6 San Diego Theme Parks & Amusement Parks: Insider Tips, Tickets & Discounts

San Diego has six theme parks and amusement parks. Not 10, not 20 — six. I say this because other lists include go-kart tracks, trampoline centers, and family entertainment venues that most visitors wouldn’t travel for. As someone who has lived in San Diego for over 30 years, I can tell you exactly what to expect from each one.

Theme parks are one of the biggest reasons families visit San Diego, and most people build their whole trip around them

Below, I’ll walk you through each park, including ideal ages, current ticket prices, where to find discounts, and practical tips from my own experiences.

San Diego Theme Parks at a Glance

Here’s a quick comparison to help you decide which San Diego amusement parks and theme parks are right for your group.

Which San Diego Theme Park Is Best for You?

Choosing the right attraction depends on your group. Here’s a quick guide:

Toddlers and preschoolers (ages 2–5): SeaWorld San Diego and Sesame Place San Diego are your best bets. SeaWorld’s Rescue Jr. area keeps little ones entertained for hours, and Sesame Place was built for this age group. The San Diego Zoo is also manageable with a stroller (with some strategy for avoiding hills) and its Wildlife Explorer’s Basecamp has big play areas and splash pads.

Elementary-age kids (ages 6–12): LEGOLAND California is the standout choice, especially for kids who are deep into their LEGO phase. The San Diego Zoo and Safari Park are also excellent, and SeaWorld’s mix of animal encounters and rides works well for this age group.

Tweens and teens (ages 13+): SeaWorld San Diego has invested heavily in thrill rides like Emperor and Electric Eel that older kids love. The Safari Park’s upgraded experiences, like the Flightline Safari zip line, are also popular with this group. LEGOLAND’s new LEGO Galaxy land (opening March 6, 2026) adds a coaster that may broaden its appeal, too.

Adults without kids: Nearly every client we work with visits the San Diego Zoo, no matter their ages. Many locals walk the grounds in the morning for exercise. The Safari Park’s behind-the-scenes safaris are filled with educational content that adults like me find particularly interesting.

Thrill seekers: SeaWorld has the tallest and fastest coasters in San Diego. Belmont Park’s historic Giant Dipper wooden roller coaster is a classic worth experiencing, but it’s not a thrill ride.

1. San Diego Zoo

The San Diego Zoo is San Diego’s most popular attraction and is renowned for its conservation efforts worldwide. My husband and I have been members since before our daughter was born, and we still renew every year.

Highlights include the koalas, Polar Bear Plunge, Wildlife Explorers Basecamp (the children’s zoo), Skyfari aerial tram, Africa Rocks, and the pandas. I recommend a full day, but some time spent here is better than none. It’s also a botanical garden! Over 750,000 gorgeous, exotic, and rare plants decorate and shade many parts of the zoo, helping to keep it cool during the summer heat.

Best for: All ages. Our school kids take field trips here. Everyone enjoys the zoo, and it’s in Balboa Park, adjacent to some great museums.

Special experiences: Check out behind-the-scenes tours, such as the Inside Look Tours, which start before the Zoo opens to the public, so you can get deep into the park before anyone else. These sell out, so book in advance.

Parking: $16 for non-members, $8 for City of San Diego residents, and free for members.

Tickets: Gate price is $78 for adults (ages 12+) and $68 for children (ages 3–11). I have advice for how to buy discount San Diego Zoo tickets, but there are basically two places to look.

The first is via my promo code (details below). The second is via the Go San Diego pass (use promo code GOSDO5LJM), a bundled attractions pass that works if you visit multiple San Diego attractions.

Where to stay: I have a list of hotels near San Diego Zoo. There’s nothing great within walking distance, so most people drive in or Uber from wherever they’re staying. The Old Town Trolley stops in Balboa Park.

2. LEGOLAND California

LEGOLAND California transports guests into the colorful world of LEGOs through shows, rides, displays, and plenty of LEGO pits (play areas full of loose pieces). In addition to the theme park, there’s a water park (seasonal, reopening March 21, 2026), SEA LIFE Aquarium, and two resort hotels. It’s a huge reason why families visit San Diego.

