1 / 3Balboa Park Miniature Railroad
📍 Balboa Park, CA
Half-mile miniature train ride operated by the San Diego Zoo, looping through four acres of Balboa Park. Tickets cover ages 1–99; children 5 and under must ride with a paying adult. Located outside the Zoo's exit.
Absolutely killer, fantastic people and set ups. The 11-4 hours can be tough for young families.
🏆 Family Action Verdict
Best for families with children aged 1–7 who are train-obsessed or want a low-key, scenic wind-down after the Zoo. Older children may find the four-minute loop brief, so pair it with the nearby Balboa Park Carousel for a fuller outing.
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💬 What Families Are Saying
View all reviews →216 Google reviews
Jonathan V
“Absolutely killer, fantastic people and set ups. The 11-4 hours can be tough for young families.”
Evan Adams
“Seaworld or whoever runs. This really needs to put some money into it. It's a bunch of weeds overgrown with statuary of some animals. My kid loved it. We did go three times. In a row. But we also have a place in Sonoma where there's Sonoma train town which puts this to shame. It just needs some zhujing. It needs a bit of TLC. It could be so cool.”
Reviews from Google
Overview
The Balboa Park Miniature Railroad runs a four-minute, half-mile loop through four acres of parkland, operated by the San Diego Zoo. The station sits just outside the Zoo's exit, making it a natural add-on after a Zoo visit. Children 5 and younger must board with a paying adult. The route passes through landscaped grounds with animal statuary, and the train draws repeat riders among young children — some families report going around three times in a row.
