Visiting the Zoo
- What are admission and parking fees?
- Admission to the National Zoo is free! Parking is free for FONZ members during regular Zoo hours. For nonmembers, parking is $16 for the first three hours, and $22 for more than three hours. Every dollar you spend at the Zoo—for parking, food, and gifts—supports our education, research, and conservation efforts. There is not a lot of street parking in the neighborhood. Get directions by car or find out about public transportation to the Zoo.
- When are keeper talks and animal feedings?
- We have a lot happening at the Zoo every day. Check out the schedule.
- Can I get a wheelchair or stroller?
- Non-motorized wheelchairs are available from the Visitor Center Information Desk (near Lot A) and the Information Stations at Panda Plaza (Lots A/B) and Lion/Tiger Hill (Lot D). There is no charge for non-motorized wheelchairs. Motorized wheelchairs are available for a $25 rental fee at the Information Stations
at Panda Plaza. All Zoo exhibits are wheelchair-accessible. However, please be aware that the Zoo is located on hilly terrain in Rock Creek Park.
Visitors can rent a single or double stroller; ask at any information kiosk throughout the park for locations. There is a storage compartment behind the strollers. FONZ members at and above the Household level receive a discount on stroller rentals. The member rates are $3 for a single stroller and $4 for a double stroller. The nonmember rate is $9 for a single stroller and $12 for a double stroller. - I really love animals. Can I feed or pet an animal or get a behind-the-scenes tour?
- We're glad that so many animal lovers choose to visit the National Zoo. All of the Zoo's animals are on carefully planned diets so we don't allow visitors to feed them. In general, we do not allow contact with our animals for everyone’s safety, but there are exceptions. The Caring Corral at the Kids' Farm and the touch tank at the Invertebrate Exhibit offer direct encounters with animals; these areas are not always open but we hope you're able to enjoy them during your visit.
We wish every visitor could see every part of the Zoo, but unfortunately, we don't have the staff to take everyone on a tour. Our Snore & Roar sleepovers, which run between June and September, include exciting exhibit tours. Everyone who adopts a species at the $1,000 level gets a special guided exhibit tour. - I am coming to visit. How do I find out if the Zoo has a particular animal, such as pandas?
- See a current list of animals in our collection. The Zoo is home to 2,000 animals representing 400 species. We're sorry if we don't have an animal you'd like to see but hope you'll enjoy our fascinating variety of animals during your visit, including animals that are on exhibit at very few U.S. zoos.
- Can you send me a map or brochure?
- You can view our map online and get lots of information to help you plan your visit. You can purchase a map for $2 at the information kiosks located throughout the Zoo.
- Can you help me plan a field trip or group visit?
- We have a wealth of resources to help you plan your field trip, as well as information on packages we offer that include parking, food, and a souvenir. See answers to other frequently asked questions about field trips.
- My guidebook says tickets are required to see the pandas? Do I need tickets?
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Tickets are no longer needed to see our giant pandas. That was a temporary measure that ended in 2006.
To make the most of your visit and help us care for the pandas, we encourage you to join Friends of the National Zoo! Not only would you enjoy benefits every time you visit the National Zoo and more than 100 other zoos and aquariums around the country, but you'd help the Zoo be a worldwide leader in conservation, animal care, education, and sustainability. Find out more. - When do the parking lots open?
- Our parking lots open at 6 a.m. every day. Many of our animals are not on exhibit before 10 a.m. but the Zoo is a very nice park to walk around in the early morning. Animals you may encounter before 10 include the cheetahs, Mexican and maned wolves, giant pandas, Przewalski's horses (which are critically endangered), beavers, cranes, flamingos, and several other birds in our collection, as well as many wild birds that make their home at the Zoo. From April 1 to October 31, parking lots and Zoo grounds close at 8 p.m. From November 1 to March 31, lots and grounds close at 6 p.m.
- Can I bring food, a cooler, or a wagon? How about a tripod?
- Absolutely! There are lots of great spots at the Zoo for a picnic, and there are many opportunities to take beautiful photographs. The Zoo is large and hilly, but if you don't mind carrying a cooler or tripod or pulling a wagon around, you are welcome to bring it. Get more tips on planning your visit. Please note that there are no storage facilities or lockers at the Zoo, and grills are other cooking devices are not permitted.
- What food do you serve? Do you have gluten-free or vegan food?
- FONZ Food Service offers meals and snacks to suit every appetite, with meal menus ranging from burgers, hot dogs, and pizzas to grilled chicken sandwiches, made-to-order subs, and salads, as well as snack foods like frozen treats and hot pretzels. We do serve gluten-free and vegan food. See our menus.
- Can I bring a pet?
- Please leave your pets at home. Pets of any kind, leashed or unleashed, are not allowed in the Zoo because they may disturb the Zoo's animals. We do not have a place where you can leave your pet. In hot weather, it is dangerous to leave a pet closed up in a vehicle. Service animals are permitted. See other Zoo rules.
- Can I visit the Zoo's campus in Virginia?
- The Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute in Front Royal, Virginia, is usually open to the public once a year—the first weekend in October—for the Autumn Conservation Festival. Occasionally, workshops and free lectures are held there, in addition to other training opportunities for undergraduates, graduate students, and professionals.
- I already visited. How do I give my feedback?
- We'd love to hear from you. Please don't hesitate to
send us your praise or criticism
. Your message will be forwarded to the appropriate office.
