St. Louis Zoo
St. Louis Zoo
4.5
09:00 - 17:00
Monday
09:00 - 17:00
Tuesday
09:00 - 17:00
Wednesday
09:00 - 17:00
Thursday
09:00 - 17:00
Friday
09:00 - 17:00
Saturday
09:00 - 17:00
Sunday
09:00 - 17:00
About
Visitors are wowed by this zoo that has 6,600 animals and 15 major exhibit areas.
Duration: More than 3 hours
Meets animal welfare guidelines
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See what travellers are saying
- Lisa KRingle, Wisconsin39 contributionsGreat zoo!The St Louis Zoo was so much fun! Hippos and the penguins were the best exhibits we saw. The hippos were swimming around and interacting with the zoo goers. The elephants were also great. We enjoyed seeing a few different animals than the have seen recently in zoosVisited March 2023Travelled with familyWritten 25 March 2023
- Juliet GOrinda, California70 contributionsOne of the best zoos in the countryHuge zoo with massive collection of animals which appear well cared for. Admission is free. Recommend devoting a whole day because short of that and you will miss many of the exhibits. The variety was excellent. Staff was friendly. Lots of walking. There are parking lots and street parking. Lots fill up fast during spring break. So much to see and lots and lots of walking.Visited April 2023Travelled with familyWritten 1 April 2023
- Makisupa766 contributionsExcellent zooThis zoo is great! It is free, only the animal shows and special exhibits cost money, currently that is a dinosaur exhibit, it cost six dollars a person, we passed, as I am not into paying six bucks to walk around looking at dinosaur statues. However, all the regular exhibits are enough! Check out the penguins and primates! They also, have birds, insects, reptiles and most are inside. My family went in early spring, arrived at opening and since it was like 55 degrees outside, there were no crowds, even on a Saturday! Also, despite the cloudy, cool weather, we still got to see several outside areas. Also, there are volunteers everwhere, who are very open and engaging and who will provide all kinds of additional information about the exhibits. I paid 15 dollars to park in the zoo lot this trip but I recall the park (it is in a large city park) has free street parking.Visited April 2023Written 3 April 2023
- Kim ECrofton, Kentucky149 contributionsGreat zooGreat zoo! Animals weren’t out as much as we hoped. They need better instructions on how to navigate. It was confusing at times. Painted marks on the ground for each attraction would be so much easier. Train was cool! Food lines were long bc many of the booths weren’t open yet. Parking is always hard to find but it was expected. Definitely check out forest park while you’re there.Visited April 2023Travelled with familyWritten 4 April 2023
- tenntravelguyHendersonville, Tennessee396 contributionsSome disappointment but overall A good family dayWhen my family accompanies me on business we try to find fun and educational things to do along the trip. I'm 2022 coming through Louisville Kentucky we visited the Louisville zoo, so this time we had heard numerous wonderful things about the zoo in Saint Louis. Getting into the complex was somewhat confusing however once in a parking lot with a special needs child the staff was accommodating to show us where to park that was convenient for our child with his special chair. Admission was free for the whole family and there is a display right inside the zoo that shows many donors of varying financial levels that makes it possible for families to go free. There were varying species of animals that you see at other zoos like Giraffes, Zebras. Hippos. Deer and so many more but the house of primates was one of our favorites. There is a lot of uphill climbing between exhibits but it was well worth it. Couple of disappointing things were some of the construction in new exhibits, the train was difficult to fit in and some of the concessions were closed. I had really looked forward to the frozen pineapple smoothie in a cored out pineapple but they were unavailable. The zoo staff was very friendly but due to many concessions being closed the lines were over an hour wait for those that were open. The gift shop is incredible!Visited February 2023Travelled with familyWritten 10 April 2023
- Denae M263 contributionsBest free zoo ever!Such an amazing zoo for no charge. We go each time we are in St. Louis. It is so big we have never seen it all in one visit. The exhibits are large enough for the animals to have room. Lots of places to grab snacks and drinks or you can carry in as well.Visited April 2023Travelled with familyWritten 18 April 2023
