Birch Aquarium Guide: Tickets, Parking & Getting There

Birch Aquarium sits on the hill above La Jolla Shores, with the Pacific spread out below it. It is the public aquarium of Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego, so the tanks come with real ocean science behind them. It is small enough to see in a morning, it works on a rainy day, and children love the touch pools and penguins. This guide covers tickets, hours, parking, the best things to see and the easiest way to get there from the airport or your hotel.

Quick answer: Birch Aquarium is at 2300 Expedition Way, La Jolla, CA 92037. It opens daily at 9 a.m., and closing time changes with the season, so check the aquarium’s daily schedule. Tickets bought online cost $34.95 for adults (13+) and $29.95 for children (3–12), and children 2 and under are free. Parking is free for three hours, but the lot is small. A private SUV drops you at the front entrance and skips the parking hunt.

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Birch Aquarium at a glance

Birch Aquarium at Scripps is run by Scripps Institution of Oceanography, one of the oldest ocean research centers in the world. It stands on the bluff at the north end of La Jolla Shores, just above Scripps Pier. Most visitors spend a few hours here. Pair it with lunch in La Jolla and a walk on the beach, and you have an easy family day.

Address: 2300 Expedition Way, La Jolla, CA 92037.
Open: daily from 9 a.m.; closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day.
Last entry: one hour before closing.
Food: Blue Wave Bistro on site.
Gift shop: open from 9:30 a.m. until the aquarium closes.

Birch Aquarium tickets and prices

Buy your Birch Aquarium tickets online before you go. The online price is $5 lower per person than at the door, and the aquarium says you can save more on some dates and times.

Ticket	Online	At the door
Adult (13 and older)	$34.95	$39.95
Child (3 to 12)	$29.95	$34.95
Child (2 and under)	Free	Free
Group of 10+ (adult / child)	$31.95 / $26.95, applied automatically

Prices were checked on the aquarium’s website in October 2026 and can change. The aquarium also sells memberships if you plan to come back more than once in a year.

Birch Aquarium hours

The aquarium opens at 9 a.m. every day of the year except Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day. Closing time changes with the season. On the daily schedule we checked in October 2026, the aquarium closed at 5 p.m. The aquarium also runs some special evening events; see its events page.

Plan to arrive early. Mornings are quieter, the light over the ocean is lovely, and you get first pick of the small parking lot if you drive. Last entry is one hour before closing, but one hour is too short to enjoy the whole place. Give yourself at least two.

The daily schedule also lists animal feedings and talks. Check it the morning you visit and plan your route around the feeding you most want to see.

Things to see at Birch Aquarium

The big change in recent years is the Adam R. Scripps Living Seas Gallery. It opened in May 2025 in the space of the old Hall of Fishes, which many returning visitors still remember. The gallery takes you across the Pacific in three regions, from cold northern waters to tropical reefs.

Living Seas Gallery

Pacific Northwest: cold-water animals, jellies and a Giant Pacific Octopus in a grotto-style habitat.
Coastal California: the towering Giant Kelp Forest, the aquarium’s signature habitat, plus life found under Scripps Pier and an open-ocean tank full of sardines.
Tropical Pacific: a coral reef with bright fish and giant clams, and a mangrove habitat with small sharks and archerfish.

Watch the kelp forest for a while. Kelp sways in the current, fish move through it in layers, and at some events scuba divers go in to feed the eels, sharks and Giant Sea Bass.

Little blue penguins

The Beyster Family Little Blue Penguins exhibit is a favorite with children. These are the smallest penguins in the world, and they are lively to watch on land and in the water.

Seadragons and seahorses

The Seadragons & Seahorses exhibit shows some of the strangest fish in the ocean. Seadragons are camouflaged to look like drifting seaweed, and seahorses hold on with their tails. Children can spend a long time trying to spot them.

Sharks, rays and more

The Sharks and Rays exhibit, Blue Beach, Riveropolis and the Oarfish display round out the visit. Check the aquarium’s exhibits page for the current list, as smaller displays change.

Tide Pool Plaza and the ocean view

Save Tide Pool Plaza for last. This outdoor plaza overlooks the ocean and Scripps Pier and has some of the best views in San Diego. Hands-on touch pools let children gently touch sea anemones, sea stars and sea urchins. The protected marine reserve you see below stretches all the way to La Jolla Cove.

Birch Aquarium with kids

Birch Aquarium is one of the easiest outings in San Diego for young families. It is compact, mostly on one level and close to the beach.

Go early: mornings are calmer and toddlers do best before lunch.
Touch pools first or last: they are outdoors, so time them for the warmest part of your visit.
Penguins and seahorses: the two exhibits small children ask about most.
Snacks: Blue Wave Bistro is on site for a break.
Child seats in the car: if you ride with us, add up to 2 child seats at $20 each when you book.

It is also a good rainy-day plan. Most of the aquarium is indoors, so a wet or gray morning in La Jolla does not ruin the day.

