About

Balboa Park Explorer Passes

The Balboa Park Explorer Pass is your ticket to some of the best museums San Diego has to offer. There are many options to choose from to make your visit memorable. Learn more about the available Pass options below.

Happy Exploring!

Questions?

We’re available seven (7) days a week, from 9:00 am – 4:30 pm, with the exception of certain holidays. Join us on LiveChat or email us at explorer@balboapark.org. We will respond promptly during business hours.

Balboa Park Explorer Annual Pass

The Balboa Park Explorer Annual Pass lets you decide what you want to explore and when you want to explore it for 365 days!

The Balboa Park Explorer Annual Pass provides general admission to 16 participating venues in Balboa Park for 365 days from the date of purchase. As an Annual Passholder, not only do you save annually on regular admission to Balboa Park venues, you also receive exclusive offers and discounts!

  • Unlimited general admission to amazing museums at Balboa Park and more!
  • Complimentary or discounted admission to select special events and special exhibitions.
  • Explorer Experiences – exclusive events, behind-the-scenes access, tours, and more.
  • Special prices for tickets to the Fleet Dome Theater for IMAX documentary films and the California Tower Tour at the Museum of Us! Plus discounted tickets at the Marston House Museum and 10% off purchases at the United Nations Gift Shop.
  • Exclusive Explorer monthly newsletters.
  • The knowledge that you’re supporting the arts and culture organizations you love most!

The perfect Pass for you can be discovered below:

Family – $229 (up to any 2 named adults and up to any 4 named children, ages 3-17)

Adults (age 18+)  – $129

Senior (age 65+) – $99

College Student (w/ valid College/University ID) – $99

Youth (ages 3-17) – $99 *Coming online soon! Purchase over the phone today!

Looking for more ways to get the most out of the Annual Pass and make a positive impact? Consider the VIP Patron Pass!
The VIP Patron Pass ($1,500) provides unlimited access for up to 2 named adults and up to 3 unnamed guests per visit. VIP Patrons help make it possible for us to enhance our community outreach programs. Learn more about our community initiatives and the positive impact of the VIP Patron Pass on the Community page of our website. For more information, email us at explorer@balboapark.org. 

The Balboa Park Explorer Annual Pass is valid from the date of purchase. When ordering online, select “Print At Home” to receive your Temporary Explorer Pass. The Temporary Explorer Pass will allow access to all the venues for 7 consecutive days while your order is being processed. Your physical cards will arrive via mail within 3 – 7 business days.

Please Note: Children under the age of three (3) do not require a ticket to enter any of the participating venues. All individual Passholders must be named. Photo ID required for adults and students. General admission only. Not valid for certain events, special exhibitions, and programs.

*The Fleet’s Heikoff Giant Dome Theater will be temporarily closed from September 7 through the end of October 2023 for upgrades and enhancements. During this time IMAX documentary films will not be available at a special price of $9.95; major motion picture releases are not included. The Marston House Museum is available at a special price of $10 per adult and $5 per child under 12 years old. Special exhibition and film costs are determined by each individual venue.

Limited Pass

The Limited Pass provides one admission to your choice of up to four (4) participating venues. Pass is valid for one day only, on the day of first use. Includes one documentary film at the Fleet Science Center’s IMAX dome theater* (not valid between September 7 – end of October 2023). Once purchased, the Limited Pass will be sent to the email provided at check out.

Adult (age 12+) – $56

Youth (age 3-11) – $35

*The Fleet’s Heikoff Giant Dome Theater will be temporarily closed from September 7 through the end of October 2023 for upgrades and enhancements. During this time, the IMAX will not be included with Limited or Parkwide Pass. Major motion picture releases are not included.

Parkwide Pass

The Parkwide Pass provides one admission to each of the 16 participating venues. Pass is valid for seven (7) consecutive days, beginning with the day of first use. The Parkwide Pass does not provide re-entry across multiple days. Check with the venues for same-day re-entry privileges. Includes one documentary film at the Fleet Science Center’s IMAX dome theater* (not valid between September 7 – end of October 2023). Once purchased, the Parkwide Pass will be sent to the email provided at check out.

Adult (age 12+) – $67

Youth (age 3-11) – $43

*The Fleet’s Heikoff Giant Dome Theater will be temporarily closed from September 7 through the end of October 2023 for upgrades and enhancements. During this time, the IMAX will not be included with Limited or Parkwide Pass. Major motion picture releases are not included.

Group Sales

Discounts are available on the Limited and Parkwide Passes for groups of 15 or more. Group orders must be reserved at least 2 weeks in advance and paid in full one week prior to the group’s date of visit or pick up. Applicable late fees may apply. Chaperones are required for groups with youth. Contact us at groups@balboapark.org to plan your group visit today!

Limited Pass Group Rate

  • Adult (age 12+) – $49 (Retail price: $56)
  • Youth (age 3-11) – $29 (Retail price: $35)

Parkwide Pass Group Rate

  • Adult (age 12+) – $58 (Retail price: $67)
  • Youth (age 3-11) – $38 (Retail price: $43)

Participating Venues

We are proud to provide access to the following venues with the Balboa Park Explorer Pass:

Visit each venue’s website to see their hours of operation.

More Information & General Disclaimers

The Explorer Limited, Parkwide, and Annual Pass provide admission to 16 participating venues in Balboa Park. See the list in the Frequently Asked Question section (“What venues are included with the Balboa Park Explorer Pass?”).

Please Note: All individual Annual Passholders must be named. Children under the age of three (3) do not require a ticket to enter any of the participating venues. Not valid for events, special exhibitions, and programs. Special exhibitions and film costs are determined by each individual museum.

The Balboa Park Explorer Limited and Parkwide Pass must be used within one year of purchase.

All sales are final; non-refundable, and non-transferable. Passes are not for resale. All passes have no blackout dates. Passes must be used within one (1) year of purchase date and are not valid for select events, special exhibitions, and programs. The Explorer Limited, Parkwide, and Annual Passes do not provide admission to the San Diego Zoo, San Diego Zoo Safari Park, or Comic-Con Museum. Before visiting, please contact the participating venues or check their websites for more information on hours, closures, additional events, special exhibitions, and film costs.

Please read our FAQ page for more information.

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Funding Support provided by San Diego Commission for Arts and Culture

Participating Venues