Attractions
Coronado Museum of History and Art (free admission)
Tue–Sun, 10am–4pm
Coronado Museum of History and ArtSouth Bay
Verified Oct 22 · coronadohistory.org
No catch
Free museums and attractions in San Diego
Always-free spots and free admission days.
Free to join: unlock how to get each one, the official links and tips.Join free
Tomorrow 3 listings
Attractions
Museum of History and Culture La Jolla (always free)
Wed–Sun, 12–4pm
Museum of History and Culture La JollaLa Jolla & North Coastal
Verified Oct 22 · mhclajolla.org
No catch
Attractions
Wieghorst Western Heritage Museum (free admission)
Fri–Sun, 11 a.m.–3 p.m.
Wieghorst MuseumEast County
Verified Oct 22 · wieghorstmuseum.org
No catch
This weekend 3 listings
Attractions
Queen Califia's Magical Circle: Niki de Saint Phalle's mosaic garden
Tue & Thu 9am–noon; 2nd and 4th Saturdays 9am–2pm
Kit Carson Park, EscondidoNorth County Inland
Verified Oct 22 · City of Escondido
No catch
Attractions
Free Saturday bird walks at the Tijuana Estuary
Every Saturday, 9:30–10:30am
Tijuana Estuary Visitor CenterSouth Bay
Verified Oct 22 · Tijuana River Estuary
No catch
Attractions
Free walking tour of Old Town San Diego State Historic Park
Mondays, Saturdays and Sundays at 11am and 2pm
Robinson Rose Visitor Information Center, Old Town San Diego State Historic ParkCentral San Diego
Verified Oct 22 · California State Parks
Catch: Runs as staffing permits · Limited to 18 people; sign up at the visitor center front desk
Coming up 15 listings
Attractions
Free for SD residents: Museum of Us
Tue, Oct 27 · check hours
Museum of Us, Balboa ParkCentral San Diego
Verified Oct 22 · Balboa Park
Catch: San Diego city/county residents and active military + dependents only; bring photo ID showing your address · California Tower tours not included ($10 per person)
Attractions
Free for SD residents: San Diego Automotive Museum
Tue, Oct 27 · check hours
San Diego Automotive Museum, Balboa ParkCentral San Diego
Verified Oct 22 · Balboa Park
Catch: San Diego city/county residents and active military + dependents only; bring photo ID showing your address
AttractionsFree (usually $20)
Free entry to Cabrillo National Monument (fee-free day)
Tue, Oct 27, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Cabrillo National MonumentCentral San Diego
Verified Oct 21 · National Park Service
Catch: Fee-free entry is for U.S. citizens and residents
Attractions
Free for SD residents: San Diego Natural History Museum
Tue, Nov 3 · check hours
San Diego Natural History Museum, Balboa ParkCentral San Diego
Verified Oct 22 · Balboa Park
Catch: San Diego city/county residents and active military + dependents only; bring photo ID showing your address · Films not included
Attractions
Free for SD residents: Fleet Science Center
Tue, Nov 3 · check hours
Fleet Science Center, Balboa ParkCentral San Diego
Verified Oct 22 · Balboa Park
Catch: San Diego city/county residents and active military + dependents only; bring photo ID showing your address · Films not included
Attractions
Free for SD residents: San Diego Air & Space Museum
Tue, Nov 10 · check hours
San Diego Air & Space Museum, Balboa ParkCentral San Diego
Verified Oct 22 · Balboa Park
Catch: San Diego city/county residents and active military + dependents only; bring photo ID showing your address · Special exhibitions not included
Attractions
Free for SD residents: The Veterans Museum at Balboa Park
Tue, Nov 10 · check hours
The Veterans Museum at Balboa Park, Balboa ParkCentral San Diego
Verified Oct 22 · Balboa Park
Catch: San Diego city/county residents and active military + dependents only; bring photo ID showing your address
AttractionsFree (usually $20)
Free entry to Cabrillo National Monument on Veterans Day
Wed, Nov 11, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Cabrillo National MonumentCentral San Diego
Verified Oct 21 · National Park Service
Catch: Fee-free entry is for U.S. citizens and residents
Attractions
Free for SD residents: San Diego Model Railroad Museum
Thu, Nov 12 · check hours
San Diego Model Railroad Museum, Balboa ParkCentral San Diego
