Cape May County Park & Zoo

Great for a day out especially during off season before the summer crowds come down. Also there's not to many things free these days so perfect for a group as free parking ,free entry (though you can and should throw a little donation if not buy some food or hit the gift shop to support). Also easy to get around and explore as the zoo isn’t overwhelming and you can see all the animals. Also everything is clean and well cared for and prices for food and drink are great and not those ridiculous overpriced gouging you get at places like the Philadelphia or other big city Zoo or Stadium so very family friendly. And if you decide to make it a day there and bring food they have a large picnic area and beautiful playground for the kids.

Had a great time! Free admission (donations welcomed!) and offered a great zoo experience. This was also the day of 'Boo at the Zoo' - so many kids were enjoying the zoo in their costumes. The exhibits were well planned and offered great visibility and education. A great beach trip activity!

My family and I went there this past Saturday and it really was an awesome experience with the kids. Even seeing other children’s reactions snd our own children’s reactions were just adorable and obviously seeing the adorable animals! The monkeys lion cow pig I didn’t see the snakes but the family did and were amazed. It’s really an interesting zoo beings it’s so freely but I loved it. Ever since I was a little girl. It cost nothing only donations which is what they take. Please don’t hesitate to donate for our furry friends.

Cape may zoo is a great place for family fun. Let me start off by saying that the admission is free. As you enter the gates you will be greeted by a team member and offered any advice you need and a map for your convenience. It is here that you can make a donation of your choosing. There are also boxes that you can drop your donation in if you wish to do it that way. Cape May zoo is a non-profit organization so please be generous! This zoo has so much to offer! There is so much to see including lions, prime mates, giraffes, capybara‘s, red pandas, reptiles, and so much more! All the animals look healthy and well cared for. The grounds are spotless. There are places to rest and even grab a bite to eat inside the zoo as well as covered picnic areas and a huge playground for the kids near the parking area. You can literally spend an entire day there for a donation! Our family has people from ages 7 thru their 80’s and we all had a wonderful experience. Go! You won’t be disappointed

This zoo is a standout on the East Coast! I loved the free entry and spacious free parking. My kid had a blast, and we enjoyed seeing the animals and birds up close. We spent 3-4 hours exploring, and the numerous picnic tables were a great perk. The zoo is impeccably maintained and clean - a definite must-visit for kids!

One of the nicest zoos I have ever been to. It is big, clean, and well taken care of. All of the animals were clean and their enclosures were well maintained. There are a couple of really nice playgrounds right next to the zoo as well. Absolutely lovely and free to access.

A must see when you're visiting 7 mile island or the surrounding area. The zoo is run completely on donations, no admission. The animals are rescued and spend the rest of their lives in the well maintained grounds of this zoo. The reptile house is a highlight with alligators, frogs, tortoises and more. It usually takes us about 2 hours to walk through before heading to the large children's playground. The zoo is open year round so when we visit the beach in the fall during off season it's a must. Don't miss is on your next trip!

One of the cleanest and friendly zoos I have ever visited. Habitats are pristine and very large for each inhabitant and it is clear that the staff are dedicated to the wellbeing of the animals. Food was surprisingly good too! It’s free entrance but please leave a donation. They depend on it to keep the zoo in the amazing condition that it is! There is also an amazing treetop adventure course (tickets required) and a great playground!

5 FULL STARS! It's FREE! I went over there today for a few hours and I didn't even see it all. Lots of construction so they look like they are expanding. I saw zip lining and tree climbing too. It was pretty hot today but the animals were kept cool enough that they were still out. Only thing I didn't see was the Cheetah. That is my favorite animal so that's a bummer but it was worth it. The bridges and walk around the zoo are so cool. You're elevated over the enclosures and get a great view. It feels pretty close to the wildlife. The only thing I could really compare it to is claws and paws up in the Poconos. If I had kids I'd take them here often. Can't wait to come back. I'm a solid supporter!

