BocaConnect: the free downtown Boca shuttle, its hours, zones and fares

Downtown Boca Raton has a free ride, and it is not a bus. BocaConnect is an on-demand shuttle you call from your phone. We read the City of Boca Raton’s BocaConnect page and Downtown Boca’s Transportation page on Oct. 20, 2026. Here is what they say about hours, zones, fares and the pilots, and what they leave out. This guide is not the City of Boca Raton, Downtown Boca (the Boca Raton CRA) or Circuit.

• BocaConnect is the City's on-demand, all-electric shuttle run by Circuit; riders book in the Circuit app. The City says service started June 17, 2024 and that wait times are 10 minutes or less. City of Boca Raton: BocaConnect – Circuit Shuttle

What BocaConnect is

The City describes BocaConnect as its on-demand, all-electric shuttle, run by Circuit. You book a ride in the Circuit app, and a vehicle comes to you. The City says service started on June 17, 2024, and that wait times are 10 minutes or less. There is no fixed route or timetable to learn: you choose the pickup and the drop-off inside the service area.

Hours, day by day

• Monday to Thursday: 7:00am to 11:00pm (16 hours a day)
• Friday: 7:00am to 2:00am (19 hours)
• Saturday: 9:00am to 2:00am (17 hours)
• Sunday: 9:00am to 11:00pm (14 hours)

We added the hours from the City’s times. That is 114 hours of service a week. Friday and Saturday nights run past midnight to 2am, which is also the hour City Code Sec. 4-2 stops alcohol sales. Weekend mornings start two hours later than weekdays, at 9am, so plan an early Saturday or Sunday start on foot.

• BocaConnect hours: Monday to Thursday 7:00am to 11:00pm, Friday 7:00am to 2:00am, Saturday 9:00am to 2:00am, Sunday 9:00am to 11:00pm. City of Boca Raton: BocaConnect – Circuit Shuttle
• City Code Sec. 4-2 bars vendors from selling or allowing consumption of alcoholic beverages between 2:00 a.m. and 7:00 a.m. on any day. Boca Raton Code of Ordinances (Municode): Chapter 4, Alcoholic Beverages, Sec. 4-2

Where it goes, and what it costs

The City’s service area is the part of Boca Raton south of Glades Road, east of I-95, north of the Hillsboro Canal and west of NE 5th Way, SE 5th Avenue and Royal Palm Way. It also covers the barrier island from Gumbo Limbo Nature Center to the Boca Raton Inlet.

Inside that area there are two zones. Rides that start and end within the red (downtown) zone are free. Rides to or from the outer zone cost $2 per rider plus $1 per extra rider, capped at $5. The City’s FAQ adds that any outer-zone ride must start or end in the free downtown zone. Worked out from that rule, an outer-zone ride costs:

• 1 rider: $2
• 2 riders: $3
• 3 riders: $4
• 4 riders: $5
• 5 riders: $5

The cap is reached at 4 riders, so a group of 4 or more pays $5 in all. We have not seen the red zone’s edges described in words, only on the City’s map, so we do not say which fare applies to a given address. The Circuit app shows the fare before you book.

• BocaConnect serves the area south of Glades Road, east of I-95, north of the Hillsboro Canal and west of NE 5th Way/SE 5th Avenue/Royal Palm Way, plus the barrier island from Gumbo Limbo Nature Center to the Boca Raton Inlet. Rides within the red (downtown) zone are free; rides to or from the outer zone are $2 per rider plus $1 per extra rider, capped at $5. City of Boca Raton: BocaConnect – Circuit Shuttle

What is unconfirmed: the pilots

BocaConnect’s pilot term

The City calls BocaConnect an initial 12-month pilot that started on June 17, 2024. Twelve months from that date was June 17, 2025. The City’s page still lists hours and fares, but its contract status in October 2026 was not checked, so treat the service as running and check the app before you rely on it.

South of the inlet

The City’s page mentions a Summer Pilot Program that extended service south of the Boca Raton Inlet from July 1 to September 30, but it gives no year. We treat it as ended. Do not count on BocaConnect south of the inlet.

• The City calls BocaConnect an initial 12-month pilot that started June 17, 2024. Its current contract status in October 2026 was not checked beyond the page still listing hours and fares. City of Boca Raton: BocaConnect – Circuit Shuttle
• The City's BocaConnect page mentions a 'Summer Pilot Program' expansion south of the Boca Raton Inlet from July 1 to September 30 but gives no year. Treat it as ended for now; do not promise service south of the inlet. City of Boca Raton: BocaConnect – Circuit Shuttle

MiCa, the autonomous shuttle in Mizner Park

Downtown Boca says the City launched MiCa, a free autonomous shuttle pilot, on a fixed loop inside Mizner Park with five stops, every day from 6PM to 9PM (3 hours), carrying up to 7 passengers plus an attendant. The pilot vehicle is not ADA-accessible. Whether the MiCa pilot is still running in October 2026 was not confirmed, so we list it as unconfirmed. If you see it, it is a short loop within Mizner Park, not a way to cross downtown.

