SeaWorld or San Diego Zoo on this day

[Baxhappyplace]

We are leaving Anaheim on July 17th and driving to San Diego. We want to do either Sea World or San Diego Zoo this day. We are not sure how to do this. We can either leave really early to get to either one at opening time or we can leave our hotel later and drive to San Diego and then head over around noon and stay until closing. I think if we do that we should do the zoo and not Sea World since Sea World has all the shows that we could end up missing. Whichever one we don't do this day we are going to do the next day. Please help us decide which is the smart way to go. On mapping out the drive it is only 1 1/2 hours however during rush hour I have read it could take 2 1/2 hours.

 

[Lynne G]

You will probably get more responses in the Southern California forum.

I stayed at the DLH 3 years ago, the last week of August into Labor Day week-end. I flew into LAX and rented a car. Drove down to Legoland 2 of the 10 days we stayed in DL.

It was not a bad drive, I used the HOV3 lanes most of the time, as I had my 2 kids with me. That helped. Since Legoland did not open until 10am, I left around 8:30 to help with traffic. Took about 1 hour. I purposely stayed until it closed at 6pm, to again cut down on traffic. It took a little longer to get back. We went on a Tuesday and Thursday, and the traffic was heavier on Thursday.

Since my kids want to expand their visit in CA this year, we are doing 2 nights in SD, 2 nights in Hollywood and 6 nights in DL. I will be driving. We are going to do both the zoo and SW. (We have platinum passes with SW, so "free" parking and entry for us, otherwise, since we have been to the one in Orlando, would not do it, and only do the zoo).

If your family likes the zoo, then it is an awesome place, very hilly, and can easily spend a day there. SWSD is not as big as the one in Orlando, but if you are going to spend the money to go there, I'd spend a day, and not get there at lunchtime.

With the Traffic, I'd think you'd do better leaving on a weekday, around 8:30am or so, to get a nice long day down in SD. However, as with any highway, slow ups can be for any or no reason, and lengthen your highway time.

Have a great trip!

 

[Baxhappyplace]

Thank you for the help. I didn't realize I was in the Florida section and not the California section. I am new!! I will repost this in the California section.

Thanks again!!