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Connect with Orange County Summer Fun with Local OCTA-funded Trolleys and Metrolink Rail

Trolley services funded by the Measure M sales tax and Metrolink’s summer promotion offer residents and visitors an alternate way to travel and avoid traffic

ORANGE – The Orange County Transportation Authority is making it easier and more affordable to connect to summer fun without traffic or parking stress with local trolleys, and a special Metrolink summer promotion.

Traveling by trolley and by rail each make it easy and economical to explore all that Orange County has to offer during the warm summer months. Riders can enjoy seamless connections, scenic views, and stress-free transportation.

“OCTA is proud to partner with cities and with Metrolink to keep Orange County moving, especially during the busy summer season,” said OCTA Chair Doug Chaffee, also the county’s Fourth District Supervisor and Chair of Metrolink’s Board of Directors. “These services provide real alternatives to driving, while helping to reduce traffic congestion, improve air quality, and make summer travel more fun and accessible for everyone.”

Summer Shuttles – Free and Low-Cost Trolley Services

OCTA is once again providing a network of free and low-cost seasonal shuttle services in partnership with six Orange County cities. Funded primarily through Measure M, Orange County’s voter-approved half-cent sales tax for transportation, the trolleys offer easy access to beaches, restaurants, shopping districts, hiking trails, and local events.

Shuttles are operated by participating local cities and tailored to serve community needs, with routes and service hours designed for convenience and accessibility. Many routes run daily and provide important first- and last-mile connections for transit users, helping reduce vehicle miles traveled by offering reliable alternatives to driving and parking congestion.

In 2024, the OCTA-supported trolleys recorded approximately 400,000 boardings throughout the summer.

Each of these trolleys connect to an OC Bus route and some connect to Metrolink stations:

  • Dana Point Trolley – Runs daily, connects to Harbor, Strands, and Doheny State beaches and the Laguna Beach, Laguna Niguel, San Juan Capistrano and San Clemente trolleys
  • Laguna Beach Summer Breeze & Trolley – Weekend express service from inland park-and-ride plus downtown trolley connections
  • Newport Beach Balboa Peninsula Trolley – Serves 22 key coastal attractions
  • San Clemente Trolley – Travels between North Beach, Downtown, and San Clemente Pier and the Metrolink station
  • San Juan Capistrano Trolley – Weekend service to historic Los Rios District, dining, shopping and the Metrolink station
  • Laguna Niguel Trolley – Connects parks, retail centers, and Laguna Niguel/Mission Viejo Metrolink Station.
summer trolleys

For full schedules, routes, and park-and-ride information, visit: www.octa.net/summershuttles.

All Aboard Summer with Metrolink

Metrolink’s SoCal Day Pass offers unlimited single-day rides for $15 on weekdays and $10 on Saturday and Sunday, making it easy and affordable to take day trips or weekend excursions throughout the region. Now through the end of August, travelers can enter a weekly drawing for a chance to win two SoCal Day Pass tickets and a monthly drawing for a $100 gift card and two SoCal Day Pass tickets.

In addition, youth ages 17 years and under ride free Saturdays and Sundays when accompanied by a fare-paying adult. Metrolink promotions support family-friendly travel while encouraging more residents to try rail as a sustainable and scenic alternative to driving.

Many of Orange County’s most popular summer destinations are just steps from Metrolink stations, including San Juan Capistrano’s historic downtown, the beaches of San Clemente, and trails and open space in Laguna Niguel. Metrolink also connects easily with OC Bus and several local summer trolleys, extending travel options even farther without a car.

For more about the summer special and ideas for 42 trip destinations, visit MetrolinkWeekend.com.

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