Surprisingly I’d only ever been to the Philadelphia Zoo once before moving to the city, even though I grew up just a little over an hour away. Now here we are over twenty years later (eek!), and I’ve visited three times in the last year! Each time I experienced the zoo at a different part of the day: a pre-opening morning 5K, a nighttime stroll under holiday lights, and a day trip with my adorable niece and nephew.

Zoo Overview

The Philadelphia Zoo is located in the Centennial District of West Philadelphia, along the west bank of the Schuylkill River. Opened in 1874, it holds the distinction of being the first zoo in the United States. The zoo is home to over 1,900 animals across 42 acres.

Their Zoo360 program was another first for the zoo, this time the first-of-its-kind worldwide. The program involves a campus wide trail system that allows animals like tigers, meerkats, and primates to travel/roam around the zoo. Look up as you’re walking down the paths and you’ll see mesh tunnels connecting various enclosures. Maybe you’ll be luckier than me and see some animals on the move during your visit!

The zoo houses a variety of exhibits including the Reptiles & Amphibians House, Big Cat Falls, Bird Valley, Penguin Point, African Plains, and the Rare Animal Conservation Center. All of these exhibits are covered in the admission price, but throughout the park you’ll find some experiences that cost an additional fee including a scavenger hunt, feeding the giraffes, and carousel rides.

If you’re looking for a unique souvenir, you can’t go wrong with a Zoo Key. They debuted in 1960, but were discontinued in 2007 and eventually brought back in 2019. The animal shaped keys work on solar powered audio boxes throughout the park that play little stories/fun facts. They are $4/key and come in a variety of colors and animals.

My niece was OBSESSED with her key, using it to “unlock” doors around the park.

There are so many different animals to see! Of course you’ve got the classics: lions, gorillas, kangaroos, hippos, and crocodiles. But you’ll also find some critically endangered species like Black & White ruffed lemurs and Sumatran Orangutans, as well as the Guam Kingfisher which is extinct in the wild. Personally, I’ve always been partial to giraffes, otters, red pandas, and penguins.

After spending a few hours wandering around the park, you’re likely to be a little hungry. It seemed like many families thought ahead and packed coolers to eat at one of the many seating areas. But if you’re like me, you completely forgot you’d probably need food at some point (and maybe a beer). Don’t worry! There are plenty of food (and beer) stands, and even some food trucks, strategically placed throughout the zoo. A little piece of advice though, try to get your food either a little early (11am) or late (1-2pm) to avoid lines during the lunch rush.

SPECIAL EVENTS

Along with your favorite animals, each year you’ll find different limited time immersive experiences. 2023 brought “Staying Power”: life-size animatronic dinosaurs and giant bug replicas!

The zoo also hosts a variety of after-hour events throughout the year including 5Ks, beer festivals, holiday lights, and fundraiser dinners.

As of Sept 2023, tickets were $25 for adults (12+), $20 for children (2-11), and kids under 2 are free. For $4 more per person we got the combo ticket which included Staying Power. Parking was $17 per car. All tickets and parking passes can be purchased online in advance.

For the most recent up to date prices/hours/events, be sure to check their website.

Looking for more to do on your next trip to Philly?
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