Throughout the year, one of our favorite activities is visiting the Bronx Zoo with kids. It is one of the largest urban zoos in the U.S. and receives over 2 million visitors per year! There is a little something for everyone at the zoo.
Here are some tips for planning and making the most of your visit to New York’s Bronx Zoo with kids:
1. Check to see which animals are available for viewing and what exhibits are open, especially in cooler weather.
Some animals, such as the lions and gorillas, cannot be seen or may not be outside in their habitats. Other animals, such as the giraffes, move inside to a new environment for the season. Also, the Children’s Zoo, which is great fun for elementary school aged kids, is seasonal.
2. Consider going a day other than Wednesdays.
Wednesday is the “free day” and the zoo is extremely crowded. Also, the Zoo Shuttle does not run on Wednesdays in July or August, which may prohibit you from comfortably getting around the zoo throughout the day.
3. Buy your tickets ahead of time (you can purchase on your phone)!
I would recommend purchasing the “Total Experience” tickets so that you have unlimited access to a variety of attractions such as the Bug Carousel, Children’s Zoo, Nature Trek, 4-D Theater and the Zoo Shuttle (note: some of these attractions are seasonal). Also, calculate to see if a Family Zoo & Aquarium Membership may be worth purchasing. When determining this, take into account how often you will visit, if you will visit the other parks included in the membership package, the parking fee (included with some membership) and the small discount extended to members in the gift shop and cafes.
4. Look at the zoo map and determine where you want to park before you arrive.
We like to park at the Southern Boulevard gate because a) it has the most parking and b) it is closest to some of our favorite attractions, including the Children’s Zoo, the Bug Carousel, the Dancing Crane Cafe and the gift shop. Note that parking in Fountain Circle is more expensive because of the limited number of spots and its proximity to the exhibits. If you don’t plan to drive, you can find directions to the zoo via Subway or Metro train here.
5. Wear comfortable shoes.
When visiting the Bronx Zoo with kids, you will be walking a lot! The zoo covers roughly 265 acres and can be hilly in some areas. And, although the zoo is handicap accessible, it is often easiest to use the stairs. Although the Zoo Shuttle is included with a zoo membership or “Total Experience” ticket, it doesn’t run all year round. According to the website it runs June–September and in September and October its runs on weekends only. Also, the Zoo Shuttle is closed on Wednesdays in July and August.
6. Consider bringing your own food for lunch.
The zoo’s main dining option, the Dancing Crane Cafe (nearest Southern Boulevard Gate), is open year round and offers fast food meal deals (think chicken nuggets, hot dogs, french fries), as well as a small portion of refrigerated a la carte items such as salads and sandwiches. There are some healthy options available, but nothing my kids would typically eat. During the summer months, there are more seasonal cafes and additional food and treat stands open. However, around lunch time, all of these areas are extremely crowded and waits can be long! You may want to consider saving time, money and frustration and packing your food to enjoy when you are ready for a break. Save your money for some Dip N Dots or a souvenir from the gift shop.
7. Get there early…or later.
The zoo gets very busy! It’s best to get there early to avoid the crowds, or arrive later in the afternoon when the school groups and crowds have thinned out.
Have you visited the Bronx Zoo with kids? I would love to hear what you loved about this special place!
