Located in Mission Bay Park in San Diego, California, SeaWorld San Diego is a renowned marine mammal park, oceanarium, public aquarium, and marine animal rehabilitation center. First opened on March 21, 1964, as the inaugural location of the SeaWorld chain, the park was founded by Milton Shedd, Ken Norris, David Demott, and George Millay. Today, both the San Diego property and its parent brand are owned and operated by United Parks & Resorts.
SeaWorld San Diego is an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) and hosts the adjacent Hubbs-SeaWorld Research Institute, which conducts marine biology research and public educational programs. Over its history, the park has expanded far beyond its original 22-acre footprint. Its layout features distinct themed areas including Ocean Explorer, Rescue Jr., Explorer's Reef, and Wild Arctic, seamlessly combining aquatic animal exhibits with themed family environments.
Famous for blending educational animal encounters with big-ticket rides, SeaWorld San Diego offers intense coasters like Emperor and Electric Eel alongside river rapids and panoramic towers. Visitors can attend live presentations such as Orca Encounter and Dolphin Adventures, explore extensive saltwater aquariums, or touch bat rays and sharks. Whether you are a thrill-seeker, a family with children, or taking a multi-day vacation to the region, the park suits a wide range of travellers.
01 Signature rides & attractions
The park’s headline rides across its themed areas. Confirm heights and any single-rider lines on the day.
Compiled from Wikipedia · a full ride-by-ride list per themed area is on the way.
Park map
The free OpenStreetMap layer below shows the park and its surroundings — entrances, themed areas, car parks and access roads. Zoom in for detail; the official ride-by-ride park plan is linked below.
Map: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL, free). Official park maps are copyrighted — we link to them.
02 Tickets & prices
Ticket prices for SeaWorld San Diego change by date and season, and the park sells single-day, multi-day and annual passes — buying online in advance is almost always cheaper than at the gate, and popular dates can sell out. Check the official site for live pricing before you travel.
We deliberately don’t list prices that change daily — the ticket button leads to live, up-to-date pricing.
03 Getting there & parking
| Option | Detail |
|---|---|
| Airport | San Diego International Airport is the primary regional air hub, located near the city center and Mission Bay. |
Getting there & parking · Last updated: 2026-09-12 · prices may change
04 Themed areas
Each area has its own theming — architecture, food and rides. Half the fun is simply walking through.
Good to know
- SeaWorld operates a separate water park, Sesame Place San Diego, situated 23 miles southeast in Chula Vista.
- Explorer's Reef features four touch pools where you can interact with cleaner fish, horseshoe crabs, and bamboo sharks.
- Live presentations like Orca Encounter, Dolphin Adventures, and Sea Lion Spotlight operate on seasonal schedules.
