SeaWorld: Tickets

Home to theme park rides, aquatic animals and fantastic dining experiences, SeaWorld San Diego offers a day of fun and excitement for the entire family!

Secure your SeaWorld San Diego tickets so that you can begin planning your excursion to one of California’s most popular theme parks.

Take the opportunity to get up close and personal with your favorite ocean animals, be entertained by some incredible shows and get your heart pounding as you soar through the sky on one of the world’s tallest roller coasters.

Here's all you need to know about SeaWorld, one of the most exciting theme parks in San Diego.

How much do SeaWorld San Diego tickets cost?

When purchasing SeaWorld admission tickets, you can expect the price to fluctuate slightly depending on the season as well as the day of the week, but below are the starting prices for entrance tickets:

• Date-specific ticket: US$75
• Any-day ticket: US$120
• 2-day ticket: US$120
• Fun card (unlimited visits for a year but block-out dates apply): US$120

Children under 3 years old are able to visit the park for free.

There are many extra amenities that you can add to your admission ticket, including animal encounters which usually cost around US$70 per person. You can also add meal and drink vouchers to your ticket at checkout.

If you’re wanting to make the most of your time in San Diego, you may be interested in the 2-Park ticket that gives you access to SeaWorld San Diego and Sesame Place San Diego for US$140 per person.

Who is eligible for discounts?

SeaWorld San Diego offers free entry to active duty military officers for an entire year, as well as up to three of their active dependents. Active duty service members will need to provide a military ID card upon admission. Veterans may also make use of this special offer.

Should you book in advance?

While tickets can be bought at the entrance gates, it is always a good idea to secure your SeaWorld tickets online ahead of time as this allows you to skip the queue.

If you want to experience any of the animal encounters on offer at SeaWorld, you should definitely book these ahead of time as spots are limited.

What will you see and do inside?

Roller Coasters & Rides

SeaWorld San Diego is home to many exciting roller coasters and rides. The park’s new roller coaster, The Emperor, is the tallest and fastest dive roller coaster in California.

In addition to The Emperor, you’ll get to experience popular rides like the Electric Eel and the Tidal Twister. While the park is famous for its massive roller coasters, many rides are suitable for younger children, such as Elmo’s Flying Fish.

Presentations

Download the park’s official app so that you can keep on top of the busy schedule of amazing presentations that SeaWorld has to offer, including a dolphin acrobatic act and a spotlight on cute and furry otters.

Not only are these presentations highly entertaining, but they are also educational and you will learn a lot about these animals.

Animals

SeaWorld is home to a plethora of aquatic animals all in safe enclosures that mimic their natural habitats. Some of the animals you'll see are sloths, sea otters, parrots, sea lions, turtles, orcas, dolphins, manta rays and more.

There is also the option to book an animal encounter that provides you with a special opportunity to get up close and personal with one of your favorite aquatic animals.

Sesame Street Bay of Play

The Sesame Street Bay of Play is a kid-friendly zone in which children can play to their heart’s content. They’ll get to meet some of the characters from Sesame Street and enjoy story time with Elmo.

Access to Sesame Street Bay of Play is included with the purchase of an entrance ticket to SeaWorld San Diego.

Dining & Shopping

There is certainly no shortage of dining and shopping experiences at SeaWorld San Diego. There are all-day dining deals available at a variety of restaurants and even the opportunity to dine with orcas!

In terms of shopping, you’ll find many souvenir shops where you can purchase gifts and keepsakes to remember your trip by.

How to get there?

SeaWorld San Diego is located near the intersection of Interstate 8 and Interstate 5, roughly a 10-to 15-minute car drive from the San Diego International Airport.

Getting to SeaWorld by car is relatively straightforward and there is ample parking available. There are also bicycle racks located outside the Main Gate Plaza.

If you are wanting to get to SeaWorld via public transport, there is a daily bus service from the Old Town Transit Center.

What are the opening times?

SeaWorld is generally open from 10 AM to 5 PM each day, but their opening hours vary slightly depending on the season. The park is sometimes open as late as 8 PM on some weekends.

SeaWorld’s opening hours are regularly updated on its official website.

The park is open 365 days a year for your convenience, but certain exhibitions are sometimes closed for maintenance and improvement.

When is the best time to visit SeaWorld San Diego?

SeaWorld San Diego attracts a large number of families during the school holidays and on weekends, so if you want to avoid the crowds you should visit sometime during the week.

There is a lot to see and do at the park, so arrive as the gates open to make the most of your time at SeaWorld.

Which other theme parks can be visited in San Diego?

• San Diego Zoo
• Legoland California
• San Diego Zoo Safari Park

Travel tips

• You can’t bring your own food into SeaWorld, so be sure to bring along some extra spending money for buying food and drinks.
• Bring a change of clothes with you as you may get wet on some of the rides.
• Strollers and wheelchairs can be rented online or when you arrive at the park.
• Book any animal encounters well ahead of time as these tend to get booked up fairly quickly.