Planning a family trip in June with the kids (5, 8, and 11). Never been to the SD Zoo and wondering if it's worth the drive from Phoenix and the premium ticket prices. Is it better than Phoenix Zoo? Any tips for going with three different ages? Should we do the whole day or split it up?
The price is steep but honestly the exhibits are top tier and it kept my 8 and 11-year-old entertained all day. No bored complaints which is rare. Do it while they're still young enough to enjoy it.
San Diego Zoo is legit one of the best in the country. June is smart timing. Just eat at the cafes there, the outside food situation isn't great.
June weather will be perfect there. Not too hot like August. Only heads up is parking fills up fast on weekends so get there early. We went mid-week and it was way less crowded.
Your 5-year-old might struggle with the walking depending on your kid. It's a lot of hills and the zoo is spread out. We rented a stroller for my 6-year-old and didn't regret it even though she could walk.
Build in a rest break in the afternoon or the 5-year-old will melt down. We didn't and it was rough the last hour.
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Totally worth it if you make a full day of it. The SD Zoo is massive though so with kids that ages you probably need at least 6-7 hours. The pandas are the draw for most families.