• Downtown Boca says the City launched MiCa, a free autonomous shuttle pilot, on a fixed loop inside Mizner Park with five stops, every day 6PM to 9PM, carrying up to 7 passengers plus an attendant. The pilot vehicle is not ADA-accessible. Downtown Boca (Boca Raton CRA): Transportation
• MiCa, the autonomous Mizner Park shuttle, is described as a pilot on the Downtown Boca Transportation page (daily 6PM to 9PM). Whether the pilot is still running in October 2026 was not confirmed. Downtown Boca (Boca Raton CRA): Transportation

Pairing BocaConnect with parking

BocaConnect works well with a single parking stop. Mizner Park says its four garages, A, B, C and D, are free, and Downtown Boca recommends free City lots for events, including City Hall at 201 W. Palmetto Park Road and the Downtown Library at 400 NW 2nd Avenue. The library lots post no overnight parking from 12am to 8am, which matters on a Friday or Saturday when the shuttle runs to 2am. Plan to pick the car up before midnight, or park somewhere without that rule. Our parking guide lists every lot and its overnight hours.

• Mizner Park says parking is free, in garages A, B, C and D. Valet is offered at three spots: beside the main fountain, at IPIC Theater and at Eddie V's. Mizner Park: Visit / FAQs
• For events at Mizner Park Amphitheater, The Studio at Mizner Park and Sanborn Square, Downtown Boca recommends free City lots: City Hall (201 W. Palmetto Park Road), Downtown Library (400 NW 2nd Avenue), Building Administration (200 NW 2nd Avenue) and Library Annex (350 NW 4th Street). Brightline parking is not allowed in the library lots. Downtown Boca (Boca Raton CRA): Easy Parking

Pairing BocaConnect with Brightline

Brightline’s Boca Raton station is at 101 NW 4th St., open from 5:30 AM to the last train departure. BocaConnect starts at 7am on weekdays and 9am on weekends, so an early train means walking to the station or parking at Brightline’s garage at 151 NW 4th St., which is open 24 hours. Later in the day, the shuttle can carry you between the station and the rest of downtown. Our Brightline station guide covers the garage rates.

• Brightline's Boca Raton station is at 101 NW 4th St., Boca Raton, FL 33432. Station hours are Monday to Sunday, 5:30 AM to the last train departure. Brightline: Boca Raton Train Station
• Brightline's covered parking garage in Boca Raton is at 151 NW 4th St., a short 3-minute walk to the station, and is open 24 hours. Brightline: Parking

Events and the beach

The City says it offers free BocaConnect rides to its Night Market in Sanborn Square, which runs Thursdays from 6PM to 9PM on its listed dates. For holiday dates, see our downtown Boca holiday events guide.

• The City's monthly Night Market in Sanborn Square runs Thursdays 6:00PM to 9:00PM; the City lists 2026 dates of October 1, November 5 and December 10. City of Boca Raton: Night Market

For the beach, the service area includes the barrier island from Gumbo Limbo to the inlet, and a ride there may fall in the outer zone. Our beach parking fees guide sets that against the City’s day passes, and the beach guide covers the three City beach parks.

Other ways to get around

Palm Tran is Palm Beach County’s bus system. Route 92 runs east-west through Boca Raton from West Boca to SE Mizner Boulevard via West Palmetto Park Road, Monday through Saturday. The City also lists Route 1 and Route 1 Limited Stop (The Bolt) on US-1. Check Palm Tran’s schedules for times. Our getting here guide puts the bus, the train and the shuttle together.

• Palm Tran Route 92 runs east-west through Boca Raton from West Boca to SE Mizner Boulevard via West Palmetto Park Road, Monday through Saturday. Palm Tran: Route 92
• The City lists the Palm Tran routes serving Boca Raton as Route 1 and Route 1 Limited Stop (The Bolt) via US-1, Route 2 via Congress, Route 3 via Military Trail, Route 91 via Glades, Route 92 via Palmetto Park Road and Route 94 (FAU-Tri-Rail shuttle). City of Boca Raton: Public Transportation

Shuttle questions

Written by the Downtown Boca Raton Guide Editorial Team. AI tools help us draft; people check every fact before it publishes.

Dates, rules and hours can change. The organisers have the final word: City of Boca Raton (official site)