Balboa Park Miniature Railroad & Historic 1910 Carousel
Visit on your scheduleDec 1 – Feb 28 · 11:00 AM – 4:30 PM · Weekends & holiday school breaks daily; 11:00 AM – 4:30 PM (weather permitting)
Balboa Park (outside Zoo Entrance)1800 Zoo Pl, San Diego, CA 92101 · 1.5 mi approx. from San DiegoDirections
All ages; quintessential toddler and young child tradition; parents ride alongside toddlers
From $3$3 per train ride; $3 per carousel ride; free for infants under 1 year
About this adventure
Operating outside the San Diego Zoo exit in Balboa Park, this charming G-16 scale miniature train has delighted generations of children since 1948. Families board open-air passenger coaches for a delightful 3-minute, half-mile loop through four acres of eucalyptus and cypress groves. Just steps away, the historic 1910 Herschell-Spillman Carousel features 52 hand-carved wooden animals—including horses, camels, giraffes, and dragons—spinning to classic military band organ music. Children under 42 inches can ride with a parent, and paved plaza paths accommodate strollers.
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