Plan a Field Trip

Group reservations are available for groups of 16 or more.

At the time of booking, you will be asked for:

• Total number of guests arriving together (one chaperone is required for every 10 students)
• Date of your visit
• Entry time (from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.)
• Departure time
• Total number of buses
• School or organization name and address
• NCES ID number (required for school groups requesting parking)
• Contact information

If your group is 15 people or fewer, you do not need to make a group reservation and can reserve general entry passes.

Bookings will be available from Sept. 5- June 15. The summer calendar will launch at a later date.

Please visit our group reservations page for additional information and to reserve your passes. To make a reservation, select an available date from the calendar. Then, complete and submit the form.

*Group reservations must be made a minimum of 72 hours prior to the date of your visit.

Spaces are limited, but school groups may be eligible for bus parking.

• Reservations for bus parking and drop-off/pick-up can be made through the group reservation system, pending availability.

• Reservations are required and parking spaces are limited.

• Blackout dates may apply and are at the discretion of the Zoo.

• Parking fees may apply and vary based on the time of the year.

Please visit our group reservations page to complete a bus parking or bus drop-off reservation.

• Groups with bus parking or drop-off/pick-up reservations must enter through the Connecticut Avenue vehicle entrance.

• Upon arrival, buses will be directed to the unloading zone.

• Buses are not permitted to unload or load inside the Zoo or on Zoo grounds unless they have a parking or drop-off/pick-up reservation.

Idling and parking on Connecticut Avenue are prohibited. Buses parked or idling illegally may be ticketed by the Metropolitan Police Department.