Theme park · San Diego
SeaWorld San Diego: free military & veterans tickets, prices & hours
Marine-life theme park on Mission Bay with orca, dolphin and sea lion encounters, aquariums and coasters such as Emperor and Manta.
Independent guide, not the official SeaWorld San Diego website. Official links are under Sources.
SeaWorld San Diego is free for some visitors, not for everyone.
- Free for: Waves of Honor: one free visit for active-duty military and up to 3 direct dependents (through 31 Dec 2026); Waves of Honor for veterans: one free visit for veterans, retirees and up to 3 friends or family (obtain and use by 31 Dec 2026).
- Otherwise: single-Day Ticket bought online (lowest date price) — $51.99.
Before you go
How to actually get in for free
- Waves of Honor: one free visit for active-duty military and up to 3 direct dependents (through 31 Dec 2026): Claim online only: verify active-duty status with ID.me on the park's military page (create a free ID.me account), then print or save the eTicket. Spouses claim under the service member's ID.me login.
- Waves of Honor for veterans: one free visit for veterans, retirees and up to 3 friends or family (obtain and use by 31 Dec 2026): Online only, not available at the park: verify veteran status with ID.me on the park's veterans page, then get the eTickets.
- Unlike SeaWorld Orlando and San Antonio, San Diego also gives veterans and retirees a free ticket in 2026 - claim it via ID.me by 31 Dec and use it by 31 Dec.
- The San Diego free tickets are valid only at SeaWorld San Diego (not Sesame Place San Diego or Aquatica).
- Book online before you go: neither free offer is sold at the gate.
- Bring ID for everyone over 10.
All free options
Who gets in free, and when
| Free option | Who | Conditions | Book? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free forWaves of Honor: one free visit for active-duty military and up to 3 direct dependents (through 31 Dec 2026) | military members and families | U.S. active-duty military, activated or drilling reservists and National Guard. Service member plus up to 3 direct dependents, single visit; eTicket valid at SeaWorld San Diego only. Valid active military ID (or dependent ID) matching the eTicket. Spouses can redeem if the service member is overseas (log in under the member's account). Excludes Howl-O-Scream and separately ticketed events. Not eligible: inactive/standby/retired reserve, U.S. Merchant Marine, DoD civilians. | Yes |
| Free forWaves of Honor for veterans: one free visit for veterans, retirees and up to 3 friends or family (obtain and use by 31 Dec 2026) | veterans | U.S. military veterans, retired veterans and retirees who served honorably. One-time free admission for the veteran plus up to 3 friends or family (the FAQ on the same page says up to two - check the number offered at checkout). The veteran must be present with the guests. Eligibility is verified online through ID.me; the page says a valid military ID is required for all visits and dependents over 10 must also show ID - it does not list DD-214 or VA card as alternatives. Excludes Howl-O-Scream and separately ticketed events. Valid at SeaWorld San Diego only. | Yes |
Official prices
SeaWorld San Diego ticket prices
| Single-Day Ticket bought online (lowest date price) — Date-based pricing; compare-at gate price shown $130.99. Parking extra. | $51.99 |
| Veterans: up to 6 additional tickets at 55% off — For a bigger group on the same visit. | — |
| Military Silver Pass for active duty - 12 months, free general parking, 3 guest tickets (limit 6) — Veterans' version $119. | $113 |
Prices from the official website, checked Oct 2026. Free options are listed above.
Worth timing your visit?
What a free day saves
Based on the official price (single-day ticket bought online (lowest date price)). Free days are busier — if your dates don't line up, a timed ticket is the trade-off.
Tickets & tours
Best-rated tickets and tours: SeaWorld San Diego
Skip-the-line ticketSeaWorld San Diego: Fast Track Ticket★★★★☆ 4.3 · 133 reviewsfrom $77.27
Timed-entry ticketSeaWorld San Diego: Entry Tickets with All-Day Dining Add-On★★★★★ 4.6 · 85 reviewsfrom $51.99
Ratings and prices from the booking partners; prices may change.
Practical
Opening hours & how to get there
Hours vary by date (late 2026: typically 10am-5pm, some days to 6pm); check the park calendar for your date.
500 SeaWorld Drive, San Diego, CA 92109, USA
FAQ
SeaWorld San Diego: common questions
Is SeaWorld San Diego free?
SeaWorld San Diego has no free entry for everyone. Also free: Waves of Honor: one free visit for active-duty military and up to 3 direct dependents (through 31 Dec 2026); Waves of Honor for veterans: one free visit for veterans, retirees and up to 3 friends or family (obtain and use by 31 Dec 2026). Otherwise the official ticket costs $51.99.
Who gets free entry to SeaWorld San Diego?
Military members and families — u.S. active-duty military, activated or drilling reservists and National Guard. Service member plus up to 3 direct dependents, single visit; eTicket valid at SeaWorld San Diego only. Valid active military ID (or dependent ID) matching the eTicket. Spouses can redeem if the service member is overseas (log in under the member's account). Excludes Howl-O-Scream and separately ticketed events. Not eligible: inactive/standby/retired reserve, U.S. Merchant Marine, DoD civilians.. Veterans — u.S. military veterans, retired veterans and retirees who served honorably. One-time free admission for the veteran plus up to 3 friends or family (the FAQ on the same page says up to two - check the number offered at checkout). The veteran must be present with the guests. Eligibility is verified online through ID.me; the page says a valid military ID is required for all visits and dependents over 10 must also show ID - it does not list DD-214 or VA card as alternatives. Excludes Howl-O-Scream and separately ticketed events. Valid at SeaWorld San Diego only..
Do I need to book for free entry to SeaWorld San Diego?
Claim online only: verify active-duty status with ID.me on the park's military page (create a free ID.me account), then print or save the eTicket. Spouses claim under the service member's ID.me login.
How much is a ticket to SeaWorld San Diego?
Single-Day Ticket bought online (lowest date price) costs $51.99 on the official site.
Visitor reviews
What visitors say about SeaWorld San Diego
No reviews yet. Been here? Tell others how it went — especially on a free day.
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Sources
Where this comes from
- seaworld.com/san-diego/tickets/military-discount-active/ · checked Tuesday, 27 October 2026
- seaworld.com/san-diego/tickets/military-discount-veteran/ · checked Tuesday, 27 October 2026
Every free rule is checked against the official source and re-checked on a schedule. Spotted a change? Tell us.