🦁 Animals & sea life
Zoos & aquariums of SoCal
Curated by Simir Shah
18 spots across Southern California — add your zip or city to sort by what's closest to you
OC Zoo (Irvine Regional Park)
Orange · Zoo
Tiny, very affordable zoo inside Irvine Regional Park showcasing animals native to the Southwest. Pair it with the park's pony rides, paddle boats, and picnic areas for a cheap family day.
🗓️ Open daily ~10am–3:30pm (later weekends)
💵 $ admission ($2/person 3+); park parking $3–5/car
Santa Ana Zoo at Prentice Park
Santa Ana · Zoo
Compact, kid-scaled zoo known for its monkeys and a children's farm, plus a small train and carousel (ride fees extra). Easy to cover in a couple of hours with little ones.
🗓️ Open daily 10am–4pm
💵 $ admission (~$12 adult, ~$9 child)
Aquarium of the Pacific
Long Beach · Aquarium
One of SoCal's largest aquariums, with a walk-through Pacific Ocean theme, lorikeet aviary, shark lagoon, and touch pools. Centrally located for OC and LA families; timed online tickets help avoid lines.
🗓️ Open daily ~9am–6pm (closed Dec 25)
💵 $$ admission (~$45 adult, ~$35 child)
SEA LIFE Aquarium Carlsbad
Carlsbad · Aquarium
Compact aquarium beside LEGOLAND California with a walk-through ocean tunnel, ray pools, and interactive exhibits geared to younger kids. Can be visited on its own or bundled with a LEGOLAND ticket.
🗓️ Open daily from ~11:30am; closing varies (see site)
💵 $$ admission (~$25 standalone; bundles with LEGOLAND)
Cabrillo Marine Aquarium
San Pedro
Free city-run aquarium focused on Southern California marine life, with touch tanks and an adjacent beach and tide pools. A great low-cost outing; the parking lot charges a fee.
🗓️ Tue–Fri noon–5pm, Sat–Sun 10am–5pm (closed Mon)
Roundhouse Aquarium
Manhattan Beach
Tiny free aquarium at the end of the Manhattan Beach Pier with touch tanks and local sea life. A fun 30–45 minute stop to fold into a beach and pier outing; hours can change with weather and pier events.
🗓️ Hours vary seasonally; afternoons + weekends
San Diego Zoo Safari Park
Escondido · Safari park
Sprawling open-range park where herds of rhinos, giraffes, and antelope roam vast field enclosures viewed from the Africa Tram. Optional caravan and cart safaris get you closer for an extra fee.
🗓️ Open daily ~9am–5pm (later in summer)
💵 $$$ admission (~$70+ adult); safari add-ons extra
Los Angeles Zoo & Botanical Gardens
Los Angeles · Zoo
133-acre zoo in Griffith Park with gorillas, elephants, and a walk-through Rainforest of the Americas. Plenty of shade and botanical gardens; wear comfortable shoes for the hilly loop.
🗓️ Open daily 10am–5pm (last entry 3:45pm)
💵 $$ admission (~$27 adult, ~$22 child)
Birch Aquarium at Scripps
La Jolla · Aquarium
The public face of Scripps Institution of Oceanography, with little blue penguins, tide-pool touch tanks, and ocean-bluff views. Smaller and calmer than the big parks, great for younger kids. Reservations recommended.
🗓️ Open daily ~9am–5pm
💵 $$ admission (~$30 adult, ~$25 child)
Big Bear Alpine Zoo
Big Bear Lake · Wildlife center
Mountain rehabilitation zoo caring for injured and orphaned wildlife like bears, snow leopards, and bald eagles. A cool-weather alternative to the coast; pairs well with a Big Bear lake day.
🗓️ Summer 10am–5pm; winter 10am–4pm, daily
💵 $ admission (~$12 adult, ~$9 child)
SeaWorld San Diego
San Diego · Aquarium
Marine-life park on Mission Bay combining aquarium habitats, animal shows, and family rides. A full-day outing; buying dated tickets online ahead of time is usually cheaper.
