Belmont Park is a historic San Diego landmark that provides a fun-filled day for all ages. The nearly 100-year-old beachfront amusement park in Mission Beach is perfect for an action-packed half-day or longer if you include lunch and the beach.
Various rides, including the famed Giant Dipper Roller Coaster and tamer rides for little kids, ensure something for everyone. There’s also a small zipline, a climbing wall, an escape room, mini golf, and more. Or you can head to the game arcade indoors for respite from the sunshine. During fall, you can drive the go-kart track, but The Plunge swimming pool and its fantastic inflatable obstacle course are open year-round.
As you can see, activity costs can add up. Our guide to Belmont Park guide covers things to do in more detail, including ride age and height requirements. This article focuses on how to get the best deal on Belmont Park San Diego tickets.
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Belmont Park San Diego Ticket Prices and Options
First, let me say that Belmont Park is FREE to enter. You can enjoy walking around the park if you don’t want to go on rides. But if you do (and the rides are the reason most people go to Belmont Park!), that is when you have to pay. Below are all the ticket options and details.
You used to have to be 48” or taller to purchase a Ride & Play wristband, but Belmont Park recently changed the rules to a one-price-for-all. Now, children under 48″ also need to purchase either a Ride & Play wristband or a Universal Ticket Bundle option (listed below) if they want to go on multiple rides.
However, if you think your little one might like a ride or two, you can also buy single-ride tickets, which you must buy at the main ticket booth onsite. They are NOT available to buy online.
An example is the Liberty Carousel, which requires five tickets for one ride. Five tickets cost $5, so you pay at the ticket booth and redeem your five tickets on the ride.
Your best bet is to check all the ride details in this post if you have little kids, as it lists all the age and height requirements.
Ride & Play Pass — What Most People Buy
Priced at $65, the Ride & Play Pass provides unlimited access to all the park’s rides and attractions for the entire day. The wristbands are both convenient and cost-effective and the ideal option for anyone planning a full day who loves going on rides over and over.
Can’t wait to go back? Ride & Play wristbands can be upgraded to an annual pass at the main ticket booth on the day you visit.
Note: We REALLY like annual passes for residents who visit twice or more in a year. More on these below.
Universal Ticket Bundles
Belmont Park also offers ticket bundles for visitors who prefer to customize their experience by choosing specific rides or attractions. Check my article on all the rides to see how many you think you and/or your family might like first.
This option adds flexibility to your day and lets you tailor your visit to your interests, but it’s not the best value if you plan to stay for a few hours or more. The pricing is pretty straightforward:
- 16 ride tickets for $16
- 30 ride tickets for $30
- 70 ride tickets for $60
But like most fairgrounds, multiple tickets can be required for one ride. For example, the 16 for $16 Bundle above gets you just two rides on the Giant Dipper Roller Coaster.
Unfortunately, the website doesn’t list how many tickets equal one ride on the other attractions, but the Giant Dipper deal gives you a good idea. That’s why, if you want to go on multiple rides, you are probably better off investing in a Ride & Play unlimited pass.
A few things to note:
- The Arcade, Midway Games, and Escapology are NOT included in any Bundle offers.
- More than one person can use Universal Ticket Bundles. Ride & Play wristbands can’t, and if you’re caught sharing, your wristband can be confiscated. That is precisely why a photo is required to buy a Ride & Play wristband.
- You can opt to get a physical ticket for your Universal Bundle at the park’s main ticket office, but bear in mind that once it’s printed out, the digital ticket is no longer valid—so hang onto it!
- If you want to add more tickets while there, you can reload your Universal Bundle in person at the main ticket office.
- Universal Bundles are non-refundable but never expire and can be redeemed any day.
Belmont Game Card
This card replaces traditional tokens and coins, simplifying the gaming experience. It’s valid in the Arcade, Lazerblast, and at additional games in the park. The Belmont Game Card is a hassle-free way to take advantage of the wide range of classic and modern arcade games, and you can choose from several price points to suit your needs.
Options are $20, $40, $60, or $10, and each price point comes with an increased amount of extra credits added. The more you pay, the more bonus credits you get.
All The Ways to Save Money on Belmont Park Tickets
1. Online Through Belmont Park
It pays to buy Ride & Play Passes online in advance on the Belmont Park website. You can save up to $20 per pass by doing so. However, online savings are only on select days and vary in the discount, so check the park website before your visit.
Wednesdays and Thursdays usually offer the best savings, even during summer break. However, the discounts are only up to $15. The $20 savings are generally in September when most kids return to school.
2. Discounted Ride & Play Passes
With my special discounted rate of $60, you can save $5 per Ride & Play wristband every day of the week. This savings makes sense on peak days when Belmont Park’s savings are also only $5. Many people will add this to their carts at the same time they purchase other discounted tickets.
3. Go City San Diego Pass
Belmont Park is just one of the 55+ top San Diego attractions included with the Go City San Diego sightseeing pass options: the All-Inclusive Pass and the Explorer Pass.
It is only valid for the Ride & Play Pass, so it is the perfect choice for those planning a whole day at the park.
