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October is the perfect time to visit and explore San Diego County as a family. All month long, residents and tourists can enjoy the annual Kids Free San Diego, a promotion where children eat, stay, and play for free.
This year, over 80 San Diego museums, attractions, tours, hotels, and restaurants are scheduled to participate. This means that many of the best things to do in San Diego with kids will cost families much less than usual.
The San Diego Tourism Authority organizes the campaign (I am a member) to encourage people to explore the San Diego area during the shoulder season. Not all of the tickets have been released yet, but the savings at some attractions starts now. With world-class family attractions such as the Balboa Park museums, the San Diego Natural History Museum, SeaWorld San Diego, and San Diego Zoo Safari Park, the whole family can save money while enjoying San Diego.
I’ve included my favorite offers so far because many people are already planning San Diego family vacations in October. Plus, residents should absolutely carve out time to take advantage of these savings — the Big Dipper at Belmont Park is calling your name.
How to Take Advantage of Kids Free San Diego
You must read each Kids Free San Diego offer’s terms and conditions to ensure your visit qualifies.
For example, sometimes, you’ll only need to purchase an adult ticket, and a child can enter free with you. Other venues will require that kids also bring in a printed voucher. Some may ask you to show free admission offers on your phone.
There are also limits on how many kids per adult can stay, play, or eat free. Pay attention to age restrictions as some offers may apply to kids ages 10 and under but many apply to ages 12 and under.
The most important thing to do to receive free kids’ admission is to be sure you purchase eligible adult admission. Sightseeing passes do not qualify for Kids Free San Diego. This means the Go City San Diego pass, Balboa Park Explorer passes, and CityPASS will not grant free child entry during this seasonal promotion.
Kids Free October San Diego Theme Park and Top Attraction Offers
You will save substantially in October at our theme parks and amusement parks. Most qualifying attraction tickets go on sale on October 1, but some are available now.
These are the top seven San Diego County attractions that people ask about most regarding this annual promotion.
San Diego Zoo
Up to five children ages 3 to 11 get free admission when accompanied by a paying adult to the San Diego Zoo between October 1–31, 2024.
Children ages 2 and under are always free. A coupon is not required for free kids’ entry. Bring them to the gate with you, and they’ll be let in for free.
There is also no specific Kids Free San Diego ticket to buy. Simply purchase an adult ticket, and you’re good to go. I have a lot of advice for buying San Diego Zoo tickets, but your best bet for San Diego Zoo tickets in October is to grab a discounted 1-Day ticket using my promo code.
1-Day Pass— Use My Exclusive Promo Code
Skip the ticket line and go straight to the gate with a mobile or printed ticket. Valid for one year from the purchase date.
Final price (after my discount): $68/ages 12+ and $58/ages 3–11
Use promo code lajollamom to save $8!
Get All San Diego Discounts by Email
You can also receive my San Diego Zoo promo code and list of theme park, tour, and sightseeing pass discounts to be sent to you. Request by email.
San Diego Zoo Safari Park
While San Diego Zoo allows five children per paid adult, the San Diego Zoo Safari Park allows up to four children ages 3 to 11 to enter for free with a paying adult between October 1–31, 2024.
Children ages 2 and under are always free, and a coupon is not required for free kids’ entry.
Again, purchase a qualifying adult ticket, and you’re good to go. Request my discount below.
1-Day Pass — Use My Promo Code For the Best Deal!
Skip the ticket line and go straight to the gate with a mobile or printed ticket. Valid for one year from the purchase date.
Discounted price: $68/ages 12+ and $8/ages 3–11
Use promo code lajollamom for $8 off!
Get All San Diego Discounts by Email
You can also receive my San Diego Zoo Safari Park promo code and list of theme park, tour, and sightseeing pass discounts to be sent to you. Request by email.
SeaWorld San Diego
SeaWorld San Diego is running a Kids Free offer right now, before October even starts! Purchase an adult ticket and you’ll get a child’s ticket (for ages 3 – 9) for free valid for one visit. The ticket will expire on 31 October 2024.
These types of offer are prone to change or be extended past October nearer the time, so keep an eye out both here and on the SeaWorld San Diego website for updates.
