The world-famous San Diego Zoo opened its gates in 1916. What had originally started as a few abandoned animals after the 1915 Panama-California Exposition, has become the highlight of Southern California and a world-renowned educational facility.
You can view the full San Diego Zoo timeline here.
The San Diego Zoo is a leader in research and conservation. They work with animal conservation groups across the world to help educate people on wildlife safety, how to reduce our impact on their habitat and how we can help rehabilitate their numbers and ecosystems.
The San Diego Zoo is truly a beautiful place to visit and if you plan on going yourself, here are a few helpful tips.
This post is all about tips for your trip to the world-famous San Diego Zoo.
Tips for Visiting the San Diego Zoo
Arrive Early
The Zoo opens at 9 AM every day but guests are allowed to enter about 30 minutes prior to the official park opening. Think “rope drop” at Disneyland. Guests are allowed to scan in and wait in the main area on Front Street within the ropes until the official Zoo opening ceremony and they drop the rope for guests to freely move about the Zoo.
Always be sure to check the hours for the day you are attending, the Zoo closes at 5 PM in some months of the year. So you want to be sure you have enough time to see every exhibit before closing.
Zoo Hours* (Subject to Change, check HERE for current hours)
*Weekdays may have earlier closing times. Double-check the day you are going before purchasing tickets.
Purchase Your Tickets Ahead of Time
The Zoo offers daily tickets and memberships at the ticket booths and online. For a quick and easy entry into the Zoo, purchase your tickets ahead of time on their website.
Sometimes they offer seasonal discounts on 1-day tickets but only online. The online tickets are usually a couple of dollars cheaper than purchasing at the front gates but if you’re going with a large group then this can add it fast.
Active Duty Military can also get in for FREE with identification.
Grab a Map or Use the App
The San Diego Zoo now has a fantastic app that you can use in place of the paper maps available at the front entrance. While paper maps are always fun to use and collect, the app is also an interactive scheduler and uses GPS to help navigate you through the Zoo – in case you get lost. It will give you turn-by-turn directions between exhibits, help to find the nearest restroom, and help to find your way out.
The Zoo is quite large and it’s easy to get lost. If you do happen to get a bit turned around, find a Zoo cast member to help you out. The staff at the Zoo is very helpful and knowledgeable.
Pro Tip: The staff in the red shirts are actually volunteers. They are typically found at the bigger exhibits and entrances of the Zoo. They know a TON about the Zoo and have a real, genuine passion for it. They love to help guests, ask them a few questions and you can learn something new!
Sensory Kits Available by Kulture City
The San Diego Zoo has partnered with Kulture City to provide Zoo guests with access to sensory kits while visiting the exhibits. Each kit contains a pair of over-the-ear headphones, a fidget toy, and a laminated map with the designated areas suggested kids use the headphones.
The kits are provided for free but require a License/ID to hold and pick up at the end of the day when you return the bag.
What to Pack
The Zoo allows guests to bring in their own food and beverages and it is highly recommended. The only limitations are on alcohol, glass bottles and containers, and giant coolers.
Some great items to pack are:
- Bottled water – there aren’t too many water fountains, so pack extra water just in case.
- Sandwiches – these are great to eat as you walk around and don’t require too much effort or utensils.
- Chips and Crackers – small packaged items are great on the go and help to hold you between larger meals.
Besides the water and snacks, there are a few other items that can really help with hot days at the Zoo.
- Wide-brimmed hat/Bucket hat
- Sunglasses
- Sunscreen
- Comfortable walking shoes
Must-See Exhibits and Attractions
After countless days spent at the Zoo, here are the top exhibits guests are always rushing to see.
- Axolotl – Located in the new Wildlife Explores Basecamp (WEB), this salamander is probably the most popular! We’ve heard it gained a lot of popularity in Minecraft and on TikTok. We suggest you go early or during the lunch hours. You can find this cute little salamander at the lower level of the Cool Critters exhibit. In this same area, you can also find the Chinese Giant Salamander – a whopping 3.5 ft long! A personal favorite.
- Sloth – The Sloth is supposed to be located at Basecamp but we’ve heard it’s part of the Animal Ambassador program and moves around a lot. There is a show with 1-2 animal ambassadors every day in Basecamp at 1 PM. If you’re lucky, you might be able to catch the sloth at the show!
- Elephant Odyssey – The Elephants are magnificent and always a true blessing to see. The easiest way to get to Elephant Odyssey from the front entrance is to take the main street Treetops all the way down and then you cross Basher bridge and it takes you directly to the exhibit. You can also find Lions, capibara, camels, and the California Condors along the way.
- SkyFari – This one is not an animal exhibit but definitely a great attraction. This sky-high gondola takes you across the park in just minutes. So you know, it only takes you one way, so if you have a stroller be prepared to be without it for a bit or wait in line to go back to get it. It’s also FREE and included with the price of admission.
- Bus Tour – This one is also FREE with admission. You can take the hour-long tour around the park or take the Kangaroo bus that you can use to take through multiple stops throughout the park. Kind of like a regular bus, not really a tour.
Parking
Parking at the San Diego Zoo is FREE! This is one of the best things about going to the Zoo. The parking lot is run and operated by the city of San Diego, so you don’t have to pay for parking when you visit. The Zoo is one of the only places around San Diego with free parking.
The Zoo is connected to Balboa Park, another popular place to visit in San Diego, and the parking for this park is also free.
The sister park to the Zoo, the San Diego Safari Park, does NOT offer free parking. The Safari park runs a private lot that requires a fee for entry. You can find more details about the Safari Park HERE.
***Please note the Safari Park is not located next to the Zoo. The Safari Park is located in Escondido (inland) and the San Diego Zoo is located near Downtown San Diego, Balboa Park, and the San Diego Airport. The Safari Park is about 40 minutes away from the Zoo.
Fun Facts
Did you know that recycling your cell phone can help save Gorillas? It can! And you can also recycle your old cell phone at the San Diego Zoo.
This free recycling program is available at the San Diego Zoo and the San Diego Safari Park. They work with Eco-Cell, a cellphone recycling company, to help break down the phones and keep them out of landfills.
Add-On Experiences
The San Diego Zoo offers a variety of tours, upgrades, and special animal encounters. I’ve taken a handful of the tours, animal ambassador encounters, and the amazing safari tour and I can say firsthand – they are all amazing!
The guides are extremely knowledgeable and depending on your tour, you will also get to meet with some Animal Keepers that can answer all of the questions you can think of about the animals.
For a fun and simple upgraded experience, I would suggest participating in the Giraffe and Rhino feedings. These feedings happen Saturdays and Sundays for an additional cost. The price is around $15 for 3 biscuits to feed either the Giraffe or Rhino. You can also purchase tickets for both feedings if they are available. Tickets sell out fast, so get there early if you want to participate.
Tickets for the feeding go on sale at 11 AM by the Giraffe exhibit and across from the Rhino Exhibit. The feeding doesn’t start until 12 PM. You do need to show up between the specified times, 12-1 PM for the feeding, so don’t wander too far once you’ve purchased your tickets.
This is a great experience and makes for a super fun photo opp!
I hope these tips have helped you with your plans for visiting the San Diego Zoo. The Zoo is a really special place and offers families, friends, and school groups tons of opportunities to learn about animals and conservation.
This post was all about helpful tips for planning your trip to the San Diego Zoo.
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