. $2 entrance fee (Kids under 2 free!). Great place to take the kids and family! Lots of awesome animals and reptiles like jaguars, ocelot, lynx, mountain lions, eagles, snakes and more! They even have workers bring out animals for kids to see and touch like guinea pigs, snakes, and tortoises! Totally recommend! read more

OC Zoo Irvine Regional Park - Parks Near Me - Orange, California

This is a nice little zoo. There were mostly families with their kids. The parking was difficult to find, especially on a Saturday afternoon. Most of the animals were visible, and it didn't take too long to finish walking. Entrance fee weren't expensive at all and was affordable. There's also an area where you can pet the animals. read more

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An amazing Sunday afternoon at the OC Zoo! The zoo is home to many animals, a perfect Sunday afternoon with family. Reasonably priced, animals appear to be well taken care of too! Highly recommend. read more

Words cannot express the love and care this zoo offers their animals. They are treated like family and they are named! Ziggy the jaguar is gorgeous! And Elinor the black bear is a sweet girl with playful tendencies. The petting area is delightful...the goats all have names and are so very sweet. They allow you to brush and feed them. Sinks with soap and water near by so don't worry. The zoo is small but worth the visit due to the fact that they are mostly rescues. There is a food stand outside the zoo which sits on the beautiful property of Irvine Zoo. There are peacocks between the entrance and the food stand which allows for entertainment as you eat your lunch. Happy visiting! read more

OC Zoo Irvine Regional Park - Elinor the black bear! - Parks Near Me - Orange, California

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The Zoo here is pretty small, but doable for kids in that toddler-kindergarten range. Kids that are bigger will likely lose interest within 30 minutes or so. Some tips- bring snacks or food because this regional park is likely farther what you expect when you hear "Orange" or "Irvine". Go on a weekday; I've tried to come here on a weekend and it's just never worth it. Take a half day and come in the morning when it's nice and cool. Bring quarters and little cups for your kid to be able to feed the sheep more conveniently. read more

Wow! What a great way to kill four hours in a busy weekend. They had a train, a zoo, hiking trails, picnic tables and a pond. Definitely a lot to do here. Though most people were picnicking. There was also a pumpkin patch near the train station that was really neat and great for kids. The OC Zoo is small and they have a lot of animals. They had guides explaining some of the features and how it relates to the surrounding area. A nominal fee to enter, I think it was like $2. read more

OC Zoo Irvine Regional Park - Parks Near Me - Orange, California

Amazing zoo!!! 10/10 Only $2 to enter and $5 for parking?! What kind of sorcery is this!!!!! lol The zoo is practically free to get inside! How is that even possible? Really though... How do they afford to keep the zoo open? lol The zoo is well-taken care of, and all of the structures are maintained. It is super clean as well. The habitats are huge and elaborate. If I were a wild animal, I would want to live here lol I did notice some of the animals were disabled and needed extra care/ support. I think it is great that they are rehabilitating animals and housing the animals that wouldn't be able to survive in the wild. Seeing the 3-legged ocelot was heartbreaking. I don't know the story on how the ocelot lost its leg, but I sure am thankful that the animal is at The OC Zoo! The black bear was also injured or disabled and wasn't able to move around as quickly as a normal one would. Still amazing creatures and so fun to see them! I loved seeing the peacock too! Gorgeous!! read more

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We have heard such great things about this zoo and we were excited to see it for ourselves! We decided to come on a weekday and as soon as they opened. You have to pay to get into the park where the zoo is at and it was $3. We were able to park near the entrance and we paid $6 for three adults and my baby who is under 1 was free! There were quite a few people there with us at the zoo but it didn't feel crowded. We were able to see all the animals and really enjoyed our time there! It was so clean and we would love to come back! read more

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This is a quaint Nature Center located inside the Irvine Regional Park. It is free and open to the public. They offer coloring sheets and a table for kids to use. There are fur pelts with to touch and a game to see if you can guess whose pelt it belongs to. There are a handful of animal displays and educational debriefing to follow along. The building is full of colors, life, and fun learning. Super friendly and helpful staff too! read more

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TWO bucks to get into this zoo. Parking is $5 to get into the park itself. You'd be surprised at how many animals are in this zoo for the price. They have a couple mountain lions, foxes, different types of wild cats, free roaming peacocks, goats, sheep, a bear, lots of birds, reptiles, etc. They've recently renovated the zoo so it's much nicer and more spacious. Even the restrooms were updated. When the kids would ask to come here, I didn't want to go because it was so boring to me, but not anymore. The zoo put the money to good use for a cleaner and more enjoyable space to learn about animals. read more

