Hotels near SeaWorld San Diego

SeaWorld San Diego opened on Mission Bay in 1964 and combines marine animal habitats, from penguins and beluga whales to sea lions and sharks, with roller coasters such as Emperor and Electric Eel. One of the biggest draws of San Diego in October is the park's family Halloween Spooktacular, which runs on selected dates from mid-September to early November, usually including October weekends and Halloween itself.

Spooktacular adds trick-or-treat trails, costume parades and themed shows, and the park runs its own Kids Free San Diego offer in October, so check its terms rather than assuming they match the zoo's. With summer crowds gone, weekday queues for the coasters are much shorter than in July and August, and Mission Bay's calm beaches are minutes away for a family afternoon.

Pro Tip: Come to Spooktacular in costume on a Saturday afternoon and stay into the evening, when ride queues drop.