- NicoleSaint Paul, Minnesota32 contributionsWonderful!We were amazed at how nice this zoo is, especially since it is free. The grounds were beautiful and clean, the animals habitats seemed good sizes, cleaned and easy to see. We have been to many zoo’s and would rate this as the top.Visited April 2023Travelled with familyWritten 30 April 2023
- GlobeTrotterNL1Peterborough, Canada706 contributionsFree Zoo!We enjoyed a quick visit to the zoo on a chilly day in May. We bought the train tickets, but zoo admission is free. We loved how close we could get to the animals. Our group especially enjoyed the polar bear! The penguins and puffins were cool too. Great zoo and a great way to spend some time together with family.Visited May 2023Travelled with familyWritten 6 May 2023
- bjones1478492 contributionsFantastic zooLots to see and do. Couldn’t see it all in one day with young children. Adventure pass is good value. Lovely zoo with lots of shade and resting areas. Very impressiveVisited May 2023Travelled with familyWritten 13 May 2023
- The Big O3 contributionsLoved my first trip to the St. Louis ZooJust a great place to spend the day and learn about the animals. The train is a bit silly--not many views of the animals (mostly a bamboo forest). But it will get you around the grounds when you are tired and the "all day" pass is a nice touch. Some of the best elephant viewing at any zoo I have been to (and I have been to more than 30). The big cat area is also top-notch. Some great dining options also. Great living conditions for the animals and a lot of info on conservation efforts.Visited May 2023Travelled as a coupleWritten 19 May 2023
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4.5
8,690 reviews
Excellent
6,820
Very good
1,438
Average
328
Poor
75
Terrible
29
jmsmas
Illinois329 contributions
Mar 2024 • Couples
This zoo was absolutely fantastic! The enclosures are large, and the animals are well cared for. The penguin area, though, is amazing!! There were several places to dine, and between them all, they had a nice selection. Ask for extra crispy fries or they will floppy and not crispy.
Written 11 March 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sara G.
70 contributions
Sept 2023 • Friends
The Saint Louis Zoo is the best place on earth. It's home to Kali, the splooting polar bear! I adopt Kali every year as part of the zoo's adoptive parents program! Raja, an Asian elephant, is pretty cool too. Our zoo has a ton of events...Zootoberfest, Boo at the Zoo, Holiday lights, Jammin' at the Zoo! Make sure you sign up for their newsletter so you can attend the fantastic events!
Written 7 March 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
LENZY P
1 contribution
Feb 2024 • Business
Amazing Beautiful city park and highly rated free Zoo...been to St Louis many times , but never knew about those gens. 18th floor Hyatt hotel view of the Arch was breathtakingly spectacular...post card views.
Written 24 February 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
1991KEB
Navarre, FL1,446 contributions
Feb 2024 • Family
This is an amazing zoo. The animals were lively and active, which made the zoo more fun. We enjoyed the set up and the walk... wear sneakers.
Written 23 February 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Pamela R
Dripping Springs, TX176 contributions
Feb 2024 • Couples
The animals are so close its wonderful! Even in the winter this was an excellent stop. Very well laid out and easy to get around.
Written 20 February 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
JJW
Fishkill, United States16 contributions
Jan 2024 • Family
Even though it was really cold, we still had a great time at the zoo. Beautiful grounds to walk around and it's all free! Would definitely come again on a warmer day so we can see more animals. The zoo staff are very knowledgeable, friendly and willing to answer all questions and talk with you as long as you would like.
Written 13 January 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mark E
6 contributions
Dec 2023 • Family
We are visiting family from Texas and decided to see the St. Louis Zoo Wild Lights.
At $18 a person (including young children), this was underwhelming. Sure, there were a lot of Christmas lights (as advertised), and the kids enjoyed seeing them. However, the cost of admission is supposed to get you into some of the attractions. There is a “4D Polar Express” experience, Penguins and Puffin coast, insectarium, and carousal.
