How to Stretch Your Family’s Budget During San Diego’s Free-for-Kids Month, From the Zoo and SeaWorld to Balboa Park Museums
Kids Free San Diego returns for its 15th year during the month of October. All month long, kids 12 and under eat, stay and play for free in San Diego. The program runs Oct. 1–31, 2026. It includes more than 100 offers countywide, from theme parks and harbor cruises to kayak rentals and waffle breakfasts.
More than 60 San Diego County museums participate through printable coupons. Meanwhile hotel, restaurant and attraction deals vary throughout San Diego County. The Museum Council’s roster now covers 70-plus regional venues across San Diego and Tijuana. Consider this your playbook for sorting through the best deals, ranked by value, with the age limits and fine print you need to make the most of every free October day.
Three Rules Before You Book Anything
Kids Free San Diego is simple in theory, but each venue writes its own rules. Three restrictions cause most of the problems at the gate, so study them before you book.
First, the word “kid” means something different at almost every venue, and it’s the most common source of confusion. The Zoo stops at 11, while Sesame Place covers only ages 3 to 9. Most museums go up to 12, and The New Children’s Museum stretches all the way to 17.
Even when your kids qualify, the adult ticket has to qualify, too. Sightseeing passes usually don’t count as the paid adult admission. The Museum Council’s terms say Balboa Park Explorer Passes, CityPASS and Go San Diego passes are not valid for this promotion, and most museum coupons repeat that language. The Zoo and Safari Park are the big exception: there, a sightseeing pass does count.
Finally, coupons don’t stack. You can’t combine most offers with any other discount, and that includes online sale prices. Because you can’t layer the two, a regular sale ticket sometimes costs less than the Kids Free bundle, so compare both before you buy.
Theme Parks and Big-Ticket Attractions
1. Six Free Kids, Two Wild Parks and a Glowing Halloween
The San Diego Zoo’s Kids Free October deal delivers the program’s biggest savings. Each adult with valid admission can bring up to six children ages 11 and under at no charge, a potential $408 value per visit. Kids don’t need a ticket. Their free entry at the Zoo even includes the Guided Bus Tour and the Skyfari Aerial Tram (subject to availability). The same offer applies at the Safari Park, where free entry includes the Africa Tram (subject to availability).
Go on a weekend evening if you can. HalGLOWeen activities start at 5 p.m. on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, Oct. 3-31, and the Zoo stays open until 9 p.m. those nights. Free kids’ admission covers the event.
San Diego Zoo
2920 Zoo Dr
San Diego, CA 92101
619.231.1515
Check calendar for hours
San Diego Zoo Safari Park
15500 San Pasqual Valley Rd
Escondido, CA 92027
619.231.1515
Check calendar for hours
2. Sharks, Coasters and a Baby Shark Halloween
If your crew wants roller coasters and marine life on the same day, SeaWorld delivers. On SeaWorld’s offer page, the Kids Free adult ticket is $99.99, down from $130.99, and each one comes with a free one-day ticket for a child ages 2 to 9, also valued at $130.99. Kids 10 and older need an adult ticket. Both tickets are good any day through Nov. 1.
October visits land during Halloween Spooktacular, held Fridays through Sundays from Sept. 11 to Nov. 1. This year adds a new Baby Shark Halloween show (reserved seating is an optional $9.99 add-on), plus trick-or-treating and character meet-and-greets. Bring a reusable bag for the Candy Trail, which runs 4-7 p.m. on Fridays and 1-7 p.m. on weekends. Save Howl-O-Scream for the teens: the nighttime event is separately ticketed and not recommended for kids under 13.
SeaWorld San Diego
500 SeaWorld Dr
San Diego, CA 92109
619.222.4732
Check calendar for hours
3. Sunny Days in Chula Vista
For preschoolers and early-elementary kids, Sesame Place uses the same format as SeaWorld. An adult ticket costs $94.99, and the free child ticket is valued at $100.99. Kids’ tickets are valid for guests ages 3 to 9, and children under 3 are always free. Both tickets are good through Nov. 1.
The Count’s Halloween Spooktacular returns on select dates Sept. 12 to Nov. 1, 2026, and it’s included with admission. Check the operating calendar before you commit, because the park moves to a fall schedule and is only open weekends in October.
Sesame Place San Diego
2052 Entertainment Cir
Chula Vista, CA 91911
619.943.3566
Check calendar for hours
4. Brick by Brick Savings
Families with kids of different ages will appreciate the savings and excitement at LEGOLAND California in Carlsbad, where the free-ticket age range runs from 2 to 12. The park’s Kids Go Free offer includes a free one-day child ticket with the purchase of a full-price ($139) adult one-day ticket, good for visits through Dec. 25. Upgrade both to a Resort Hopper, which adds the LEGOLAND Water Park, for $169.