New for 2026: I’m really excited about LEGO Galaxy, a brand-new space-themed land opening March 6. It’s the park’s biggest expansion in decades and the headliner is Galacticoaster, their first new roller coaster in over 20 years. It’s an indoor family coaster where riders customize their own LEGO spacecraft before launching, and there are over 625 possible combinations. The land also has two more rides, a Junior Astronaut Training Zone for toddlers, and themed restaurants. It’s all included with standard admission.

A common question I get is how many days to plan at LEGOLAND. One is usually enough unless you have an extreme LEGO fan, are staying in Carlsbad, so you have easy access to the park, or like to do theme parks on a half-day basis. Then two or even three days can work, especially if the water park is open. Before planning a visit, it is incredibly important to check the calendar, as the parks are not open every day of the year.

Best for: Kids ages 12 and younger, though you’ll want to visit at the peak of LEGO enthusiasm. Teens still like the carnival games, food, shows, and a handful of rides, but if I were on a San Diego family vacation with only teenagers, I’d probably skip it unless they really want to go. That said, LEGO Galaxy and its coaster may change things for families with older kids. Time will tell.

Special experiences: LEGOLAND offers VIP experiences with priority line access, a VIP host for the day, exclusive tours, and more. You can also purchase Reserve N Ride to shorten your line waits.

Parking: You can prepay for parking online and enter your license plate number during booking so the gate opens automatically. I recommend doing this to avoid holding up the line entering the parking lot.

Tickets: Make sure the LEGOLAND ticket you buy covers what you want to do, as park-only and resort hopper tickets are available. Sightseeing passes usually only cover the theme park, but you can upgrade them at guest relations to add things like Reserve N Ride and the water park.

You can buy discounted LEGOLAND tickets through several methods. The most important thing is that you have a date-specific ticket and buy online to avoid gate prices. Here are the most popular methods:

• Direct on LEGOLAND
• Our site (use promo code LEGO)
• Go San Diego (use promo code GOSDO5LJM)
• CityPASS San Diego

Where to stay: Check our lists of hotels near LEGOLAND California and Carlsbad hotels. Of course, there is the onsite LEGOLAND Hotel and LEGOLAND Castle Hotel, but my favorite places to stay are:

• Four Seasons Aviara
• Park Hyatt Aviara

3. SeaWorld San Diego

SeaWorld San Diego is a marine life theme park on Mission Bay. These days, visitors come for the animals, the rides, and, honestly, just a great day outside in California sunshine.

The park has added several roller coasters in recent years, and they’ve completely changed the vibe. Emperor is a floorless dive coaster, Electric Eel is the tallest and fastest coaster in San Diego, and Manta and Arctic Rescue round things out. It’s why many local teens still have passes. That said, my daughter and her friends still enjoy the animal interactions (most are paid upgrades, but they get discounts with their passes), like going behind the scenes in the penguin enclosure.

SeaWorld is also a fantastic place to visit with toddlers. Little kids love the Rescue Jr. area, and it’s easy to push a stroller around the park. The climbing play area, a handful of small rides, and splash pads are known to keep young kids in this one area for the entire day.

Best for: Honestly, all ages. It’s one of the few San Diego theme parks that works equally well for a family with a 3-year-old and a 13-year-old.

Special experiences: Guests can get in the dolphin pool, go behind the scenes, take a VIP tour, interact with a beluga whale, and more.

Parking: Paid parking at the gate. Free for annual pass members. The lot is large and well-organized, but expect a walk to the entrance. I don’t normally recommend upgrading to premium parking unless you have mobility issues.

Tickets: I have a guide on how to buy discount SeaWorld San Diego tickets. You don’t need reservations, but buy tickets in advance to avoid gate prices. SeaWorld uses dynamic pricing, so the date you visit affects the cost.

• Direct on SeaWorld San Diego
• Our site
• Go San Diego (use promo code GOSDO5LJM)
• CityPASS San Diego

Where to stay: Check our list of best hotels near SeaWorld San Diego. You can actually see the park’s seasonal fireworks from Marina Bay rooms at Hyatt Regency Mission Bay.

