ZOO TRIPS · USA ZOOS
San Diego and its safari park, the Bronx, and the drive-through parks in between. These 15 are compared on ticket price, how many days a pass covers, and which ones need a car rather than a transit map.
Use your mobile ticket for direct entry to the San Diego Zoo, home to pandas, koalas, apes, tigers, and thousands of rare animals. Plan on a full day for the 100-acre park, and use the included Guided Bus Tour and Skyfari Tram to save your legs and get oriented.
“Indeed the best zoo in the world. They do charity and research. They take care of all the animals as best as they can.”
Ride an airboat through the Everglades near Fort Lauderdale, then visit Sawgrass Recreation Park’s alligator, reptile, and conservation exhibits. Captains such as Andrew, Ron, and Jimmy explain the ecosystem. Plan about two hours, bring ear protection, and book a morning slot for better wildlife chances.
“Awesome experience! Very knowledgeable staff. We saw 3 gators out on the boat. Back at the park, we pet the baby gator and learned about a lot speaking with the staff. Very fun time!”
Take a 30-minute airboat ride across 4,200 acres of Central Florida wetlands with an English-speaking captain, then visit Wild Florida’s wildlife park and live alligator demonstration. Captains such as Jeff, Lauren, Todd, and Mike are praised for spotting animals and explaining the habitat.
“New and lovely experience, my kids and I really enjoyed it, Captain Jef is amazing and funny Thank you”
Spend a full day at San Diego Zoo, a 100-acre park with more than 4,500 rare and endangered animals. Your ticket includes the guided bus tour, express bus, Skyfari aerial tram, children’s areas, and skip-the-ticket-line entry. Plan for hills, long walks, and extra costs for food and parking.
“The cost is the same, but the skip the line feature made it very much worth it.”
Ride an airboat through the Everglades with an English-speaking guide, then watch a Wildlife Nature Show and explore the jungle boardwalk. The boat trip lasts about 40 minutes, and the full park visit usually takes around two hours. Bring sunscreen, water, comfortable shoes, and insect repellent.
“Its long enough and very pretty out there The guide was very nice also”
Use your mobile ticket to enter San Diego Zoo and spend the day exploring its 100 acres of animal habitats and gardens. Your admission includes the guided bus tour, express bus, Skyfari aerial tram, and Children’s Zoo. Plan for plenty of walking, shade, and time at the animal presentations.
“There could be better signs for directions at the zoo. Also some staff at different exhibits to give information about the animals”
Spend a full day at Zoo Miami, where 340 acres hold more than 2,000 animals and 1,200 plants and trees. Visit Africa, Asia, the Amazon, Australia, and Florida: Mission Everglades. Add a lunch basket, rent a bike, and save time with skip-the-ticket-line entry.
“Lots of walking involved but you can hire bikes. A few of the animals were ‘away’ which was disappointing but overall a lovely day out”
Spend a full day at Zoo Atlanta with access to hundreds of animals, including lions, elephants, pandas, gorillas, rhinos, and giraffes. Add a rides wristband for the Safari Express and Endangered Species Carousel, or book Wild Encounters separately for closer animal experiences.
“Well laid out, easy to navigate. Animals seemed well kept and plenty of staff to help with questions”
Take a self-guided drive through Wild Florida in your own vehicle, moving at a gentle 5 mph among more than 100 native and exotic animals. Afterward, visit Gator Park and, for an extra fee, hand-feed the giraffes. Plan several hours for the full visit.
“My husband and I went on this day trip. We both thought it was way more fun than Disney’s Wild Animal Kingdom! We could take our time and drive our own vehicle in! There were so many animals and babies that were just born! They were close enough to really watch and enjoy! The best part was we were allowed to go to the walking zoo down the street which was included in our tickets! It was full of some really cool exotic animals! We could also go on an air-boat ride (additional cost) They also had a restaurant and ice cream stand/ frozen drink stand! It was well worth…”
Spend about four hours exploring San Antonio Zoo, home to more than 750 animal species. See giraffes, zebras, lions, gorillas, hippos, birds, reptiles, and flamingoes, with daily talks and optional animal encounters. Admission is mobile, self-guided, and suitable for all ages.
“Best time of day to visit. Most of animals were hiding from heat so couldn’t see them So actually didn’t see that much”
Use your e-ticket at any open gate and spend a full day exploring Phoenix Zoo in Papago Park. You can follow four themed trails, see tigers, orangutans, giraffes, lions, and Komodo dragons, and visit Big Cats of Arizona. Rides and Stingray Bay cost extra.
“Loved seeing the tigers. Wish they had more land to roam but overall a great experience”
Spend about 45 minutes at the Maui Butterfly Farm with a small group of up to 12. Guides such as Laura and Lara explain the butterfly life cycle, breeding, research, and conservation. You may handle caterpillars, butterflies, and praying mantises, then feed butterflies inside the flight house.
“This was such a great experience with my 3 1/2 year-old and eight month old. Our guide Lara was fantastic, the perfect amount of expertise mixed with casual vibes that made you feel right at home. We learned so much about the lifecycle of butterflies and my favorite part was getting a flower to catch the butterflies on.”
Spend a full day exploring Franklin Park Zoo’s 72 acres, from gorillas and pygmy hippos in Tropical Forest to lions, giraffes, kangaroos, butterflies, and budgies. Your $24 ticket includes entry and free parking, with seasonal closures possible.
“A beautiful day and a beautiful zoo. However, the gorilla exhibit was down due to construction and many other animals were not out for viewing. That was very disappointing. The Zoo also had shortened hours because of zoo lights that evening. We also got tickets for the zoo lights and they were wonderful.”
Spend about four hours exploring the Bronx Zoo at your own pace with mobile admission, unlimited rides and attractions, and access to more than 265 acres of animal exhibits. Plan extra time for walking, arrive early, and check daily hours because exhibits close before the zoo does.
“After a much needed vacation we decided to visit the zoo. The most memorable experience was my daughter’s expression hearing the Lion roar and seeing the Giraffes.”
Spend 2 to 8 hours exploring the 1,800-acre San Diego Zoo Safari Park in Escondido. Your $78 mobile ticket includes admission, animal exhibits, shows, and unlimited Africa Tram rides. Walk among kangaroos, watch giraffes and rhinos, and choose paid safari tours if you want a closer look.
“Just amazing concept! I highly recommend the African tram and lunch at the watering hole restaurant.”
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