Best deal in town! Been here a number of times over the years - always a fun time! Absolutely amazed that there is no entry fee - I always make make sure to make a donation and hit the gift shop;) Every time I've been there, I've run across a peacock seconds after entering the gate to the zoo proper. The zoo is big but not so big that you couldn't see everything in a couple of hours. The zoo is laid out nicely with smaller critters near the entrance and larger critters spread out in larger habitats in the back. There are informative signs throughout the zoo near the enclosures. The park area is great too - places for kids to play & restrooms outside the zoo area. I'd recommend the park & zoo for all ages - a great place to spend a couple of hours!

Such a nice zoo and for free admission! It's hard to believe. A lot of different animals to see. It probably takes about 2 hours to see everything. Definitely a fun day if you're visiting the area

SO FUN! I'm an adult and brought my parents here. We spent 4 hours seeing what we wanted. There is so much more though. I've seen animals here I haven't seen elsewhere, like alligators, giant tortoises, kangaroos. Bonus is that a wonderful, big park is outside the zoo. Donation only entrance. Motorized scooter was $30 rental. Well worth it for my mom.

Cape May Zoo is a MUST SEE. The zoo entrance is F.R.E.E., but they take donations at the main gate. The zoo is large, the animals are well taken care of, each animal location has informative details to read, the walkways are wide, they have plenty of locations to relax, and the staff members are always busy. There is an eatery (Safari Café) on site and a few concession stands, as well. I was impressed at how close you could get to each animal and had some acknowledge our presence and gave us cute expressions. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND this zoo and am certain, that you'll enjoy your visit.

Went to the Cape May County Zoo at opening on our way home from Wildwood. It's surprisingly large and they have a good variety of animals, considering admission is free. They even had peacocks walking around the park grounds, cage free. You can get through the whole zoo in about 2 hours. It's definitely worth stopping by for an hour or two.

The zoo is small which makes it perfect for a quick day trip! They have so many cool animals and a petting zoo which is extra fun! It's really easy to navigate and doesn't feel rushed which is so nice

Lovely visit to the Cape May Zoo. Free admission (no tickets or reservations required) to the zoo but donations are accepted. Great zoo, especially given the free admission. Lots of animals and exhibits to see. The reptile house was particularly interesting. There was a crowd on a Friday afternoon but it wasn't overcrowded...more than enough space to view the animals and exhibits an maneuver strollers, if needed. There is a zoo cafe which has some reasonably-priced food options ($8 burger/personal pizza). There are a few gift shops as well. There is a large and free parking lot the zoo shares with the surrounding park. The park also contains tree top/zipline activities...so be sure to plan this into your day if you want.

Cape May Zoo is a hidden gem! Easy parking, super clean grounds, and a great variety of animals to see. The enclosures are well maintained, and the whole place is family-friendly and relaxing to walk through. Perfect way to spend a few hours--can't believe it's free! I dropped $20 as a donation well worth it especially with free parking.

A good place to visit when visiting Cape May . Cant believe this zoo is free ... we actually didn't plan to go to zoo, but when we went to tree to tree adventure, and it was in the same place as the zoo. Kids wanted to see the animals and since it was free , we just went in. Good collection of animals . We liked the birds and few other animals .. kids were able to feed farm animals etc. food inside was ok, and expensive too. Had a good time inside .. parking outside was a bit crazy ! We had to walk a long way from the parking to the entrance .

We visited the CAPE MAY COUNTY ZOO, with a toddler. Recommend bringing a stroller to allow them to rest in between exhibits. This property is vast and well maintained. The various areas are clearly marked and there are many along shady trails for those warm summer days. We were impressed with the well maintained areas. They provide a map to give you an overview of the areas & trails so you can plan how to navigate the site. Outside the zoo area there are two children's playgrounds, one for older kids ( older than 6) & another for younger children, (ages up to 5).

