There are plenty of things to do in San Diego that should be on your bucket list, but one of the most popular is visiting the San Diego Zoo. This zoo is beloved by tourists and locals alike and is a must-see when visiting the city! So if you’re planning a trip to San Diego, here’s a bit about the zoo, what you should see and do while you’re there, and tips to help you make the most of your time.
About the San Diego Zoo
The San Diego Zoo was founded on October 2, 1916 (which means it is now over 100 years old!). It is located conveniently just north of downtown within Balboa Park, which makes it easy to visit even if you only have one day or two days in San Diego.
With 100 acres of space, the zoo is home to more than 3,500 individual animals across more than 650 different species altogether. Many of these animals are rare and endangered, and as the years have passed the zoo has continued to grow its commitment to conservation science and saving species worldwide. Not only do they utilize their expertise in animal care to work toward saving endangered species around the world, but they also help to inspire a passion in visitors to care for these beautiful creatures we too frequently ignore.
Purchasing San Diego Zoo Tickets
If you plan to visit the San Diego Zoo, then I recommend going ahead and purchasing your tickets ahead of time. This means you have your tickets all ready to go and you can skip past any lines waiting for an open ticket window.
If you plan to spend the whole day at the zoo, you can purchase one day tickets online for a good price. And if you want multiple days at the zoo (or want to visit both the zoo and the Safari Park) then you should purchase a two day ticket.
However, if your time in San Diego is short and you want to see lots of San Diego attractions instead of spending the whole day at the zoo, then you will find it a better option cost-wise to purchase a Go San Diego Card. This card allows you entry to over 35 top San Diego attractions for the same cost, allowing you to save up to 55% off admission fees. When you have a lot of places to visit in a short amount of time, it is far more cost effective to purchase the Go San Diego Card for one or two days instead of paying for admission to each place individually.
Buy your San Diego Zoo tickets now!
The Animal Exhibits and Layout
Before you go to the San Diego Zoo, it’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with the zoo’s layout so you can know a bit about where things are located and which exhibits you won’t want to miss. You can take a look at this San Diego Zoo map to help you figure out what you want to see.
The zoo is divided into main sections where animals and plants are grouped primarily by their native location. Here is a little bit about each of the most popular sections:
Africa Rocks
Africa Rocks is one of the most popular sections of the park, and can be a good place to start your day as it’s fairly close to the park entrance. This is where you’ll find animals including monkeys, leopards, servals, lemurs, meerkats, and even penguins! There are plenty of other exhibits to see as well, so be sure to stop by to explore them all.
Asian Passage
Asian passage is another exciting place to explore, with grizzly bears, sun bears, and an adorable red panda. This also used to be home to the San Diego Zoo’s star attraction—the giant panda exhibit. However, as of 2019, both of the zoo’s giant pandas (Bai Yun and Xiao Liwu) have been sent home to China as was agreed in the loan agreement the zoo made originally when bringing them to San Diego.
This is super sad for those of us who loved the pandas here, but we’re hoping the zoo’s panda program will be able to continue sometime in the future. For now, you can still watch archived footage of Bai Yun and Xiao Liwu at the San Diego Zoo if you’d like.
Discovery Outpost
At Discover Outpost, you’ll find snakes, turtles, Galapagos Tortoises, Komodo Dragons, and more. While I’m not personally a fan of the snakes, the tortoise and the Komodo Dragon are two super cool exhibits to see! You’ll also find the Children’s Zoo near this section of the park.
Elephant Odyssey
As the name suggests, the Elephant Odyssey’s prime attraction is the elephants here. There are both African and Asian elephants to see, and this is definitely one of the top attractions in the park!
However, you’ll also find a plethora of other animals in the surrounding area, including capybaras, jaguars, lions, tapirs, and sloths.
Lost Forest
The Lost Forest is another popular spot to explore, particularly since it is home to the zoo’s tigers. There are plenty of nice trails to walk here as you wander past bonobos and gorillas, okapi, otters, a variety of aviaries, and even a hippopotamus!