4. San Diego Zoo Safari Park

Over 2,600 wild and endangered animals live at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park (formerly known as the San Diego Wild Animal Park), and the experience feels completely different from the Zoo. The 1,800-acre preserve gives animals room to roam in habitats that feel closer to the wild, and you notice it immediately.

I’m a huge fan of heading straight to the wallabies that hop around you in Walkabout Australia. Other highlights include Tiger Trail, platypuses (my family helped sponsor this exhibit), the free Africa Tram, and various shows. We’re members, and I still discover something new every visit.

Best for: All ages, but fair warning, it’s a lot of walking. The enclosures are more spread out than they are at the Zoo, which makes sense for animals like this. Bring a stroller for younger kids and plan to stop at the play areas for breaks.

Special experiences: The safaris are paid upgrades but genuinely worth the splurge. Book them before visiting. The Wildlife Safari is the most popular as it takes you into the savannahs that you can’t otherwise see up-close.

Parking: $20 per car for non-members and members park for free.

Tickets: Gate price is $78 for adults (ages 12+) and $68 for children (ages 3–11). I’ve written about how to buy discount San Diego Zoo Safari Park tickets, but like the Zoo, there are basically two places to look. I have (I seriously promise) the best price on Safari Park tickets, thanks to my volume.

The second option is the Go San Diego pass (use promo code GOSDO5LJM), which is a good fit if you have a lot of things to do in San Diego on your list.

Where to stay: Although we have a list of best hotels near San Diego Zoo Safari Park, like the Zoo, most people drive in from wherever they are staying due to the park’s location in Escondido (about 45 minutes north of downtown San Diego).

Can you see the San Diego Zoo and the San Diego Zoo Safari Park on the Same Day?

Technically, yes, but I do not recommend it. Without traffic, these San Diego theme parks are 45 minutes apart, and you simply won’t be able to enjoy the best of both with a jammed itinerary. Learn more about San Diego Zoo vs Safari Park.

5. Sesame Place San Diego

SeaWorld’s other San Diego theme park is Sesame Place San Diego (formerly Aquatica San Diego). It’s in Chula Vista, about 25 minutes southeast of downtown San Diego, so it’s a bit of a drive, but worth it when it’s open if you have little ones.

Important for 2026: Sesame Place has moved to a seasonal schedule and is expected to reopen in the spring. Definitely check their calendar before planning a visit.

When it is open, the park combines water park attractions with dry rides and Sesame Street character experiences. Some of the waterslides are surprisingly fast, but small kids can splash around in heated pools, lazy rivers, and splash pads.

They’ve set it up almost like a beachside resort with cabanas you can reserve and sandy beaches, which is a nice touch (I recommend this in summer heat). There are also character meet-and-greets and special holiday events.

Best for: Little kids, especially ages 2 through about 10. If your kids watch Sesame Street and love water, this is their place. It’s also a solid option if you’ve already hit the bigger San Diego theme parks and are looking for something different.

Special experiences: Reserve a cabana or lounger in advance if you’re visiting on a busy day. Chula Vista is inland, and it gets hot, so the shade is worth it. The Quick Queue pass lets you skip to the front of the line.

Parking: $30 per vehicle, and you can buy it in advance online to save time at the gate. Up-close parking starts at $50. Season pass holders get free parking.

Tickets: Residents should look at seasonal passes for the best value. I have a guide for how to buy discount Sesame Place San Diego tickets. You don’t need reservations to visit, but you should buy tickets in advance to avoid gate prices.

• Direct on Sesame Place San Diego
• Our site
• Go San Diego (use promo code GOSDO5LJM)

6. Belmont Park Amusement Park

The seaside amusement park in San Diego is a classic. Belmont Park sits steps from the sand of Mission Beach and has been here since 1925.

Come for the Dole Whip, carnival games, rides, arcade games, and the historic Giant Dipper roller coaster (a 2,600-foot wooden coaster that hits 48 mph). There’s also beachside shopping for swimwear and funky souvenirs, plus several places to eat.