🗓️ Open daily from ~10am; closing varies by season
💵 $$$ admission (~$80+ adult; discounts online)
San Diego Zoo
San Diego · Zoo
World-famous 100-acre zoo in Balboa Park with pandas, koalas, and a guided bus tour. Plan a full day; the Skyfari aerial tram and Kangaroo Express bus help with the hilly terrain.
🗓️ Open daily; hours vary seasonally (~9am–5pm)
💵 $$$ admission (~$70+ adult, ~$60 child)
Wildlife Learning Center
Sylmar · Wildlife center
Intimate sanctuary in the San Fernando Valley home to rescued, non-releasable animals, with up-close encounters and friendly keeper talks. Small and easygoing, well suited to younger children.
🗓️ Open daily 10am–5pm
💵 $ admission (~$16 adult, ~$14 child)
The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens
Palm Desert · Zoo
Desert-focused zoo and botanical garden with giraffe feedings, a model train, and a carousel, showcasing animals of arid regions. Go early in summer, when the desert heat shortens hours.
🗓️ Oct–May ~8am–5pm; summer ~7am–1:30pm
💵 $$ admission (~$30 adult, ~$20 child; cheaper online)
Living Coast Discovery Center
Chula Vista · Wildlife center
Small bayfront zoo-and-aquarium on the San Diego Bay wildlife refuge, with sea turtles, sharks, rays, and shorebirds. Low-key and stroller-friendly; reached by a short shuttle or walk from the parking area.
🗓️ Open Wed–Sun ~10am–5pm (closed Mon–Tue)
💵 $ admission (~$20 adult, ~$15 child)
America's Teaching Zoo at Moorpark College
Moorpark · Zoo
Student-run college teaching zoo where Exotic Animal Training students care for the animals and present daily shows. Open weekends only; card payment only at the gate.
🗓️ Weekends only, Sat–Sun ~11am–4:30pm
💵 $ admission (~$9–11; see site)
Santa Barbara Zoo
Santa Barbara · Zoo
Consistently rated one of America's best small zoos, set on oceanfront grounds with giraffes you can feed, a miniature train, and California condors. Its manageable size makes it relaxed for families.
🗓️ Open daily 9:30am–5pm
💵 $$ admission (~$40 adult, ~$30 child)
Ty Warner Sea Center
Santa Barbara · Aquarium
Small hands-on aquarium on Stearns Wharf, run by the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History, with touch tanks and tide-pool critters. Quick and inexpensive; combine with a walk on the wharf.
🗓️ Open daily 10am–5pm
💵 $ admission (~$8 adult, ~$5 child)
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Frequently asked questions
What's the best zoo or aquarium in Southern California for families?
The San Diego Zoo and San Diego Zoo Safari Park are the world-famous big-day options; the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach is the most central for OC and LA families. For younger kids, smaller spots like Birch Aquarium (La Jolla), the Santa Barbara Zoo, the OC Zoo and the Living Coast Discovery Center are calmer and more affordable. Use the finder to see what's closest.
Are there any free aquariums in SoCal?
Yes — the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium in San Pedro and the Roundhouse Aquarium at the end of the Manhattan Beach Pier are both free (with a suggested donation), making them great low-cost outings. Filter to free-only above.
Which zoo is best for toddlers?
Small, walkable, kid-scaled zoos are easiest with toddlers: the Santa Ana Zoo (with a children's farm), the OC Zoo at Irvine Regional Park, the Santa Barbara Zoo, and the Wildlife Learning Center in Sylmar. They're affordable and you can see everything without exhausting little legs.
Should I buy zoo tickets online in advance?
Usually yes — the big parks (San Diego Zoo, Safari Park, SeaWorld, the LA Zoo) use timed/dynamic pricing, and buying dated tickets online ahead of time is typically cheaper and skips the entry line. Prices change, so confirm on each official site.