LA to SD Zoo, traffic/crowds
 

Live in LA (only for a couple months) and my family is visiting (driving from Michigan). We've all decided the SD Zoo is something we want to do. We can go either on a Saturday, Sunday, or Monday. What's our best bet as far as crowds. Not sure if the weekend crowd will be bigger than the weekday crowd because school is now out. Thanks in advance.

The zoo is so large that it never really feels overwhelmingly crowded. If you get there by mid morning parking is easy.

I'd go Sunday or Monday. Sunday will be less traffic (usually). If you go early Monday you may encounter SD commute traffic.

The zoo is large, but it can, and does, feel very crowded during the summer months. The weekends are always busier, so I would try for Monday. You'll probably miss the early morning rush hour traffic and as the Zoo is open late you can leave after the evening traffic.

I did this from Santa Monica at the beginning of last July on a weekday w/my family. I suggest getting to the zoo as early as possible, esp. if you are going to ride the cool double decker tram bus that takes you on a narrated tour of the zoo (HIGHLY recommend doing this in summer- hot and zoo is too big to walk the whole thing). The lines for that bus get longer as the day goes on, and it is hot standing in line (at least it was for us, and we only waited 30 min. right after the zoo opened). It was crowded enough for us on a Thurs.; I would not do it on a weekend as I have heard from friends who live in La Jolla that it is more crowded on weekends.

Living in S.D., I would go on a Monday if mid-week isn't an option. I agree to try to be there when the zoo opens if possible and definitely the double decker bus. There are 2 buses, a 30 min. ride (no stops) and one that you can get on/off. I don't know if the one with stops gives you the same info as the non-stop but your ticket will be good for both. When the weather cools (late fall/winter/spring), I would also highly reccomend the Wild Animal Park (part of S.D. Zoological Society).

We ended up going on Monday. We left mid morning from Los Angeles and beat the traffic in both LA and SD. We stayed until 5ish, and again, beat the traffic in both LA and SD. Had a great time. Crowds were minimal, short wait for bus, skyfari and food.

Glad you had a good time at the Zoo and that you had an easy drive both ways.

I took my mum to LAX yesterday (Saturday) from San Diego. It took and hour and thirty-five minutes to get there and THREE hours to get back. UGH!