Verified Oct 22 · Balboa Park
Catch: San Diego city/county residents and active military + dependents only; bring photo ID showing your address
Attractions
Free for SD residents: Mingei International Museum
Tue, Nov 17 · check hours
Mingei International Museum, Balboa ParkCentral San Diego
Verified Oct 22 · Balboa Park
Catch: San Diego city/county residents and active military + dependents only; bring photo ID showing your address
Attractions
Free for SD residents: San Diego Museum of Art
Tue, Nov 17 · check hours
San Diego Museum of Art, Balboa ParkCentral San Diego
Verified Oct 22 · Balboa Park
Catch: San Diego city/county residents and active military + dependents only; bring photo ID showing your address · Special exhibitions not included
Attractions
Free for SD residents: Japanese Friendship Garden and Museum
Tue, Nov 17 · check hours
Japanese Friendship Garden and Museum, Balboa ParkCentral San Diego
Verified Oct 22 · Balboa Park
Catch: San Diego city/county residents and active military + dependents only; bring photo ID showing your address
Attractions
Free for SD residents: Museum of Us
Tue, Nov 24 · check hours
Museum of Us, Balboa ParkCentral San Diego
Verified Oct 22 · Balboa Park
Catch: San Diego city/county residents and active military + dependents only; bring photo ID showing your address · California Tower tours not included ($10 per person)
Attractions
Free for SD residents: San Diego Automotive Museum
Tue, Nov 24 · check hours
San Diego Automotive Museum, Balboa ParkCentral San Diego
Verified Oct 22 · Balboa Park
Catch: San Diego city/county residents and active military + dependents only; bring photo ID showing your address
AttractionsFree (usually $39)
USS Midway Museum free for every U.S. veteran and a guest in November
Every day in November
USS Midway MuseumCentral San Diego
Verified Oct 22 · USS Midway Museum
Catch: Bring proof of service (DD-214, VA card, retired military card) · Ticket booth only, not online
Always free 25 listings
AttractionsFree (usually $78)
San Diego Zoo free for active-duty military
Ongoing
San Diego Zoo, Balboa ParkCentral San Diego
Verified Oct 22 · zoo.sandiegozoo.org
Catch: Active-duty military only, with a valid CAC card · Covers the service member only, not family
AttractionsFree (usually $39)
USS Midway Museum: free for active duty and reservists
Ongoing
USS Midway MuseumCentral San Diego
Verified Oct 21 · USS Midway Museum
Catch: Active duty, reservists or kids 3 and under only; others in your group pay · Free guests get tickets at the booth on the day
AttractionsFree (usually $25)
Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego (La Jolla): free days and free for 25 & under
Thu–Sat 11am–7pm, Sun 11am–5pm; free for all 2nd Sundays and 3rd Thursdays
Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego, La JollaLa Jolla & North Coastal
Verified Oct 22 · Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego
Catch: Others pay $25 outside the free days
AttractionsFree (usually $25)
San Diego Museum of Art free for Bank of America cardholders (first full weekend)
First full weekend of every month (Sat and Sun); open Sat 10am–5pm, Sun noon–5pm
The San Diego Museum of Art, Balboa ParkCentral San Diego
Verified Oct 22 · San Diego Museum of Art
Catch: Bank of America, Merrill or Private Bank cardholders only, with photo ID · Free for the cardholder only (one adult) · Ticketed and special exhibitions not included
AttractionsFree (worth about $20)
Balboa Park Residents Free Tuesdays
1st–4th Tuesdays; museums rotate by week of the month
Balboa ParkCentral San Diego
Verified Oct 21 · Balboa Park
Catch: San Diego city/county residents and active military + dependents only; bring photo ID showing your address · Special exhibitions and films may cost extra
AttractionsFree (worth about $15)
Timken Museum of Art (always free)
Wed–Sun, 10am–5pm (closed Mon and Tue)
Timken Museum of Art, Balboa ParkCentral San Diego
Verified Oct 21 · Timken Museum
No catch
AttractionsFree (usually $15)
Oceanside Museum of Art: free First Sundays and First Friday evenings
Wed–Sun 11am–5pm; free 1st Sunday 11am–5pm and 1st Friday 5–8pm
