Great Park

Use 8000 Great Park Boulevard, Irvine, CA 92618 as the general destination, then follow the current map to your named attraction or sports field. The campus is very large and has several entry roads and parking lots.

Parking is free in the general Great Park lots. Use Lot 3 for the Balloon and follow the official map for the Sports Complex, playgrounds, arts campus, gardens, ice facility, or event venue; tournaments and concerts can change traffic patterns.

Balloon rides are $10 for adults and free for children. Flights are first come, first served, require same-day check-in and waiver, can fill quickly, and are never guaranteed because wind and weather control operation.

Current regular sessions are Thursday-Friday 10 a.m.-3 p.m. and 7-10 p.m., and Saturday-Sunday 9 a.m.-3 p.m. and 7-10 p.m.; it is closed Monday-Wednesday. Holiday hours and weather can change operation.

Kids Rock near the Balloon uses climbing rocks, tunnels, misting shade structures, and water-cycle play themes. A separate Sports Complex play area has slides, swings, climbing equipment, ropes, and open space near the athletic fields.

Visit the Balloon and free Carousel, Palm Court Arts Complex, historic aircraft and military-base exhibits, Farm + Food Lab, Giving Grove, Terraced Lawn, Kids Rock Playground, and scheduled cultural events.

Yes. The Visitors Center near the Balloon and Carousel includes restrooms, and additional facilities serve the Sports Complex and other developed zones. Choose the closest destination before arriving because facilities are widely separated.

Call the Visitors Center at 949-724-6247 for current flight status. Flights depend on weather, may stop without notice, and often reach capacity; completing a waiver does not reserve a ride.

Yes. The City's current park inventory lists four picnic areas with approximately 78 tables across Great Park. The site is very large, so choose the picnic area nearest your playground, sports field, arts complex, or event rather than navigating only to the park address.

Great Park has accessible parking and developed paths near major public facilities, while individual sports fields, playgrounds, arts spaces, leased attractions, and construction zones have destination-specific routes. Contact the Visitors Center when a particular mobility need depends on exact access.

Yes. Developed walking and fitness routes connect major public areas, but the 1,300-acre property remains under phased construction and not every district is continuously connected. Use the current Great Park map and follow detours rather than relying on a straight-line route.

Palm Court Arts Complex has a shaded outdoor plaza beneath 54 palms, and Kids Rock Playground includes misting shade structures. Picnic areas, the Sports Complex, lawns, Balloon zone, and long walking connections can otherwise be exposed. The Visitors Center, Great Park Gallery, Hangar 244, and other buildings follow their own program hours and are not guaranteed refuge. During extreme heat, lightning, or dangerous wind, use an open substantial building or vehicle; Balloon flights stop when weather is unsafe.

Dogs may accompany visitors in ordinary Great Park outdoor areas when controlled on a leash no longer than 6 feet, and owners must remove waste. Great Park is not Irvine's off-leash dog park; Central Bark at 6405 Oak Canyon is the City's designated facility for off-leash exercise. Sports fields, playgrounds, buildings, shuttles, and major events may prohibit pets or limit access, including events that admit only service animals.

Yes. The Kids Rock children's play area includes water-play features and shaded misting structures, but it is not a swimming pool. Operation can be affected by maintenance, weather, and programming, so confirm the feature's status with Great Park before making water play the main purpose of a visit. Bring sun protection and a change of clothes; the surrounding Great Park campus is large and many other attractions are exposed.

OCTA Route 90 provides the closest regular bus approach, with a stop near Irvine Center Drive and Hubble. Great Park is a very large campus, so this may still leave a substantial walk to the balloon, sports complex, Kids Rock, ice facility, or cultural terrace. Check OCTA's live planner and consider a rideshare connection from Irvine or Tustin station when the final distance is impractical.