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San Diego Zoo 1-Day Pass: Any Day Ticket

Recommended by 94% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
San Diego, USA
High interest
Booked 5+ times today.
  • 1 to 4 hours (approx.)
  • Mobile ticket

Why travelers loved this

4.7
·
· Ada_J ·
Feb 2026
Fantastic experience well organized, clean , animals looked well taken care of, the Panda was beautiful . Employees were helpful and nice
· Garygl_I ·
Feb 2026
The zoo is a must see if you go make sure to see the pandas and take the free bus tour and sky way there are plenty of food choices and the workers were very helpful

Overview

Meet some of the world's most exotic animals with your admission ticket to the renowned San Diego Zoo, one of California's top family-friendly attractions. More than 4,000 animals representing 800 species live in this state-of-the-art zoo, including some that are rarely seen at other zoos. Admire the animals and go in-depth during daily keeper talks. With mobile tickets, simply scan your phone for direct entry into the San Diego Zoo. Ticket must be redeemed on travel date selected. Tickets must be purchased at least one day prior to visit.
  • Admission to the San Diego Zoo - welcoming back the giant pandas!
  • Marvel at the diverse collection of animals including many that are on the endangered species list
  • This is a direct entry ticket, no need to exchange for tickets at Will Call

What's Included

  • *Unlimited use of Skyfari Aerial Tram
  • *Unlimited use of the Guided Bus Tour
  • Tickets good one year from original date of purchase
  • Food and drink
  • Hotel pick up and drop-off
  • Parking Fees - beginning January 5, 2026 Balboa Park charges a flat rate of $16 per vehicle, per day

Meeting and Pickup

Meeting point

  • Zoo Drive
    Zoo Dr, San Diego, CA 92101, USA

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

Operating hours

  • 03/03/2021 - 04/08/2027

    Monday - Sunday : 9:00 AM - 7:00 PM

What To Expect

After making your own way to the San Diego Zoo on the day of your choice, you can head into the zoo's visitor center to pick up a map and plan your route through this acclaimed zoo. The animals live in spacious and beautifully designed enclosures that replicate their natural habitats. The koala and giant panda exhibits are always popular, as are the orangutans and siamangs that climb around in lush forest settings.

Other highlights include the Tiger River exhibit, which features a realistic Asian rainforest environment, and the Gorilla Tropics, which recreates a lush African rainforest. Zoo keeper talks take place at regular intervals every day, with the experts introducing animals such as giraffes, elephants, wolves, lions or jaguars, and more. In the animal nursery, you might get to see some of the zoo’s newest arrivals.

Kids enjoy petting small tame critters in the Petting Paddock and four different play zones provide a safe and entertaining spot to climb and explore.

As you make your way through the zoo, note the extensive gardens — some of the plants growing there supply ingredients for the specialized diets of particular zoo residents.
1

San Diego Zoo

Admission Ticket Included

Additional Info

  • Confirmation will be received at time of booking, unless booked within 1 day of travel. In this case confirmation will be received as soon as possible, subject to availability
  • Wheelchair accessible
  • Stroller accessible
  • Service animals allowed
  • Near public transportation
  • Infants must sit on laps
  • Transportation is wheelchair accessible
  • Surfaces are wheelchair accessible
  • Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
  • Strollers and wheelchairs are available for rental at the front plaza near the entrance
  • Please visit the San Diego Zoo's website for more information on complimentary timed tickets and standby lines for the giant panda viewing
  • Giant Panda Timed Tickets are only available on Saturdays and Sundays at the San Diego Zoo on the same day as your visit. These tickets are complimentary, limited, and first come, first served. Simply scan the ticket QR code on the sign at the main entrance of the Zoo, select an available time, and head to the Timed Ticket line at Denny Sanford Panda Ridge at your designated time. You may also seek assistance with timed tickets at any Admissions Booth
Supplied by

Frequently Asked Questions (23)

Q:How do I redeem my San Diego Zoo Ticket?

A:This is a direct entry ticket, no need to exchange for tickets at Will Call. Take your ticket directly to the turnstiles for admission.

Apr 2021

The answers provided are based on answers previously given by the tour provider to customers’ questions.

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

Traveler Photos

Gallery picture 1 (from a traveler's review)
Gallery picture 2 (from a traveler's review)
Gallery picture 3 (from a traveler's review)
Gallery picture 4 (from a traveler's review)
Gallery picture 5 (from a traveler's review)

Reviews

4.7
based on 4,436 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
We perform checks on reviews

San Diego Zoo

Sabine_H, Mar 2026
Fantastic zoo! Take the bus tour around the zoo before walking around on your own. This zoo is unlike any other zoo in the U.S.

Great Zoo

Ashley_C, Mar 2026
It was huge ! We walked half and then found an upper deck bus tour to finish out our trip through the zoo ! Gift shops were fun and great food choices.

Take your time and enjoy...

Steven_S, Mar 2026
Take your time and enjoy it all! The layout of the zoo is special. It has different levels but many workers that were very helpful and knowledgeable.

Everything you’ve heard and more!

Craig_T, Mar 2026
The zoo absolutely lives up to expectations! It’s like an amusement park but with beautiful anima exhibits instead of thrill rides. So much to see! If you get tired walking I recommend doing half the zoo, then taking the bus tour around the zoo (totally free) and then hitting the rest. We loved it!

Na

Tory_I, Mar 2026
There’s a lot to see and do. Plan accordingly, take breaks. The staff is great, ask questions …………..

