Tulsa Zoo
4.5(12K)google
4.0(150)yelp
FamilyOutdoor
Overview
The Tulsa Zoo is an 84-acre (34 ha) zoo located in Tulsa, Oklahoma, United States. The Tulsa Zoo is owned by the City of Tulsa but since 2010 has been privately managed by Tulsa Zoo Management, Inc. The zoo is located in Mohawk Park, one of the largest municipal parks in the United States.
Practical Info
Suggested Duration3-5 hours
Best TimeSpring (April-May) or autumn (October-November) provide a world-class travel window. Arrive at the ticket barriers exactly at 9:00 AM on a weekday; cooler morning temperatures prompt active behavior in Malayan tigers and snow leopards inside the immersive Lost Kingdom pavilion before afternoon plains heat sets in.
Getting ThereLocated inside the sprawling Mohawk Park in northeast Tulsa at 6421 E 36th St N. Driving via car is required: take I-244 East to OK Highway 11 North, exit onto 36th St N, and head east for 1 mile straight into the zoo's grand, complimentary surface parking court. Park entry is free.
Travel Tips
- Situated inside the expansive Mohawk Park, entering the grounds during weekend periods from April through October requires paying a separate, mandatory $2 vehicle park access fee in physical cash at the outer toll booth, completely separate from your independent zoo admission.
- The immersive indoor African Rainforest exhibit utilizes a closed, hyper-humid eco-climate; visitor density peaks oppressively between 11:30 and 14:30, making a 09:00 early morning targeting essential to avoid stale air and extreme crowd friction.
- The Safari Train tracking costs a standalone $3 fee; because the rails thread directly along the perimeters of active Asian and African megafauna enclosures, stretching hands, selfie sticks, or stray food past the metal safety mesh results in immediate park expulsion and wildlife code fines.
Reviews
Positive
- A massive modern zoo in Tulsa! The state-of-the-art Lost Kingdom rainforest hall and Asian tiger habitats are grand and highly entertaining.
- The interior layout features clear signs, grand shaded pavilions, and water stations. Restrooms are highly dense and kept cleanly swept.
- Keeper presentations are witty and educational, and staff show great patience with kids. Entry gating is efficient and managed orderly during rushes.
- General admission is highly affordable, and parking in the grand lot is free. For such a vast footprint and elite habitats, value is superb.
Heads up
- The zoo has a massive sprawling layout, and older outer zones lack frequent train shuttle stops, making a full-day self-walk physically exhausting.
- Under scorching summer sun, shade trees in newer pavilions are still young, causing intense sun exposure, and many animals hide deep in caves.
- The in-park diner pricing carries typical tourist premiums on basic pizza combos and popcorn buckets; seating areas get packed with long queues at noon.
- While entry is cheap, extra charges pile up; riding the train, giraffe feeding, and temporary films all require extra fees, raising the total budget.