Audubon Zoo
4.5(8.9K)google
4.2(464)yelp
FamilyOutdoor
Overview
Audubon Zoo is an American zoo located in New Orleans, Louisiana. It is part of the Audubon Nature Institute which also manages Audubon Aquarium, Audubon Louisiana Nature Center, Freeport-McMoran Species Survival Center, Audubon Park, and Audubon Coastal Wildlife Network. It covers 58 acres (23 ha) and is home to over 2,000 animals.
Practical Info
Suggested Duration2.5-4 hours
Best TimeMornings (9:30 AM - 12:00 PM) from October to March present the golden window. The crisp winter weather encourages the famous, rare leucistic white alligators and Southern wetlands fauna to roam out into open view. The morning air under the mature oak canopies is pristine, making it perfect for families to traverse the loop paths.
Getting ThereSituated at 6500 Magazine Street at the riverward edge of Audubon Park in Uptown. Drive south from downtown along Magazine Street for 4.5 miles straight into the zoo plaza, which features a massive free asphalt lot. Public transit users can ride the St. Charles Streetcar to the Audubon Park stop, then board the free dedicated Zoo Shuttle tram.
Travel Tips
- The ticket windows close strictly 1 hour before park shutdown, and exotic animals are retired indoors early; aim for a mid-morning arrival.
- The Cool Zoo splash park is a seasonal asset requiring a separate premium ticket; appropriate athletic swimwear is strictly mandatory for water entry.
- Hard coolers, glass bottles, recreational balloons, and disposable straws are confiscated at the gates to prevent animal ingestion hazards.
Reviews
Positive
- The zoo design heavily reflects local wet ecosystems; the Cajun Swamp exhibit beautifully recreates rustic stilt cabins and wild alligators with great novelty.
- The star white tigers, Asian elephants, and active sea lion shows are big hits with kids; the park is heavily shaded by century-old oaks providing cool havens.
- ADA accessibility is highly professional and comprehensive; all glass viewing panes are lowered for toddlers and wheelchairs, and staff are warm and welcoming.
- It houses an exceptional summer splash park, Cool Zoo; for a few extra dollars, kids can enjoy water slides and a lazy river, offering high value for cooling off.
Heads up
- Admission is pricey compared to similar tier US zoos, and the mini train and splash park require extra fees, making total costs steep for a family of four.
- Certain older African savanna sectors look slightly neglected, and individual enclosures feel flat, requiring a modern eco-landscape upgrade.
- During weekend rushes, food lines at core cafes are painfully slow; burger and fry combos carry a high markup and taste mediocre; packing picnic lunches is better.
- Tucked deep in Audubon Park, without a car, the walk from the nearest streetcar stop to the main zoo gate is long and exposed under intense sun.