Phoenix Zoo
4.5(24K)google
3.8(1.1K)yelp
FamilyWildlife
Overview
Established in 1962, this internationally acclaimed, non-profit zoological park is dedicated to global wildlife conservation, education, and family-friendly recreation. Home to over 3,000 animals, including endangered Sumatran tigers and majestic Bornean orangutans, the zoo features interactive Safari cruiser tours, interactive monkey habitats, splash pads for kids, and beautifully landscaped walking trails that mimic worldwide native environments.
Practical Info
Mon7:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Tue7:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Wed7:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Thu7:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Fri7:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Sat7:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Sun7:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Suggested Duration3-4 hours
Best TimeThe winter and early spring of November to March are most comfortable. If you visit from Thanksgiving to Christmas, don't miss its nationally renowned annual "ZooLights" grand nighttime festival light display
Getting ThereLocated on the east side of Papago Park, sharing the same urban green space with the Desert Botanical Garden. It's only a 12-minute drive from downtown Phoenix, and the parking lot is huge and completely free
Travel Tips
- This is one of the largest nonprofit private zoos in the U.S., covering 125 acres, divided internally into an Arizona native ecology zone, an Africa zone, a tropics zone, and an interactive zone designed for children
- Because of Phoenix's extremely hot, dry climate, most animals hide in dens or shade to sleep during the hot daytime, so it's advisable to enter as early in the morning as possible, when animals are most active and easiest to see
- There's an extremely popular "feed the giraffes up close" trail (requires a separate on-site ticket), where you can put lettuce into a giraffe's mouth by hand—a star experience for family trips
Reviews
Positive
- The zoo's greenery is done much better than expected, and walking under the tree shade is quite comfortable. Feeding the giraffes is amazing—their long blue tongues are fascinating, and the kids loved it
- The Arabian Oryx conservation program here is very impressive. Coming on a winter night to see the ZooLights display, laser lights in various animal shapes decorate the whole park like a fairy-tale world
Heads up
- Never come in summer! All the animals hide from the heat and can't be seen, and the whole park is so big it feels like trekking in an oven; in under an hour both adults and kids completely break down—a terrible experience