Document and Entity Information - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2021	Feb. 22, 2022	Jun. 30, 2021
Cover [Abstract]
Document Type	10-K
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Dec. 31, 2021
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2021
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Entity Registrant Name	SeaWorld Entertainment, Inc.
Entity Central Index Key	0001564902
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	Yes
Entity Public Float			$ 2,560,513,794
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		75,649,342
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Small Business	false
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Title of 12(b) Security	Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share
Trading Symbol	SEAS
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
Entity File Number	001-35883
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	DE
Entity Tax Identification Number	27-1220297
Entity Address, Address Line One	6240 Sea Harbor Drive
Entity Address, City or Town	Orlando
Entity Address, State or Province	FL
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	32821
City Area Code	(407)
Local Phone Number	226-5011
Documents Incorporated by Reference	Portions of the registrant’s definitive proxy statement to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission relating to the 2022 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, which statement will be filed pursuant to Regulation 14A not later than 120 days after the end of the fiscal year covered by this Annual Report on Form 10-K, are incorporated by reference into Part III of this report.
Document Annual Report	true
ICFR Auditor Attestation Flag	true
Document Transition Report	false
Auditor Firm ID	34
Auditor Name	Deloitte & Touche LLP
Auditor Location	Tampa, FL