Birch Aquarium parking

Birch Aquarium offers free three-hour parking in its own lot. The aquarium warns that space is limited and asks guests to carpool. If the lower level looks full, loop around to the upper level, where the aquarium says the closest spots often open up.

Free: three hours, in the aquarium lot.
Accessible spaces: yes, marked spaces in the lot.
Large vehicles: buses, RVs and trailers are not allowed in the lot. Public parking on La Jolla Shores Drive may work for them.
Drop-off: curbside drop-off and pickup at the traffic circle near the front entrance.

On busy weekends and school holidays, the lot can fill early. A three-hour limit also cuts your day short if you want lunch and the beach after the aquarium. This is where a private car helps most.

Getting to Birch Aquarium

Birch Aquarium is on the UC San Diego side of La Jolla, off North Torrey Pines Road and La Jolla Shores Drive. From downtown and the airport, the route is north on I-5.

From San Diego Airport

From San Diego International Airport (SAN), the drive is roughly 20 to 30 minutes in normal traffic and longer at rush hour. Many families fly in, drop bags at a La Jolla hotel and head to the aquarium the same afternoon. Our San Diego airport car service meets you at the arrivals curb, or inside at baggage claim with a name sign for $30 more (Meet & Greet). We track your flight and wait up to one hour after landing at no extra charge.

From La Jolla hotels

The aquarium is a short ride from most La Jolla hotels. If you are staying at the La Jolla Shores Hotel, the aquarium is just up the hill. The Hilton La Jolla Torrey Pines is a few minutes north. Walking up from the beach is possible, but the road climbs, and it is a hard walk with small children and a stroller.

Bus, taxi or driving yourself

Bus: the aquarium points visitors to the MTS trip planner. Expect a walk from the nearest stop and a slower trip than by car.
Taxi: fine for one way, but you may wait for a ride back up on the hill.
Driving: free parking, but a small lot and a three-hour limit.
Private SUV: door-to-door, child seats ready, and no parking to find.

Make it a La Jolla day

Birch Aquarium fits neatly into a full day on the coast. A simple plan for a family:

9:00 a.m.: arrive at Birch Aquarium as it opens.
11:30 a.m.: ride down the hill to La Jolla Shores for the beach, or on to the Village.
1:00 p.m.: lunch in La Jolla.
2:30 p.m.: see the seals and the sea caves at La Jolla Cove. Our La Jolla Cove and Shores guide covers what to see there.

For a day like this, book an hourly ride. Your chauffeur stays with you, moves you between stops and keeps your bags, beach gear and car seats in the vehicle. Hourly bookings have a 3-hour minimum. For more on local rides, see our La Jolla car service.

Why ride with Trip Limo Service

We drive black SUVs only: Cadillac Escalade, GMC Yukon XL and Chevrolet Suburban. Each one takes up to 6 passengers and 5 large bags, which covers most families with room for a stroller.

Fixed price per vehicle, shown before you book. It covers the vehicle, chauffeur, fuel and tolls.
Gratuity is not included. Tipping your chauffeur is optional.
Child seats: $20 each, up to 2 per vehicle.
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before pickup on standard rides. Hourly bookings follow their own terms, shown when you book.

Birch Aquarium FAQ

Where is Birch Aquarium?

Birch Aquarium is at 2300 Expedition Way, La Jolla, CA 92037. It sits on the hill above La Jolla Shores, next to the Scripps Institution of Oceanography campus at UC San Diego.

How much are Birch Aquarium tickets?

Online tickets cost $34.95 for adults (13+) and $29.95 for children (3–12). At the door they cost $5 more. Children 2 and under are free. Prices were checked in October 2026.

Is parking free at Birch Aquarium?

Yes. The aquarium offers free three-hour parking in its own lot. Space is limited, so arrive early or use the drop-off circle at the front entrance.

What are Birch Aquarium’s hours?

It opens daily at 9 a.m. Closing time changes with the season, so check the daily schedule on the aquarium’s website. Last entry is one hour before closing. It is closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day.

How long do you need at Birch Aquarium?

Most families need two to three hours. That leaves time for the Living Seas Gallery, the penguins and the touch pools at Tide Pool Plaza.

Is Birch Aquarium good for kids?

Yes. It is compact, mostly on one level, and has touch pools, penguins and seahorses. It is also mostly indoors, so it works well on a rainy day.

Is Birch Aquarium wheelchair accessible?

Yes. Most of the aquarium is on one level, with ramps at Tide Pool Plaza and the penguin exhibit. Wheelchairs can be borrowed from Guest Services, first come, first served. Trained service animals are welcome.

How do I get from San Diego Airport to Birch Aquarium?

The drive is north on I-5 and takes roughly 20 to 30 minutes in normal traffic. A private SUV picks you up at the arrivals curb and drops you at the aquarium’s front entrance, with child seats ready if you book them.

Book your ride to Birch Aquarium

Enter your pickup address and Birch Aquarium as your drop-off to see a fixed price for each vehicle before you pay. Planning a full La Jolla day? Choose hourly instead.