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Always love going here when im off work. Great place to walk around. Very clean and nice employees. read more

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Just went back to OC Zoo at Irvine Park after a couple of years. We haven't been in a while and I forgot how much I love this zoo. Still $2 and all the animals look well. I don't know if they added or updated some sections but certain areas look newer? We enjoy taking our time walking through and then ending up at the petting zoo where you can brush goats. The bathrooms are clean and it's such a great way to spend an hour or so. Best deal in town! read more

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For $2, this zoo is legit. I would most definitely come back. It's very clean. The volunteers are so sweet. A fun place to take the family for outdoor adventures. read more

OC Zoo Irvine Regional Park - Mountain lion to the right - Parks Near Me - Orange, California

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Small but very great setup (and super clean all around)! We enjoyed a warm day and took the whole family to the Zoo. Wonderful selection of animals and the kids really liked the explanation panels. Parking can be a bit complicated but that's an issue all around anyway! Highly recommend for families! read more

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Been in OC for so long but never had to chance to check out the zoo! Parking was $5 and admission was only $2 per person. The zoo was a decent size which was great for such a cheap price. Had so many different animals plus a petting zoo where you can pet goats! The park that the zoo is located in is huge and was sooo beautiful. Would come back again! read more

What a beautiful place, so serene and just really relaxing. Love the animals they have and the layout which is easy to walk around. Hard to believe they only charge $2.00 to get in, I could make this a habit for sure. Had a great day strolling around the park, looking forward to coming back. read more

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Small zoo with a $3 parking fee & $2 entrance fee which takes an hour to walk through. It made it more engaging by grabbing a Scavenger Hunt pamphlet. I learned more by filling in the blanks & reading the signage boards. At the end we were rewarded with stickers to remember our visit. read more

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A hidden gem tucked inside Irvine Regional Park! The OC Zoo is small but family-friendly and surprisingly well-maintained. Perfect for younger kids although ours loved seeing the mountain lion, black bear, and the playful bobcats up close. Lots of rescued animals, which makes it feel meaningful too. Admission is only $2 per person, so it's definitely worth it, especially if you're already at the park. The petting zoo is a cute touch, and the staff is kind and informative. My only wish is that the cages were a bit bigger or had a little more interactive signage for curious kids. That said, it's an easy, enjoyable outing and is great as part of a full park day. Tip: Go early to avoid the heat and grab a parking spot near the entrance! Parking Lot U is closest to the zoo. read more

The OC Zoo at Irvine Regional Park is a great place for families to visit and explore. While it's a smaller zoo, it's absolutely worth the visit. The grounds are very well maintained, and you can tell the animals are well cared for and in great hands. One of the highlights is the petting zoo, where kids/adults can feed and interact with the animals, which makes the experience even more memorable. It's an easy, enjoyable outing that doesn't feel overwhelming, perfect for families with young children. Thus far we've brought our son three times and he's had a great time. read more

I enjoyed the greenery sorrowing the Zoo, being one with nature the strikingly beautiful calls from exotic birds that I couldn't place coming from the habitual enclosures or the top of trees nearby. The Zoo is very immaculate, you could that they take very good care of they're animals because i saw someone cleaning and refinishing one of the cages Wasn't able to see a lot of the animals, but If you're someone that likes nature, or need somewhere to rejuvenate this place is perfection read more

We love coming here to spend a family day. So much to do. The zoo is small, well kept, spacious and a lot to see. Jaguar & mountain lions were out and about when we went (11am). We also saw the eagle feeding time. $2 for anyone over 2 yrs old. read more

OC Zoo Irvine Regional Park - Goat brushing and petting area. - Parks Near Me - Orange, California

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It's only $2 for for per person! This zoo is inside Irvine regional park. The zoo is small, but they have cool animals :). My favorite is beaver:) Must go if you visit this park! Or go just for the zoo! Parking fees are $3 for weekdays, $5 for weekends and $7 for holidays. This park is big and beautiful, so you can easily spend a day read more

