Sesame Place San Diego is the only Sesame Street theme park on the West Coast, set on Entertainment Circle in Chula Vista’s Otay Ranch area beside the North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre. It opened in 2022 on the former Aquatica San Diego site and combines gentle rides, waterslides, and character encounters designed for preschoolers and young grade-schoolers.
Families walk a recreated Sesame Street neighborhood where Elmo, Cookie Monster, Abby Cadabby, and Big Bird pose for photos. The daily Neighborhood Parade draws crowds along its route, and stage shows run on a posted schedule. Height requirements on most dry rides are low enough for toddlers. The water areas, inherited from the park’s Aquatica days, include slides, a lazy river, and splash zones that fill quickly on hot afternoons. Sesame Place is also a Certified Autism Center, with quiet rooms and sensory guides available.
Visitor Highlights & Practical Info
The park closed abruptly in late 2025 and reopened in spring 2026 on a new seasonal schedule. It now operates only on select dates, so confirm the official operating calendar before you go, especially in autumn. Buy tickets online for lower prices, arrive at opening to meet characters before lines build, and choose weekdays outside school breaks. Pack swimsuits and sunscreen. The park sits off Olympic Parkway near I-805, about 20 minutes south of downtown San Diego. Driving is the practical option, and parking costs extra.
