OC Fair Express Draws Nearly 22,000 During 2026 Run

OCTA's seasonal bus service provided a convenient, affordable alternative to driving and parking, helping take cars off the road over five fair weekends.

ORANGE - The 2026 OC Fair has wrapped up, and the Orange County Transportation Authority's OC Fair Express once again helped thousands of fairgoers leave the driving behind, providing an affordable and convenient way to reach one of Orange County's most popular annual events.

During five weekends of service, the OC Fair Express recorded 21,897 total boardings, connecting riders from six locations throughout Orange County directly to the OC Fairgrounds in Costa Mesa.

The seasonal service offered fairgoers an alternative to navigating traffic and searching for parking, while also benefiting the broader community by helping take cars off the road and reduce traffic and parking demand around the fairgrounds.

"OC Fair Express is about giving people choices and making it easier for everyone to enjoy a major community event without having to worry about traffic and parking," said OCTA Chair Jamey M. Federico. "Nearly 22,000 boardings this summer demonstrate the value of providing convenient, affordable transit that connects people to where they want to go while helping reduce congestion for everyone."

The OC Fair Express operated every Saturday and Sunday from July 18 through Aug. 16, with buses running from six locations across the county, including a new Irvine location this year. Service was offered approximately every 30 minutes, with buses dropping riders just a few steps from the fairgrounds.

Ridership remained strong through the final weekend, when the service recorded 4,857 boardings, approximately 12% higher than the corresponding weekend in 2025, though ridership was down slightly overall compared to last year when nearly 23,000 boardings were recorded.

For the full five-week run, ridership by route was:

• Anaheim - Anaheim Regional Transportation Intermodal Center (ARTIC): 6,073 boardings
• Fullerton - Fullerton Park & Ride: 4,301 boardings
• Laguna Hills - Laguna Hills Transportation Center: 3,994 boardings
• Huntington Beach - Goldenwest Transportation Center: 3,681 boardings
• Santa Ana - Santa Ana Regional Transportation Center (SARTC): 2,214 boardings
• Irvine - Irvine Train Station: 1,634 boardings

Adults paid just $2 each way, youth ages 18 and younger rode free through OCTA's Youth Ride Free program, and seniors received discounted fares.

Since its debut in 2011, OC Fair Express has helped tens of thousands of riders travel to and from the fair while supporting OCTA's broader goal of providing transportation choices that help keep Orange County moving.

For more information about OCTA bus service, visit OCBus.com.

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