Panda Ridge at the San Diego Zoo will open soon: tips to plan your visit
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — San Diego Zoo visitors will officially be able to see giant pandas Yun Chuan and Xin Bao starting Thursday, a highly anticipated public debut.
The panda pair arrived in America’s Finest City from China earlier this summer, making them the first pandas to enter the U.S. in 21 years. Since then, they have been acclimating to their home in the newly reimagined Panda Ridge.
Zoo officials released first-look photos of the pandas in early July, also announcing their official reveal date. With that day inching closer, officials with the city of San Diego are now encouraging residents and zoo visitors to plan ahead for an influx of traffic in the Balboa Park area.
Parking
According to the zoo, the front parking lot may likely fill up quickly as is normal during peak attendance periods — in this case, “pandamonium.”
When this lot fills, the city and zoo encourages visitors to take advantage of free shuttle pick-up and drop-off locations at the Inspiration Point parking lot, which is located on the east side of Park Boulevard.
Download the Balboa Park map (below) for navigation.
All parking lots in and around Balboa Park are free, along with the zoo’s front lot.
Public transit and rideshare
If you are taking rideshare options like Uber and Lyft, officials have encouraged riders to use the main zoo entrance as the address for pick-up and drop-off — just punch in 2920 Zoo Dr.
When it comes to public transit, city officials pointed to the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System’s convenient ways to get to and from Balboa Park, as well as commute through the area during busy traffic times.
Rapid 215 or Route 7 can be taken directly to the zoo, while Rapid 215 and Route 7 use dedicated bus lanes along Park Boulevard north from downtown, allowing buses to more easily travel past vehicle traffic. In this case, just get off at the “Zoo Place” stop.
All kids 18 and under ride MTS for FREE with the Youth Opportunity Pass on PRONTO.
Biking
For those who live in the surrounding area, “pandamonium” week may be a good time to use new dedicated bike lanes and crosswalks on Park Boulevard. The city said they “provide a safe, convenient option for people traveling to the San Diego Zoo and Balboa Park.”
The panda experience
The zoo is offering three ways for guests to experience the giant pandas. While visiting, you can either obtain a complimentary “Giant Panda Timed Ticket” or join the standby line. Additionally, guests can make reservations for an exclusive 60-minute “Early Morning with Pandas Walking Tour.”
The San Diego Zoo is open daily from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News.