Seasonal Tips

Holidays are some of our favorite days; we love sharing them with our members and guests! The holidays listed below can also be our largest attendance days. If you visit on a holiday, know we will be more crowded than normal. Parking may get full by 1:00 p.m., and wait times for admissions, attractions, and dining will increase. Plan to arrive early!

High Attendance

• Easter/Spring Break 
• Memorial Day Weekend
• Labor Day Weekend

Parking 

• There are two entrances to the Zoo: North America and Africa. You can see the entire Zoo by entering either location.
• Parking lots fill quickly. The North America parking lot is smaller and often fills first. Once full, the remaining traffic is directed to our Africa parking lot.
• Note that North America parking lot sections have signs with letters and animal names, while Africa parking lot sections have numbers. 
• Take a photo of where you parked! 

Strollers

• Bring your stroller, wheelchair, or ECV. We recommend bringing smaller strollers to navigate the Zoo and more easily load your stroller on the Zoo's transportation. Strollers are allowed on Zoo Transportation, and we ask our guests to empty, fold, and load their strollers on the buses and trams. Our staff will assist if requested.

Rentals

• A limited number of manual and electric wheelchairs, and double strollers are available for rent on a first-come, first-served basis and tend to rent quickly. Note that we are unable to take reservations.

Enter and Exit as a Herd

Have a plan, and stay in touch. If you are meeting others at the Zoo, have a designated meeting location and an alternative meeting location for entry and exit. Full parking lots and/or directed parking may change your meeting location.

• Cell service can be spotty, and there are no public address systems or public phones at the Zoo.
• Keep your receipt! By showing it, you can enter and exit the Zoo free of charge on the day of your ticket purchase. Your receipt also shows where you originally entered, which can help you remember where you parked.
• We suggest you travel to the opposite continent from where you entered and explore it first.
  • If you enter Africa, take a bus or tram to the North America tram stop. Explore North America, and you will end your visit at the Africa Entrance (Akiba Market) where you entered. This will save you steps and time, especially when you get ready to leave at the end of the day!

  • If you enter North America, take a bus or tram to Junction Plaza in the enter of the Zoo. From here, you can explore Africa, which is a loop. Once you have visited Africa, you will end at Junction Plaza, and can then visit North America. You will end up at the North America Plaza and parking lots. 

  • These tips will save you steps and time, especially when you get ready to leave at the end of the day!

Transportation

• Free trams and buses operate inside the Zoo to help you better navigate our large Park! Note that most animals are not visible from trams and buses.

• Your feet are your best transportation! Our Zoo is a walking Zoo, so wear comfortable shoes.

• We recommend that you utilize the trams and buses early in the day as lines and wait times may increase after 2 p.m.

Picnic Locations

• Bring a picnic for your flock! Public picnic areas are located adjacent to the North America and Africa entrances, and both sites overlook beautiful lakes and have picnic tables and nearby restrooms. Please note that grilling is not allowed. 
   
• No picnics or coolers are allowed inside the Zoo (or, past Admissions). You are welcome to bring in a non-alcoholic, bottled beverage. A reasonable amount of snacks are also allowed.

Check Your Pack!

• Lost and found stations (property and people) are located at the Guest Services Offices in North America and Africa plazas. 

Parking and Park Entry

In the months of April and May, both North America and Africa parking lots and admission gates are open. Admissions/ticket sales for Park entry are open 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. each day during the spring season. Please note the Zoo closes at 5:00 p.m.

If you are planning a spring trip to the Zoo, we suggest you come early in the week or arrive after lunch on a weekday. A large number of school groups tend to visit Thursdays and Fridays.

Rentals

Rental strollers and wheelchairs are available at the Earth Explorer and Safari gift shops just inside the North America and Africa entrance gates. First-come, first-served.

Transportation

Free transportation is available inside the Park between our North America, Junction Plaza, and Africa tram stops throughout the fall season and run approximately every 15 to 20 minutes, depending on visitation. We also operate a shuttle service from parking lot to parking lot from 11:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Strollers and wagons must be empty and folded before boarding the shuttle, and we ask guests to load their own strollers.  

Seeing the Animals

Zoo animals tend to be more active in cooler temperatures. We are a walking Zoo with five miles of walking trails. The Zoo's transportation system takes you to each tram stop, but animals are not visible from the tram.

Experiences

Most of the Zoo's seasonal attractions are open in April and May, depending on the weather. The Kaleidoscope Butterfly Garden opens in May. Kidzone, Garden Friends playground, and Gorilla playscape are open year round. 

