Roosevelt Park Zoo
4.6(1.3K)google
3.9(15)yelp
Wildlife WatchingKidsOutdoorParking AvailableEducationalWildlife
Overview
The Roosevelt Park Zoo is a zoo in Minot, North Dakota. It is the oldest zoo in North Dakota. As of 2024 the park has 135 animals from 68 species.
Practical Info
Mon9:00 AM – 8:00PM
Tue9:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Wed9:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Thu9:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Fri9:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Sat9:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Sun9:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Suggested Duration2.5-4 hours
Best TimeLate spring (May) and early autumn (September) from 9:30 AM to 12:00 PM are exceptional. Plan your stroll right after the gates open; during these cooler hours, the rare Amur tigers, African lions, and gibbons are highly energetic, offering excellent viewing before the midday heat and school groups pack the paths.
Getting ThereSituated in central Minot at 1219 E Burdick Expressway. Highly accessible by car: travel south from downtown via Broadway, make a clean left turn onto East Burdick Expressway, and proceed east for 1.5 miles. The historic zoo features an enormous, entirely free paved surface parking lot right outside the entry gates.
Travel Tips
- The zoo operates daily from 9 AM to 8 PM, but intense summer afternoon heat forces lions and large mammals into shaded indoor retrofits; plan visits during cooler early morning or evening hours.
- The newly transformed West Wing petting zoo enforces strict cluster controls; feeding the miniature Highland cows or poultry with unauthorized outside food or produce is prohibited by staff.
- The main entrance lot overflows rapidly on weekends; utilize adjacent Roosevelt Park municipal spaces, but monitor river forecasts as the site occupies low ground near the Souris River.
Reviews
Positive
- The zoo is tidy and clean, with ecological exhibits for animals like giraffes and bears designed to mimic nature closely, allowing clear and close-up views.
- The boardwalks and walkways inside the park are flat and smooth, with excellent accessibility facilities, making it highly suitable for families with strollers and wheelchairs.
- The staff are highly professional, and the scheduled animal feeding interactions and educational talks are very fun, making them a huge hit with children.
- The admission price is very reasonable compared to zoos in larger cities, and there are no inflated prices inside, offering excellent overall value.
Heads up
- The overall scale of the zoo is relatively small; if you walk at a brisk pace, you can finish the entire park in under two hours, leaving you wanting more.
- Some of the older, traditional caged exhibits feel outdated and cramped, offering less visual impact than the newer enclosures and needing maintenance upgrades.
- There are few dining kiosks in the park, and the burgers and snacks sold are overpriced, with long queues during the peak lunch hours.
- On hot midsummer afternoons, many animals retreat indoors or into the shade to sleep, leaving more than half of the outdoor exhibits completely empty.