Before you buy, check LEGOLAND’s regular online sale, which can beat the Kids Free price. Through Nov. 1, one-day adult tickets start at $69 and child tickets start at $39, so the same pair could cost as little as $108, depending on the date. Either way, admission includes free entry to SEA LIFE Aquarium and access to LEGO Galaxy, the park’s new space-themed land and home to Galacticoaster, an indoor family roller coaster. Brick or Treat runs on select dates through Nov. 1, with candy, shows and LEGO monster characters.
LEGOLAND California Resort
One Legoland Dr
Carlsbad, CA 92008
760.918.5346
Check schedule for hours
5. Giant Dipper, Tiny Price
Entry to Belmont Park is always free, and in October the rides get cheaper, too. Use promo code KIDSFREE online or at checkout to get one free wristband with each adult wristband all month long. Children must be 12 or younger and must be present to redeem, and height restrictions apply on some rides. The offer can’t be combined with other discounts. Plan a Sunday beach day around it, since the park’s Beachside Fall Fest offers free trick-or-treating every Sunday in October.
Belmont Park
3146 Mission Blvd
San Diego, CA 92109
858.488.1549
Check calendar for hours
The Balboa Park Day (Your Best Single-Day Itinerary)
Balboa Park puts more of the program’s museums within walking distance of one another, so one parking spot can cover a full day. Lots are paid through the end of 2026, with discounts for City of San Diego residents. Before you go, download a coupon from the San Diego Museum Council for each museum you plan to visit, since each one requires its own. Plan for one or two free kids per adult, depending on the museum.
6. Science Under the Dome
Start your Balboa Park morning at Fleet Science Center, where hands-on exhibits keep kids busy for hours. One child (12 and under) gets free admission with one full-price paid adult and a valid Kids Free coupon, a $24.95 value. General admission includes one documentary in the Heikoff Giant Dome Theater, home to the largest IMAX screen in San Diego, plus the Space Gallery, Studio X, Kid City and pop-up science demos.
Fleet Science Center
1875 El Prado
San Diego, CA 92101
619.238.1233
Daily, 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
7. Fossils Before Lunch
A short walk across the plaza brings you to the oldest scientific institution in Southern California: San Diego Natural History Museum. Up to two children 12 and under get free general admission with one paid adult. Read the exclusions first. The coupon can’t be used for specially ticketed events, Nat at Night, special exhibitions, field trips or group visits.
On select Saturdays, look for the Nature Studio, a pop-up maker space held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. It’s free with admission, so check The Nat’s calendar for dates.
San Diego Natural History Museum (The Nat)
1788 El Prado
San Diego, CA 92101
619.232.3821
Daily, 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
Round out the Afternoon
8. Ready for Liftoff
Aviation-minded kids get a whole museum of aircraft at the San Diego Air & Space Museum. Up to two children 12 and under get in free with each full-price adult ticket and a Kids Free coupon, saving at least $22 per child. Senior tickets don’t qualify. The collection includes the actual Apollo 9 Command Module and a flying replica of Charles Lindbergh’s “Spirit of St. Louis.”
San Diego Air & Space Museum
2001 Pan American Plaza
San Diego, CA 92101
619.234.8291
Daily, 10 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
9. The Story of Us
For a change of pace, step inside the Museum of Us, one of Balboa Park’s most recognizable landmarks. This anthropology museum fills the historic California Quadrangle, beneath the California Tower. Its exhibits explore the stories and experiences that connect people across time and culture. The museum’s Kids Free coupon covers kids 5 and under, who always get in free with an adult. For older kids, time your visit for Tuesday, Oct. 27, a Residents Free Day for city and county of San Diego residents and active military families. On other days, a paid ticket includes free admission for a year.
Museum of Us
1350 El Prado
San Diego, CA 92101
619.239.2001
Daily, 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
10. Koi Ponds and Quiet Paths
The Japanese Friendship Garden & Museum lets you end the day somewhere calm. Winding paths lead past waterfalls, a bonsai exhibit and two koi ponds, and kids tend to love the fish. With a Kids Free coupon, up to two children 12 and under get in free with each full-price adult ticket, and children 6 and under are free year-round. Check the garden’s early closures before you go.
Japanese Friendship Garden & Museum
2215 Pan American Rd E
San Diego, CA 92101
619.232.2721
Daily, 10 a.m.–6 p.m. (last entry at 5 p.m.)
