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Coming to Lightscape and already bought tickets? Please be sure to check your email inbox (or junk folder) for your original message from San Diego Botanic Garden (visitorservices@sdbgarden.org) confirming the purchase of your tickets.
Here are a few helpful tips for your upcoming visit:
Please arrive 15 minutes before your scheduled entry time to allow for parking and check-in. Your entry time is a 15-minute window from the time printed on your tickets (i.e., 5:30 – 5:45 p.m.). After you are admitted, you may stay as long as you would like, or until 10 p.m., when Lightscape closes.
Late arrivals cannot be guaranteed and will be granted based on capacity. Please be aware that there is no entry past 8:45 p.m.
Location Information:
Lightscape takes place at San Diego Botanic Garden, located in Encinitas, North County San Diego.
Two entrances will be open, 300 Quail Gardens Dr (main daytime entrance) and 230 Quail Gardens Dr (special event entrance). Both lead to two parking lots (4 total), all lots lead to separate entrances of our one-mile loop. For more information about parking, please see the Parking and Traffic Advisory section below.
Nightly Schedule:
- Parking Lots Open: 4:30 p.m.
- Lightscape Trail Open: 5:00 p.m.
- Last Entry Time: 8:30 p.m.
- Parking Lots Access Ends: 8:30 p.m.
- Parking Lots Closes: 10:15 p.m.
Please see below for important information about parking, ride-share, Garden policies and more.
Entry and Gates
Ready to go? Please have your entire group together and have your mobile or printed admission ticket and parking ready to be scanned at the gate. There are 3 entry points to the Lightscape trail. View Lightscape Map HERE.
Parking and Traffic Advisory
Parking is not included in Lightscape ticketing with the exception of Flex tickets and is required for all vehicles. Advanced parking is $10 on Regular and Off Peak Nights and $15 on Peak Nights per standard vehicle. Your parking purchase will be verified once you have parked at the trail entrance.
Advance parking can be purchased online until 12 am the day before your visits. If you purchase parking day of or onsite, the fee is $20 on Regular and Off Peak Nights and $25 on Peak Nights as space allows. There is no parking lot re-entry.
To purchase advance parking online, please click the link in your tickets confirmation email, it will direct you to the same night of your purchased ticket.
All those with Handicap parking and mobility issues please let our parking attendants know so they can direct you to designated parking with easier access to the Blue Entrance path.
Free bike parking is available at the 300 Quail Gardens Drive entrance (Yellow Lot) which is the regular daytime entrance.
Attending Lightscape with a Group, but Arriving in Separate Cars?
There are 4 parking lots and 3 entrances for Lightscape. If you are coming from the south, the parking entrance will be 230 Quail Gardens Drive. This will be the Orange and Blue parking lots. If you are coming from the north the closest entry will be 300 Quail Gardens Drive. This is the Yellow and Red parking lots. Please adhere to the parking attendants for entry.
If your group is arriving in separate cars, it is helpful to drive in together (caravan style) and let the parking attendants know the number of cars in your group so you are sent to the same lot and can begin at the same trail entrance. If you end up in different locations, our staff can help with instructions on how best to reconnect.
Remember to make note of which lot you park in: Yellow, Red, Orange or Blue. The trail is 1 mile long and goes in a 1 way direction. There are plenty of signs to help orient you once onsite.
Ride-share and Drop Off are at 300 Quail Gardens Drive. This is San Diego Botanic Garden’s Yellow Lot, (regular daytime entrance). Please be ready to show your ride-share receipt at the trail entrance to Lightscape.
View Lightscape Map HERE.
Cashless
San Diego Botanic Garden is a cashless venue. All major credit card, debit and mobile payments are accepted throughout the venue.
Food and Drinks
Lightscape features multiple concession stands along the trail to purchase warm food, snacks, and seasonal alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. Gluten-free and vegetarian options are available. Only credit or debit cards will be accepted, no cash. No outside food and beverage allowed, view menu HERE.
Visitor Information
For additional information, please visit our FAQ Page.
The Garden has a strict NO PET policy for the safety of your pet, our living collection, and our visitors. Service Animals, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), are welcome in the Garden. You must check in with Visitor Services upon arrival and identify your service animal for entry.
If you have questions, please email Visitor Services at lightscape@sdbgarden.org. We will respond to you within 72 hours of your email.
Exchanges, Service Fee and Day Of Prices
All tickets are sold as final sale: tickets are nonrefundable and non-exchangeable for dates/times. A $3 Service Fee per ticket is added to all transactions (online and in person). Ticket prices increase $5 for adults and $2 for children on the day of the event (online and in-person). Ages 2 and under are free. Day Of Parking increases from $10 to $20 for Regular and Off Peak nights and increases to $15 and $25 on Peak nights. No refunds will be made.
Cancelation Policy and Weather
PLEASE NOTE: This event will continue in inclement weather. In the event or threat of severe weather causing the Garden to close, visitors will be notified about rescheduling options via the email address and phone number provided in your registration. Canceled and unused tickets cannot be transferred to other events. Follow us on social media for day-of weather updates.
For further assistance with booking or questions please contact our Visitor Services team at Lightscape@sdbgarden.org or 760-436-3036 X 0.