The insectarium was easy enough to go through, no issues there. The carousal had a line but went rather quickly. The Penguin/Puffin and 4D Polar Express on the other hand, forget about it. The lines were obnoxious. They didn’t seem to move. I looked everywhere for some sort of signage explaining the process, there are none. There is no employee there to answer questions or guide you. It’s simply stand in line and hope it moves (which the penguin line moved 0% in nearly 20 minutes).
However, there are an overabundance of employees ready to take $6 for a basic hot chocolate, or to sell you the world’s most expensive s’mores kit containing stale and broken crackers and a marshmallow so hard it can be used as a weapon. Oh, and the kit includes enough for exactly one s’more, so be prepared to mortgage your house to purchase one for each child. But if you want an employee present to perhaps help guide your experience or answer any questions regarding the ridiculous lines that don’t seem to move, out of luck there.
There is simply no direction anywhere in this place. Seems rather unorganized, at least to an out of stater like me.
So, if you’re main goal is to see Christmas lights, there are cheaper alternatives than spending $72 for 2 adults and 2 kids.
At $18 a person (including young children), this was underwhelming. Sure, there were a lot of Christmas lights (as advertised), and the kids enjoyed seeing them. However, the cost of admission is supposed to get you into some of the attractions. There is a “4D Polar Express” experience, Penguins and Puffin coast, insectarium, and carousal.
The insectarium was easy enough to go through, no issues there. The carousal had a line but went rather quickly. The Penguin/Puffin and 4D Polar Express on the other hand, forget about it. The lines were obnoxious. They didn’t seem to move. I looked everywhere for some sort of signage explaining the process, there are none. There is no employee there to answer questions or guide you. It’s simply stand in line and hope it moves (which the penguin line moved 0% in nearly 20 minutes).
However, there are an overabundance of employees ready to take $6 for a basic hot chocolate, or to sell you the world’s most expensive s’mores kit containing stale and broken crackers and a marshmallow so hard it can be used as a weapon. Oh, and the kit includes enough for exactly one s’more, so be prepared to mortgage your house to purchase one for each child. But if you want an employee present to perhaps help guide your experience or answer any questions regarding the ridiculous lines that don’t seem to move, out of luck there.
There is simply no direction anywhere in this place. Seems rather unorganized, at least to an out of stater like me.
So, if you’re main goal is to see Christmas lights, there are cheaper alternatives than spending $72 for 2 adults and 2 kids.
Written 20 December 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Brandon
Pittsburgh, PA463 contributions
Oct 2023 • Couples
This is one of the nicest Zoos in the US. It will take you 4-5 hours minimum even without kids. There's other things to do too like a 4D theater. Great location in the park as well!
Written 24 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Joe C
Birmingham, UK980 contributions
Sept 2023 • Couples
We didn’t have a lot of time in St Louis but decided to spend our last 4 hours before heading back to Chicago to fly home visiting the zoo on a Saturday morning, considering it is free which is a huge surprise, but highly welcomed experience! We got there shortly after opening – you can park for free in the nearby park – don’t pay the $15 zoo parking, the park is literally less than a 5min walk to the Zoo entrance and has lots of on street parking. We were really pushed for time, but we were determined to see as much as we could. We had a great time exploring and were incredibly impressed with the animal enclosures – St Louis Zoo really sets the bar for how a zoo should be, the enclosures incredibly impressive and very large. We were shocked to see the zoo has a resident polar bear, which was amazing to see, but we had to do some reading afterwards to find out he was an orphan and unable to survive in the wild – we feel there should be more signs to advise people of this. Overall, the zoo was buzzing on a Saturday morning, lots of food options, pop up bars which was super cool, and of course gifts everywhere. This is quite possibly, the best zoo we have ever been to – and free! If you are in St Louis, we highly recommend this place!
