The San Diego 3-for-1 Pass is back. After being unavailable for several years, this combo ticket that bundles three of San Diego’s biggest attractions into a single purchase is once again for sale directly through the parks. It can be a solid deal for visitors planning to hit all three, but for most San Diego vacations, there are better and more flexible ways to save. Here’s what you need to know.
How the San Diego 3-for-1 Pass Works
The 3-for-1 Pass covers three parks:
- San Diego Zoo (Balboa Park)
- San Diego Zoo Safari Park (Escondido, about 45 minutes north)
- SeaWorld San Diego (Mission Bay)
You get one visit to each park over seven consecutive days, starting from the date of your first visit. You can visit in any order.
This is a change from the original version of this pass, which allowed unlimited visits to each park during the seven-day window. The 2026 version is one visit per included park.
What’s included: Park admission only. Parking, food, tours, and special ticketed events are extra.
What’s not included:
- Parking ($16 at the Zoo, $20 at Safari Park, $30 at SeaWorld)
- All-Day Dining plans
- Premium animal encounters and VIP tours
- Special ticketed events like Howl-O-Scream
Age requirements: Children 2 and under are free at all three parks. Ages 3 and up need a ticket.
One quirk worth noting: SeaWorld’s website lists their child 3-for-1 ticket for ages 2 to 9, even though every child under 3 is free at all three parks. If you have a 2-year-old, do not buy this pass for them. They do not need a ticket at any of these parks.
Where to Buy the 3-for-1 Pass
You can purchase the 3-for-1 Pass directly through the parks:
- SeaWorld San Diego tickets page (eTicket, scan at any park)
- San Diego Zoo tickets page
- San Diego Zoo Safari Park tickets page
This pass is not currently sold through third-party discount sellers such as Costco or Viator (both of which previously offered it). You buy directly from the parks.
If you purchase through the Zoo or Safari Park websites, note that those tickets are not eligible for pickup at SeaWorld. Your only delivery option is email. If you don’t receive the email, you can go to any ticket window at the Zoo or Safari Park, and they will look up your order. The SeaWorld eTicket version arrives by email as well.
Is the 3-for-1 Pass Worth It? The Math
To figure out if the pass saves money, compare it against buying individual tickets at the gate.
2026 gate prices (1-Day, Any Day):
- San Diego Zoo: $78/adult, $68/child (ages 3 to 11)
- San Diego Zoo Safari Park: $78/adult, $68/child
- SeaWorld San Diego (discount tickets): ~$123/ages 3+
Buying all three individually: ~$279/adult, ~$259/child
If the 3-for-1 Pass is priced below those totals (and historically this pass has been in the $165 to $175 range for adults), it represents meaningful savings for anyone visiting all three parks. Check the current price on the park websites, as pricing can change.
Keep in mind that discounted individual tickets are available for each of these parks through authorized sellers, which narrows the savings gap. See my discount ticket guides linked below for the best current deals.
The math only works if you are visiting all three parks. If you plan to skip one, buy individual tickets or consider a sightseeing pass instead.
When the 3-for-1 Pass Is NOT Your Best Option
This pass is built for one specific itinerary: Zoo + Safari Park + SeaWorld, and nothing else. Most families I talk to want more flexibility than that. Here’s when you should look at other options.
If You Want to Visit LEGOLAND Too
The 3-for-1 Pass does not include LEGOLAND California, and most families visiting San Diego with kids want to go to LEGOLAND. If that’s you, a Go City San Diego pass or San Diego CityPASS will likely save you more because they bundle LEGOLAND alongside the Zoo, SeaWorld, and other attractions.
Go City San Diego – Exclusive Promo Code
Get an extra 5% ALL Go San Diego sightseeing passes when you buy through Go City! This discount stacks on top of sale rates! Use promo code GOSDO5LJM.
(Pass has limited value for families at many attractions during Kids Free October in San Diego — we recommend individual tickets during this timeframe instead.)
If You Want Museums, Tours, and Harbor Cruises
San Diego has incredible attractions beyond the animal parks: the USS Midway, Birch Aquarium, harbor cruises, Old Town Trolley tours, and Balboa Park museums. If your itinerary includes any of these, a Go City San Diego All-Inclusive Pass covers 55+ attractions and almost always works out to a better per-attraction deal than the 3-for-1 plus individual tickets to everything else.
If You’re Visiting in October (Kids Free San Diego)
Every October, children ages 3 to 11 receive free admission to the San Diego Zoo, Safari Park, SeaWorld, LEGOLAND, and many other attractions when accompanied by a paying adult. Buying a 3-for-1 child ticket during October would waste money. Buy individual adult tickets instead and let the kids in free.
Read my Kids Free San Diego guide for the full details.
If You’re Only Visiting Two of the Three Parks
Zoo + Safari Park (skip SeaWorld): The 2-Visit Pass is $130/adult and $120/child. It covers one visit to each park, or two visits to the same park.
Zoo + SeaWorld (skip Safari Park): A Zoo + SeaWorld combo ticket runs about $153/adult and $143/child through authorized sellers.
For individual park tickets at the lowest available price, see my discount guides:
- How to Buy Discount San Diego Zoo Tickets
- How to Buy Discount Safari Park Tickets
- How to Buy Discount SeaWorld Tickets
If You Have Very Young Children
Children 2 and under are free at all three parks. Do not buy a child ticket for a toddler.
SeaWorld also offers a free Preschool Fun Card for kids ages 3 to 5 who live in San Diego, Los Angeles, or Orange County. This provides unlimited SeaWorld visits through the end of 2026. If your child qualifies, SeaWorld admission is already covered, which makes the 3-for-1 less compelling for the child ticket.
My Recommendation
The 3-for-1 Pass makes sense for a narrow scenario: you are visiting San Diego specifically to spend time at the Zoo, Safari Park, and SeaWorld, you are not adding LEGOLAND or other attractions, and you are not visiting in October.
For everyone else, a sightseeing pass or individual discounted tickets will give you more flexibility and often better savings. Start with my Go City San Diego pass guide to see if a multi-attraction pass fits your itinerary, or use the individual ticket guides linked above.
See Also
Katie Dillon
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