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San Diego Botanic Garden

Part of North County Coast, our guide to the North County coast from Del Mar to Oceanside.

The San Diego Botanic Garden, at 300 Quail Gardens Drive in Encinitas, is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. six days a week and closed Tuesdays. Adults pay $20, youth 3 to 17 pay $12 and children under 3 are free. In October 2026, one youth is free with each full-price adult. Reservations are strongly recommended.Checked October 23, 2026.

$20adults
$12youth 3–17
ClosedTuesdays
Freekid with each adult, Oct 2026
A green lawn and garden beds with succulents at the San Diego Botanic Garden in Encinitas
The lawn garden at the San Diego Botanic Garden. cultivar413 from Fallbrook, California, CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons.
Address300 Quail Gardens Dr. (at Ecke Ranch Road), Encinitas, CA 92024. Phone (760) 436-3036.
HoursOpen six days a week, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Walk-up last ticket entry 4 p.m. Closed Tuesdays, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. Reservations strongly recommended; walk-in entry is not guaranteed.
AdmissionMember free; adult $20; military, senior (60+) and student $18; youth (3–17) $12; child under 3 free; Museums for All $1 per person (SNAP EBT or WIC with photo ID, daytime, in person, up to four).
Kids Free OctoberOctober 1 to 31, 2026: one free youth (under 18) with each full-price adult ticket.

For Kids

The garden lists youth and family activities, field trips and a children’s garden it describes as the West Coast’s largest. Its home page says its Lightscape holiday event is returning November 20; tickets and end date were not read.

What We Could Not Verify

  • Lightscape dates after November 20 and ticket prices were not read.
  • Specific kids program dates were not read.

More in North County Coast

FAQ

Is the garden free for kids in October?

In October 2026 the garden offers one free youth under 18 with each full-price adult ticket.

Sources

  1. San Diego Botanic Garden: hours and admission
  2. San Diego Botanic Garden

Checked October 23, 2026 by It’s San Diego. Cite this page: It’s San Diego (itssandiego.com), checked October 23, 2026. Free to quote with a link to this page; tables are licensed CC BY 4.0.