Written 21 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Amy R
Russellville, AR43 contributions
Nov 2023 • Family
The zoo is very nice with lots to see. A great variety of animals. You could easily spend a day here with your family.
Written 8 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Can you bring cups or drinks into the zoo
Greg2117
Pace, FL754 contributions
Yes
Do I need to reserve a scooter
Tina D
Bruce Township, MI7 contributions
They had plenty when I was there. There are certain places you can't go because of the incline on some of the paths. They do give you a maps as to the spots the scooter can and can't go. I paid $25. for the whole day. You can basically go most places and the scooters have a canopy to block sun and bad weather. Very nice and large zoo.
Do their stroller rentals have a harness or lap belt?
JMCSTL
Saint Louis, MO6,001 contributions
Best to get the answer from their Guest Relations staff ... (314) 781-0900
I have a 2lb dog I carry in a pouch can he go to the zoo?
Mibsy
Hilton Head, SC160 contributions
Yes, I saw others with teacup dogs in slings, and one in a backpack
I have a 2 lb Chihuahua I carry in a pouch. Can he come to the zoo?
JMCSTL
Saint Louis, MO6,001 contributions
Per the STL Zoo website: "For the safety and welfare of our animals and visitors, the following are prohibited ... Dogs or other pets. Service animals are permitted, except in the Cypress Swamp (1904 Flight Cage), Bird House and Winging It Bird Show. Dogs whose sole function is to provide comfort or emotional support do not qualify as service animals under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and are not permitted inside the Zoo ..."
Angel N
Benton, KY
how much for school bus parking ?
ontheroadagain13
Erie, PA1 contribution
per zoo website
Buses and oversized vehicles under 24 feet are allowed to park in our South Lot only. Vehicles that are over 24 feet long are not permitted to park at the Zoo. Buses over 24 feet must obtain a permit to park in Forest Park. Click here to see a map for bus staging, drop-off and pick-up.
To park a bus or commercial vehicle in Forest Park, guests must obtain a permit through the City of St. Louis Department of Parks. The parking permit fee is $5 per bus or commercial vehicle. Parking permits are obtained by calling the Forest Park Permits Office at (314) 289-5330, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m.- 4 p.m., or by completing an online application. Please request your permit at least two weeks before your scheduled field trip.
Hi...bringing along a scooter for our zoo trip for a parent. Are the scooter able to get close to "cages" or enclosures, shows, or inside of buildings such as penquins, etc. Just wondering if he'll have to get off to walk any once parking at an enclosure. Thank you for any help!
burnslisa
Los Angeles, CA7 contributions
The parking is a bit of a walk from the zoo entrance. I am not sure what you mean by scooter. Is it just for fun or a necessary item for your child? If it is just for fun I would leave it in the car. If it is necessary and needed for disability purposes, yes, all persons are able to get close to the enclosures. There is lots of walking to get to each enclosure at the zoo. I Hope that helped.
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Claim your listingST. LOUIS ZOO: All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)
Frequently Asked Questions about St. Louis Zoo
- Hotels near St. Louis Zoo:
- (1.01 km) Hampton Inn & Suites St. Louis at Forest Park
- (2.02 km) Drury Inn & Suites St. Louis Forest Park
- (4.31 km) Casa Magnolia Bed & Breakfast
- (1.46 km) The Cheshire
- (2.45 km) The Royal Sonesta Chase Park Plaza St. Louis
- Restaurants near St. Louis Zoo:
- (0.00 km) Lakeside Cafe
- (0.16 km) Cafe Kudu
- (0.50 km) The Pat Connolly Tavern
- (0.67 km) Boathouse Forest Park
- (0.84 km) Seamus McDaniel's
- Attractions near St. Louis Zoo:
- (0.55 km) Saint Louis Art Museum
- (1.11 km) Trikke STL Guided Tours
- (1.03 km) The Muny
- (1.12 km) Forest Park
- (0.47 km) Turtle Playground