Dress Appropriately

Dress for outdoor weather conditions and wear comfortable walking shoes. Spring can be chilly, so bring clothes you can layer depending on your comfort level.

Parking and Park Entry

From June through August, both North America and Africa parking lots and admission gates are open. Admissions/ticket sales for Park entry are open 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. each day during the summer season. Please note the Zoo closes at 5:00 p.m.

Rentals

Rental strollers and wheelchairs are available at the Earth Explorer and Safari gift shops located just inside the North America and Africa entrance gates.

Transportation

Free transportation is available inside the Park between our North America, Junction Plaza and Africa tram stops throughout the summer season and run approximately every 15 to 30 minutes, depending on visitation. We also operate a shuttle service from parking lot to parking lot from 11:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Strollers and wagons must be empty and folded prior to boarding the shuttle.  

Seeing the Animals

Our animals may seek shaded areas during extreme heat and may not be as visible to our guests during this time. We would suggest arriving early before temperatures rise. The Zoo's transportation system takes you to each tram stop, but most animals are not visible from the tram. 

Experiences

The Zoo's seasonal attractions are open June through August, depending on the weather. Kidzone, Garden Friends playground, and Gorilla playscape are open year-round. 

Dress Appropriately

We are a walking Zoo, so remember to wear comfortable shoes! If you plan to participate in Air Hike, this activity requires closed-toe shoes and no dresses or skirts.

Keep Cool and Hydrated

Walk at a relaxed pace, rest often, and drink plenty of water. Bottled water is permitted inside the Zoo, and we highly recommend bringing your refillable water bottle. Water refill stations are available in four locations:

• Wild Burger Cafe (North America)
• Near the black bear habitat (North America)
• Prairie Outpost (North America)
• Near Watani Grasslands (Africa)

Look for our misting stations throughout the park. Misting stations are available in four locations:

• Kidzone (North America)
• Near polar bear (North America)
• Treehouse Trek (Africa)
• Near elephant (Africa)

Parking and Park Entry

In the months of September and October, both entrances and parking lots are open. Admissions/ticket sales for Park entry are open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day during the fall season. Please note the Zoo closes at 5 p.m.

Rentals

Rental strollers and wheelchairs are available at the Earth Explorer and Safari gift shops located just inside the North America and Africa entrance gates.

Transportation

Free transportation is available inside the Park between our North America, Junction Plaza and Africa tram stops throughout the fall season and run approximately every 15 to 30 minutes, depending on visitation. We also operate a shuttle service from parking lot to parking lot from 11:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.  Strollers and wagons must be empty and folded prior to boarding the shuttle.

Seeing the Animals

Zoo animals tend to be more active in cooler temperatures. We are a walking Zoo with five miles of walking trails. The Zoo's transportation system takes you to each tram stop, but most animals are not visible from the tram. 

Experiences

All of the Zoo's seasonal attractions are open September through October, depending upon weather. Kidzone and Garden Friends playground are open year round.

Dress Appropriately

Make sure you come prepared and dress appropriately for your visit with us in the fall. Temperatures can vary on a daily basis. We recommend you dress in layers and have comfortable footwear.

Parking and Park Entry

The Africa parking lots and admission gates are closed from November to March. On some weekends, it may open if attendance is high. During these months, all guests should plan to park and enter/exit the Zoo through North America. The entire Zoo, including the Africa habitats, may be accessed through the North America entrance.

Admissions/ticket sales for Park entry are open 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day during the winter season. Please note the Zoo closes at 4 p.m. The Zoo is closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day.

Rentals

Rental strollers and wheelchairs are available at the Earth Explorer gift shop just inside the North America entrance gates.

Transportation

Free transportation is available inside the Park between our North America, Junction Plaza and Africa tram stops throughout the winter. The heated 17 passenger buses run approximately every 15 to 20 minutes for your convenience.

Seeing the Animals

When temperatures are below 45 degrees, many African animal species are allowed access to their indoor heated quarters for comfort. We recommend in the winter months that you start your visit by exploring North America before moving to the Africa side of the Park. As temperatures rise in the afternoon, more of the African animals may come out and be visible to guests. The Desert (North America) is a beautiful indoor heated space to visit along the way.

Experiences

The Zoo's seasonal attractions are closed and will reopen in April. Kidzone, Gorilla Playscape, and Garden Friends playground are open year-round.

Dress Appropriately

Make sure you come prepared and dress appropriately for your visit with us in the winter. We recommend you dress in layers and have comfortable and warm footwear.