This post is about the Central Park Zoo, including ticket prices, ways to save on tickets, hours, directions and what animals and exhibits are there.
Our local tour guides have all been to the zoo and some recall going as children! They can attest to why it’s a fun place to visit, especially with kids.
But don't take our word for it. At the bottom of this post, you’ll find opinions of the Central Park Zoo from members of our NYC Travel Tips Facebook group.
Our group has over 230,000 members and consists of locals, regular visitors to NYC, and those just getting to know the city.
You don't have to join to read the posts, comments and recommendations. So take a look at our group for more NYC tips!
- How to Get Here and Hours
- Tickets
- Ways to Save on Tickets
- Animals at the Zoo
- Guide to Central Park
- Things to Do in NYC with Kids
IS THE CENTRAL PARK ZOO FREE?
While it is not free to visit the zoo, there are ways to save on tickets. We go over those ways below.
If you want to visit a free zoo, the Bronx Zoo has free admission on some days. Find out more from our post on the Bronx Zoo.
DIRECTIONS AND HOURS
Hours
The zoo opens daily at 10 am, but closing hours change seasonally.
From April to October, the zoo grounds close at 5 pm on Monday through Friday, and 5:30 pm on weekends and holidays.
From November to March, the zoo grounds close at 4:30 pm every day.
*Last entry is 1 hour before closing.
Directions
The Central Park Zoo is located near the southeast corner of Central Park. The entrance is at 64thStreet & 5thAvenue.
Use this Google Maps link to get exact directions from your starting point to the zoo.
By subway:
- N, R, or Q trains to the Fifth Avenue/59th Street station and walk north four blocks to 64th Street
- 6 train to the 68th Street/Hunter College station, walk west 3 blocks to Fifth Avenue, then take a left and walk four blocks south
By bus:M1, M2, M3, M4, M5, M66, Q32. These buses stop on 5th Ave, between59th and 65th Streets.
TIP:If you are new to the NYC subway, the following 2 posts may be of value to you.
- Tips on Navigating the Subway
- How to Choose the Right MetroCard
If you are considering purchasing a hop-on-hop-off bus pass, keep in mind that all buses stop at the zoo.
Podcast Episode: Listen to tour guides Lori and Katherine discuss Central Park in an episode of our NYC Travel Tips podcast.
This podcast offers bite-sized audio clips with tips on how to plan your trip to NYC. You can get our podcasts on Apple, Google, or wherever you get your podcasts.
TICKETS
There are two types of tickets: Limited Admission and General Admission. Both must be purchased online. Tickets are not sold at the zoo.
Limited Admission Ticket
- Includes the Main Zoo and Tisch Children’s Zoo
- Does not include admission to 4-D Theater
- $13.95 Adults (12+) / $8.95 Children (3-12) & free (2 & under) / $ 10.95 seniors (65+)
General Admission Tickets ("Total Experience")
- Includes the Main Zoo, Tisch Children’s Zoo and 4-D Theater (ages 3 and up)
- $19.95 Adults / $14.95 Children (3-12) & free (2 & under) / $16.95 for seniors (65+)
TIP: Before paying the full price, General Admission tickets are included for free with the purchase of the All-Inclusive Sightseeing Pass.
11 WAYS TO SAVE
There are many ways to save money on tickets to the Central Park Zoo. Here are some of those ways.
1. Tourist Attraction Passes
General admission tickets are included for free with the purchase of the All-Inclusive Sightseeing Pass, a money-saving tourist attraction pass.
These passes work by bundling together several popular tourist attractions, including:
- Central Park Zoo
- Hop-on-Hop-off Bus Tour
- Empire State Buildings, Top of the Rock, or One World Observatory
- Madame Tussauds
- 9/11 Memorial & Museum
- American Museum of Natural History
- Museum of Modern Art
- Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island Ferry
- Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum
- Whitney Museum of American Art
- The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Read our post comparing the different options available to you and watch the video above.
2. Websites offering Deals
Check Groupon or Living Social which occasionally run specials on zoo tickets (Affiliates Disclosure).
3. Student Discount
Student discounts are available when purchased by a group of 10 or more students.
4. Military Discount
The Central Park Zoo offers complimentary limited admission tickets for all active duty US military and veterans.
Members of the military and veterans are also eligible for 50% off tickets for up to 3 guests.
You must reserve your tickets ahead of time. At checkout, enter MILITARYCITY if you are an active personnel or VETERANCITY if you are a veteran. Valid ID must be presented on entry.
5. Childrens' Savings
Tickets for children are $5 less for adults, so visitors with kids are already saving money on admission for their families just with regular ticket prices.
6. Senior Discount
If you're over 65 and older, you will be eligible for $3 off an adult ticket.
This is an easy and often forgotten opportunity to save a few bucks on admission.