11. Penguins, Seadragons and Tide Pools
For an ocean day that doesn’t require a boat, head up the coast to Birch Aquarium at Scripps in La Jolla. One child 12 and under gets in free with each full-price adult ticket, with a limit of six free kids per order. Tickets must be purchased online in advance with code KIDSFREE26. Kids Free tickets can’t be combined with other discounts or used for Halloween Aglow. Families can see the Beyster Family Little Blue Penguins, the only place on the West Coast to see the world’s smallest penguins, and get hands-on at Tide Pool Plaza.
Birch Aquarium at Scripps
2300 Expedition Way
La Jolla, CA 92037
858.534.3474
Check schedule for hours
The Waterfront Day
12. Tall Ships and a Splash Pad
Climb aboard history at the Maritime Museum of San Diego, where one child under 12 gets in free with each paid adult ticket and a Kids Free coupon. Kids can explore the Star of India, the world’s oldest active sailing ship, along with the “Master and Commander” frigate replica HMS Surprise, the 16th-century galleon replica San Salvador and the Navy submarine USS Dolphin. When they need to cool off, the splash pad at Waterfront Park is right across the street.
Maritime Museum of San Diego
1492 N Harbor Dr
San Diego, CA 92101
619.234.9153
Daily, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. (last entry at 4 p.m.)
13. Flight Deck Family Day
Pair the historic ships with an aircraft carrier for a full day at the USS Midway Museum. Up to two children 12 and under get in free with one full-price paid adult and a coupon, or use code KidsFree when buying online. On the flight deck, kids can climb into helicopters and fighter-jet cockpits among 29 restored aircraft, then earn Junior Pilot Wings on a family audio tour. Families with SNAP benefits can also get $5 daytime admission year-round through Museums for All.
USS Midway Museum
910 N Harbor Dr
San Diego, CA 92101
619.544.9600
Daily, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. (last entry at 4 p.m.)
14. Venice by Way of Coronado
For your prettiest photo set, book a tour with The Gondola Company. Families glide in a private gondola through the canals of the Coronado Cays, and up to four kids 12 and under ride free with a paid cruise. Booking takes an extra step. Reserve online for two passengers, then reply to the confirmation email to say how many kids will be joining you. You can also book by phone.
The Gondola Company
503 Grand Caribe Causeway, Ste C
Coronado, CA 92118
619.429.6317
Check calendar for departures
15. Climb, Slide and Create
A few blocks from the waterfront, downtown’s art-focused children’s museum is built for climbing, sliding and making things. For Kids Free October, one youth 17 and under gets in free with one full-price paid adult every Wednesday and Thursday throughout the month. Military, senior and other discounted tickets don’t qualify. Highlights include Woodswoman: Earthseed, where kids climb inside giant acorn spaceships, and El Más Allá, a colorful lower level with a 40-foot slide.
The New Children’s Museum
200 W Island Ave
San Diego, CA 92101
619.233.8792
M & W–Su, 9 a.m.–4 p.m.
On-the-Water Add-Ons
16. Late-Season Giants
Whale watching in late October gets overlooked because many families assume the season hasn’t started. San Diego Whale Watch’s species guide lists blue whales from June through October, along with year-round humpbacks, fin whales and common dolphins, and if you don’t spot any whales or dolphins, your next trip is free. The Kids Free offer also runs past October here. One child 12 and under sails free with every full-fare adult ticket from Oct. 1 through Nov. 15, and the adult ticket can’t be a discounted one.
San Diego Whale Watch
1617 Quivira Rd
San Diego, CA 92109
619.542.9931
Check calendar for departures
17. Rods Up in Point Loma
For kids who’d rather reel something in, a half-day sportfishing trip with H&M Landing is the ocean-going option. One child 15 or younger fishes free with each paying parent or guardian on the Premier’s open party half-day trips. Apply code KIDSGOFREE2026 when you book. Rod rental, tackle and adult fishing licenses are extra. Kids under 16 don’t need one in California.
H&M Landing
2803 Emerson St
San Diego, CA 92106
619.222.1144
Check schedule for departures
18. Lakeside Lines
For the easiest freshwater option, head to Lake Jennings in East County. No coupon or discount code is required. Just mention “San Diego Tourism Authority: Kids Fish Free” at the Bait & Tackle Shop or Campground Kiosk, and each young angler 12 and under gets a free one-day fishing permit, limited to one permit per child. The Bait & Tackle Shop, boat rentals and the fishing dock are open Friday through Sunday. On weekdays, redeem at the campground kiosk (10108 Bass Rd) and fish from the shoreline below the campground.
