San Diego Zoo Home Location and Directions


The San Diego Zoo is located in Balboa Park, near downtown San Diego. The Wild Animal Park is located approximately 35 miles north of the Zoo, near the city of Escondido. (Map not to scale)

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The San Diego Zoo is located at 2920 Zoo Drive in Balboa Park, just north of downtown San Diego. Our mailing address is P.O. Box 120551, San Diego, CA 92112-0551. For general information call (619) 234-3153.

Directions from the NORTH (southbound): From Interstate 5 (Los Angeles and Orange County), take the Pershing Drive exit and follow the signs. From Interstate 15 (Escondido and Riverside), take State Route 163 south to the Park Blvd./I-5 South exit. Exit at Park Blvd. Turn left on Park Blvd. and head north; Zoo entrance is off Park Blvd. at Zoo Place.

Directions from the SOUTH (northbound): From Interstate 5 (Mexico), take the State Route 163 north exit, then the Zoo/Museums (Richmond Street) exit and follow the signs.

Directions from the EAST (westbound): From Interstate 8 (Imperial County and Arizona), take State Route 163 south to the Park Blvd./I-5 South exit. Exit at Park Blvd. Turn left on Park Blvd. and head north; Zoo entrance is off Park Blvd at Zoo Place. From State Route 94, proceed into downtown San Diego to 12th Avenue. Turn right on 12th Avenue (which turns into Park Blvd.) and proceed north. Zoo entrance is off Park Blvd at Zoo Place.

Public Transportation
The San Diego Zoo is easily accessible by public transportation. For information please call (800) COMMUTE (1-800-266-6883) or visit www.sdcommute.com.

By Bus
The Zoo is on the #7 bus line, which runs between downtown San Diego and East San Diego and La Mesa.

From downtown: Take any outbound #7 bus. The bus will travel north on Park Blvd. to a stop at Zoo Place.

From East San Diego and La Mesa: Take any inbound (Downtown) #7 bus. The bus will travel west on University Avenue and turn south onto Park Blvd. to a stop at Zoo Place.

From inland North County: Ask for the Express Bus when calling (800) COMMUTE (1-800-266-6883).

By Trolley
From areas in the central, east, and south counties, the fastest way to get to the Zoo is to take any of the trolley lines (orange, blue, or green) into downtown San Diego. Get off at the City College stop (12th Ave. and C St.) Transfer to the outbound #7 bus just around the corner at 11th and C. It will take you to the Zoo stop at Zoo Place. Your trolley ticket will cover your bus fare.

By Train
From coastal North County: take the Coaster to the downtown Santa Fe train station, transfer to the Trolley, and proceed to the City College stop (12th Ave. and C St.). Get off at the City College stop and transfer to the outbound #7 bus just around the corner at 11th and C. It will take you to the Zoo stop at Zoo Place. Your trolley ticket will cover your bus fare.