It's free( we gave a donation). The setting is impressive and natural. There are a number of animals and I enjoyed seeing them.

I was pleasantly surprised by this zoo! It's free, which is amazing. It's decently sized. I got the refillable (same day only) drink cup for $7 and that's a great deal compared to other zoos of similar size. Plus it's cute and has the names and pictures of animals on it. They have a decent collection of animals with some that I've never seen before. The downsides were a few of the cages were a bit small and lacked enrichment. But overall everything looked well cared for.

Cape May Zoo is one of the best zoos around! It has a small zoo feel with so much to do! It's 100% free although they accept donations. There are interactive parts of the zoo for all ages and so many animals to see. There are several primates, zebras, giraffe, buffalos, reptiles and so much more. All of the cages and enclosures are so well kept and clean. They were even celebrating the cows 10th birthday. There are a few places to sit down and snack and the safari cafe to grab a bite. There are bathrooms in the middle of the zoo and 2 sections with Porter potties. Aside from the zoo there are 2 massive playgrounds for all ages to play.

A day out in Cape May means some fun times with the family at the zoo! Embarassed to say, I haven't taken my kids out to the zoo (museums or aquariums, too) in many, many years. As the kids grew older, they began to have different interests in things to do. I am so very glad we stopped by where we were able to remember all the fun times we used to enjoy at zoos when they were little. Lots of animals and attractions. Areas are clean and well maintained.

What can you expect from a free zoo? I was blown away. The place is beautiful. There is a huge playground before you enter. Plenty of parking and easy to get to Tons of animals in this huge zoo Clean and friendly staff They do have donations buckets I'll be back

Yes! It's all True!!! the Cape May County zoo is absolutely fantastic bordering on perfection!! they have a very, very large variety of animals from lions, zebras, bears, giraffes, camels, etc., and the friendliest goats you'll ever see-- what makes it super impressive is the fact that pristine upkeep of the zoo is evident everywhere, constant cleaning, and feeding of these animals by these wonderful volunteers or employees-- I believe it or not there are no animal odors anywhere through the entire zoo because of the cleanliness-----the zoo itself structurally is in excellent condition and also a couple beautifully maintained playgrounds for the younger folk-I cannot believe the zoo is free because frankly I've been to many zoos I've paid through the nose to get into that are not in as good as shape as this zoo. I love my vacation time in diamond Beach sand and surf but spending a portion of One of those days at the zoo was time well spent and I will return and I felt it was my duty just to inform everyone, what a wonderful place this is that should be supported and patronized

This is one of my favorite zoos! It's free, fairly easy to get around and has some very cool exotic animals. My kids love the Australian animals (kangaroos, capabaras) and I love the flamingos and peacocks. The paths are quite narrow so keep that in mind if you have a troller or wagon. O, and the bathrooms have a built in step so you don't have to hold your toddlers up, such a win!

I really enjoyed this zoo. It was easy to get around and you were able to see all the animals. It's free with donations accepted. We were asked at the gate while driving in. The walk from the parking lot was a little far but that's fine. A really nice zoo for kids. Highly recommended.

One of the best zoos in NJ, and it's free! There are donation bins throughout the zoo, but it is not a requirement. It is beautifully kept, very clean, and the staff is always so friendly. There are little snack shacks with basic foods (uncrustables, chips, juice, ice cream, popcorn, etc), but you can also pack your own. Clean restrooms available inside and outside of the zoo with various extra activities for kids - playground, seasonal activities, gem mining, carousel. Will always return here!

