William R. Mason Regional Park
Irvine, CA
Parking $3–$5
By Simir Shah
★★★★★4.7(2,239 Google reviews)
What parents say
AI summary of 5 Google reviews — not a first-hand visit. How we write these
A per-vehicle fee applies, covered by the regional parks pass. Reviewers describe a large lake with ducks and turtles, playgrounds, clean restrooms, shaded paved paths and open grass. Big enough not to feel crowded at weekends. One flags unleashed dogs and an unanswered security line.
A lake with turtles and ducks, bike paths, and huge picnic lawns — the easy, central Irvine park for a relaxed afternoon outside. The park opened in 1973 and grew to its current 339 acres by 1978, when the 9-acre lake most visitors remember was added. Across Culver Drive, an adjoining 123-acre wilderness area offers a quieter, undeveloped hike for families who want to extend the outing.
Good for
- Ages 10+
- Works for a wide age range
Happening near here
- OC Japan Fair (19th Annual)Costa Mesa · 4 mi
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- Free Public Train Rides at Goathill JunctionCosta Mesa · 6 mi · 3rd full weekend of the month, 10am–3:30pmFree
- Bowers Museum — Free Sundays (Santa Ana residents)Santa Ana · 8 mi · 10am–4pmFree
18712 University Dr, Irvine, CA 92612, USA
Hours via Google — confirm before a special trip.
Map
What visitors say
- Darkhan Shalkibassov★★★★★
I absolutely love spending time at William R. Mason Regional Park. It is easily one of the best-maintained parks in Orange County. Whether you are looking for a place to go for a long walk, set up a picnic, or just clear your head, this park has it all. The 9-acre lake is the highlight—it's so peaceful to watch the ducks and turtles, and if you’re lucky, you’ll see people sailing their model boats, which is always fun to watch. There are miles of paved paths that are perfect for biking or a casual stroll under the shade of the massive sycamore trees. I also appreciate the 'wilderness' side of the park for a slightly more rugged hiking experience. It’s very family-friendly with great playgrounds and plenty of clean restrooms. Even on the weekends when it gets a bit busier, the park is so massive (over 300 acres!) that it never feels overcrowded. Definitely worth the small parking fee for such a beautiful, well-kept space. Highly recommend!"
5 months ago
- Armine Hovhannisyan★★★★★
I recently visited this park and overall had a nice experience. The park is truly beautiful, with plenty of open space and a peaceful atmosphere that makes it perfect for a relaxing walk or spending time outdoors with family. The majority of the trees were small though. Parking was convenient and reasonably priced at $5, which felt fair considering how well-maintained the park is. It was not that easy to find a spot, but access to the park from the parking area was straightforward. However, there was one issue that took away from an otherwise great visit. There were quite a lot of unleashed dogs throughout the park. While many owners seemed relaxed about it, it can be concerning, especially for families with kids or people who may not feel comfortable around off-leash dogs. What made it more frustrating is that I tried calling the number provided for park security, but no one answered. Because of this, I’m giving it 4 stars instead of 5. With better enforcement of rules and responsive security, this park could easily be a perfect spot.
5 months ago
Showing 2 of 5 Google reviews · Read them all on Google Maps
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