Northern Frontier
The Northern Frontier is located at the back of the park. Here you’ll find exhibits including the arctic fox, polar bears, reindeer, zebras, and more!
Outback
The Outback section of the zoo is smaller than many other parts of the park, but this is still worth a visit. As expected of the outback, you’ll find some incredible creatures starring here including kangaroos, koalas, kookaburras, and Tasmanian devils!
Urban Jungle
The last section of the park is the Urban Jungle, and this is a must-see if only for the giraffes. You’ll also find the rhinoceros here, so you won’t regret stopping by!
What to See at the San Diego Zoo: Attractions Not to Miss!
With 100 acres to explore and 8 different sections of the park, there is plenty to see at the zoo to keep you busy all day. In fact, you could even spend a few days exploring all there is to see here if you have the time!
But alas, time is not always a luxury we have (especially if you only have a few days in San Diego). If that’s the case for you, then here are a few exhibits I think you shouldn’t miss!
1. Watch the Polar Bears Swim
The Polar Bear Exhibit is one of my favorites at the San Diego Zoo. Not only are polar bears super cool, but the exhibit itself is really well set up so you can enjoy watching them as they play and go about their day.
There are multiple viewing areas at the polar bear enclosure, and one of them even allows you to see completely under the water so you can watch the polar bears as they swim! You can get right up next to the glass at this part of the exhibit as well, so when the polar bears swim close you’ll feel like you’re putting your forehead right up against theirs.
Another fun aspect to this exhibit is that the zookeepers bring the polar bears carrots and melons to snack on and use as toys. It’s quite amusing to watch as they bat the melons around and hold the carrots between their enormous bear claws! All in all, this is an experience not to miss.
2. See the Giraffes
Giraffes are a classic zoo animal, and the ones at the San Diego Zoo certainly don’t disappoint. They love to graze on acacia branches and mosey through life, so they’re best enjoyed when you have time to watch and wait for them to get curious enough to come take a closer look at you!
3. Watch the Elephants have a Spa Day
The elephants are a big attraction at the San Diego Zoo, and you can show up to watch them any time. However, if you time it right you can visit during a care time where the zookeepers wash them, scrub the elephants’ feet, or even file their nails. It’s basically an elephant spa day at the Elephant Care Center!
This is also a great time and place to get to chat with any zookeepers around if you have any questions you want to ask about these lumbering and adorable animals. So if this sounds like fun, be sure to check if this is happening the day you go to the zoo!
4. Spot the Two-Toed Sloth
Near the Elephant Odyssey area, you’ll also find the sloth exhibit. The sloth is a bit of a recluse, but this makes it all the more fun to see when it actually shows up.
I’ve seen it a few times in the morning when the zookeepers have just fed it. It’s fun to watch it eat, and since it’s just emerged to get it’s food you’re more likely to see it around that time (or at least that’s been my personal experience). It’s a bit hit and miss, but it’s such an adorable and slow creature so be sure to stop by and take some time to look for it!
5. Ride the Skyfari
On a day at the zoo, you’ll be doing a lot of walking. (Last time I went, I walked 6.3 miles while I was there and I wasn’t even there the whole day!) But when your feet are tired, one of the most fun things to do is take the Skyfari.
The Skyfari is an aerial tram that you can ride across the park for postcard-perfect views of the zoo, amazing views of next-door Balboa Park, and wonderful views of the San Diego skyline. If you spend the first part of your day on just one side of the park, then you can easily give your feet a break and get to the other side of the park by taking the Skyfari. Riding the Skyfari comes included with your zoo ticket and it’s a fun experience, as well as being a nice break for tired feet!
Tips for Visiting the San Diego Zoo
1. Download a Map Before You Go
The best advice I can give is to look at a map before you go to figure out your strategy for the day and your must-see animals. It’s easy to miss animal enclosures as you walk around if you aren’t sure what you’re looking for!
Along with looking at a map before you go, it’s also a good idea to have a map on your phone to use while you’re there. While they do hand out paper maps for you to use, the San Diego Zoo also has an app with a GPS-enabled map. This means you can easily get directions to your favorite animals while knowing you are on the right path!
