Bronx Zoo
4.6(39K)google
4.1(1.5K)yelp
Wildlife WatchingKidsOutdoorParking AvailableRestrooms AvailableMust-SeeWorld RecordEducationalWildlife
Overview
Standing proudly as the single absolute largest metropolitan zoological park in the entire United States, the historic Bronx Zoo covers two hundred and sixty spectacular acres of lush green habitat and natural rivers. The award-winning facility proudly houses over ten thousand animals spanning six hundred diverse global species, beautifully displayed in innovative natural exhibits like the vast Congo Gorilla Forest and the Wild Asia monorail safari. It provides families and students with an action-packed, highly educational environment focused deeply on vital wilderness preservation.
Practical Info
Mon–Fri10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Sat–Sun10:00 AM – 5:30 PM
Best TimeAs one of the largest metropolitan zoo facilities globally, it welcomes guests year-round. The golden hour to visit is at opening at 10:00 AM on a crisp late spring or early autumn morning. The resident gorillas and tigers are highly active during their morning routines; head straight to the Wild Asia Monorail to ride the elevated transit rail looping open-air wilderness habitats where rhinos and elephants roam freely.
Getting ThereNestled beautifully within Bronx Park at 2300 Southern Boulevard in the Bronx. Drive smoothly via the Cross Bronx Expressway (I-95 East) straight to Exit 4B, following the detailed zoo state markers into their massive paid multi-gate parking fields. For mass transit, the NYC Subway 2 Line runs frequent scheduled runs directly to the Bronx Park East station platform, followed by a flat 5-minute park walk to the gates.
Travel Tips
- Wednesdays feature pay-what-you-wish admission, but visitors must secure advanced digital time-slot reservations online by Monday night; no walk-up gate entry is allocated.
- Spanning 265 acres, certain premium wilderness habitats like the Congo Gorilla Forest require independent premium ticket surcharges; upgrade to a Total Experience ticket to cut costs.
- On-site vehicle lots are expensive and experience total structural saturation before 10:00 AM on weekends; taking the 2 or 5 subway line to Pelham Parkway is highly recommended.
Reviews
Positive
- The largest metropolitan zoo in the US; its scale and visual impact live up to its name! 265 acres of wild cageless habitats keep gorillas and predators in peak active status.
- Core value and entertainment fun are incredible, housing over 4,000 animals; riding the Wild Asia Monorail through wilderness zones keeps adults and kids happily engaged all day.
- Public facilities are fully modernized with plentiful restrooms and full stroller/wheelchair ADA ramp coverage. Visitor counters hand out detailed hand-drawn maps in Chinese.
- It runs a heavy 'pay-with-what-you-wish' general discount every Wednesday, offering high value. The colossal space dilutes crowds beautifully, offering true forest tranquility.
Heads up
- On weekends, without the pricy Total Experience pass, core viral exhibits (Gorilla Forest, Monorail) force long lines and high-priced individual add-on tickets.
- Because the footprint is colossal, covering it entirely on foot is a brutal physical trial that leaves you exhausted; unsuitable for frail seniors or toddlers.
- The official surface parking lots enforce very expensive daily fees, and main access highways suffer from severe gridlocks on summer weekends with low traffic management.
- On-site concessions are highly priced with low value, serving mediocre greasy fast food; during freezing winter months, tropical species stay indoors, leaving trails empty and value low.