7. Member Prices
If you live in the area and plan to visit the Central Park Zoo multiple times each year, consider getting a membership.
The lowest-priced membership is $90 for 1 adult and includes admission to the Central Park Zoo, Bronx Zoo, Prospect Park Zoo, and Queens Zoo.
The family option costs $225 per year. This membership includes admission for 2 adults, 1 guest and up to 4 children at all four zoos.
All memberships get 20% off tickets for additional guests and 40% off the Bronx Zoo Holiday Lights event.
Learn more about other features and savings with Central Park Zoo memberships.
8. Cool Culture Card
If you're an NYC parent with an early learner enrolled in one of the city's early childhood centers or DEO schools, you might be eligible for a Cool Culture Card.
This card will give you access to 5 complimentary limited-admission tickets. Enter COOLC at checkout when reserving tickets.
9. Teachers and Educators
There are currently no deals for educators, but this could always change.
We recommend reaching out to the Central Park Zoo ahead of time to ask if they are offering reduced-rate tickets when you plan to visit.
10. Free days
The zoo currently does not offer any free days. If you want to visit a free zoo, the Bronx Zoo has free admission on some days.
Find out more from our post on the Bronx Zoo.
11. Other Ways to Maximize Your Savings
Check out more information on deals on other NYC attractions.
Combine a visit to the Central Park Zoo with one of our pay-what-you-likeCentral Park walking tours!
ANIMALS AT CENTRAL PARK ZOO
Seeing all the parts of the zoo with a Total Experience ticket will take an hour or two, so take the time to enjoy the rest of Central Park.
You might enjoy joining one of our pay-what-you-likeCentral Park Tours oraudio tours of Central Park. Be sure to see our post
Main Zoo
When you enter the zoo, the first thing you'll see is the Sea Lions, which are an entertaining bunch.
See the feeding schedule to have even more fun.
After the sea lions, you can either head to the Penguins and Seabirds or the Tropic Zone.
This map of the zoo can help you navigate your way.
The Tropic Zone is impressive, allowing you to enter the habitat with an array of tropical birds that can fly inches away from you and land within arm’s reach.
Further into the zoo, you will find the Temperate Territory, where you can find snow monkeys, red pandas, snow leopards, and much more.
Tisch Children’s Zoo
Included in the price of the General Admission ticket, this children's zoo is just north of the main zoo.
Children can pet and feed animals safely, such asgoats, rabbits, birds, and others.
The 4-D Theater
Included in the General Admission ticket.
This is an immersive experience featuring a 3-D film with a variety of built-in sensory effects.
It's perfect for children ages 6 and up, but maybe a bit too much excitement for children under age 4.
Foodat the Dancing Crane Cafe
You can enter the cafe from both inside and outside of the zoo, and if you get a stamp on your hand on your way in, you can re-enter the zoo with ease.
The Cafe has the general sense of chaos you expect from a cafeteria-style restaurant filled with children - but they get the job done.
They have hot dogs, pizza, fried chicken, fries, and a spot to get a coffee or cappuccino.
Delacorte Clock
On the way out of the zoo, make sure you check out theDelacorte Clock. This is one of the most beloved attractions not just at the zoo but for anywhere in NYC for those who grew up here.
The clock was donated by George Delacorte and features statues of animals that move in a circle as nursery rhymes play.
The clock chimes and rotates every half-hour.
TIPS FROM LOCALS AND TRAVELERS
As we said at the start of this post, we adore the Central Park Zoo.
To give you an idea of what others think, read through the comments below to see what some of the 230,000 members of our New York Travel Tips Facebook group have to say.
Many people mention the small size but enjoyed it nonetheless and felt it was worth the cost and time.
Though it's small, it offers a lot in terms of the different experiences like the animal feedings, the 4D movie and the array of animals.
Traveling with little ones? Be sure to go to the Tisch Zoo which is free with General Admission tickets.
The comparison between the Bronx Zoo and the Central Park Zoo came up several times. Opinions were mixed.
While several people said that the Central Park Zoo is a nice experience, more often than not, group members said that the Bronx Zoo is a much more satisfying zoo. Read more about the Bronx Zoo.
Here’s a comment representative of what other members said.
This member suggests that you combine your outing to the zoo with a stroll through the park, which makes a lot of sense.
On the other hand, this member says it’s not worth going to unless you are already at the park.
Only one or two people had negative thoughts but did not give a reason so we are not including them here.
Overwhelmingly the opinions were extremely positive. We’ll leave you with Tom’s comment, which couldn't be truer!
If you have any more questions about the Central Park Zoo (or anything else about NYC) that we haven't covered here, check out our New York Travel Tips FacebookGroup!
RELATED POSTS:
- NYC Tourist Attractions | The Ultimate Guide
- Guide to Central Park
- Things to Do in NYC with Kids
- Other Things to Do in NYC