Download the zoo app for iPhone or Android!
2. Arrive Early
Arriving when the zoo first opens is a great way to make the most of your time at the park. In the first place, this helps you to avoid the crowds that gather throughout the day…but in the second place, many of the animals are more active in the cooler morning hours (and in the cooler afternoon/evening hours). If you come towards the middle of the day, many of the animals may be napping. And that’s not nearly as much fun!
3. Visit on a Weekday
If you can, try to plan your visit for a weekday. The weekends at the zoo are usually more crowded than the weekdays, so if you want to see the animals as up close as possible and with as few crowds as possible then a weekday is the way to go.
Do note, however, that while the crowds will be less in general, visiting on a weekday may mean you see a few large groups of school children here on a field trip. These groups can be a bit chaotic, but if you’re patient they usually move on pretty quickly and they can be pretty easy to avoid if you so choose.
4. Check on Feeding Times and Special Events
If you’re interested in watching the elephant’s have a spa day or seeing any of the other animals eating or being cared for, then it’s a good idea to ask about feeding times, Keeper Talks, and any other special events when you first arrive in the park.
Some of these (like the feedings) aren’t “official” events but are simply part of the regular caring for animals…but they can still be fun to watch! But the official events like Keeper Talks can be a really fun way to learn more about the amazing animals in the park.
5. Wear Comfortable Shoes
Wearing comfortable shoes to the zoo is very important as you will do a ton of walking! I usually choose to wear my favorite pair of sandals or my super comfortable Allbirds. Whatever you choose, just be sure they’re shoes you can walk long distances in and that won’t give you blisters!
San Diego Zoo FAQ
1. Where is the San Diego Zoo located?
The San Diego Zoo is located just north of downtown in Balboa Park. You’ll find it at 2920 Zoo Dr, San Diego, CA 92101.
2. Where should I park at the San Diego Zoo?
Parking at the San Diego Zoo is one of the things I love most about visiting here! (No joke). Why? Well, the parking lot in front of the zoo is free!
There is usually plenty of parking here, but if it happens to be full on the day you visit then you can park in any of the other Balboa Park lots. They’re all free to park in, but the walk will just be a little further if you don’t use the lot in front of the zoo.
3. What are the San Diego Zoo hours?
The Zoo is open every day of the year, usually from 9am to 5pm/6pm. You can check the hours of operation here for the day you plan to visit.
4. Can I bring my own food into the San Diego Zoo?
Yes! You are welcome to bring your own food into the park. Containers like coolers are not permitted, but you can bring your food in your bag, backpack, or other smaller container. Of course, there are also restaurants and food options in the park if you prefer to avoid the hassle of bringing your own.
5. Are there discounts on San Diego Zoo admission?
Yes, there are a few possible discounts and specials.
Students (12+) and Seniors (65+) receive a 15% discount off a 1-day pass with valid ID shown at the ticket window. There is also a military discount (10% off for spouses and eligible dependents and free 1-day pass for active duty U.S. Armed Forces personnel).
AAA members can also show their membership cards for 10% off a 1-day pass (up to 6 tickets per membership card). All of these discounts require you to wait in line at the ticket gate to present your ID and purchase your ticket there.
If you don’t wish to wait in any possible lines or none of these discounts apply to you, then you can purchase your ticket online and skip the line!
Additionally, if you happen to visit in October, then children 11 and younger are given free entrance to the zoo the 1st-31st when accompanied by a paying adult (18+). This is in honor of the zoo’s founding, and is a really good deal for families!
6. Are the San Diego Zoo and the San Diego Safari Park the same?
No, the San Diego Zoo and the Safari Park are different places (although they are both run by San Diego Zoo Global. One difference is that the zoo is located near downtown, while the Safari Park is around 40 minutes from downtown San Diego.
Another difference is that the Safari Park has more open spaces, with animals roaming “safari” areas and mixed together rather than in separate enclosures. Both the Zoo and Safari Park are fun to visit, but they are definitely different experiences.
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