San Diego Zoo Food Policy, Bags and What You Can Bring (2024)

There’s a lot to see and do at the San Diego Zoo, from exploring stunning exhibits to spotting rare and endangered animals. Knowing the zoo’s policies ahead of time can help make your visit to the zoo smooth and worry-free.

Whether you’re packing snacks, figuring out stroller rules or planning what to bring, this guide covers everything you need to know – from San Diego Zoo food and bag policies to pet rules and more.

San Diego Zoo Food Policy

when Visit the San Diego Zooan important detail to plan for is the food you will bring or buy.

Visitors have a variety of food and drink options, as well as specific guidelines on what to bring.

External Food and Beverage Policy

You can bring food to the San Diego Zoo! The San Diego Zoo’s food policy allows outside snacks and beverages. Not long ago, on a trip, I was told that because it is a non-profit organization, they do not have the resources to accommodate all dietary needs.

While popular dining spots like Albert’s Restaurant offer great food, you can bring your own food and eat whatever you want. It also saves time by avoiding waiting in lines or preparing food.

Like many theme parks, food can be expensive. Many zoo visitors bring their own lunch and enjoy snacks like ice cream at the Hua Mei Café (a personal favorite of mine).

You are also free to enjoy your own food at the picnic tables in front of the restaurant.

While picnic lunches are welcome, certain items are prohibited. For example, you can’t bring glass containers or straws. Paper straws and their packaging materials can be dangerous to animals if accidentally ingested.

Small coolers and containers

Many visitors bring food into the zoo in small coolers. Specifically, six-pack sized coolers or small Tupperware containers are acceptable if they can fit under the stroller.

A general guideline is that coolers and large food storage containers should be no larger than 12 inches by 12 inches. Coolers on wheels are not allowed.

alcohol policy

Visitors may bring non-alcoholic beverages. Craft beer and other alcoholic beverages are available for purchase at designated dining areas within the park. Outside alcohol is prohibited and the San Diego Zoo strictly enforces this policy to maintain a family-friendly environment.

You can grab a beer at Zoo Brew in Lost Forest and San Diego Craft Beer & Margaritas on Front Street.

Special dietary needs and restrictions

As previously stated, the San Diego Zoo’s food policy allows guests with dietary restrictions to bring personal food items to account for special dietary needs and food allergies.

Over the years, the Zoo Restaurant has gotten better and better at offering vegetarian and gluten-free options. But not every restaurant has these options.

However, if you have specific dietary questions about dining at the Zoo Restaurant, you can easily call their customer service or use the chatbot on their website to ask more specific questions.

Food and drink options at the San Diego Zoo

For those who don’t want to bring food, the dining options at the San Diego Zoo are actually pretty good. If food is important to you, plan your day around visiting an exhibit near the restaurant you want to visit. It’s not easy to walk through the zoo to get somewhere to eat.

Some dining options worth checking out include:

• Albert Restaurant (The Lost Woods): Best for a sit-down meal and fish tacos.
• San Diego Zoo Sandwich Company (Front Street): Near the entrance, convenient transportation
• Sabretooth Mexican Grill (Elephant Odyssey): I had really good tacos here recently.
• Huamei Cafe (Asia Channel): Ice cream and orange chicken.
• Sydney (Outback): BBQ

To learn more, check out our article San Diego Zoo Restaurants.

San Diego Water Bottle Policy

I always bring a standard size plastic water bottle or water bottle to the zoo. As mentioned before, do not bring glass as this is not allowed.

There are water fountains throughout the park, and you can ask for free ice and water at any restaurant. Of course, if the situation is urgent, you can also buy expensive bottled water.

San Diego Zoo Baggage Policy

Understanding the San Diego Zoo’s baggage policies means knowing the size restrictions and storage options for items you don’t want to bring with you.

Baggage dimensions and restrictions

Visitors can bring backpacks, handbags and satchels. These items are generally allowed as long as they meet standard size restrictions. Oversized luggage is not guaranteed entry, so plan accordingly.

Luggage and travel bag storage

For larger luggage or travel bags, the San Diego Zoo provides lockers for convenient storage. Locker fees are as follows:

• Small items: USD 10 per item
• Medium items: USD 12 each
• Bulky items: USD 15 each

San Diego Zoo Strollers and Carriages

Families visiting the San Diego Zoo have several options for managing their children’s transportation. You can bring your own pram or stroller, or choose from one of the pram rentals available on site.

Please note that stroller rentals near the entrance are on a first-come, first-served basis. For reference, here are current rental price:

• single stroller: $16
• double stroller: $20

While strollers and carriages are great for exploring the San Diego Zoo, they have restrictions on certain rides and attractions.

For safety reasons, these items are generally not allowed on trams, tour buses or certain exhibitions. They usually need to be secured in a designated area before engaging. For example, the Guided Bus Tour has stroller parking and starts and ends at the same location.

I rode this tram with my family and they had a pushchair which was very convenient.

San Diego Zoo Camera Policy

I always go to the zoo with a DSLR camera with a large zoom lens. Visitors are allowed to bring cameras for personal use, but professional equipment is restricted.

• tripod: Allowed but not obstructing roads or habitat.
• drone: Prohibited to ensure the safety of animals and guests.

If you want to capture an adventure, plan accordingly. Don’t be surprised if you occasionally see some media cameras with special permissions. You’ll see tripods in a lot of places during media days.

San Diego Zoo Pet Policy

While service animals are allowed, pets and emotional support animals are not.

service animals

San Diego Zoo follows ADA Guidelines For service animals. They are kept on leashes no longer than 6 feet and are allowed in most areas, keeping their distance from zoo animals.

Animal Daycare Services Near You

Since there is no kennel service at the zoo, travelers with pets can visit a nearby pet and emotional support animal day care facility.

Nearby pet-friendly hotels

For overnight accommodation, choose one of the many hotels Pet-friendly hotels Nearby downtown San Diego, including the Alma Hotel and pendry santiago.

You’ll also have easy access to San Diego International Airport and Santa Fe Station train station. (The only problem is, you usually can’t leave your pet alone at a hotel to go sightseeing.)

What you can’t bring to the San Diego Zoo

For safety and entertainment reasons, certain items are not allowed inside the San Diego Zoo. These include but are not limited to:

• smoking products
• Alcohol and illegal substances
• weapons and replicas
• destructive items (e.g. laser pointer, noise generator)
• Costumes

Plan your perfect day at the San Diego Zoo

With thoughtful preparation, you can ensure your trip to the San Diego Zoo is stress-free and memorable. Whether you’re packing a picnic, renting a stroller or visiting an exhibition, knowing the rules will help you focus on having fun. We have an entire article focusing on San Diego Zoo Tipsbut here are a few key points:

• The parking lot is large and there are free parking spaces. (I’ve never been unable to park.)
• You need a timed ticket to see the pandas.
• Get there early to see the animals when they are most active.
• We took a deep dive into how to get San Diego Zoo Discount Tickets.

Prioritize everyone’s safety and respect the Zoo’s wild animals Have a pleasant experience.

Ready to go? Visit the Zoo’s website for the latest information, download the San Diego Zoo app for maps and schedules, and get discounted admission. Don’t forget about sister park San Diego Zoo Safari Park, which has similar camera, food and bag policies.