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Discounts
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First aid
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Hours
Handicapped parking
Lost and found
Lockers
Stroller rental
Map
Nursing stations
Parking
Payphones
Pets / service animals
Picnic / grill
Rain checks
Smoking
Water fountains
Weather
Wheelchair rental
Where to stay
Still have a question?
The North Carolina Zoo is open every day of the year except Christmas Day. The animals are taken off exhibit at closing regardless of the amount of daylight hours remaining. Ticket sales end 30 minutes prior to the Park's closing. For more detailed information, check Hours and Ticket sections.
The Zoo is occasionally closed due to severe weather days. Please call our 1-800-488-0444 information line to check prior to visiting. You may also check our Plan Your Visit section for more detailed information.
The Zoo has two entrance and exit locations. You may enter or exit at the North America continent or at the Africa continent. The entire Zoo can be seen from either entrance. The transportation service inside the Park stops near both these entrances. One price allows you to enter or exit at either continent on the same day. Please keep your receipt or have your hand stamped to re-enter at no cost and to use the express entry.
Yes. You may write a check, but a current driver's license with photo identification is required. The check must be written for the amount of the purchase. Two party checks are not accepted.
Visa, MasterCard and American Express are accepted at each of the admission gates and gift shops. The food establishments accept cash only.
The Zoo has two ATM locations. One ATM is located inside the Wilderness Café in the North America Plaza and the other is located in the center of the Park inside the Junction Restaurant.
Yes. Starting January 1, 2007, the North Carolina Zoo is a Smoke-free facility. Please observe the Park Policy to only smoke outside Zoo gates. Visitors who wish to smoke may present their daily admission receipt for express re-entry.We appreciate the attention to our concern for a healthy environment.
The Zoo is located in Asheboro, North Carolina. This city is almost in the geographical center of the state. It is approximately 1 hour from Greensboro, home of Piedmont Triad International Airport, and one hour and forty-five minutes from Charlotte, home of Charlotte Douglas International Airport. For more detailed travel information, please see our directions.
Maps are given at each of the entrance location Admissions booths upon purchase of a ticket. A map is also available online.
You can check our current weather and should get a weather report prior to visiting the Zoo. During the summer months the Zoo has hot and humid conditions.
No. Most of our facilities are outside. Due to weather conditions, some animals may not be on exhibit. We do not offer refunds or rain checks.
Coupons valid for discounts on Zoo admission are occasionally available from businesses in the Triad area.
If I buy admission tickets, can I upgrade them to a Society membership? Yes. North Carolina Zoological Society memberships are sold outside each of the entrances (Africa and North America) and may be purchased at either the Wolf Bay Traders or Leopard Spot gift shops. Take your receipt on the date of ticket purchase to either of these locations to upgrade to a Society membership. Society members or pre-ticketed visitors may use the express entry at either entrance. For more information on the benefits of a Society membership, please visit our Society Information section.
Yes. We offer group rates for groups of 15 or more. Our group reservation number is 336-879-7200 or 7205, Monday - Friday, 8 - 5 EST. Groups must make reservations at least 14 days in advance. For more information please see group information. You may also call the zoo's 1.800.488.0444 number and ask for the extensions listed above to access group sales.
Any request for a donation must: 1) Be sent by fax or mail to N.C. Zoo on official letterhead stationary 2) Include the purpose of the request 3) Specify the date of the fundraiser or event. Please include flyers or newspaper articles with requests when possible. E-mail requests cannot be accepted. Requests may be faxed to (336) 879-7208 or mailed to 4401 Zoo Parkway, Asheboro, NC 27205; Attn: Marketing Donation Request. For more information, please call (336) 879-7203.
No. You may enter at one continent and exit at the other continent and use the Zoo's parking lot shuttle service at no cost. The parking lot shuttle service operates from March 15 until November 30 and carries visitors from one entrance location to another. The parking lot shuttle service operates from Spring to Fall, depending upon visitation levels and carries visitors from one entrance location to another.
Yes. A handicapped license plate or hangtag must be visible to use these spaces at either entrance.
Yes. At each entrance's parking lot signs will direct you to the bus and RV parking lots. Our RV parking areas are not equipped for overnight parking or camping. Please do not pull buses or RVs to either entrance for loading and/or unloading of passengers.
No. The Zoo does not provide kennel services nor does it make recommendations on kennels. The only exception to this rule is for service animals accompanying guests with disabilities.
