Birch Aquarium sits on a hill above La Jolla Shores, and it belongs to Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego. It is smaller than the big theme-park aquariums, which works in its favor: you can see the whole place in two or three hours, the exhibits stick close to the Pacific outside the window, and many of the people explaining things are connected to the research going on down the hill.
The aquarium houses more than 9,000 animals from over 400 species. In May 2025 it opened the Adam R. Scripps Living Seas Gallery, the biggest project in its history, so even locals who came years ago will find a new main hall.
In this guide
Birch pairs well with a morning at La Jolla Cove or, from March 2027, a hike at Torrey Pines. For more ideas with children, see our San Diego family vacation guide.
Birch Aquarium at a glance
| Detail | What to know |
|---|---|
| Address | 2300 Expedition Way, La Jolla, CA 92037 |
| Phone | (858) 534-3474 |
| Hours | Opens daily at 9 a.m.; closing time changes by season, and last entry is one hour before close |
| Closed | Thanksgiving, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day |
| Adult (13+) | $34.95 online, $39.95 walk-up |
| Child (3 to 12) | $29.95 online, $34.95 walk-up |
| Age 2 and under | Free |
| Parking | Free three-hour lot on site, limited spaces |
| Time needed | Two to three hours |
Prices and hours are from the Birch Aquarium visit page, checked in October 2026. Check the daily hours calendar before you go, since closing time is the one thing that moves around.
Tickets and ways to save
Booking online saves $5 per ticket, and it is the easiest way to save. Walk-up tickets cost $39.95 for adults and $34.95 for children 3 to 12, while the same tickets online cost $34.95 and $29.95. Children 2 and under are free. Groups of 10 or more get a discount applied automatically in the online cart: $31.95 per adult and $26.95 per child.
Members get in free all year. For a family that lives in San Diego and visits twice or more a year, a membership usually costs less than separate tickets.
October is Kids Free month in San Diego, and Birch has taken part for years with free admission for children with a paying adult. Check the aquarium’s site in late September to see whether the deal is running and how to book it. For other free and cheap ideas, see our list of free things to do in San Diego.
Getting there and parking
The aquarium is at 2300 Expedition Way, up the hill from La Jolla Shores off North Torrey Pines Road. If you are driving from downtown, it takes about 20 to 25 minutes on Interstate 5 without traffic.
Parking is free for three hours in the aquarium lot, one of the few free lots in La Jolla. Space is limited, so carpool or arrive near opening on weekends. The aquarium’s own tip is to loop up to the upper level, where the closest spaces are often open. Buses, RVs and trailers cannot use the lot; public parking along La Jolla Shores Drive can fit larger vehicles. Accessible spaces and a drop-off circle are by the front entrance.
Transit is possible with the UC San Diego Blue Line trolley and a local bus, and the aquarium links to the MTS trip planner, but most visitors find a car or rideshare simpler. Our getting around San Diego guide covers the trolley, buses and rideshare costs.
Living Seas gallery
Living Seas replaced the old Hall of Fishes, which closed in September 2024. The new gallery moves from the local coast out into the open Pacific. Some of the tanks to look for:
- A giant Pacific octopus habitat
- A Scripps Pier habitat that recreates the pilings under the research pier, with the animals that grow on them
- An open ocean habitat with schooling fish and the aquarium’s rescued loggerhead sea turtle
- A tropical coral habitat with mangrove roots that look like they grow out of the walls
- The 70,000-gallon kelp forest, kept from the old hall and now part of Living Seas
The kelp forest is the tank people remember. Local fish swim through tall giant kelp, and the aquarium streams the habitat live on its Kelp Cam if you want a look before you go. Check the daily schedule for feedings and talks.
Seadragons and seahorses
The seadragon and seahorse exhibit is one of the aquarium’s strongest. It holds more than a dozen seahorse species and their relatives, a seahorse nursery and hands-on activities about how seahorses live and breed.
Birch is a world leader in breeding seahorses, which cuts the need for other aquariums to take them from the wild. In 2023 the aquarium’s seadragon program bred weedy seadragons inside an exhibit for the first time, a rare result for an animal that is hard to breed in human care.
Sharks, rays and Blue Beach
Outside, Blue Beach is an open terrace with a 4,500-square-foot floor mural mapping the underwater canyons off La Jolla Shores. Kids lie on it and trace the depth lines, and adults look past it to the ocean where those canyons are.