The free admission includes this year’s SeaWorld San Diego Spooktacular, which will be held on weekends between September 6 and November 3. Just make sure your ticket falls on one of these dates in October to apply for the freebie.
The pirate-themed Halloween event will have dance parties, a pumpkin patch, scavenger hunt, a parade, hay maze, safe trick-or-treating and an O.P. Otter’s Spooktacular surprise you won’t want to miss.
Buy your qualifying kids free adult ticket and select one free child. Children ages 3–9 and under enter free with a fully paid adult ticket. The current gate price is $122.99 per adult but my special discount will save you $20 off the gate price for just $102.99.
LEGOLAND California (Available September 14 – October 31)
LEGOLAND California is offering one free One-Day Child Hopper Ticket for ages 2–12 with the purchase of a full-price One-Day Adult Hopper Ticket to LEGOLAND California and SEA LIFE aquarium.
Uss Midway Museum
Up to two children ages 12 and under go free with a paid adult to USS Midway, our famous aircraft carrier museum.
Purchase one adult ticket (senior tickets do not qualify) and receive up to two kid (ages 4-12) tickets for free. Kids ages 3 and under always receive free admission.
Add an adult ticket to your cart and choose a date to visit in October. You’ll automatically be allowed to add up to two free kids’ tickets while in the shopping cart.
See also: Tips for Visiting the USS Midway
Old Town Trolley Tours
Kids ride free for every one paid adult ticket on the Old Town Trolley between October 1–31, 2024. Grab your adult admission and enjoy the sites of our beautiful city. You can enjoy a two-hour, fully narrated tour of all the historic sites of San Diego and Coronado, and you get to hop-on and hop-off along the way.
Maritime Museum of San Diego
During the Kids Free San Diego offers, when you purchase one adult admission ticket you get one child admission 12 and under at no extra cost. Show this page at the ticket booth when you arrive at the museum.
Kids Eat Free at Some San Diego County Restaurants
Various family-friendly restaurants in the San Diego area offer dining discounts for children during Kids Free October. You’ll need to print the offer on the San Diego Tourism Authority website and bring it to the restaurant (or pull it up on your phone). Here are a few highlights.
Casa Guadalajara, a popular Mexican restaurant in Old Town San Diego is offering one free kids’ meal with the purchase of every adult meal. Present this voucher on your phone to redeem the offer.
Go straight from the beach right onto the patio at The Shores Restaurant inside La Jolla Shores Hotel for a casual, California and Baja-inspired meal and where the kids eat free all month long.
Head to the Hilton Garden Inn Downtown Bayside’s chic eatery, Bayside Kitchen + Bar, to enjoy a fall family offer of one free kid’s meal for every adult meal purchased. The offer is capped at four kids’ meals for four adult meals.
If you have little ones who love seafood, all Crab Hut locations in San Diego feed kids for free in October. Locations are in Mission Valley, Old Town and La Mesa and all will be serving up family favorites. The offer is one free kids meal (from the Kids Menu) per child aged 12 or under with a minimum adult purchase of $25 (so check the menu!).
Tidal at Paradise Point offers a free kids’ meal when you buy an adult meal in October. The name says it all for this stunning waterfront spot – have fun!
Hotel Perks for Families During October Kids Free Month
Many kid-friendly San Diego hotels are also offering children the opportunity to eat for free, among other fun perks.
Hotel guests of Catamaran Resort Hotel and Spa receive one free kids’ menu item with the purchase of a regular entree at Oceana Coastal Kitchen. AND, receive one complimentary paddleboard or kayak rental with the purchase of one adult one-hour or longer paddleboard or kayak rental at the onsite Actions Sports rental location.
Kids will love the Town and Country Resort’s 4-story ‘Twister’ waterslide and three pools. And parents will love the hotel’s deal of one free kids breakfast per paying adult all October long. Families must be guests of the hotel to take up the offer.
Those vacationing at or visiting San Diego Mission Bay Resort can save. Receive one kid meal per adult meal purchased at their Covewood Restaurant. Children will also receive a complimentary backpack with snacks, water, a toy, game and beach ball keep them busy during their stay.