This isn’t a full-day theme park like the others on this list. It’s more of a 2-hour experience (perhaps longer if you stay to eat) that pairs well with a day at Mission Beach.

Best for: Kids old enough to enjoy the rides, laser tag, games, and miniature golf. Adults without kids can have a great time here, too, especially in the evening with the ocean views and a few of the restaurants and bars.

Parking: There are four free public parking lots surrounding Belmont Park, but they fill up fast on summer weekends. Arrive early or take an Uber.

Tickets: Admission is free. Single tickets for rides add up quickly so it’s best to buy a combo pass or unlimited ride wristband. I’ve been in many situations where I thought a ride or two would be fine, and then the kids want more. Buy a wristband online through Belmont Park. The unlimited ride wristband is also part of the Go San Diego pass (use promo code GOSDO5LJM).

How to Save Money on Admission

Admission can get expensive, especially for families. Here are the best ways to save:

Use my exclusive promo codes. I negotiate volume discounts with ticket sellers and pass those savings on to my readers. For the San Diego Zoo and Safari Park, use promo code lajollamom at my ticket site for $8 off per ticket. I also have promo codes for LEGOLAND and other parks on my discount tickets page.

Consider a sightseeing pass. If you’re visiting multiple attractions, a bundled pass can save significantly. The two main options are Go San Diego (use promo code GOSDO5LJM), which covers a wide range of attractions, and CityPASS San Diego, which focuses on the biggest parks, including LEGOLAND and SeaWorld.

Always buy tickets online in advance. Every San Diego theme park charges more at the gate. Online prices, especially for date-specific tickets, are consistently lower. This is particularly true for SeaWorld and LEGOLAND, which use dynamic pricing.

Visit during off-peak times. Weekdays outside of school holidays are the least crowded and sometimes the cheapest. January, February, and early March (before spring break) tend to be the quietest months at San Diego theme parks. September and early October are also good choices after summer crowds thin out. Check my guide to the best time to visit San Diego for more details.

Watch for Kids Free San Diego in October. Several San Diego theme parks offer free kids’ admission during October as part of the annual Kids Free San Diego promotion. This can save families hundreds of dollars.

Best Time to Visit the Parks

San Diego’s mild weather means theme parks are enjoyable year-round, but crowds and pricing vary. Here’s what to expect:

Least crowded (and often cheapest): January through mid-March (excluding the tail end of winter break, Martin Luther King weekend, and Presidents’ Day weekend), and September after Labor Day. Weekdays are always less crowded than weekends. Note that LEGOLAND and Sesame Place have limited operating schedules during the off-season, so check their calendars.

Peak season: Mid-June through August, the week between Christmas and New Year’s, and spring break (mid-March to mid-April). Expect higher ticket prices, longer lines, and full parking lots. If you’re visiting during peak season, arrive when gates open and consider purchasing line-skipping upgrades.

Sweet spots: Late April through mid-May and late October to the week before Thanksgiving in November offer pleasant weather, moderate crowds, and reasonable prices. The parks also host seasonal events during Halloween and the holidays that add significant value.

For more on San Diego travel timing, check my guide on the best time to visit San Diego.

What About Amusement Parks in San Diego I’ve Seen on Other Lists?

I’ve seen lists featuring 20 or more theme parks and amusement parks in San Diego. There simply aren’t that many. We have six, and they are listed above.

Sure, a seasonal Inflatable World appears in a parking lot in Mission Valley. It’s fun. We have K1 Indoor Kart racing, Boomers, and other smaller family entertainment centers geared toward residents and birthday parties. These operate on a smaller scale and aren’t meant to be destinations, so they can’t be classified as San Diego theme or amusement parks.

Some lists also include Disneyland and Universal Studios Hollywood. Those are in Anaheim and Los Angeles, respectively, and are 1.5 to 2+ hours from San Diego without traffic. If you’re interested, I have guides for Disneyland and Universal Studios Hollywood, but they are definitely not San Diego theme parks.

San Diego Theme Parks FAQ

Have questions? Let me know in the comments below.