San Diego Zoo hours vary throughout the year, but the Zoo is open every day, rain or shine, including holidays. In Balboa Park just north of downtown San Diego, it offers ticket choices for a single Zoo visit or multiple visits across the Zoo and Safari Park.
- Location: 2920 Zoo Drive, San Diego, CA 92101.
- Opening pattern: daily, with hours that vary throughout the year.
- Admission: one-day and two-visit passes are available.
- Parking: paid parking is available at the Zoo, with some additional parking in Balboa Park.
Getting to the San Diego Zoo
The San Diego Zoo is at 2920 Zoo Drive in Balboa Park, just north of downtown San Diego. If you are planning a wider visit, the Zoo’s setting makes it easy to pair with other Balboa Park sights.
The Zoo and Safari Park are separate destinations and require separate admission tickets.
San Diego Zoo hours and seasonal schedule
The Zoo opens every day of the year, including holidays, and its hours change throughout the year. Check the official site before you go to confirm the hours for your visit.
Opening hours
- Monday to Sunday: 9 AM–5 PM
Last checked November 2026. Hours can change on holidays and for special events.
Allow for the day’s opening and closing times when planning your arrival and deciding which ticket to buy. The Zoo’s hours can affect how much time you have for animal habitats, tours and other included experiences. The San Diego Natural History Museum’s hours, tickets, and visit-planning guide can help if you’re considering a separate stop.
San Diego Zoo tickets, entry, and reservations
You do not need a reservation to visit the Zoo, and you can buy tickets online before arriving. The Zoo says advance online purchases let guests bypass the front gate on arrival.
1-Day Pass – Any Day
The 1-Day Pass – Any Day includes one Zoo visit, a Guided Bus Tour and the Skyfari Aerial Tram, subject to availability. It is valid any day within one year of purchase and requires no reservation. It costs $78 for adults ages 12 and older and $68 for children ages 3–11.
1-Day Pass – Value Days
The online-only Value Days pass requires advance purchase and is valid on selected Value Days. It costs $73 for adults ages 12 and older and $63 for children ages 3–11.
2-Visit Pass
The 2-Visit Pass lets the same person make two visits: one to the Zoo and one to the Safari Park, two to the Zoo, or two to the Safari Park. It is valid any day within one year of purchase and requires no reservation. It costs $130 for adults ages 12 and older and $120 for children ages 3–11.
Same-day re-entry is allowed. Before leaving, ask for a hand stamp; you will need to show both your ticket and stamp at the main turnstiles when you return.
San Diego Zoo parking and arrival planning
Paid parking is available at the Zoo, and spaces are first-come, first-served. The daily rate is $16 per automobile or motorcycle and $44 per oversized vehicle. City of San Diego residents can park for $8 per vehicle or $22 per oversized vehicle with advance registration.
You can pay by texting “1671” to (619) 901-0402, scanning an ACE Parking QR code, using a self-service kiosk or paying cash at a Zoo ticket booth. Text and QR payments have a $0.55 processing fee. Parking registration covers the whole day, but overnight parking is not permitted.
On select days, a complimentary shuttle runs from the Lower Inspiration Point Lot, at Park Boulevard and Presidents Way, to the Zoo entrance. The lot is one mile south of the Zoo, and the shuttle runs from 11 a.m. until one hour after closing. Additional paid parking is available throughout Balboa Park.
The main Zoo lot has no designated RV or bus spaces. If you arrive in an RV, the Zoo recommends the Inspiration Point parking lot, which has designated full-size and striped spaces for RVs and buses. Five solar-to-electric vehicle charging stations are on the southeast side of the Zoo parking lot; using them carries a nominal fee.
Guests with disabilities have access to special parking, restrooms and experiences, tour buses and habitat areas. A complimentary ADA shuttle operates inside the Zoo for guests with mobility-related disabilities. Some areas have steep grades, so check the Zoo map for ADA pathways and elevators.
Manual wheelchairs and ECVs can be rented near the entrance on a first-come, first-served basis; they cost $16 and $60 respectively. Guests with disabilities pay admission, while an accompanying personal attendant or caregiver who provides assistance with Zoo programs, activities or facilities receives free admission.
Each supervising adult age 18 or older may bring up to four youths ages 15 and younger. The Zoo is smoke-free.
How long to spend at the San Diego Zoo
The Zoo recommends planning a multi-day visit for an unhurried experience. If you have one day, choose a pass that fits your plan and account for the daily opening hours when deciding how much to cover; the 1-Day Pass includes a Guided Bus Tour and Skyfari Aerial Tram, subject to availability.
If you want to visit both the Zoo and Safari Park, allow for separate visits and admission tickets. The 2-Visit Pass can cover one visit to each, or two visits to either destination.
The Zoo is about a six-minute drive from Berkshire Motor Hotel.
FAQs
Does the San Diego Zoo require reservations?
No. The Zoo says reservations are not needed, including for the 1-Day Pass – Any Day and 2-Visit Pass.
Can you leave the Zoo and return the same day?
Yes. Get a hand stamp at the exit and show it with your ticket at the main turnstiles when you return.
Is parking included with Zoo admission?
Parking is paid separately. The daily rate is $16 for automobiles and motorcycles, with a reduced rate for eligible San Diego residents who register in advance.
Can you visit the Zoo and Safari Park on the same ticket?
The 2-Visit Pass allows two total visits, including one visit to each destination. The Zoo and Safari Park require separate admission tickets.