If you're looking for a zoo with a ton of animals, this isn't the place. You pay $5 for parking. So most folks go to the Irvine railroad. Which is another $7 per person and then they go to the zoo afterwards Well if you're coming here just for the zoo, don't do it. What did I see at this zoo? I saw a bear. I saw lots of cages. And lots of empty cages. I also saw a porcupine. And 3-4 snakes. Oh and some sheep. Yes, it was $2 but it was a trek just to get there from the railroad parking (10 min walk). Tough pushing a stroller through that park Anyway would I ever go back? Nah. It's prob same caliber as Santa Ana zoo lol So if you're bored and wanna see a handful of animals ... sure go here. But other bigger zoos are better like SD zoo. lol read more

Really small Zoo that you can walk through within about a half hour if you're not stopping to observe. Super easy walking with no stairs or incline/decline. Plenty of seating around the zoo as well where you can just chill out under a tree or by an exhibit and relax. Three bucks to get into the regional Park, her car and $2 per person to get into the zoo. Obviously places like the San Diego Zoo and wild animal Park are huge and have so much more to offer. But if you're looking for a simple, low stress low-cost something to do that the kids will enjoy Just come here and I promise you, you'll have a good time. read more

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Smaller zoo but with a good selection of animals. They have a scavenger hunt that kids enjoy; you get stickers if you complete it. Small entrance fee makes it a great option for families. read more

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Loved this zoo. Perfect amount of walking and animals to see for a short trip with little ones. Very wallet friendly with a park nearby to keep your day going. read more

OC Zoo Irvine Regional Park - Parks Near Me - Orange, California

This place is amazing. Only $2 to get in. Many animals to view. They also have a lunch area and snack bar.

Great zoo. Small but it's $2 and you get so much out of it in my opinion. Lots of cool cats to see plus a bear. Spent a few mornings here with my toddler and enjoyed it each time. Weekends are busy read more

It was our first time here and I loved it! Admission was $2 per person for age 3 and up. You do need to pay for parking. Parking price varies depending on the day you're going. Saw a black panther! Saw many other animals. Also, you can feed the sheeps for 25 cents! If only I live close by, won't mind coming here often / all the time! Definitely will be visiting again! read more

This is such a well maintained Zoo, with plenty of animals and easy to navigate. For $2 per person, you can't really beat that price to see some of your favorite animals and have a petting Zoo. The Panther display is beautiful and I enjoyed the variety. It's well situated in Irvine Regional Park and has a ton of outdoor seating if you want to bring a picnic. I'll definitely be going again. read more

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Small but adorable zoo. I came here because I was looking for a small relaxing place to spend the day in the outdoors. The OC zoo happens to be within the Irvine regional park which allowed me to plan for a cute picnic and relaxing afternoon right after visiting the zoo. I saw so many native animals ( bob cats , bears, mountain lions, and more) and petting area for the kiddos (barnyard animals). I was very impressed with the enclosures . They were very clean and so informative. Many animals here are being rehabilitated which is such a great experience. I was surprised of the admissions price. My entry Fee for Irvine Regional Park was $3 for vehicle during the weekday ($5 weekends)and The zoo fee was 2$. Super underrated location. Hassle free entry and parking. Highly recommended! read more

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Went to this little zoo today for the first time. It's very small but has a good amount of big cats. The black panther was very impressive. There is also a petting zoo near the back. This zoo is definitely more for younger kids, but I went with my 8 year old and he enjoyed it. We were there for about an hour. Worth the $2/each entrance fee. The parking is a mess. We got there about 15 min after opening, so I found parking right away. But when we were leaving there was no parking in the zoo lot. So get there early if you want to park near the zoo entrance. read more

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This zoo is tucked inside the Irvine regional park. There is a car fee of $3for weekdays and $5 for weekends. Entrance to the zoo is $2 and kids under $2 are free!! There's a good amount of animals for the kids to enjoy and a petting zoo in the back! It's a quick hour-ish walk to explore everything. Tip: expect long waits and limited parking if coming during pumpkin patch or xmas event because it is CROWDED. It took us about 1 hour to drive in just to pay!! read more

OC Zoo Irvine Regional Park - Parks Near Me - Orange, California

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Nice small zoo, just enough for a visit for small children saw a few mountain lions bear eagle just to name a few read more

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What a steal! I was surprised with how great this Zoo is! The petting zoo itself is amazing. The staff are all very kind and the animals loved the little kids. Definitely worth the trip read more

OC Zoo Irvine Regional Park - Parks Near Me - Orange, California