Lake Jennings
9535 Harritt Rd
Lakeside, CA 92040
619.443.2510
Check website for hours
Eat and Stay
19. Bayfront Credit Where It’s Due
Families who want savings on the room itself, not just kids’ extras, should start at San Diego Mission Bay Resort, since this offer combines the two. Book with promo code KIDSFREE26 for up to 15% off. Stays of two nights or more receive a $50 daily resort credit, and kids get a welcome amenity. The offer is valid for stays Oct. 1-31.
San Diego Mission Bay Resort
1775 E Mission Bay Dr
San Diego, CA 92109
619.677.1161
20. Paddle, Then Dinner
On the Pacific Beach side of Mission Bay, Catamaran Resort Hotel and Spa pairs a day on the water with a free meal for kids 12 and under. With this deal, overnight guests get one free kids’-menu entree with each regularly priced adult entree at Oceana Coastal Kitchen. They also get a free kids’ paddleboard or kayak rental with each adult rental of one hour or more from Action Sport Rentals. Both perks are limited to two per visit, and reservations are recommended.
Catamaran Resort Hotel and Spa
3999 Mission Blvd
San Diego, CA 92109
858.488.1081
21. Pizza, Paddleboards and Mission Bay
Bahia Resort Hotel, the Catamaran’s sister resort, offers the same deal for overnight guests with different on-site restaurants. Kids 12 and under get a free kids’-menu entree with each regularly priced adult entree at Dockside 1953 or Bianchi Pizza and Pasta, plus a free paddleboard or kayak rental with each adult rental of an hour or more. Both perks are limited to two per visit.
Bahia Resort Hotel
998 W Mission Bay Dr
San Diego, CA 92109
858.488.0551
22. Waffles Fit for a King
At Kings Inn in Mission Valley, families get the royal treatment at the on-site Waffle Spot all month. Kids 10 and under get a free breakfast, lunch or dinner with a paying adult, and each paying adult covers up to two kids’ meals. The offer is dine-in only. Show the digital coupon from Kings Inn’s Kids Free page to your server. Staying over? Book with code KIDSFREE to save up to 25% on your room.
Kings Inn
1333 Hotel Cir S
San Diego, CA 92108
619.297.2231
Waffle Spot: Daily, 7 a.m.–9 p.m.
23. Beach Cruisers and Slushies
Steps from the Pacific Beach boardwalk, Ocean Park Inn serves a complimentary hot breakfast and welcomes every kid who checks in this October with a kids’ cup and free slushie, a reusable tote and stickers, plus half-off slushie refills all stay. The Park, Stay and Play package adds a waived parking fee, 15% off the standard rate and two beach cruiser rentals for two hours. In October, it also includes two free kids’ bike rentals. The package requires a two-night minimum and is valid for new reservations only. On Fridays, the pool deck hosts Sunset Socials from 4 to 6 p.m., with live music and kids’ crafts.
Ocean Park Inn
710 Grand Ave
San Diego, CA 92109
858.483.5858
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: When is Kids Free San Diego 2026?
A: The program runs Oct. 1 through 31, 2026, and most offers are valid every day of the month. A few run longer. SeaWorld and Sesame Place Kids Free tickets can be used through Nov. 1, San Diego Whale Watch’s offer continues through Nov. 15, and LEGOLAND’s Kids Go Free tickets are good for visits through Dec. 25.
Q: What age counts as a “kid”?
A: It depends on the venue, so check each listing before you go. Most museums cover kids 12 and under. The San Diego Zoo and Safari Park cover kids 11 and under, SeaWorld covers ages 2 to 9 and Sesame Place covers ages 3 to 9. LEGOLAND lists ages 2 to 12. H&M Landing’s fishing deal covers kids 15 and under, and the New Children’s Museum covers youth 17 and under on Wednesdays and Thursdays.
Q: How many kids can get in free with one adult?
A: Most offers allow one or two free kids per paid adult. The Gondola Company allows up to four. The San Diego Zoo and Safari Park are the most generous, admitting up to six kids 11 and under with each adult who has valid admission.
Q: Do I need a coupon or promo code?
A: It depends on the venue. For museums, download each museum’s coupon from the San Diego Museum Council’s Kids Free page. SeaWorld, Sesame Place and LEGOLAND sell their Kids Free tickets online. Many hotels and tours use promo codes, and USS Midway buyers can enter KidsFree when purchasing online. The Zoo and Safari Park need no coupon or code at all.
Q: Where can I find the full list of offers?
A: All hotel, restaurant and attraction deals are listed at sandiego.org/c/kids-free. Museum coupons are at sandiegomuseumcouncil.org/specials/kidsfree.