So for all the years that we've been to Cape May/Wildwood, we still haven't been to this Zoo! Well, that all changed on Tuesday August 6th 2024. Went here with my parents as we needed things to do while we were sunburnt and tired of the sun due to going to the beach a prior day. Parking was easy once we found a sign that pointed to the zoo! Even encountered that peacock in the parking lot! The Zoo is free, but they also accept donations. They have lots of exhibits and animals, including lions, otters, cheetahs, cows, bison, a toucan, and many other animals. i think they did have penguins at one time, but i dunno, we never went until now so. but very organized and gorgeous grounds. The exhibits looked like the animals natural habitat, which is always good for the animals. The zoo had lots of sunny areas, and shady areas, and a couple of benches around to sit if one needs or wants to. Am so glad that i found a penny machine here! They also have a little store, but it's a lot of stuffed animals and not so much souvenir. Although the stuffed animals were very realistic and resembled the animals we saw in the zoo! Overall enjoyed our time here, and would definitely come again!

Very cool place for adults, kids and families!! Free entrance but they accept donations. Free parking, lots of playgrounds for kids and lots of animals!!! Surprisingly they had zebras, giraffes, monkeys, some reptiles and more. For a 'free' zoo I expected it to be a tiny zoo with barely any animals. I was very pleased to see how clean and nice the grounds were. There was a lot of shade and cool Stuff to see. My son was extremely happy to fina. Red panda there-his favorite! There were lions, snow leopards, carousel for purchase if desired and a kids and adults tree climb obstacle course. Definitely recommend but make sure to wear comfy shoes.

What a lovely zoo! This place really surpassed my expectations. They have a beautiful collection of animals both wild & domestic. The goats are so sweet and friendly, the bears are adorable, otters were entertaining and the peacocks are very vocal and I LOVED the red panda!..just to name a few. If you're ever in Cape May, Wildwood or Atlantic City area you should definitely stop by. Best of all, if you're on a budget with a large family it's free. (Donation based) Theirs is a huge playground, picnic area, carousel, zip line, and lake. Free parking too!

Clean, well-kept, good layout/flow, great grounds and animals, and FREE! Perfect for a pre-nap activity with our toddler.

Clean, orderly, well maintained. Good food in the air conditioned food court. We had a lovely day.

What a beautiful, fun zoo! No admission, just donations encouraged! Perfect size for families with younger children. Plenty of animals to see, and a beautiful playground at the entrance that children can enjoy before entering or while exiting! Cafe for food and drinks available on the premises! The staff inside the cafe were awesome! Check them out!

Really impressed with this zoo. A lot of different animals in the exhibits. The red panda and snow leopards were super cool to see. Many primates, reptiles, and wide variety of animals. Best part was that it was free parking and free entry, but we donated and encourage everyone to do so. Didn't feel like tourist trap and a great experience for the whole family. Highly recommend for a family trip if you're staying in the area.

Hard to believe a zoo this nice is entirely donation-based in this day and age. There's free parking, which alone would cost a lot most other places, plus picnic areas. It's a fantastic option for something to do when your budget is limited. The animals have space and the whole place is very walkable. It's a good size so that the trip is worthwhile if you're not close, but not so large that you lose steam before finishing if your party has less energetic members.

Firstly, free huge parking. Free admission! We spent a half day, 4 folks and didn't see everything! However, what we saw and interacted with was a lot of fun.

During my visit to Cape May, this place was on the list to see. I was not sure what to expect but it's free, it has a park before the zoo and they maintain the zoo and animals so well. Commendable. They accept donations. Location: near the beach area. From the lighthouse 20 mins drive. Parking: free A lot of animals to see. Also, some days and for some animals personal experience is available. Must visit, it's fun for any age person.

I always have an amazing time at this zoo! It's always clean, and there exists a wide variety of animals and habitats. I enjoy feeding the goats and cows.

Cape May County Zoo was a favorite h growing up and ow I am fortunate enough to bring my own children to this wonderful zoo. Admission is free** or donation based. The zoo is an oasis in the trees and offers a wide variety of animals to view. Each exhibit is thoughtfully planned. Extra experiences and feedings can be prebooked. We always enjoy busting and then playing at the park right outside the entrance. Wonderful way to get your wiggles out before the trip home.

One of the nicest zoos I've been to! Small but perfect for kids and adults! There is no cost to get in and donations are welcome!

