The Fullerton Santa Fe Depot is the hub of passenger rail activity for Orange County, California. The depot is served by both the Amtrak Pacific Surfliners and the Amtrak Southwest Chief, as well as by many Metrolink commuter trains.

Do you live inside Southern California?

If so, you might be able to take Metrolink to Fullerton. Metrolink only runs through Fullerton on weekdays, so don't attempt to take Metrolink to or from Fullerton on Saturdays, Sundays, or holidays! Metrolink runs mostly during commuter hours with trains originating from as far south as Oceanside heading through Fullerton on their way to Los Angeles. A few trains do run into Fullerton counter to the direction of commuters, so it may be worth checking to see if it is possible to get to Fullerton via Metrolink if you live in Southern California. Be very careful to make sure there is a return train later in the day that can get you home! Full information about the Metrolink schedules can be found by clicking here to go to www.metrolinktrains.com.

If your area is served by the Amtrak Pacific Surfliner, then it might be better to use these trains since several of them operate every day of the year. All Amtrak Pacific Surfliners, which is over 20 each day, stop in Fullerton. Using the Amtrak Pacific Surfliner you can reach Fullerton from as far south as San Diego in about 2 hours or from as far north as San Luis Obispo in under 6 hours. Click here for the current schedules of the Amtrak Pacific Surfliner.

If rail is not convenient to your location in Southern California, then you can probably get here by bus or a combination of bus and rail. The Fullerton Transportation Center is located right across the street from the Fullerton Amtrak / Metrolink Train Station at 120 E. Santa Fe Ave., Fullerton, CA 92832. Click here to plan your route using TranStar, the Automated Transit Trip Planning System for all of Southern California.

Do you live outside Southern California?

You can travel to Fullerton by passenger rail in one to three days from many parts of the nation! Chicago serves as the hub for most Amtrak trains across the nation. From Chicago you can take the Amtrak Southwest Chief direct to Fullerton! The Southwest Chief arrives into Fullerton every morning, 7 days a week! If you travel the entire trip from Chicago to Fullerton, you will leave in the late afternoon on the first day, travel all day the second day, and then arrive into Fullerton very eary the third day. Click here for the schedule of the Amtrak Southwest Chief and click here if you need the schedule of a connecting Amtrak train.

If you live anywhere along the west coast even as far north as Seattle, you can take the southbound Amtrak Coast Starlight! The Coast Starlight makes a guaranteed connection with the Amtrak Pacific Surfliner which will take about 35 minutes to reach Fullerton. Fullerton is just one stop south of Los Angeles on the Amtrak Pacific Surfliner. Traveling from as far north as Seattle, Washington, the rail trip takes two full days. You can even reach Fullerton by rail from Vancouver, BC, by taking the Amtrak Cascades and then changing trains in Seattle. Click here for the schedule of the Amtrak Coast Starlight and click here if you need the schedule of a connecting Amtrak train.

You can also reach Fullerton from as far east as Florida by taking the Amtrak Sunset Limited to Los Angeles and then changing to the Amtrak Pacific Surfliner train as described above. Click here for the schedule of the Amtrak Sunset Limited and click here if you need the schedule of a connecting Amtrak train.

Traveling by Automobile?

If you are driving to Fullerton, it is really east to get here by car. From the west, take the 91 freeway to the Harbor Blvd. exit. Take a left onto Harbor Blvd. Travel north on Harbor until you go under the railroad bridge. If you continue north on Harbor, you will end up going through Downtown Fullerton. If you take your first right after going under the railroad bridge, you will end up at the Fullerton Amtrak / Metrolink Train Station and the location of Fullerton Railroad Days.

If you are coming from the east, take the 91 freeway to the Harbor Blvd./Lemon exit. Continue past Lemon at the first set of lights until you reach Harbor Blvd. at the second set of light. Take a right onto Harbor Blvd. and follow the rest of the above directions.

If you are coming from the north, take the 57 freeway to the 91 freeway. Head west on the 91 freeway and then follow the above directions for "coming from the east." If you are coming from the south, take the 57 freeway to the 91 freeway. Head west of the 91 freeway and then follow the above directions for "coming from the east."