ZooTampa at Lowry Park
4.6(28K)google
4.1(712)yelp
FamilyWildlife Watching
Overview
ZooTampa at Lowry Park (originally known as Tampa Fairyland and later Tampa Fairyland Zoo, Lowry Park Zoo, and Lowry Park Zoological Garden) is a 63-acre (25 ha) nonprofit zoo located in Tampa, Florida. In 2009, Lowry Park Zoo was voted the #1 Family Friendly Zoo in the US by Parents Magazine, and is recognized by the State of Florida as the center for Florida wildlife conservation and biodiversity (HB 457). The zoo is operated by the Lowry Park Zoological Society, an independent 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Practical Info
Every day9:30 AM – 5:00 PM
Suggested Duration4-6 hours
Best TimeNovember to March provides the most responsive animal behavior and pleasant walking temperatures. Arriving precisely at 9:30 AM opening is highly advised; endangered Florida manatees, Asian rhinos, and African elephants are fed early, meaning peak wildlife visibility before afternoon heat sets in.
Getting ThereSituated just north of downtown at 1101 Sligh Ave. The driving route is straightforward: take I-275 to exit 48 (Sligh Ave) and travel west for less than a mile following the clear directional arrows. The zoological park provides an expansive, tree-shaded surface parking lot that is entirely free.
Travel Tips
- The park utilizes a digital date-specific timed-entry ticketing system with no walk-up general admissions available at the gate. While standard surface parking is complimentary, lots saturate fully by 09:30 AM; complete your entry at 09:00 AM opening and sprint to the Roaring Springs water ride to avoid 80+ minute queues.
- Enforce rigorous habitat safety boundaries and selfie-stick bans: during up-close encounters in the Asian and African ecotones, visitors must remain behind the yellow barrier lines. Handheld selfie sticks or expansion monopods exceeding 50 cm are strictly contraband inside active animal yards; unauthorized feeding violates state wildlife codes.
- Navigate interior jungle heat indexes and strobe light bans: the park's dense vegetation creates an oppressive inland humidity bubble with indices crossing 100°F. To safeguard nocturnal habitats and endangered primates under ophthalmology care, flash photography is permanently banned; engage low-noise mechanical shutter settings.
Reviews
Positive
- Repeatedly ranked among the nation's top family-friendly zoos; open habitat designs bring guests close to Asian elephants and rhinos with intense visual shock.
- The dedicated native Florida wildlife zone carries immense value, featuring an expert manatee rehab station that delivers deep, fun eco-education.
- The accessible wooden boardwalks are built very flat, mostly tucked beneath giant shade trees, packed with splash pads and water rides for great fun.
- Staff are highly dedicated and loving, order management is strictly organized, and tickets are very affordable compared to mega parks, topping value lists.
Heads up
- During hot, humid midsummer, because the park is a lush tropical woods setup, mosquitoes, midges, and muddy enclosure odors occasionally hurt the experience.
- Indoor benches and shaded rest pavilions feel under-equipped during heavy crowd peaks, and the sprawling footprint heavily drains elderly stamina.
- Certain core close-up feeding encounters (like giraffes or rhinos) require hefty extra fees; these secondary spends feel like a rip-off to casual guests.
- The location is far north of downtown, public transit routes are sparse with zero convenience, offering poor accessibility for carless travelers.