Membership

Free parking is available for Premier level members and higher. The number of passes per year are based on the membership level. See more information about member benefits.

Free parking is not available to Standard level members.

• Parking passes must be reserved ahead of your visit. Parking spaces at the Zoo are limited and “sell” out quickly.
• Membership parking benefits do not apply to employees, vendors or contractors doing business with or operating near the Zoo.

Learn more about reserving a pass.

The number of parking passes included annually with your membership is based on your membership level.

• Standard: 0 parking passes
• Premier: 3 parking passes
• Premiere Plus: 3 parking passes
• Patron Circle: 4 parking passes
• Sponsor Circle: 4 parking passes
• Benefactor Circle: Unlimited parking passes

Please only reserve a pass if you are sure you plan to visit. Parking spaces are limited, so Zoo membership staff can't guarantee parking will be available on your new preferred date. 

We recommend you reserve as far in advance as possible to guarantee parking will be available on the date you plan to visit. To reserve a parking pass, click here.

• After you reserve your parking pass, you will receive a confirmation email and a separate email containing your pass. 
• You can also view your parking pass online. Log into your membership account and click the ‘Access Your Passes’ tab in the top right corner of the page. 

Note: You can reserve your free parking passes as soon as you become a member. Just complete your membership purchase, and then log in to reserve and use your parking passes. 

To return or exchange a parking pass, please contact a representative at  ZooMembership@si.edu or call 202-633-2922 at least 24 hours before the date of your original reservation. Calls and emails are answered Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

Please note: due to short supply, parking pass exchanges are not always available on certain dates. To guarantee parking for your visit, try to book as far in advance as possible.

Yes, your membership is active as soon as your payment in processed. You will receive an email confirmation containing your membership ID (sometimes called your customer ID), which can be used as proof of membership until you receive your physical membership cards in the mail.

Your digital membership card will arrive within 24 hours of your purchase or renewal. Please allow several weeks for your physical cards to arrive in the mail.

Still haven't received your cards? Please contact us at ZooMembership@si.edu with "Membership Cards" in the subject line. 

Anyone over the age of 18 can be listed as a cardholder. 

Please note: Including guest, nanny, or other titles instead of an individual’s name will prevent them from being able to use the membership. A membership card may not be loaned to an individual that is not one of the named individuals on your account.

You can update your membership information by logging in to your account here.

Members can walk through the Zoo’s pedestrian entrance on Connecticut Avenue without reserving a walk-in entry pass! Just show proof of your membership (physical or digital member card) when you arrive.

Please note:

• Your membership allows for up to six people (including named cardholders and regardless of age) to enter without reserving a pass.
• Entry is based on park capacity, so you may need to wait for entry on busy days.
• Certain blackout dates may apply and will be communicated to members in advance.

Your membership allows for up to six people (including named cardholders and regardless of age) to enter without reserving a pass. With a larger group, Zoo staff recommend you reserve entry passes for the entire group ahead of your visit.

Gift membership certificates can be redeemed for up to five years from the date of purchase. After that time, certificates not redeemed will be converted to donations.

No, certificates can only be used to purchase Zoo memberships and are not valid for other online or in-park purchases.

You can renew your membership any time online by logging in to your account here.

Please note: When you renew your membership early, your new membership begins the day after your current membership expires. There is no overlap between the two memberships, and no time is lost!

Send an email to ZooMembership@si.edu or call 202-633-2922 to connect with a representative who will assist you. Phones and email are monitored Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

It may be due to technical difficulties. Email ZooMembership@si.edu or call 202-633-2922 and a Zoo representative will assist you. Phones and email are monitored Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

Yes! Check the AZA reciprocity list for participating zoos and aquariums.

Be sure to call the zoo or aquarium that you are visiting ahead of time to confirm whether they are offering reciprocal membership benefits. Maryland Zoo, for example, does not offer discounted admissions to members of the Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute due to close geographic proximity. Visit AZA.org for the most up-to-date information.

Standard Membership gifts are fully tax deductible.

For all other levels, the amount of your membership contribution minus the fair market value of your benefits is tax-deductible. 

Membership payments are donations to the Zoo. Therefore, they are nonrefundable.