Editor’s Note: As of Sept. 2025, Sesame Street San Diego is open seasonally, typically from spring until early fall, and is closed through the winter months. Check the park’s calendar page for the latest opening and closing dates for the season as well as parade and show times for the day of your visit.
Preschool kids will absolutely love Sesame Place San Diego, based on the Peabody Award–winning TV show. All ages, though, will find this seasonal Chula Vista theme park appealing, thanks to its mix of classic water park fun, rides, and timeless characters.
Walking through the front gates of the 17-acre San Diego County park will give any past or present fan of Sesame Street a thrill. There’s the iconic brownstone stoop with the 123 address, Mr. Hooper’s store, Oscar the Grouch’s trash can, and Big Bird’s nest, where the yellow-feathered superstar regularly makes appearances to greet fans or read a story. Nearby, you can ring the doorbell at Ernie and Bert’s house or check in for photo ops with Elmo. The park is also full of all-ages attractions, including little-kid-friendly rides, live entertainment the whole family can enjoy, and shops that offer plenty of t-shirts, slippers, and onesies in grown-up sizes.
Rides and Water Park Attractions at Sesame Place San Diego
Definitely pack your swimsuits and a few beach towels—slightly more than half of the attractions here are splashy in nature. The centerpiece is Big Bird’s Beach, a sandy-beach wave pool that’s one of the largest in Southern California. (For a VIP experience, book a cabana.) Slides and water rides abound, too, from the six pint-sized tubes at Elmo’s Silly Sand Slides to the six-story Cookie’s Monster Mixer raft ride.
Dry off, then head to the classic rides, including the Sesame Street Soar & Spin, the swings of Abby’s Fairy Flight, and the compact (but still gently thrilling) roller coaster Super Grover’s Box Car Derby.
Between rides, meet characters such as Bert & Ernie, Oscar the Grouch, Telly, and Julia. Don’t miss the live show Welcome to Our Street! featuring Elmo, Abby, and other characters, or the Sesame Street Party Parade, with its all-star cast dancing their way through the park.
Dining at Sesame Place San Diego
Choose among eight dining options, including plenty of burgers, pizza, and chicken fingers, but also healthy wraps, salads, and fresh fruit.
Consider booking a spot at one of the scheduled dining events at Elmo’s Sunny Day Café. Its Dine with Elmo & Friends features a buffet lunch or dinner of crowd-pleasing items, from pasta to salmon and veggies, plus Elmo-themed cupcakes and more at dessert. While you eat, Elmo and other characters perform onstage, then come around to say hello at the tables. The Elmo’s Pizza Party is similar, but with various pizzas, salads, and desserts on the buffet.
Support for Guests with Special Needs
The park is attentive to families with small kids, including those with special needs. Plenty of changing areas and lockers make it easy to manage getting in and out of swimsuits, and loaner safety vests are available for little ones. To speed up any possible waits, upgrade your ticket with a line-skipping Magic Queue pass (typically starting at $19.99 per person).
Sesame Place San Diego is also a Certified Autism Center (CAC), which means that staffers have completed autism sensitivity and awareness training, and the park offers amenities such as a sensory guide, noise-canceling headphones, and designated quiet rooms. Learn more about accessible travel in California and accessible family attractions.
Booking Tickets and Getting Around Sesame Place San Diego
Download the Sesame Place Mobile App to streamline your day: see the rides’ height requirements, purchase upgrades, and check schedules for shows and character meet and greets. Since the park is affiliated with SeaWorld San Diego, you can also find deals on annual passes good at both parks.
Note that the park is largely cash-free: Stores and restaurants accept credit cards, debit cards, or smart devices with Apple Pay or Google Pay. If you did bring cash, take it to one of the park’s Cash-to-Card kiosks to transfer the cash (with no fee) onto a Visa prepaid debit card, which can be used anywhere. (Getting such a card is a great way to let kids spend on themselves, but with a budget.)
Where to Stay and Things to Do Near Sesame Place San Diego
Since it’s located in Chula Vista, the park is fairly close to downtown San Diego and many of its big family-friendly sights, such as Balboa Park and Coronado Island.
Chula Vista offers a wide range of brand name hotels, many budget-friendly, and you can also find affordable options in nearby National City. For a resort experience very close to the park, consider the Gaylord Pacific Resort & Convention Center, which has a spa and its own 4-acre water park.
Build your trip around more family-friendly vacation ideas in San Diego.