Orange County Great Park

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Orange County Great Park

Photo: Azusa Tarn · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

🛝 Playground · Irvine

2.5 hours · Free · No reservation needed

age fit
0–1 yr
★ 4.0
1–3 yrs
★ 5.0
3–5 yrs
★ 5.0
5–10 yrs
★ 4.0
  • 🚗
    About 50 min drive
    From Arcadia · Parking: Several free lots inside the park (Great Park Blvd / Marine Way), fuller on game days
  • 🍼
    Stroller-friendly
    Flat surfaces — bring the stroller
  • 🌳
    Little shade
    Great on sunny days · Good on cool days · Wind-OK
  • ⏱️
    Typical visit: 2.5 hours
    Best seasons: Spring · Fall · Winter

A huge park built on the old El Toro Marine air station: the iconic orange balloon rises 400 feet for views over Orange County (weekends, weather permitting), plus a big carousel, several large playgrounds and a Sunday farmers market; you will not get through it all in a morning.

💡 Tips
Balloon and carousel hours and prices change often, so check the website before you go; the balloon is grounded in wind. Almost no shade, so go in the morning with hats. Lots of weekend sports events at the Great Park, so follow the parking signs.

What this place offers

✓huge playground
✓balloon ride
✓carousel
✓farmers market
✓lawn
✓restrooms
✓free

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This weekend's weather in Irvine

Forecast at the destination itself (coast and hills often differ from home)

☀️
Sat 10/17
Sunny · 78–92°F · 1% rain
☀️
Sun 10/18
Sunny · 76–88°F · 0% rain

Location

Irvine, California

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