Oceanside Museum of ArtLa Jolla & North Coastal
Verified Oct 22 · oma-online.org
Catch: Others pay $15 outside the free days · Student or military ID for those groups
AttractionsFree (usually $15)
Mingei International Museum: free Entry Level, free for all on 3rd Tuesdays
Tue–Sun 10am–5pm, Fri until 8pm; whole museum free 3rd Tuesdays
Mingei International Museum, Balboa ParkCentral San Diego
Verified Oct 21 · Mingei Museum
Catch: Exhibitions Level costs $15 for adults except on the 3rd Tuesday
Attractions
The Stuart Collection: 20+ giant sculptures across UC San Diego
Any time
UC San Diego campusLa Jolla & North Coastal
Verified Oct 22 · UC San Diego Stuart Collection
No catch
Attractions
La Mesa Depot Museum: historic trains, always free
Museum and docent tours Tue and Thu, noon–3 p.m.; outdoor train display open 24/7
La Mesa Depot MuseumEast County
Verified Oct 22 · psrm.org
No catch
Attractions
SeaWorld San Diego: a free visit for active duty plus 3 family members
Ongoing
SeaWorld San DiegoCentral San Diego
Verified Oct 22 · SeaWorld
Catch: Active-duty military and dependents only; one visit · SeaWorld says other restrictions apply but doesn't list them
Attractions
Mandeville Art Gallery at UC San Diego
Wed–Fri, 12–8pm during the academic year
Mandeville Art Gallery, UC San Diego (west side of Mandeville Center, near Scholars Lane)La Jolla & North Coastal
Verified Oct 22 · UC San Diego
No catch
Attractions
Mt. Soledad National Veterans Memorial
Daily 7am–10pm
Mt. Soledad National Veterans MemorialLa Jolla & North Coastal
Verified Oct 21 · soledadmemorial.org
No catch
Attractions
Alcazar Garden, Balboa Park
Open daily, 24 hours
Alcazar Garden, Balboa ParkCentral San Diego
Verified Oct 21 · Balboa Park
No catch
Attractions
Palm Canyon, Balboa Park
Open daily, 24 hours
Palm Canyon, Balboa ParkCentral San Diego
Verified Oct 21 · Balboa Park
No catch
Attractions
Desert Garden, Balboa Park
Open daily, 24 hours
Desert Garden, Balboa ParkCentral San Diego
Verified Oct 21 · Balboa Park
No catch
Attractions
Spanish Village Art Center (free)
Daily 11am–4pm
Spanish Village Art Center, Balboa ParkCentral San Diego
Verified Oct 21 · spanishvillageart.com
No catch
Attractions
Visions Museum of Textile Art (free admission)
Wed–Thu 10am–2pm, Fri–Sat 10am–4pm
Visions Museum of Textile Art, Liberty StationCentral San Diego
Verified Oct 21 · vmota.org
No catch
Attractions
Botanical Building and Lily Pond, Balboa Park
Fri–Wed 10am–4pm (closed Thursdays and holidays)
Botanical Building, Balboa ParkCentral San Diego
Verified Oct 21 · Balboa Park
No catch
Attractions
Inez Grant Parker Memorial Rose Garden
Open daily, 24 hours
Inez Grant Parker Memorial Rose Garden, Balboa ParkCentral San Diego
Verified Oct 21 · Balboa Park
No catch
Attractions
Free guided walking tours of Balboa Park
Tuesdays and Thursdays at 11am
Balboa Park Visitors CenterCentral San Diego
Verified Oct 21 · Balboa Park
No catch
Attractions
Free museum day passes with a Chula Vista library card
Ongoing
Chula Vista Public LibrarySouth Bay
Verified Oct 22 · chulavistaca.gov
Catch: Chula Vista Public Library card in good standing · Book a pass online in advance
Attractions
Free California State Parks pass from your library
Ongoing; loan length set by each library
San Diego Public Library and County Library branchesCountywide
Verified Oct 21 · California State Parks
Catch: Library card required; loans are first come, first served · Covers one vehicle with up to 9 people · Not valid for camping, tours, boats or special events · Not valid at parks run by cities or federal agencies
Attractions
Free Balboa Park horticulture tour
First Saturday of each month at 10am
Balboa Park Visitors CenterCentral San Diego
Verified Oct 22 · Balboa Park
Catch: A $5 donation is suggested but not required
Attractions
Mission San Luis Rey museum: free for active military and families
Daily 10am–4pm (closed major holidays)
Mission San Luis Rey MuseumLa Jolla & North Coastal
Verified Oct 21 · sanluisrey.org
Catch: Active military and dependents, or kids 5 and under only · Audio tours are $3