San Diego Zoo Ticket Prices in 2026

The short answer: a one-day San Diego Zoo ticket costs $78 for adults (12 and up) and $68 for children aged 3 to 11, and children 2 and under are free. That price is the same at the gate, on the zoo’s own website and on GetYourGuide, and it includes the Skyfari aerial tram and the guided bus tour. (Prices checked in October 2026.)

The ticket below is San Diego Zoo’s own 1-Day Pass, sold by the zoo through GetYourGuide. It costs the same $78, but you can cancel it for a full refund up to 24 hours before your visit. Tickets bought from the zoo directly cannot be refunded or exchanged.

Every ticket price, side by side

Prices checked in October 2026 on the zoo’s ticket page and on GetYourGuide. The zoo changes prices from time to time, so treat these as the current shape, not a quote.

Is it more expensive at the gate?

Not for the standard ticket. The Any Day 1-Day Pass is $78 at the gate and online. The only cheaper single-day ticket is the Value Days pass at $73, which the zoo sells online only, in advance, for selected days on its calendar. If you turn up on a day that isn’t a Value Day with a Value Days ticket, you pay the difference at the window. Buying ahead mostly saves you the ticket-booth queue, not money.

Why is the San Diego Zoo so expensive?

$78 is high for a zoo, but the ticket covers more than most. It includes the Skyfari aerial tram across the canyons and the guided bus tour, both subject to availability, and the zoo is 100 acres with more than 12,000 animals of over 680 species and subspecies. The money also funds San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, a nonprofit conservation organisation. Parking is extra: $16 per car since January 2026 (see our parking guide).

The discounts that actually exist

Plenty of “discount” sites advertise codes that the zoo itself doesn’t honour. These are the ones the zoo publishes:

• Kids Free October. Every October, children 11 and under get in free with an adult who has a ticket, up to six children per adult. It runs from October 1 to 31 at both the Zoo and the Safari Park.
• Active-duty military. Active-duty service members get in free with a valid CAC card. Family members pay, except children 11 and under in October.
• Seniors. Guests aged 65 and over get 10% off the Any Day 1-Day Pass at a ticket window with a photo ID. In February, seniors get into the Safari Park free.
• AAA members. 10% off the 1-Day Pass at a ticket window, up to six people per card. It doesn’t apply to online tickets.
• Groups of 15 or more. 10% off, or 15% for 100 or more, booked through the zoo’s reservation team.
• Members’ coupons. The “50% off coupon” people search for is a membership perk: members get two half-price admission coupons for guests.

Costco sells some San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance tickets online, including Safari Park day passes. They are non-refundable, and the saving varies, so compare the price on the day against the $78 pass with free cancellation.

Which ticket should you buy?

Pick the ticket that fits your trip:

Prices, ratings and review counts from our October 2026 data check; operators use seasonal pricing, so treat them as the shape of the market, not a quote.

If you’re travelling with children in October, or you’re active-duty military, the cheapest ticket for them is no ticket at all: bring the right ID and pay for the adults only. Planning the Safari Park as well? Our Safari Park tickets page covers that ticket and the drive.