Had my son's first birthday there last year, we rented out one of their pavilions (#6) it was in a great location next to restrooms and the largest playground. The pavilion had its own parking right there (which was great and convenient) we had a bbq played music and was able to decorate. Everyone had a great time (there were two outlets). We came back almost a year later and couldn't really see some stuff as they were closed for renovations but my son had a great time both times zoo entrance was a short walk away as well. Also, no one bothered us during the party, kids had a blast. Bring stuff to clean the grills/ not everyone cleans after use. We discarded everything and left the place essentially spotless, we were visited by peacocks when we were cleaning up and didn't want to leave anything that would harm them. They provide trash cans and recycling bins. If you're thinking about celebrating a birthday party here, do it ! We paid like $120 and had access to the pavilion for the entire day. But you have to have a little something something for donations when entering the location.

Wow! How can this place be free?!? We went midweek in June and it was so crowded. Way more crowded than we thought it would be based on past visits a long time ago. The large crowd was a bit outside my comfort level during COVID, even being outside, but we did a quick walk through in about an hour to an hour and a half. The animals were amazing! Many were very active during our visit mid to late morning! The lion roared a few times, a zebra was pushing a ball with its nose, a monkey stuck its arms outside of its enclosure to pick leaves off a tree, the peacocks and some other birds were so vocal! We purchased a few snacks from their snack bar. Staff working these areas were all wearing masks which I appreciated even though it's not mandated anymore. This is a must see if you are in the area! There's so much more to explore than we even had time for!

We love this zoo. This is free/donation only zoo, donate what you want. This is a cute little zoo with a bunch of shade along the walk ways. My absolute fave is the sea otter, my son loves the monkeys. We went here as a family of 9 and spent about 2 hours seeing almost everything.

You can't beat free. Of course you should probably give them a donation though since I'm sure housing all these animals isn't cheap. It's not a big zoo but when you have small kids that can be a blessing, you can see the whole zoo in under two hours, maybe less. They have a huge playground out front for entertainment as well. This is a fun, cheap way to spend a day, check it out!

Wow, this zoo is actually pretty cool! It's also free, which is a huge plus. They had a pretty large variety of different animals (reptiles, pigs, monkeys, birds, etc.), and we managed to see mostly everything in a couple of hours. I don't really know enough about zoos to provide much more commentary, but I would definitely recommend you check this place out if you're in the area. We didn't really get a chance to see the park but I assume it's also nice :)

I really like this zoo a lot. I came here probably 20 years ago and enjoyed it then and I enjoyed it this time. First of all it's free so you can't beat that. There are donation boxes throughout if you want to give a donation but no pressure to do so. But of course you should bring cash and give a donation. Don't be a cheapskate! They did an excellent job with the pandemic by making this a one way experience and have signs directing you which way to go. You will need to wear a mask while in the zoo which wasn't there worst thing. I love how the zoo is laid out. It is very flat with a lot of it boardwalks so you are looking down on the animals in some spots. The animals have plenty of space which is nice for the animals but sometimes they are far away and not so easy to see. I was able to zoom in on those ones with my camera. They have a good variety of animals here. We really enjoyed seeing the baby zebra. So cute! I took lots of pics. Great zoo to bring kids. There is even a huge playground next to the zoo which lots of kids were enjoying.

We had such a great time! There are so many animals to see/visit and learn about. The cafe has a great variety of foods for lunch or a snack. Everything is super clean, beautifully maintained and fun! We loved the carousel and of course - gift shop :) It's truly a gem of a place, and while it's free to enter, I recommend making a donation to keep it running as well as it is!

Really nice and small zoo. The people were very accommodating and you can't beat the price! The zoo was very clean and there were plenty of maps along the route. Definitely make a donation when you are there!