Children under 12 checking into the newly renovated Sheraton San Diego Hotel & Marina (with their parents!) can enjoy a free meal with a paid adult meal at any restaurant (excluding the Strada Italian Market) during the entire month.
How Kids Sightsee for Free
San Diego Bay tours are some of the best things to do in San Diego for tourists but they are also often things that we residents usually don’t take advantage of enough (like the Coronado Ferry, whale watching, or water sports, for example). These sightseeing tours and outdoor activities are fun ways to explore the San Diego area (in usually warm weather) whether you live here or not.
Here are a few examples this October:
Kids cruise free on any daily 2-hour San Diego Speed Boat Adventures Harbor Cruise that is valid with the purchase of two adult tickets. One free child per boat is eligible.
Ocean Connectors will be your expert guides on a tide pooling adventure as you learn all about our local marine conservation. On this fun educational day, you can peer at sea hares and octopi up close at beautiful tide pools. The offer is valid all of October, and no adult ticket purchase is required; it’s simply free for kids 12 and under.
Book a trip with San Diego Whale Watch, our year-round whale watching company. One free child tours for free with every full fare adult ticket. Children must be 17 or younger.
Flagship Cruises & Events is welcoming kids aboard for a choice of two FREE cruises around San Diego Bay during the month of October: a 1-hour North or South route or a 2-hour Full Bay cruise. This fantastic offer is valid for kids 12 and younger when accompanied by a paying adult. Each full-fare paying adult can take on two free children, though.
Kids Free October at San Diego Museums
Usually, to enjoy Kids Free October at San Diego Museums, you’ll download a coupon from the San Diego Museum Council. This coupon typically becomes available in early-September.
Up to two kids ages 12 and under can go free to the below list of museums with a paid adult. To participate, families must download the free coupon for every museum they wish to visit and present it at the participating museum’s admissions desk. Special exhibitions may require an additional fee.
With free youth admission, this is a fantastic opportunity for local families to check out a new museum. Here’s the list of San Diego Museums planning to participate in Kids Free October in 2024:
- Barona Cultural Center & Museum
- Birch Aquarium at Scripps
- Bonita Museum and Cultural Center
- Brain Observatory
- Cabrillo National Monument
- California Center for the Arts Museum, Escondido
- California Surf Museum
- Centro Cultural de la Raza
- Chicano Park Museum & Cultural Center
- Comic-Con Museum
- Coronado Historical Association
- Fleet Science Center
- Gaslamp Museum at the Davis-Horton House
- Heritage of the Americas Museum
- Institute of Contemporary Art (ICA) Central
- Institute of Contemporary Art (ICA) North
- J.A. Cooley Museum
- Japanese Friendship Garden of San Diego
- Junipero Serra Museum
- La Jolla Historical Society
- La Mesa Depot
- Lemon Grove Parsonage Museum
- Living Coast Discovery Center
- Marine Corp Recruit Depot Command Museum
- Maritime Museum of San Diego
- Marston House Museum
- Mingei International Museum
- Miniature Engineering Craftsman Museum
- Mission San Luis Rey
- Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego, La Jolla
- Museum of Making Music
- Museum of Photographic Arts
- Museum of Us
- Nautical History Gallery & Museum
- New Americans Museum
- The New Children’s Museum
- Old Town San Diego State Historical Museum
- San Diego African American Museum of Fine Arts
- San Diego Air & Space Museum
- San Diego Archaeological Center
- San Diego Automotive Museum
- San Diego Botanic Garden
- San Diego Chinese Historical Museum
- San Diego Children’s Discovery Museum
- San Diego History Center
- San Diego International Airport Arts Program
- San Diego Model Railroad Museum
- San Diego Museum of Art
- San Diego Natural History Museum (the NAT)
- San Diego Police Museum
- Tijuana Estuary Visitor Center
- Timken Museum of Art
- USS Midway Museum
- Visions Museum of Textile Art
- Warner-Carrillo Ranch House
- The Water Conservation Garden
- Women’s Museum of California
- WorldBeat Center
Visit the San Diego Tourism Authority for the full list of offers!
Katie Dillon
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