The shark and ray habitat next to it is a shallow, sandy tank modeled on the sea floor off La Jolla. Look for leopard sharks and Pacific angel sharks. Leopard sharks gather in summer in the shallows off La Jolla Shores, so if you have seen them in the water, this is a chance to watch them up close and dry.
Tide Pool Plaza
The tide pool plaza has three living tide pools where docents help you touch sea stars, sea cucumbers, hermit crabs and other local animals. It sits on the edge of the hill with the ocean behind it, and on clear days you can see the Scripps Pier and the La Jolla coast.
This is a good warm-up for a real tide pool visit. The rocky reefs at La Jolla and Point Loma are best at negative low tides in winter; plan around the tide chart and wear shoes with grip.
Little blue penguins and kids’ areas
The Beyster Family Little Blue Penguins exhibit is home to the smallest penguin species in the world, native to Australia and New Zealand. Their 18,000-gallon lagoon has a small amphitheater for watching them swim and a low viewing spot built for children.
Younger kids also like Riveropolis, a hands-on water play area, and the outdoor games on Blue Beach. Most of the aquarium is on one level, with ramps at Tide Pool Plaza and the penguin exhibit, so strollers and wheelchairs get around easily.
For more stops that work with small children, see our guide to things to do in San Diego with kids.
Accessibility and visitor tips
Birch is a KultureCity certified sensory inclusive venue, and loaner wheelchairs are available from Guest Services. The aquarium also has a free digital guide on the Bloomberg Connects app, which is useful if you want more about the animals than the signs give you.
A few tips:
- Arrive at 9 a.m. on weekends to get a parking spot and see the penguins before the crowds.
- The outdoor terraces are windy and can be cool even on sunny days. Bring a light layer.
- Plan lunch in La Jolla Shores or the Village after your visit.
- The gift shop opens at 9:30 a.m. If you have kids, settle on a budget before you walk in.
When to visit
Weekday mornings are the quietest. Rainy days are busy, since Birch is one of the few indoor attractions near the coast in La Jolla. Summer weekends and the holiday break are the busiest times.
Gray whales pass the coast from December to April. To see them, book a boat with our whale watching in San Diego guide.
What to do nearby
Birch is in one of the best parts of the coast for a full day out. Within a short drive you can:
- Walk down to La Jolla Shores, the wide sandy beach below the aquarium, for a swim or a kayak tour.
- Drive 10 minutes to La Jolla Cove to see the sea lions and the snorkeling area.
- Hike the bluff trails at Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve, about 10 minutes north. The reserve is closed for construction from September 22, 2026, through February 2027, and California State Parks expects full access by March 1, 2027.
- Have breakfast in La Jolla; our list of the best breakfast spots in San Diego includes several in the area.
For a bigger plan, our things to do in San Diego list and San Diego attractions hub cover the rest of the county. If Birch is one stop in a day of big-name sights, the USS Midway Museum downtown is the other attraction families most often combine with it.
A short history
Scripps Institution of Oceanography started in 1903, and its scientists began showing local sea life to the public early on, first in a small lab and later in an aquarium on the campus. The current building opened in 1992 with a $6 million gift from the Stephen and Mary Birch Foundation and land from UC San Diego. Today more than half a million people visit each year, and the aquarium is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.
Frequently asked questions
How much does Birch Aquarium cost?
Adults 13 and older pay $34.95 online or $39.95 at the door. Children 3 to 12 pay $29.95 online or $34.95 at the door. Children 2 and under get in free.
Is parking free at Birch Aquarium?
Yes. The aquarium lot has free three-hour parking, but spaces are limited and fill up on busy days. Buses, RVs and trailers are not allowed.
How long do you need at Birch Aquarium?
Most visitors spend two to three hours. Families with young kids who like the tide pools and penguins can stay longer.
What are Birch Aquarium’s hours?
It opens daily at 9 a.m. Closing time changes with the season, and last entry is one hour before closing. It is closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.
Is Birch Aquarium worth it?
For families and anyone curious about the local ocean, yes. It is smaller than SeaWorld, with a calmer pace, a strong focus on Pacific sea life and real ties to Scripps research. Plan two to three hours, not a full day.
What is new at Birch Aquarium?
The Adam R. Scripps Living Seas Gallery opened in May 2025. It replaced the Hall of Fishes and includes a giant Pacific octopus, a Scripps Pier habitat, an open ocean tank with a rescued loggerhead turtle and the kelp forest.
Photo credits
Featured image: Takinzinnia / Wikimedia Commons, CC0.