Beautiful zoo. Very well kept. Lots of options for refreshments. Habitats were well kept. Well worth a good donation. Parking and zoo is donation only. Whatever you can do is fine, even if you need to skip the donation. The only thing I could recommend would be more opportunities for hand washing. Especially by the porta-potties. Sanitizer was on wall inside of it but no other option. Still.. very nice job. 5/5

One of the places in cape may that everyone will sure love. The place is FREE. Donation is accepted!! The zoo is better than any zoo i've been in the US, and it's FREE. Parking is available and they just redid the whole recreation area inside the zoo. Definitely a must go when you are in the area.

A nice, free zoo (donations encouraged) with lots of rehabilitated and rescued animals. They work with other organizations to preserve animals (like a project w/Colorado State University to keep bison) and care for those which can't be reintroduced to the wild. Staff a friendly and answered our questions. It's a nice way to spend an afternoon.

It's free. Donation is welcome. They have good amount of animals. The path is well maintained. Trees and sun shades here and there. It was a good place to visit when going to Cape May!

While vacationing in Cape May, NJ visited this FREE (donations requested) zoo with a 6 and a 4 year old. The size of the zoo is ideal to complete quickly before children get too hot or too tired. Enclosures are also designed for easy viewing at short heights. Layout is good for shade and pathways width good for strollers/wagons. You have the option of feeding goats and cows. Lions, cheetahs, bears, camels, giraffes, zebras just to name a few of the animals to see. It's located only a 15-minute drive from the beach with easy parking. In the park, there is a nice sized playground and shaded picnic tables. I highly recommend a visit for people with young children for a fun free alternative to more beach time.

Our family met in Cape May to do some safer socially distanced outdoor activities. One of which included a visit to the zoo. I was pleasantly surprised that the zoo was free! First, when you arrive, parking is free. Then you walk right up to a really nice park with lots of varieties of swings. That definitely distracted the kids for a bit and we didn't even get into the zoo for almost an hour. When we did enter, we were greeted by staff all along the way. The animal exhibits were really well kept, well-maintained, and well-organized. I was really surprised at the variety of zoo animals considering it was a free experience. I'm not entirely sure of this but I feel like the adults may have had just as much fun as the kids! There are nice little resting areas along the way where you can grab a bite or beverage at their cafe. Typical fast food bites and drinks nothing too special and definitely overpriced but, for a free zoo, I totally get it. We didn't finish the whole zoo as the kids were getting tired. But, I definitely plan to be back next time we are in Cape May! The ropes course adventure area was closed and we were told would re-open in season in June. The kids were disappointed it wasn't open but we told them that we will be back! Definitely family friendly be sure to check this place out!

The fact that this is still free makes this a great place to take a break from the typical beach activities.

While summer time zoo visits are the far saner, hard core zoo lovers will drive two plus hours in each direction for a "day trip" in 35 degree weather just to see this place in the middle of winter like we did last week. It goes without saying that things here like the tree climbing, carousel and train will be closed but you knew that right? (please say yes - if not - WTF) But there are still more than enough animals out and about and I think that a lot of them are actually more active due to the lower temps and the lower crowds. Certain animals of course are inside or off display like the giraffes, lemurs and zebras but for the most part everything else was outside and doing their thing. Fun times hand feeding the cow and the goats. The bird house still smells like ass but I love that at both the entrance and the exit they are playing music for some of them which of course I took the opportunity to serenade the crows with a little bit of 10th Avenue Freeze-Out (say it, say it, again) as it was playing. One of the employees was out with the peacocks/peafowls/guineafowls explaining a good bit about some of their mating habits and personality traits. It's also fun to watch them take off and walk around on the roof of the bird house. We froze our blank off for two plus hours but it really was an enjoyable experience and I made sure to drop it in the slot for a nice donation on the way out. Once again I say to my dear friends, the taxpayers of Cape May County, thank you for funding this place to tune of a lot of money annually as things are well kept/maintained and it truly is a much more enjoyable/laid back time coming here rather than Philly.