1-Day Pass (gate price)
$76 adult / $66 child 3–11Includes the Skyfari aerial tram and the 35-minute Guided Bus Tour. Under 3 free. Buy online — the gate line on a summer morning is 15+ minutes.
San Diego Zoo tickets & discounts
What admission really costs, the two promos worth planning around, and the "deals" that get turned away at the gate.
Last updated
Quick answer
A San Diego Zoo ticket is $76 for adults and $66 for kids 3–11, with parking and the Skyfari included. The best real discount is the $86 2-visit pass, which adds the Safari Park for $10. Families should target October, when kids 11 and under get in free with a paying adult, and locals should compare against the $154 dual-park membership, which breaks even on the second visit.
Every ticket option compared
| Option | Price | Savings | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-Day Pass (gate price) | $76 adult / $66 child 3–11 | Baseline | One visit, one park, no planning |
| 2-Visit Pass (Zoo + Safari Park) | $86 adult / $76 child | Best value, saves ~$66 | Anyone in town more than two days |
| Kids Free in October | $0 for kids 11 & under | Up to $66 per child | Families with flexible travel dates |
| Founder's Day (free admission) | Free for everyone | 100% | Locals with a flexible schedule |
| Military & Blue Star programs | Free to reduced | Up to 100% | Active-duty service members and families |
| Go City / CityPASS bundles | ~15–35% off multi-attraction | Only with 3+ attractions | First-timers doing SeaWorld, Midway, and the Zoo |
| Senior discount (65+) | About $5–7 off | Small but automatic | Visitors 65 and older |
| Dual-park membership | $154 adult / ~$234 family | Pays off on visit 2 | Locals and repeat visitors |
2-Visit Pass (Zoo + Safari Park)
$86 adult / $76 childTen dollars more than a single ticket and it covers one visit to each park within a year. If there's any chance you'll do the Safari Park, this is the ticket to buy.
Kids Free in October
$0 for kids 11 & underAn annual October promotion that runs the whole month, usually requiring a paid adult. The single biggest family discount in San Diego — plan the trip around it if you can.
Founder's Day (free admission)
Free for everyoneOne day each October the Zoo opens free to the public. Announced roughly a month out. It is genuinely mobbed — arrive at gate open or don't bother.
Military & Blue Star programs
Free to reducedActive-duty military typically get free admission year-round with valid ID; dependents get reduced rates in designated Blue Star months. Bring physical ID.
Go City / CityPASS bundles
~15–35% off multi-attractionBundles only pay off if you actually use three or more attractions in a few days. For a Zoo-only trip they cost more than a plain ticket.
Senior discount (65+)
About $5–7 offApplied at checkout online or at the gate with ID. It stacks with nothing else, so compare it against a membership if you'll visit twice.
Dual-park membership
$154 adult / ~$234 familyUnlimited entry to both parks, member early hours, guest passes, and discounted Safari Park parking. Break-even is two visits.
"Discounts" that aren't
- • Third-party resale sites listing 'discount San Diego Zoo tickets' well below $76 — the Zoo does not wholesale below gate price, and non-transferable tickets get denied at the turnstile.
- • Timeshare presentations offering 'free' Zoo tickets. You'll spend 90 minutes of your vacation and the tickets are often date-restricted.
- • Groupon-style deals for the Zoo. The Zoo does not run flash-sale admission; those listings are usually tours or bundles, not entry.
- • Old 'AAA discount' advice. There is no AAA discount at the gate today — AAA members occasionally see bundle deals through third-party partners instead.
Cheapest months to go
October
Kids free all month, Founder's Day free admission, and mild 75°F weather with active animals. The clear winner.
January–February
Lowest crowds of the year. Ticket price is unchanged, but hotels around Balboa Park are at their cheapest.
Avoid: July–August
Full price, longest panda waits, hottest walking, and peak hotel rates. Go early in the day if you must.
Frequently asked
How much is a San Diego Zoo ticket?
A 1-day adult ticket is $76 and a child ticket (ages 3–11) is $66. Children under 3 are free. Admission includes the Skyfari aerial tram and the 35-minute Guided Bus Tour, and parking is free.
What is the cheapest way to visit the San Diego Zoo?
Visit in October, when kids 11 and under get in free with a paying adult, or on Founder's Day in October when admission is free for everyone. Otherwise, the $86 2-visit pass is the best value because it adds the Safari Park for $10.
Is the 2-visit pass worth it?
Almost always. It costs $10 more than a single-day ticket and covers one visit to the San Diego Zoo and one to the Safari Park within a year. A separate Safari Park ticket would cost another $76.
Are there real discount San Diego Zoo tickets online?
Legitimate savings come from the Zoo's own promotions, military programs, senior pricing, and multi-attraction bundles like Go City or CityPASS. Resale sites advertising deep discounts off the $76 gate price are not authorized and tickets can be rejected at entry.
Do San Diego Zoo tickets include the Safari Park?
Only the 2-visit pass and memberships do. A standard 1-day ticket is valid at one park on one day.
Is there a discount for San Diego residents?
There is no standing resident discount on daily admission, but residents benefit most from the dual-park membership, which pays for itself on the second visit and includes guest passes.
Can I buy San Diego Zoo tickets at the gate?
Yes, but the price is the same and you'll wait in line. Buying online and screenshotting the QR code saves 10–20 minutes on busy mornings.
Are Zoo tickets refundable if it rains?
Standard dated tickets are generally non-refundable, though the Zoo stays open in rain and crowds drop sharply. A rainy weekday is one of the best times to go if you don't mind a jacket.
Keep planning
Is a Zoo membership worth it?
Break-even math against single tickets and the 2-visit pass.
Zoo parking
Free lots, when they fill, and the free tram backup.
Zoo vs Safari Park
Which park to pick if you only have time for one.
Safari Park hours
Seasonal open/close times and the last tram of the day.
San Diego Zoo tips
Exhibit priorities, panda reservations, and hour-by-hour plans.
San Diego deals
Free days, discounts, and cheap attractions across the city.
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