Disclaimer: The information shared in this post reflects our experiences from visits to the establishment. Please note that prices, hours, or other details may have changed since our last visit. We highly recommend researching the location and verifying current information before planning your visit. Additionally, all opinions expressed in this post are solely ours; we do not receive compensation for our reviews of the places we visit.
2920 Zoo Dr. San Diego, CA 92101 – Website
The San Diego Zoo is in the famous Balboa Park. There are 4000 animals from more than 650 species houses in the 100-acre zoo. The zoo is open seven days a week, check the website for times as they change depending on season. An app is also available for you to download on your phone with a map and all the information you will need for your visit. Parking is free at the zoo but the lots can get very crowded.
We love the San Diego Zoo it is our favorite zoo in the state of California or any other state that we have visited. Be sure you have the whole day set aside for your adventure at the zoo, and wear comfortable walking shoes and clothes. You can not experience everything the zoo offers, even with spending an entire day at the zoo. There is a sky tram available to take you from the front to the back of the zoo, giving you a bird’s eye view of everything. There is also a bus that you can take to various stops throughout the park. Spend some time before you visit by downloading the zoo map (which can be found on the website). Plot out the times of things that you want to see and do so you can best fill your day. You will want to try to get to the park when they open and plan on staying until closing time so you can make the most out of the visit. There are several casual dining and quick bite locations and a full-service restaurant. You can also get coffee, soda, craft beers, and margaritas if you would like. As with any other attraction you visit the food and drinks can be expensive. The zoo will be crowded as it is a popular destination, but you will not feel overly crowded as they have done an amazing job the layout is open and not restricted.
Please remember that the zoo is a smoke-free environment. You can bring in a cooler no larger than 12X12, no glass containers or alcohol is permitted. Guests are allowed to bring in their single-person food items. Self-service lockers are available at the zoo on Front Street. Only trained service animals are permitted within the park. Backpacks are permitted within the zoo but are subject to search at the entrance.
Single-day passes with the processing fee are $74 for Adults 12 years old and up, Children 11 and under are $64, and Children under 3 years of age are free. We recommend if you are staying a few days in San Diego look into purchasing a City Pass or a Go-City Pass, a single-use admission to the zoo is included with the pass. Tickets include one visit to the San Diego Zoo®, Guided Bus Tour, Kangaroo Express Bus, Skyfari Aerial Tram, and all regularly scheduled experiences. Experiences above are subject to availability. 1-Day Pass Any Day tickets are valid any day within one year from the date of purchase. Can not be exchanged for a Value Days ticket. No reservation is required. Multiple-day passes and value passes are available, check the website for more information. With a valid AAA membership, you can receive a 10% discount on up to 6 tickets at the park ticket windows (can not be used to purchase online or over the phone). Active duty military can receive free entry, family members and additional guests require a ticket. The zoo does not offer a veterans or retirees discount, but you can check with the military MDR ticket office about discount offers.
There is an amazing amount of picture opportunities we ended up with so many pictures on all of our phones, in this review we will only be sharing some of our favorite animal pictures along with other sites at the zoo. We brought sandwiches, snacks, and refillable water bottles, but ate at a few places, cause we did not leave the park until closing.
Around The Zoo
Animals
Food and Beverage
