Where is the San Diego Zoo Safari Park located

Address: 15500 San Pasqual Valley Rd, Escondido, CA 92027, United States | Find on Maps

San Diego Zoo Safari Park is in Escondido, which is a city in San Diego County, California. It’s approximately a 40-minute to 1 hr drive from downtown San Diego. The Park has a number of habitats from different regions of the world with over 300 species of wildlife for you to explore and see.

Getting there by public transport

By bus

While public bus service to the Safari Park exists, options are limited, especially on weekends and holidays.

Travelers starting in downtown San Diego can take an MTS Express bus (routes 235, 280, or 290) to the Escondido Transit Center.
From there, you can board the NCTD FLEX 371 bus, which provides direct service to the Safari Park.

However, note that FLEX 371 does not operate on weekends and stops at the Safari Park’s outside gate, a short walk from the entrance. Due to its limited schedule, taking a taxi or rideshare from the Escondido Transit Center to the Safari Park becomes a more convenient option.

By rail

Amtrak’s rail service starts from Los Angeles to downtown San Diego, with a stop at Oceanside where you can exit.
From Oceanside, transfer to the Sprinter rail, which will take you to the Escondido Transit Center in downtown Escondido.
From there, it’s a short 7-mile ride to the Safari Park, easily accessible by taxi or rideshare services.

Getting there by car

If you’re traveling by car, the directions below will guide you to the San Diego Zoo Safari Park based on your starting point:

From the North (Southbound):

From Orange County/Los Angeles: Travel south on Interstate 5, then exit onto State Route 78 East at Oceanside. Continue east to Interstate 15 South and take Exit 27 (Via Rancho Parkway). Follow the signs east to the Safari Park.
From Riverside County: Take Interstate 15 South to Exit 27 (Via Rancho Parkway), then follow the signs leading to the park.

From the South (Northbound):

From downtown San Diego: Take State Route 163 North to Interstate 15 North. Exit at Via Rancho Parkway (Exit 27) and head east to the Safari Park.
From Mexico: Use Interstate 5 or 805 North to connect to State Route 163 North. Continue to Interstate 15 North and take Exit 27 (Via Rancho Parkway), then go east.

From the East (Westbound):

From Imperial County/Arizona: Drive west on Interstate 8, merge onto Interstate 15 North, and take Exit 27 (Via Rancho Parkway). Follow the signs east to the Safari Park.

The Safari Park has a paid parking area close to the entrance where you can park your vehicle before you enter. Overnight parking is not allowed at the Park. There are two charging stations available at different locations in the parking area for you to charge your EV if needed. There is also a designated parking area for those with disabilities. The parking is available on a first come first serve basis, and the parking ticket doesn’t come with a re-entry access.

The parking rates for the San Diego Zoo Safari Park are: