Kids Free San Diego: October 2021!
One of the best things about fall in San Diego (besides getting back to normal post-tourist season!) is that the entire month of October is kids FREE month at over 100 places!! That means you can get out and enjoy some really fun activities you wouldn’t normally splurge on.
It started around 30 years ago when the San Diego Zoo began offering San Diego kids FREE admission for the entire month of October so they could celebrate the month it was founded.
And now, free kid’s month has grown to over 100 participating businesses.
** Free admission AGES VARY (some are up to age 9 or 11 and some include age 12) and must be accompanied by a paying adult. For that reason, please check age restrictions carefully to avoid surprises or disappointment.
You really won’t believe all of the places that participate. And some attractions even allow multiple kids free per paying adult. A steal!! (For instance, check out the generous offer from the Zoo and Safari Park.)
It’s truly a way to get out and have some family fun at San Diego’s best attractions without breaking the bank.
Who’s happy for fall?!
Kids all over San Diego are for sure!
Table of Contents
Popular San Diego attractions kids visit FREE in October
- LEGOLAND — ages 12 and under are free/1 kid per paid adult
- San Diego Zoo — ages 11 and under are free/5 kids per paid adult
- San Diego Zoo Safari Park — ages 11 and under are free/5 kids per paid adult
- SeaWorld San Diego — ages 9 and under are free/one free ticket per paid adult
- Birch Aquarium at Scripps
- Belmont Park
- Oceanside Adventures
- San Diego Speed Boat Adventures
- HandsOn San Diego
- Japanese Friendship Garden
- City Cruises
- Old Town Trolley
- San Diego Speed Boat Adventures
- San Diego Whale Watch
And more! This isn’t an exhaustive list. Here’s a link for more obscure but exciting things kids can do free around town.
FREE Balboa Park Museums for October
- Fleet Science Center
- Museum of Photographic Arts
- Japanese Friendship Garden
- San Diego Air and Space Museum
- San Diego Automotive Museum
- San Diego Model Railroad Museum (a fav of my husband’s!)
- San Diego Museum of Art
- San Diego Natural History Museum
- Mingei International Museum (art of the world/cultures/people … fascinating!)
- Timken Museum of Art (always free but worth the shout-out for its amazing contribution to fostering art appreciation)
Museums that are FREE for kids in October
- USS Midway Museum ** TWO kids free with paid adult (an amazing place to visit … on a giant aircraft carrier!)
- California Surf Museum
- J.A. Cooley Museum (for anyone who loves OLD cars, this is the place!)
- San Diego Botanic Garden
- Maritime Museum
- Living Coast Discovery Center
- Vision’s Art Museum
- The New Children’s Museum
- San Diego Archaeological Center
Here are additional San Diego attractions that are FREE for kids for the month of October.
Museums and attractions aren’t the only FREE October deals in San Diego.You’ll also find a variety of eating places and hotels that are in on the fun.
San Diego restaurants that are FREE for kids in October
- Samburgers Little Italy
- Maryjane’s (Hard Rock Hotel San Diego)
- Salt & Whiskey
- Hope 46
- Firefly Eatery
- Tin Roof
- Bunz Burgers
- Humphrey’s La Jolla Grill
- Carnitas Snack Shack
- Blue Wave Bar and Grill
- Galaxy Taco
- Casa Guadalajara
- The Waffle Spot (inside King’s Inn San Diego)
- The Amigo Spot family style Mexican (inside King’s Inn)
- Torreyana Grill
More free places for kids to eat in San Diego for October.
San Diego hotels/resorts and other freebies for kids in October
- Ocean Park Inn
- San Diego RV Resort
- Holiday Inn San Diego Bayside
- Best Western Mission Bay
- Kona Kai Resort and Spa
- Hotel Z
- Courtyard Downtown San Diego
- Glorietta Bay Inn
- Kings Inn
- Town and Country Resort
- Catamaran Resort Hotel and Spa
- Flagship Cruises
- Hornblower Cruises
Kids FREE San Diego in October is a way to save money and do fun things as a family.
Get out and enjoy all the cool sites and adventures that make San Diego special.
Make new memories by visiting some new places. Or go back to old favorites you haven’t been to in a while!
But most of all — HAVE FUN together!! You won’t regret it.
