Plan an OC Bus Trip Across Orange County
Orange County Transportation Authority operates the OC Bus network across Orange County, with local routes, community routes, Metrolink Stationlink service, OC Bus Rapid routes and a Santa Ana city shuttle.
The current route directory was updated for the August 9, 2026 service change. Use this guide to find the right route, understand schedule categories, check live departures, compare fares and avoid relying on an outdated bus timetable.
How to Find Your OCTA Bus Schedule
OCTA publishes separate schedules for each OC Bus route. The current network information is updated quarterly, with the current route directory marked August 9, 2026. Search by route number or corridor, open that route’s timetable, confirm the travel direction and service day, then use a real-time rider tool before leaving.
Search by route number, city or destination.
Use the current Digital Bus Book or route timetable.
Confirm the city or terminal shown on the bus.
Use the stop number or nearby cross street.
Use Transit, Text4Next or Next Ride.
OC Bus Schedule & Rider Guide
Understand the OCTA Route Number Before Reading the Timetable
OC Bus route numbers are grouped by service type. Knowing the route family makes it easier to understand whether you are using a regular local bus, a community route, a rail-connection service or a faster OC Bus Rapid route.
Popular OCTA Orange County Bus Routes
The full network is larger than the list below. These examples cover several high-use corridors and destinations and help you identify the correct route before opening the detailed timetable.
Long Beach – San Clemente
Long coastal corridor serving communities between Long Beach and San Clemente.
Fullerton – Huntington Beach
North-to-west Orange County service between Fullerton and Huntington Beach.
La Habra – Huntington Beach
Major north-south service linking La Habra with Huntington Beach.
Fullerton – Costa Mesa
Local corridor between Fullerton and Costa Mesa.
Fullerton – Balboa
Connects Fullerton with the Newport Beach/Balboa area.
Anaheim – Irvine
Serves a major Anaheim-to-Irvine corridor.
Santa Ana – Newport Beach
Connects central Orange County with Newport Beach.
Brea – Newport Beach
Long north-south Orange County service.
Long Beach – Tustin
Cross-county service linking Long Beach and Tustin.
Huntington Beach – Tustin
East-west service across central/west Orange County.
Huntington Beach – Irvine
Links coastal Huntington Beach with Irvine.
Huntington Beach – John Wayne Airport
Useful for riders traveling to or from John Wayne Airport.
Fullerton – Laguna Hills
Long corridor from north Orange County toward Laguna Hills.
Mission Viejo – Laguna Beach
Connects Mission Viejo with coastal Laguna Beach.
Laguna Hills – San Clemente
South County route connecting Laguna Hills and San Clemente.
Open the complete current OCTA routes and schedules directory
Routes Beyond the Standard 1–99 Local Network
| Route | Service type | Current corridor |
|---|---|---|
| 123 | Community | Anaheim – Huntington Beach |
| 129 | Community | La Habra – Anaheim |
| 150 | Community | Santa Ana – Costa Mesa |
| 167 | Community | Orange – Irvine |
| 453 | Stationlink | Orange Transportation Center – St. Joseph’s Hospital |
| 472 | Stationlink | Tustin Metrolink Station – Irvine Business Complex |
| 473 | Stationlink | Tustin Metrolink Station – UCI |
| 480 | Stationlink | Irvine Metrolink Station – Lake Forest |
| 529 | OC Bus Rapid | Fullerton – Huntington Beach |
| 543 | OC Bus Rapid | Fullerton Transportation Center – Costa Mesa |
| 553 | OC Bus Rapid | Anaheim – Costa Mesa |
| 560 | OC Bus Rapid | Santa Ana – Westminster / Long Beach corridor depending current timetable |
| 862 | City Shuttle | Santa Ana Regional Transportation Intermodal Center – Civic Center |
How to Read an OCTA Bus Schedule Correctly
After selecting the route, do not simply use the first time you see. Match your direction, day type and timepoint before deciding when to leave.
Choose the route number or corridor.
Match the destination shown on the schedule.
Weekday, Saturday and Sunday service can differ.
Use the closest listed major stop.
Confirm the next bus before leaving.
Check the Next OC Bus Before Walking to the Stop
OCTA provides several live and near-live rider tools. Use the route timetable for planned service and one of these tools for the closest available departure information.
OCTA provides OC Bus riders access to Transit Royale features, including real-time information, trip planning and nearby departures.
Use the bus stop number to request the next three scheduled/available bus times at that stop.
Enter a location to find nearby stops and buses serving those stops.
Regular, Reduced and Youth OC Bus Fares
OCTA’s current fare system uses Wave, contactless payment and cash. Wave includes fare capping and eligible free transfers, while cash is treated differently.
Available with Wave, contactless payment or cash.
Senior eligibility begins at age 60. Proper identification may be required.
Youth ages 6–18 can ride free with the required Youth Ride Free Wave fare status.
