SeaWorld San Diego

From thrill rides to up close looks at marine life, SeaWorld San Diego offers a splashy take on the traditional theme park.

See Marine Life at SeaWorld San Diego

Located just off Mission Bay in San Diego, the park offers a variety of ways to both celebrate marine life and learn about conservation efforts around the world. Start your visit at the Explorer’s Reef area, just inside the park’s entrance, lined with touch pools, then see marine life up close at exhibits such as the popular Dolphin Point. Head to Turtle Reef to view loggerhead, hawksbill, and green sea turtles, plus thousands of tropical fish. Then go to Shark Encounter and walk through a 57-foot acrylic underwater tunnel—you’ll be surrounded by several species of sharks swimming in a 300,000-gallon lagoon. Be sure to take the five-minute ride up the Skytower, a 320-foot column that overlooks the whole park.

If you want to plan your day at SeaWorld down to the hour, that’s easy to do too.  Every day there are scheduled educational presentations about different species, as well as exclusive tours where you can get behind-the-scenes encounters with resident dolphins, sea lions, penguins, or beluga whales.

Rides at SeaWorld San Diego

The San Diego theme park has increasingly become a hotbed for roller coaster lovers. The park’s newest rides have their own marine-life inspirations, such as the Electric Eel, the Manta, and Emperor—the tallest, longest and fastest dive coaster in California, which takes a 90-degree plunge like a diving Emperor penguin. Don’t miss the Arctic Rescue ride—the fastest straddle coaster in California—that places you in a snowmobile-shaped car as you pretend to be a member of an animal rescue squad. Little kids will love exploring the Arctic Rescue exhibit and the Rescue Jr. play area to check out vehicles, equipment, and fascinating information related to the SeaWorld rescue team that has saved more than 40,000 animals to date.

Events at SeaWorld San Diego

Check the park’s calendar when planning your trip, as different times of year bring seasonal events. Come for the Mardi Gras festival in January or February, the Seven Seas Food Festival in spring, or the musical events of summer’s Viva La Musica and Summer Spectacular. Autumn and the holiday season bring their own extravaganzas, including Howl-O-Scream, filled with wandering zombies, the little kid–friendly SeaWorld Spooktacular, and the SeaWorld Christmas Celebration.

How to Book Tickets and Where to Stay

Book your admission tickets online before arriving to make the most of ongoing discounts or deals that bundle in meals or skip-the-line perks. You can also buy tickets that are good for both SeaWorld San Diego and Sesame Place San Diego in nearby Chula Vista.

There are dozens of hotels located within a few miles of SeaWorld. Choose from national chains such as Hyatt or Hilton, family-friendly resorts such as the Bahia Resort Hotel or Paradise Point, or luxury hotels with local flavor like The Dana on Mission Bay or the Old Town Inn. Some hotels occasionally offer their own bundled-ticket deals too.

Things to Do Near SeaWorld San Diego

You could easily spend weeks in San Diego and never run out of things to do. To touch on just as few wide-ranging highlights, you can go whale watching, visit the Maritime Museum, and dive into San Diego County’s rich surf culture. The city’s Gaslamp Quarter draws shoppers, diners, and event-goers day and night, and the craft beer scene and seafood here are both truly exceptional.