You can learn more about the popular pass in our Go City San Diego review. In a nutshell, the All-Inclusive Pass allows you to visit unlimited attractions on the list across your chosen number of days. With the Explorer Pass, you decide how many attractions you want to see and then have 60 days to visit them.
Both passes work great for Belmont Park. Which you choose just depends on your vacation itinerary and your love of the park!
You not only save money by combining Belmont Park with multiple other attractions using the Go City San Diego pass, but it’s really easy to use. Download the Go City app, sync the pass you’ve purchased online, and show it when you arrive at Belmont Park. You’re good to go!
TWO WAYS TO SAVE ON GO CITY SAN DIEGO
Use promo code GOSDO5LJM to apply an extra 5% off ALL Go San Diego sightseeing passes when you buy through Go City! This discount stacks on top of sale rates!
Now to Sunday, October 27th, Go City will offer deep discounts—as low as $209 for a 7-Day All-Inclusive Pass (vs. a typical sale price of $374) and $64 for a 7-Choice Explore Pass (vs. a typical sale price of $159)—on its San Diego Explorer and All-Inclusive passes for kids (ages 3-12). Non-activated passes are valid for 24 months starting on the date of purchase.
Also, check aResTravel, where All-Inclusive and Explorer Passes are sometimes also cheaper but right now the above sale rates is probably better.
(Pass has limited value for families at many attractions during Kids Free October in San Diego — we recommend individual tickets during this timeframe instead.)
4. Season Passes
For those who can’t get enough of all that Belmont Park has to offer, their Season Pass provides unlimited access to the park throughout the year. This is an excellent choice for locals or frequent visitors looking to make the most of their visits without the expense and hassle of purchasing tickets each time.
There are three tiered price options, and purchasing a Season Pass offers excellent value, considering they start at just $99. But the details are all-important and will affect your choice of pass. For a full breakdown, check the park website, but here is a helpful guide of what you get for each price point:
- $99: One free ‘Buddy’ ticket, various discounts throughout the park, including to the Plunge Pool. Note, though, that this pass DOES NOT include admission on any Saturdays or Sundays. It also has a significant amount of blackout dates, including many days around Thanksgiving, Christmas, half of April, and the whole of July.
- $135: Includes the same blackout dates as above, but admission is included on select weekends. There are slightly bigger discounts, and you get two free Buddy tickets.
- $165: This bumper pass used to be $185. It’s now a great deal for only $30 more than the $135 option. It includes all weekend and holiday admission dates, with no blackouts. Plus, you get higher discounts, various exclusive passes, and four Buddy tickets.
Season Passes can be used as a digital pass via your phone and scanned at any ride you go on. Or, you can redeem it at the ticket office for a physical Ride & Play wristband for the day to safely tuck your phone away while on rides.
Note: Buddy Passes are only valid on very select dates throughout the year, usually one day per month. Check the online for the exact dates.
5. Groupon
Occasionally, Belmont Park tickets appear on Groupon at a discounted rate. These offers provide a great opportunity to save, though they’re only available sporadically, so check the site close to your visit. Always check the expiration date of the deal.
6. Group Ticket Savings
As with most other theme parks, purchasing tickets as a group can significantly reduce the per-person cost at Belmont Park. The group savings apply to the Ride and Play Wristband only for groups of 12 or more guests. Everyone gets unlimited rides and attractions included for $54.95 per person.
Note: This deal excludes Arcade, Escapology, and Premium Attractions. Height and safety restrictions apply.
7. Sunset Savings at Belmont Park
This is an excellent choice for visitors who prefer to visit the park later in the day when the sun is setting and the price is cheaper.
The Sunset Savings deal is available all year round. For the last 3 hours before the park closes (this varies by date, so check the website). For example, the park closes at 11 p.m. in the summer, so the deal is from 8–11 p.m. You’ll get $20 off a Ride & Play Passes for unlimited rides and great deals on food and drinks at onsite eateries.
You can only buy the Sunset Savings tickets at the park, so there are no advance online prices. Therefore, the deal is that you get $20 off the total cost of a Ride & Play wristband ($64.99), so $44.99 all year round.
Note: It can get a little rough around the edges here later at night. We don’t let our teenagers hang around the area much after sunset.
Tips for Visiting Belmont Park
- Belmont Park has many snack stops to keep your energy up. There is everything from Hot Dogs on a Stick, burgers, and Pizza Port to sugary treats at the Sweet Shoppe.
- The park has three restaurant options: Draft, which yep, has a great beer list and stunning views. Cocktails, burgers, and live music at Beach House. Or head to the rooftop terrace at Cannonball for sushi.
- Belmont Park’s heated freshwater indoor swimming pool, The Plunge, is definitely worth squeezing into the day. The inflatable obstacle course is a firm favorite with kids. Entry is included with some Season Passes, but if you don’t have one, your best bet is to buy separate tickets just for the pool, which cost just $15.
- Because Belmont Park is located in a prime beachfront spot in the heart of Mission Bay, parking can be a challenge. Four free public lots are available for guests, but not surprisingly, these spots are taken quickly. It’s advisable to find free street parking further away and take an Uber or Lyft.