Visitors who wish to bring animals into the Zoo as service animals are asked to bring them to the Visitor Services Office located at each entrance's welcome center. If you have questions please contact us before bringing your animal to the Zoo.
We discourage visitors bringing pets and leaving them in parked vehicles due to the rapid heating of vehicles.
If pets are found left in vehicles and appear to be in distress, they will be removed from the vehicle.
No. Due to a lack of use, the phone company removed the pay phones at each entrance.
Yes. These stations are located in all restrooms (men's and women's restrooms.) The Zoo does not sell diapers.
Each restroom does have a chair that can be used by nursing mothers but privacy screens are not available. However, you may request to use one of our medical units located at each entrance of the Zoo. Please make your request at either entrance's Welcome Center.
Report the lost item at either entrance's welcome center. You will be asked to give a description of the item and where you think you may have lost it. If you have already left the Park, you may call 336-633-7541 to see if the item has been found.
Yes. We have single and double strollers for rent. The single strollers have a 60-lb. weight limit and accommodate one child only. The double strollers have a 100-lb. weight limit and accommodate two children. Each type of stroller has a retractable canopy top and net pouch on the back with a 5-lb. weight limit.
These strollers can be loaded on the Zoo's transportation vehicles. The user must fold all strollers (personal or rental) prior to loading on the trams or buses.
Please keep your receipt and you can get another stroller at no charge if you leave the Park and re-enter on the same day.
Strollers can be rented at either entrance gate at the Uwharrie Gift Shop in North America and at the Safari Gift Shop in Africa.
Yes. The Zoo has a limited number of lockers for rent on a daily basis. The North America entrance has sixteen (16) lockers that measure 16" wide x 22" high x 30" deep and are $1 for the day. Lockers are also located outside the Africa entrance at the Lakeside Restrooms and vary in size. The largest of these lockers are 16” wide x 23” high x 30” deep and we have 36 of these that rent for $1 a day. We have 17 smaller size lockers at this location that measure 13 ½” high x 9” wide x 17” deep and they rent for 50 cents a day. Lockers are available on first come, first serve basis.
No. The Zoo does not allow any open fires nor do we provide grills at the picnic areas.
Yes. The Zoo has picnic areas located outside of the Park at both the North America and Africa entrances.
Health Department regulations do not allow food or drink to be brought into the park. Coolers and other picnic items are not allowed inside the Park.
Feel free to leave the Park at any point during the day and picnic at one of our outside locations.
Just remember to get your hand stamped or to have your receipt ready to show to re-enter the Park at no cost and to use our express entry.
The Oak Hill picnic area in Africa must be reserved through Group Sales. Call 1-800-488-0444 or 336-879-7203 to reserve this area. Price varies according to the picnic package chosen.
There is a First Aid Station at each entrance. The Zoo employs Emergency Medical Technicians during park hours. The Zoo does experience a large number of stinging insects such as wasps and yellow jackets. Individuals that are allergic to these types of stings should bring their epinephrine kit with them. Visitors should pay special attention to trash containers in the Park. These containers attract these types of insects due to the food and drink items in them.
Yes. You will need to push and hold the button for at least 5 seconds for water to appear.
Guests are encouraged to bring their own wheelchairs to the zoo. The zoo has a very limited number of electric wheelchairs available for a rental fee of $25/day. A very limited number of manual wheelchairs are available for a rental fee of $6/day. All wheelchairs, electric or manual, are available on a first come first serve basis. Entry refunds are not provided if wheelchairs are not available for rent. Reservations are not taken.
Wheelchairs can be obtained at the Uwharrie Gift Shop in North America or at the Safari Gift Shop in Africa.
The majority of the terrain inside the park is gently rolling. Electric Convenience Vehicles (ECVs) cannot be operated in the nocturnal area of the Sonora Desert exhibit due to lighting.
The SimEx Reactor Ride is not ADA accessible. There are four tram stops in the Park, one at each entrance, one at the center at the Park at Junction Plaza and, one at Prairie. Our Zoo is a walking Zoo and is located in the Uwharrie Mountain Range. The majority of the terrain inside the park is gently rolling.
If you cannot find the answer to your question here, please contact us. We're sorry, but due to the large volume of e-mail received daily, we cannot promise an immediate response to your inquiry. Please allow 3 - 5 business days for a response.
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N.C. Zoo is a member institution of AZA and an agency of the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources, William G. Ross Jr. Secretary; Michael F. Easley, Governor. A part of the North Carolina Government portal.
The Zoo is closed Christmas day and during severe weather. Call our information line at: 1-800-488-0444.
