Birch Aquarium Hours, Tickets, Exhibits and Parking Guide
Birch Aquarium at Scripps opens every day at 9 a.m., with closing times that shift by season (last entry is one hour before close). Adult tickets cost $34.95 online or $39.95 at the door, children 3 to 12 pay $29.95 online or $34.95 walk-up, and parking in the aquarium lot is free for three hours. It sits on a hill above La Jolla Shores as the public aquarium of UC San Diego’s Scripps Institution of Oceanography.
Birch Aquarium at a glance
| Details | |
|---|---|
| Address | 2300 Expedition Way, La Jolla, CA 92037 |
| Hours | Daily from 9 a.m.; closing time varies by season; last entry 1 hour before close |
| Closed | Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s Day |
| Adult (13+) | $34.95 online / $39.95 walk-up |
| Child (3–12) | $29.95 online / $34.95 walk-up |
| Under 3 | Free |
| Parking | Free for up to 3 hours in the aquarium lot |
| Phone | (858) 534-3474 |
All details above come from the aquarium’s official visit page. On the day this guide was updated, the aquarium was open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Tickets and how to save
Buying online is the simplest saving: $5 off each ticket at standard prices, and the aquarium says online buyers can save up to $20 on select dates and times. Tickets are timed, so pick an entry window.
The aquarium’s discounts page lists these offers (discounts cannot be combined):
- Military: $3 off general admission with code MILITARY and a current military ID.
- Seniors 62+: $3 off adult tickets with code SENIOR.
- UC San Diego students: $6 off adult admission with code UCSDSTUDENT and a student ID.
- EBT or California WIC cardholders: $3 admission for up to four people through Museums for All.
- Groups of 10+: $31.95 per adult and $26.95 per child, applied automatically in the cart.
- CityPASS and Go City: both include Birch Aquarium. Exchange your pass at the front ticket booth on arrival.
The aquarium also runs seasonal promotions, such as Kids Free October and offers during San Diego Museum Month, so check the page close to your visit.
Membership
Members skip reservations and just show a card and photo ID at the gate. If you decide on the day that you will be back, the value of a ticket used within the past seven days can be applied toward a membership.
What you will see
The Living Seas Gallery
The biggest change in years: the old Hall of Fishes closed in September 2024 and was replaced by the Adam R. Scripps Living Seas Gallery, which opened in 2025. Its 38 habitats follow the Pacific from the cold waters of the Pacific Northwest and California coast to tropical reefs. Highlights include a giant Pacific octopus, a coral reef, a rescued loggerhead sea turtle and the towering kelp forest, the aquarium’s largest habitat at about 70,000 gallons.
Exhibits inside and around the gallery include:
- Beyster Family Little Blue Penguins: a colony of little blue penguins, and usually the first stop for kids.
- Seadragons and Seahorses: delicate, camouflaged relatives that are easy to miss until you spot one moving.
- Sharks and Rays: with a scheduled feeding most days. When this guide was updated, the daily schedule listed it at 12:30 p.m.
- Oarfish, Blue Beach and Riveropolis: smaller exhibits worth a look as you move through the gallery.
- Imagine Wild: Mountain Yellow-legged Frog: a conservation-focused exhibit on this mountain frog.
- The Axolotl’s Garden (El Jardín del Ajolote): the newest exhibit, focused on the endangered axolotl and other species from Mexico and Baja California.
Tide Pool Plaza and the view
Outside, Tide Pool Plaza has living tide pools where you can touch sea stars, anemones and other animals with docents nearby. The terrace looks down over La Jolla Shores and the Scripps Pier, and on a clear day it is one of the best free viewpoints in La Jolla.
Garibaldi: the fish to look for
You will see bright orange garibaldi in the kelp forest. They are California’s state marine fish and fully protected, so they cannot be taken from the wild. Kids tend to like a few facts from the National Park Service:
- Young garibaldi are a deeper orange than adults and covered in sparkly blue spots.
- Males pick a spot on the reef, clean it, and “garden” a patch of short red algae as a nest.
- After eggs are laid, the male guards them alone and chases off everything, even the mother.
- Adults eat small invertebrates like worms, sponges, crabs and sea stars.
Programs, tours and events
- Tidepooling Adventure: a 90-minute guided trip to Scripps Beach or Kellogg Park on select weekends through December 2026. It costs $25 ($20 for members), does not include aquarium admission, is for ages 6 and up, and must be booked ahead.