After reaching the daily Wave fare cap, additional eligible rides that day are free.
Wave stops charging regular riders after the monthly cap is reached.
OCTA currently lists a $5 daily cap for contactless payments, without monthly capping.
Wave Fare Capping Can Be Better Than Buying a Traditional Pass
Wave calculates fares as you ride. Once your eligible daily or monthly cap is reached, qualifying additional rides are free for the rest of that day or calendar month.
Which OCTA Bus Serves John Wayne Airport?
OCTA’s current route directory lists Route 76 Huntington Beach – John Wayne Airport. If the airport is your destination, open Route 76’s current schedule and check the exact airport boarding or drop-off point before travel.
OC Bus Connections to Metrolink and Rail
OCTA operates Stationlink routes that connect selected Orange County Metrolink stations with employment and education centers. The bus system also connects with Metrolink, Amtrak and neighboring transit agencies.
Check OCTA Rider Alerts Before Traveling
OCTA publishes weekly rider alerts plus construction and event detours. As of the current late-September/early-October 2026 alert period, OCTA has published route-specific notices affecting multiple routes, and some construction detours remain in effect until further notice.
How to Subscribe With Text4Alerts
OCTA says riders can text JOIN followed by route numbers to 91923. For example, “JOIN 43 57 60” subscribes to those three routes. Up to five routes can be included in one subscription message.
OC Bus Accessibility and OC ACCESS
OCTA states that its regular buses are accessible to people with disabilities. For riders who cannot independently use fixed-route service because of qualifying disability-related limitations, OCTA also operates OC ACCESS paratransit.
OC ACCESS eligibility office: (714) 560-5956. Reservations and ride status: (877) 628-2232.
OCTA Bus Information, Customer Service and Lost & Found
Use for how-to-ride help, trip planning and rider-alert information.
Report an item left on an OCTA bus or OCTA property.
OCTA hearing-impaired customer contact line.
OC Bus Boarding Checklist
- Confirm the exact route number and destination.
- Check whether the schedule is current after the latest quarterly update.
- Verify weekday, Saturday or Sunday service.
- Check the direction before waiting at the stop.
- Arrive at least 10 minutes early as OCTA recommends.
- Use Transit, Text4Next or Next Ride before leaving.
- Check current rider alerts and detours.
- Prepare Wave, contactless payment or exact cash.
- Use Wave if you need eligible free transfers and fare capping.
- Signal the driver before your destination stop.
- Exit through the rear door when appropriate after the bus stops.
- Plan your return trip before late-evening travel.
Official Schedule, Fare and Live-Bus Tools
Current OC Bus route directory, quarterly service update date and Digital Bus Book.
Open OCTA routes & schedulesChoose only the route schedules you regularly use and create a personalized bus book.
Create Bus BookRegular fares, reduced fares, Youth Ride Free, Wave fare caps and payment methods.
Open fare informationReal-time bus information, trip planning and Transit Royale features for OC Bus riders.
Open Transit App guideTrip Planner, Wave, Transit App, Text4Next, Text4Alerts and Next Ride.
Open rider toolsCurrent weekly alerts, construction detours and route-specific service changes.
Open rider alertsOCTA Orange County Bus Schedule FAQs
Where can I find the current OCTA Orange County bus schedule?
Use OCTA’s official Routes and Schedules directory. It links to the current Digital Bus Book, individual routes and quarterly service-change information.
How often does OCTA update bus schedules?
OCTA states that schedules are updated quarterly. The current route directory is marked with the August 9, 2026 service update.
How much is an OCTA bus ride?
The current regular OC Bus single fare is $2.00. Reduced fares are available for eligible riders, and youth ages 6–18 can qualify for free rides through the Youth Ride Free program.
Can I pay cash on an OCTA bus?
Yes. Cash is accepted for single rides, but exact fare is required. Cash payments do not include Wave fare capping or the free two-hour Wave transfer.
What is the OCTA Wave card?
Wave is OCTA’s fare system. It supports fare capping and eligible free transfers, so riders pay as they travel rather than buying traditional paper day or monthly passes in advance.
How do I track an OCTA bus live?
OCTA provides the Transit App, Next Ride and Text4Next. The Transit App includes real-time information for OC Bus riders.
How early should I arrive at an OCTA bus stop?
OCTA recommends arriving at least 10 minutes before the scheduled bus arrival time.
Which OCTA bus goes to John Wayne Airport?
The current OCTA route directory lists Route 76 between Huntington Beach and John Wayne Airport.
How can I receive OCTA bus delay alerts?
Use OCTA Text4Alerts. Riders can text JOIN followed by route numbers to 91923 to subscribe to route-specific alerts.
Does OCTA provide transportation for riders with disabilities?
OC Bus fixed-route vehicles are accessible. OCTA also provides OC ACCESS shared-ride ADA paratransit for eligible riders who cannot use fixed-route transit because of disability-related limitations.