Goat Hill Junction Railroad

Great train ride for the kids. And it’s free. The trains are well maintained and the ride is about 12 minutes. Longest ride I’ve experienced in Socal that’s not at Disney or Knotts. The only drawback is that the tracks are in an open field with no trees or real interesting topography although the views are good. This railroad ranks #2 in my overall list of kids’ train rides.

Very unique and cute for little kids!

Really cool to ride on scaled trains. My family went there for a birthday celebration. What a treat!!! If your kid loves trains then no doubt this is the place for your family. Multiple routes all over acres of land. We sure had a great time!

Hats off to the group of train enthusiasts that runs the train. The ride is fun and it’s free. A hidden gem in OC.

Been going here on and off for the past two years. Free train rides… what could be better. Sometimes they have a band playing live music and a taco person cooking up fresh food. Great way to entertain my son for a couple hours.

This is a personal favorite of ours. It is a 13 minute ride around the beautiful field. It is a free ride the 3^rd Saturday of every month. They take donations though. I recommend taking a hat and water for sunny hot days. If you go toward closing 3:30pm it is a shorter wait time. You can also have a picnic at the tables there. However, there is not a whole lot of shade. And across the street there is a park you can go and have your picnic if the tables don’t workout.

We have been coming here for about 4yrs now. We absolutely love this Train! It’s free!!! It’s ran by a group of awesome engineers that passions for trains.
I hope this place never leaves. The experiences this place has given my boys are wonderful! The ride is nice and long!!!
It’s longer than 5min… u go over a bridge and under a bridge!
We see families having parties here!!!
Just be aware that all passengers must be able to fully walk on their own to ride the train. So no babies in carriers.
You straddle the mini train. Avoid wearing a skirt! ;)
Have fun! And the trains are open to ride on the 3^rd weekend of the month!

This place is amazing and a must for anyone with young kids!!! I seriously can’t believe it’s free! The train rides are much longer than we expected (about 10 min) and the conductors and other helpers are so friendly and make it a truly unique experience. I expected the lines to be crazy, but we got there around 11:30 on Saturday and only had to wait a few minutes. My almost 2 year old loves trains and had a blast visiting! We will be back!!! Be sure to drop a donation in the boxes that are around!

Can’t beat free rides on tiny locomotives! The volunteers and club members are very kind, and willing to answer any query about their unique hobby. Get there before Noon, and you’ll likely not have to wait in line hardly at all. Support them by buying a train whistle, or other fun memorabilia in the souvenir shop! Many thanks for all their hardwork and generosity!

Today I had my son’s third birthday party here. We had never been to Goat Hill Junction, but he is a huge train enthusiast. You can reserve private parties, but I was on a time crunch and a budget. So i opted for the free admission third weekend of the month.
The model trains were adorable. The kids had so much fun riding on them all afternoon! There was live music, a taco guy, and a shave ice truck. I arrived early and saved tables for our party. We brought in our own food and drinks. Over all it was a unique venue where the kids could be loud, play, and enjoy trains, and the best part of all, it was FREE!
All of the conductors and engineering personnel were friendly and knowledgeable. The views from the train ride are really beautiful, as it borders a country club and golf course. I would definitely return with my kids just for a fun family outing.

All aboard the choo choo train!!!
FREE train rides every 3^rd weekend of each month 10 am — 3:30 pm! =)
FREE parking and there’s also a park across the street.
Whether you’re young or old, anyone can enjoy the mini-​size steam train rides! There are various models and it’s just so cool to ride on them! They go around the big loop 2x. They offer FREE popcorn while you wait in line. There’s music playing as well. A couple of picnic tables nearby if you want to enjoy the music, relax or eat snacks.
The lines can be long, but it’s worth the wait. I recommend coming here by 10 am to avoid the long lines and in case if it’s going to be warm day. My little one LOVES riding the train and we’ve gone on the train 2x when the lines are short!
The volunteer workers are so nice and friendly.
It’s not a very shaded area so remember to wear hat (esp for the little ones), wear sunscreens, and stay hydrate.
Be sure to donate $$ in the donation box. The volunteer workers are working for free and would sure appreciate your donation. =)

Such a terrific place to spend time with fans of trains. Especially if they’re going to have a birthday party. It was truly the best place to have my nephew’s birthday celebration. Everyone across the board had a great time riding the train. The picnic area offered us plenty of room for the food and guests. Good parking and bathrooms were clean!!!
The only downside is that there is only one entry/​exit for the venue and a bigger sign should be displayed. Nearly everyone overshot the entryway.

This is one of my favorite things to do on the weekend! The park is well kept and the staff is wonderful. The train ride is relaxing, fun, and overall a delightful experience. I recommend this park in general, but the train experience is well worth it.

Yay! Mark your calendars for a free ride (every 3^rd weekend). Despite age, you will have a wonderful time … this place is fun & calming. Bring picnic food plus do a little train shopping ;)

Great family fun for the kids and adults alike. I’m amazed there is such a hidden gem in Orange County. The trains are very detailed and the railroad tracks is daily long with great views. Definitely recommended. :)

Love love love!!! This little gem was so much fun for my little family! You get pretty good bang for your buck… considering it’s free and all! Really though, a 10 – 15 minute train ride that left my toddlers in awe was well worth the not-​so-​bad 20 minute wait in line.
Couple tips: this place is located right in front of estancia high school, turn into the dirt road… you can’t miss it! It’s only open on the third Saturday of the month, and the Sunday after. Oh, and leave a tip people!!!

Considering this is all volunteer and donation driven, they’ve done quite a job. Looks like all the train operators are big kids at heart, who really enjoy working with the people coming out. Makes for a quick, but fun family experience. Would be nice if they had plants set up on the inside of the tracks, but then again, that’d probably make the job of maintaining the site exponentially more difficult.

I’m being generous with the rating because my son loves mini-​train ride.
Ocean breeze was pretty bad on the day I visited. There are hardly any shades during the ride. Also, scenary wise, it’s barren.
One of the trains broke down and people were stranded for awhile.
But I appreciate these donation based train rides!!! So give it a try!!!

If you or your kids love model trains or Thomas the train, this is the place for you. Great family outing.
Absolutely unique and nastalgic experience to ride around on mini trains. I’m amazed at the level of detail and all the hard work the volunteering hobbyists put in for free.
Lots of parking, beautiful area of Costa Mesa and best of all, the rides are FREE. The first timers may get impatient waiting in line but its worth it because its a long ride. Just remember people… dont get all uppity and bitchy… ITS FREE!
Please tip the volunteers drop box. They work hard to make your kids happy.

My 2 year olds loved it here! Every 3^rd Sat. Of the month rides are free and lasts about 12 minutes. A few tips:
–Wear sunscreen on sunny days.
–Get there early because it gets busy!
–Bring cash to make a donation.
–Only kids that can walk can ride the train.
And,
–Don’t forget the cute little gift shop.