Hours & Days |Visitor Guidelines | Parking & Welcome Center | Accessibility | Service Animals | Photography & Filming
Visitor Guidelines / Garden Rules
In order to ensure the health and safety of our guests and our plant collection, we ask everyone to follow a few simple rules.
- San Diego Botanic Garden is an outdoor recreation facility and operates according to current County and State guidelines. In accordance with guidance from the County of San Diego and the California Department of Public Health, SDBG encourages visitors to wear masks indoors.
- All visitors must remain on trails, pathways, and designated play structures during their visit.
- Any damage, handling, or removal of plants or plant material is prohibited.
- Do not disturb wildlife by touching, moving or feeding.
- Outside plants or plant material, such as unapproved plant donations, flower arrangements, or bouquets are not permitted at the Garden. To receive approval for a plant donation please use our “Contact Us” option and select “Donate a Plant.”
- Bikes, scooters, skateboards, roller skates, motorized vehicles and similar recreational items are not permitted in the Garden.
- Confetti, balloons, drones, remote-control toys and any open flames are not permitted.
- Smoking, vaping, e-cigarettes, alcohol, or any other drug use is prohibited in the Garden and parking lots.
- Professional Photoshoots or Videography require permits ahead of visit. Please visit Photography, Videography & Filming or use the “Contact Us” option and select “Photo Shoots.”
- For your comfort, we recommend that you bring water, a hat and sunscreen for your visit. The Garden sells drinks and snacks onsite in two locations: the Welcome Center and Coffee Cart.
- Food and non-alcoholic beverages are allowed for general visits in all areas except the indoor Dickinson Family Education Conservatory. Outside food and beverage policy does change based on specific events. Please check the Exhibitions & Public Programs page.
- Mobility aids such as wheelchairs, scooters, walkers, and canes are welcome. Please view our Accessibility section below for more information on accessible routes.
Parking & Welcome Center
The main SDBG parking lot is located on the corner of Quail Gardens Drive and Ecke Ranch Road. Overflow parking is available in the adjacent lot at San Dieguito Heritage Museum. Parking is free for most events.
The Garden entrance, welcome center, gift shop and plant shop are located at the Dickinson Family Education Conservatory. Lost and found is located at the welcome center.
For questions about general information, ticketing, photo shoots, mobility and accessibility, and other visitor services, contact Visitor Services.
Accessibility in the Garden
San Diego Botanic Garden is situated in the rolling hills of Encinitas, California. The Garden has many trails at various inclines. There is a steep incline through the center of the Garden as well as several dirt pathways throughout our 37 acres that are not considered ADA accessible. Please review our Garden Map for the paved and unpaved pathways. Visitor Services is available daily (except Tuesdays) for more details and are always happy to help you plan your visit.
Available Wheelchairs: The Garden has a limited number of wheelchairs available for loan on a first come, first served basis at our Welcome Center. To borrow a wheelchair please alert our Visitor Services staff by using the “Contact Us” option and select “Visitor Services” or call (760) 436-3036 x 231 and we can confirm if one is available. Wheelchair loans are free. Visitors need to leave a valid government-issued ID at the Welcome Center until the wheelchair is returned.
Garden Shuttle: The Garden offers a shuttle service run by our volunteers. The shuttle provides pick up and drop off at select locations throughout the Garden. Shuttle service varies based on driver availability. Visitors can confirm shuttle service on the day of the visit by using the “Contact Us” option and select “Visitor Services” or call (760) 436-3036 x 231 before arriving or once on site. Foldable mobility aids such as walkers and manual wheelchairs can be loaded onto the shuttle.
Service Animal / Pet Policy
Only service animals, as defined by the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA), are welcome in the Garden. A service animal is defined as “a dog that has been individually trained to do work or perform tasks for an individual with a disability. The task(s) performed by the dog must be directly related to the person’s disability. Service animals must be harnessed, leashed or tethered while in public places unless these devices interfere with the service animal’s work or the individual’s disability prevents using these devices. If a service animal is out of control and the handler does not take effective action to control it, staff may request that the animal be removed from the premises.” Emotional support, therapy, comfort or companion animals are not considered service animals under the ADA.
California state law prohibits leaving animals in any unattended motor vehicle that endangers their health or well-being. SDBG will expel all violators and report them to the authorities.
Photography and Filming
By visiting San Diego Botanic Garden, you acknowledge that you may be photographed or filmed, and you hereby give permission and grant the perpetual right to SDBG to use your likeness, image, photo (collectively, “image”), without compensation, for broadcast or exhibition in any medium and to put the finished pictures/recordings to any legitimate use without limitation or reservation.
A permit is required for any private, professional or staged photo/video/films shoots (e.g., wedding photos, family portraits, business portraits), as well as for commercial photo/video/film shoots (e.g., fashion shoots, product commercials) in the Garden.
San Diego Botanic Garden is a DRONE FREE ZONE. Drones are not permitted in the Garden, unless SDBG authorizes a licensed, insured operator specifically for a paid shoot.
Information & Pricing