- Behind-the-Scenes: Seahorse and Sunset Scripps Pier Walk: smaller-group experiences listed on the events page. Check there for dates and prices.
- Oceans at Night: adults-only (21+) evenings with drinks, music and science. The Halloween edition ran October 22, 2026, at $59.95.
- Halloween: the old “Haunted Aquarium” has been retired as a name. The family-friendly evening event introduced in 2024 was Halloween Aglow, with live music, trick-or-treat stations and a costume contest. Look for next year’s dates on the events page in late summer.
Getting there and parking
The aquarium is on the UC San Diego Scripps campus, on the hill above La Jolla Shores.
- Driving: Free parking for up to three hours in the aquarium lot. It is small and fills on busy days. Buses, RVs and trailers are not allowed; public parking along La Jolla Shores Drive may work instead.
- Accessible parking: Designated spaces plus a curbside drop-off in the traffic circle by the entrance.
- Bus: MTS Route 30 stops at La Jolla Shores Drive and Discovery Way, about 0.3 miles from the entrance. NCTD Route 101 stops at Expedition Way, about a 15-minute walk.
Tips for a better visit
- Go after 3 p.m. The aquarium says 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. is the busiest stretch, and late afternoon is quieter. Just watch last entry.
- Plan on a couple of hours. That covers the gallery, the penguins and time on the terrace without rushing.
- Snacks are allowed. You can bring your own, or eat at the on-site Blue Wave Bistro.
- It is easy for wheelchairs and strollers. The aquarium is mostly on one level with ramps, wheelchairs can be borrowed at Guest Services (first come, first served), and it is certified sensory inclusive by KultureCity.
- Combine with the coast. Drive or walk down to La Jolla Shores afterward for the beach or the walk south toward the Cove.
When to visit
The aquarium is an all-year stop, and it is especially useful on the gray, cool mornings common along the coast, when the beach below is less inviting. Weekends and school holidays bring the biggest crowds, so a weekday afternoon is the calmest option. If you want to pair the visit with tidepooling on the rocks below, check tide predictions and aim for a low tide, then visit the galleries before or after.
Who it suits
Birch is smaller and calmer than a big theme-park aquarium, which makes it a good fit for families with younger kids, visitors interested in real ocean science, and anyone who wants an indoor option on a gray La Jolla morning. If you want shows and rides, SeaWorld is the bigger day out.
Nearby pairings
- Walk the coastline from La Jolla Shores to the Cove and the sea caves with our La Jolla coastal walk guide.
- Head into the Village for lunch, shopping and MCASD with our downtown La Jolla guide.
- For a cliffside hike a few minutes north, see our Torrey Pines guide and check current trail status first.
Frequently asked questions
What are Birch Aquarium's hours?
Birch Aquarium opens daily at 9 a.m. Closing time changes with the season (5 p.m. on a typical November day), and last entry is one hour before closing. It is closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day. Check the aquarium's daily schedule for the exact closing time.
How much are Birch Aquarium tickets?
Online tickets are $34.95 for adults (13+) and $29.95 for children 3 to 12. Walk-up prices are $39.95 and $34.95. Children under 3 are free. Groups of 10 or more pay $31.95 per adult and $26.95 per child.
Is parking free at Birch Aquarium?
Yes, for up to three hours in the aquarium's own lot at 2300 Expedition Way. Spaces are limited, so carpooling helps. Buses, RVs and trailers cannot use the lot; public parking along La Jolla Shores Drive is the fallback.
Does Birch Aquarium have tide pools?
Yes. Tide Pool Plaza, on the outdoor terrace overlooking La Jolla Shores, has living tide pools where you can touch animals with guidance from staff. For real rocky shores, the aquarium also runs a 90-minute guided Tidepooling Adventure ($25, members $20) on select weekends through December 2026.
Does Birch Aquarium still do the Haunted Aquarium for Halloween?
The Haunted Aquarium name is no longer used. Recent Halloween programming has included Halloween Aglow, a family evening event first held in 2024, and Oceans at Night: Halloween, a 21+ night held on October 22, 2026. Check the aquarium's events page each fall for the current lineup.
What are some garibaldi fish facts for kids?
The bright orange garibaldi is California's state marine fish and is fully protected, so it is illegal to take one from the wild. Young garibaldi are deeper orange with sparkly blue spots. Males clean and guard a nest on the reef and chase away anything that gets close, even the mother fish.
Hours, prices and event dates change. Confirm with the venue or organizer before you go.