Zootopia

Jeff_C, Mar 2026
Go early for the most animal activity. Bonus to pass is sky tram and bus tour. The second best zoo in the USA.

Spring Break family fun activities

Joe_G, Mar 2026
Had a great time at the zoo and the bus tour and driver as awesome getting around to zoo was easy with the mobile map.

Bring water bottle, comfy...

Veronica_C, Mar 2026
Bring water bottle, comfy shoes and don't skip the skyfari tram. Great time to enjoy with family and friends.

Great place to visit!

Emerick_W, Mar 2026
It was awesome. A lot of walking, parking was easy and zoo staff was very friendly. The elephant exhibit was nice to see and experience.

Worth the price of admission.

paul_l, Mar 2026
One thing I noted was in some cases the enclosures were very small based on the size of the animal. Case in point was the giraffe's. Concession prices high. One small maybe 8 inch pizza and two medium soft drinks $38.

Fantastic experience ...

Ada_J, Feb 2026
Fantastic experience well organized, clean , animals looked well taken care of, the Panda was beautiful . Employees were helpful and nice

Loved the zoo experience

Garygl_I, Feb 2026
The zoo is a must see if you go make sure to see the pandas and take the free bus tour and sky way there are plenty of food choices and the workers were very helpful

Zoo Trip

Sharon_R, Feb 2026
Travelling around on a mobility scooter wasnt easy in the crowds. A lot of animals seemed to be inside so we didn't see them. The free bus tour was good.

Great great fun with some preliminary planning when you get there

KAREN_A, Feb 2026
Suggest going early. Lines are shorter to get in and more parking is available. And it is cooler and lines for everything are shorter. The trolley rides are free and drivers are very informative- highly recommend! Also start you day by reserving a time to see the pandas. Failure to do so incurs long lines of waiting to get in on standby basis.

Great educational family time

Laura_B, Jan 2026
Lovely zoo with clean habitats and lots of animals. Disappointed that the Polar region was closed but there was plenty of to see otherwise.

Great zoo experience. My...

George, Jan 2026
Great zoo experience. My advice if you want to se the giant pandas is to get there as soon as it opens and “bee tail” it straight over because if you don’t, you’ll wait in a 1-2 hour line to see them. The parking lot fills up fast too. Other than that, we had an excellent experience.

Enjoyed the zoo

Greg_C, Dec 2025
We got there in the morning and stayed for about six hours. There was plenty to see. I highly recommend taking the bus and the sky line right away then you can see where everything is.

San Diego Zoo 12/28/25

Stephen_C, Dec 2025
Be sure and get on the Zoo WIfi when you try to access your Viator tickets. Cell service is horrible in the area.

Great day at the zoo

Shana_W, Dec 2025
Great experience. A full day of activity. Lots to see, well maintained. Did the bus around first thing in the morning, as soon as the park opened. Followed the undercover tourist for schedule of the day to do the least amount of uphill walking.

What a gem!

Jenise_G, Dec 2025
I’ve heard about the wonders of the San Diego my entire life, and it did not disappoint. I only wish we had more time to explore all the zoo had to offer. One day simply was not enough!

Fun!

Kimberlee_D, Nov 2025
The San Diego Zoo was an amazing experience! From the elephants to the monkeys. The animals looked very well cared for. I will come back

Must visit in San Diego

Bill_H, Nov 2025
this zoo is amazing--and the ticket covers some nice extras like the sky bucket and tram ride. The zoo and plantings are amazing--no wonder it is the #1 zoo!

Gold standard

Michael_A, Nov 2025
Can see why San Diego zoo is the gold standard. Amazing animals, but also like being in a botanical garden.

San Diego Zoo Review

Julie_L, Nov 2025
There is do much to see, so plan to spend an entire day (or more!) at the San Diego Zoo. Take the SkyTram in at least one direction and start your visit by taking the Zoo bus tour (30-40 minutes excluding waiting in line for a bus. Also, wear comfortable walking shoes because the Zoo is large and the terrain is very hilly. Bring a refillable water bottle with toy. The staff and volunteers are very knowledgeable and helpful.

Happy Birthday Kristi!!!

Tammy_S, Nov 2025
It was awesome. We were there for my daughter's 42 birthday and had a blast. Bought a lot of gifts too!

Excellent zoo experience

Ann_D, Oct 2025
Excellent zoo. Loved seeing the zoo. A lot of walking. Arrived first thing and got in immediately on the bus and the sky tram

Fun times

Alita_A, Oct 2025
Wear walking shoes so you can cover as much ground as possible. There is so much to see! Apes and monkeys were our favorite. Way way too many children there with poor supervision made it hard to watch gorillas for very long but that’s the only negative we experienced.

Great day at the San Diego Zoo

Kelly_A, Oct 2025
Fun day! Got our tickets through aviator because I had a credit. Our tickets were on the app and scanning at the gate is really easy. The bus tour is now included with admission and is a great way to get acquainted with the park. So many great ways to see all the animals - all in all, a terrific day!

San Diego Zoo

Michelle_W, Oct 2025
Wear good walking shoes! The San Diego Zoo is an amazing place to spend a day! Great scenery and great weather!

I was not able to...

Trish_B, Oct 2025
I was not able to download my tickets and Viator could not help me so I had to purchase additional tickets. Zoo was great Viator NOT

From $78.00

per person

up to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)

Book ahead!
On average, this is booked 25 days in advance.

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