Irvine Park Railroad Pumpkin Patch 2022

The Irvine Park Railroad Pumpkin Patch has been a top spot in the OC for years. Reasonably inexpensive and has a lot of great things to do.

Watch Our Full Detailed Video Below

Irvine Park Visiting Info

• Address:
  • 1 Irvine Park Road, Orange, CA 92869
• Phone:
  • 714-997-3968
• Website:
  • www.irvineparkrailroad.com
• Hours:
  • Mon-Fri 10am-5pm, Sat-Sun 8am-6pm (Dates and hours of operations may change. We recommend calling them beforehand to confirm their business hours.)
• Entry price:
  • Free admissions
• Discounts:
  • Sign up for their free eNewletter on their website to receive your set of coupons emailed to you.
• Parking:
  • Regional Park Entrance fee per vehicle Mon-Fri $3, Sat-Sun $5 and on holidays $7
• Time spent:
  • 2 hours
• Clothing:
  • Check the weather before you go. The weather can be changeable; layered clothing is recommended. Best to wear closed toe shoes.
• What we packed:
  • @pipettebaby sunscreen, @okeeffescompany lip sunscreen, @suds2go cap, @publicgoods insect repellent, @madegoodfoods, @zegofoods, fruits and water.
• Where to eat:
  • Full-service snack bar (hamburgers, hot dogs, grilled cheese, nuggets, and fries) located at the train station. You may bring your own food to the park. 
• Pet allowed:
  • No, not allowed inside the pumpkin patch but leashed dogs are allowed in other areas of Irvine Regional Park.
• Stroller friendly:
  • Yes
•  Restrooms:
  • Yes, porta potties and flushable toilets. We also brought our @suds2go portable hand wash.
• What we observed:
  • We recommend arriving at opening to avoid the Regional Park entry wait, the crowds at the pumpkin patch and get close parking. Lots of great photo op backdrops. Activities range from 1-2 tickets. $7/ticket or $90 for 15 tickets ($15 savings). Activities: Train ride (1), Hay ride (1), Moon bounce (1), John Deere racers (1), Cookie decorating (1), Carnival games (1), Bank-a-ball (1), Pumpkin ring toss (1-2), Pumpkin decorating (2), Face painting (2), Panning for gold (2), Haunted House (free), Hay Maze (free), Picture stands (free). Tickets can be used for future visits or other seasonal events. 
• Birthday party rentals:
  • No, not inside the pumpkin patch but other locations inside of the park are available on a first come, first served basis.
• Gift Certificates:
  • No
• Future events:
  • Santa’s Village (Nov 25-Dec 23, 2022) and Easter Eggstravaganza (Mar 25-April 15, 2023)
• Other things to do inside the park:
  • Bike rentals, paddle boat rentals, Orange County Zoo ($2/person), pony rides, horse rentals, horseshoe and volleyball set rentals, hiking, fishing at the lake (with a fishing license)
• Recommended itinerary:
  • 8am Pumpkin Patch
  • 10am Orange County Zoo
  • 11:30am Lunch
  • 12:30pm Bike or paddle boat rentals

What We Said In Our Irvine Park Railroad Pumpkin Patch Video

The Irvine Park Railroad Pumpkin Patch has been a top spot for families in the orange county area for years.  It can be reasonably inexpensive, and it’s got a lot of great photo opportunities throughout the grounds.  Located just inside one of the state’s oldest parks.  The entrance price varies on what day of the week you visit.  We arrived at 9 am on a Saturday, and the pumpkin patch parking lot was nearly full.  

Once in, admission into the pumpkin patch area is free.  But most activities require tickets, and you’ll have to buy those.  Ticketed activities range from cookie decorating to rides and games.  We tried at least one of each, and our girls thought the games where you could take home a prize like a stuffed animal or these entirely out of left fields aliens were the most satisfying.  As parents, we thought the train ride offered the most significant value, and we learned quite a bit about the park during the 10minute ride.  Next to the train, families could also have the kids ride ponies, or the traditional haybale wagon pulls that you’ll see at almost every big pumpkin patch.

Free activities include a hay maze, a little kid-friendly haunted house, and a hay pyramid we can’t remember seeing.  But by far, the most amazing thing was the fall atmosphere and dozen or so great photo opportunities. You’ll be hard-pressed to find another pumpkin patch with as many quality photo spots as Irvine’s regional parks.  And we’ve been to a lot.

Park-wise, we recommend visiting early to avoid the crowds and the long lines to enter the park.  We came midday for their easter event, and we wouldn’t wish that sort of torture for you or have you have to park outside of the park and walk all the way in.  

While you’re there, be sure to check out the OC Zoo. It’s only a short walk past the patch, and at around 2 dollars a ticket per person, it’s almost cheaper for a family of four to enjoy an hour inside the zoo than use a ticket to decorate a cookie inside the pumpkin patch.  We’ll be posting a more comprehensive video on the Irvine Regional Park soonish.

Another Close Pumpkin Patch

Irvine also has another popular pumpkin patch to consider in Tanaka Farms. They’re a working farm with a large pumpkin patch to pick from throughout October.

So come back soon to discover even more to do with your kids around California.