San Diego Zoo

The best zoo in the world!

We have been members of zoos all over the nation including Fort Worth, Kansas City, and Denver. And we loved our time with each.

But San Diego reigns supreme.

Let’s check it out.

Before We Get Started

If you’re planning a Disneyland trip, start with this post. It covers everything you need to know.

Find my crowd calendar here, which shows you which days to avoid.

And check with my travel partner for the best prices and service available in the industry. They’re wholesale, they price match, and offer refundable tickets too. For Disneyland, Walt Disney World, Universal Hollywood, Universal Orlando, Disney Cruise Line and more. Definitely check pricing with them.

What to Pack

Sunscreen and hats are a good idea. Wear comfortable shoes.

Bring your stroller!

Definitely consider packing food and drinks if you’re on a budget. The food is pricey. For example, I paid nearly $8 for a Diet Coke Tall Boy. Restaurants have kids meals for around $11 and main entrees for around $19.

You can eat your own food inside the zoo on a bench or a table. You may also leave the zoo to enjoy the picnic area for a meal and then return. Just get a stamp for re-entry upon leaving.

Bring your Fuel Rod, as they have swapping kiosks.

Zoo Tips

• The zoo is about 2 hours from Disneyland. Take the 5 south all the way into San Diego and exit Pershing Drive. Signs from that point will direct you to the zoo.
• Parking is $16. Here’s how to pay at the kiosk or on your phone.
• Be prepared for ticket prices. While not as high as Disneyland, you’ll be paying more than the paltry sum many other zoos charge for admission. (An adult one day ticket is around $78) Kids are traditionally free in October! Check with the zoo website for details.
• Hours change throughout the year and if you’re visiting during the summer, you might be interested in staying for Nighttime Zoo. It’s such a nice way to tour, with animals relaxed and with noticeably cooler temperatures. (Some animals are not entirely visible, though, so see your favorites during the day time.)
• There are many dining options. Beer, margaritas & wine are also sold in the zoo. The Sabertooth Grill (Mexican, wraps and more) and the Busy Bee Cafe near the kids’ part are our favorites.
• The Plan Your Day option on the San Diego Zoo site allows you to select important stops, dining preferences and shows so that you don’t miss a thing. Give it a try.
• The all new Wildlife Explorers Basecamp opened in March of 2022 and has been loved by many! It is truly impressive. There are splash pads for kids, so be ready for that if you want to partake.
• As with most zoos, animals are more active in the morning. So, just like Disneyland, arrive early!
• The Skyfari is an aerial tram that takes you from one side of the zoo to the other. (Included in your one day pass.) Strollers are not permitted on the Skyfari, so be prepared to leave yours in the designated area prior to boarding.
• The Guided Bus Tour lasts approximately 30 minutes long and covers nearly 3/4 of the zoo. If you sit on the top level of the double decker bus, choose the right side for a better view of the animals. If you sit on the bottom level, you can see both sides well and you stay out of the sun. If you arrive early in the day when the lines for this bus tour are low, jump on as soon as you enter the park. This is a great way to see ahead of time where you’ll be wandering through later on. Arrive 30 minutes prior to when the zoo opens to ensure you don’t have a line for the bus tour.
• Find a Baby Center at the front of the zoo, near the Reptile House. There is room for nursing, changing tables and First Aid staff is on site.
• The zoo is enormous (100 acres!). Review the map and make a plan prior to visiting. (The entire Disneyland Resort is 500 acres, for comparison.)
• Upon arrival, go directly to the Tickets and Tours booth – visible when you first walk in – to grab a zoo map. Bring a sharpie from home so you can note on the map what your focuses are.
• A touring plan isn’t entirely necessary. Discuss with your group what you want to see during your visit and then chat with a zoo employee if you can’t decide which way to start. Consider where you want to break for lunch – be it at one of the restaurants or back to the front of the park to picnic – and factor that in when making your plan.
• We typically start with the reptiles, located down Front Street toward the Children’s Zoo. We do the Reptile Walk and go through the Reptile House before heading back down Front Street to the Urban Jungle, which features giraffes, rhinos, and kangaroos. Next, we explore the Outback (koalas) and then continue in the same direction to go through Africa Rocks. After Africa Rocks, we walk the perimeter of the zoo to head toward Elephant Odyssey. This usually allows us the perfect timing to break for lunch at our favorite, Sabertooth Grill. After lunch and the elephants, continue back into the Northern Frontier to see polar bears. From there, ride the SkyFari round trip. When finished with the SkyFari, walk up Park Way to see pandas. From there, take the elevator up to cross the Bashor Bridge, through the small cafe and snack shops, to find Monkey Trail. Follow it through the middle portion of the zoo and back to the front. That covers the majority of the zoo in one day.

Wildlife Explorers Basecamp

This “Children’s Zoo” weaves bug filled buildings and animal exhibits through elaborate playgrounds and it is a sight to see. We spent hours at the previous version of this part of the zoo. If my kids were little now, I don’t think we would ever leave.

Here are a few photos. Pack water shoes if you want to enjoy the splash pad.

Photos

Here are even more photos from a recent trip in the summer of 2026.

We had such a good time!

Additional Resources

Need general info on San Diego? This post has everything.

And this one shares day trip ideas from Disneyland to San Diego County.

Planning a trip? Start with this post. It shares all sorts of basic planning info that will help you get organized. 

Need discounted tickets and hotels? Check out my travel partner, Get Away Today. In business since 1990, they’re the absolute best with both pricing and service. This link takes you to them. Or you can call 855.GET.AWAY toll free. 

***Use code DDaily for an additional $10 off when you book hotel and tickets 

Let me know how I can help you!