Houston Zoo

Zoo · Houston

Houston Zoo

Zoo · Houston

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6200 Hermann Park Dr, Houston, TX 77030

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Houston Zoo by null
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Houston Zoo by null
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Houston Zoo by null
Houston Zoo by null
Houston Zoo by null
Houston Zoo by null
Houston Zoo by null
Houston Zoo by null
Houston Zoo by null
Houston Zoo by null
Houston Zoo by null
Houston Zoo by null
Houston Zoo by null
Houston Zoo by null
Houston Zoo by null
Houston Zoo by null
Houston Zoo by null
Houston Zoo by null
Houston Zoo by null
Houston Zoo by null
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Houston Zoo by null

Highlights

See 6,000+ animals in natural exhibits; enjoy daily feedings & shade  

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6200 Hermann Park Dr, Houston, TX 77030 Get directions

houstonzoo.org
@houstonzoo

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6200 Hermann Park Dr, Houston, TX 77030 Get directions

+1 713 533 6500
houstonzoo.org
@houstonzoo
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@houstonzoo

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Oct 14, 2025

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25 Best Zoos in the World

"Home to roughly 6,000 animals across 600 species and welcoming over two million visitors annually, this popular zoo supports both global conservation initiatives and local recovery projects like efforts to save the Houston toad. Paid encounters let guests bathe elephants, feed animals at the Children’s Farm Zoo, and get close to sea lions, gorillas, penguins, and anteaters while learning about their care." - Stacey Leasca Stacey Leasca Stacey Leasca is an award-winning journalist and co-founder of Be a Travel Writer, an online course for the next generation of travel journalists. Her photos, videos, and words have appeared in print or online for Travel + Leisure, Time, Los Angeles Times, Glamour, and many more. You'll usually find her in an airport. If you do see her there, please say hello. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines

https://www.travelandleisure.com/best-zoos-in-the-world-6826018
View Postcard for Houston Zoo

Roman Petrovskii

Google
I visited the Houston Zoo and was very impressed 🌟. The territory is huge and beautifully maintained 🌳, with lots of greenery and nice walking paths 🚶‍♂️. There are truly many animals here 🐘🦒🦓, the enclosures are spacious, and it’s clear they are well cared for. I especially enjoyed watching the giraffes 🦒 and elephants 🐘. A special highlight was seeing the bald eagles 🦅 — the symbol of America 🇺🇸. There are two of them here, and they sit under the open sky, which makes the encounter even more impressive. There’s also an aquarium with marine life 🐠, an area with birds 🦜, and sections with rare species. For children, this place is a real paradise 👧🧒 — full of educational areas, games, and activities. The staff is friendly and always ready to help 🙌. The cafés and rest areas are convenient 🍔🥤, so you can grab a snack and enjoy the view. Parking is available nearby 🚗, and the location right in Hermann Park makes the zoo even more attractive. Overall, it’s one of the best zoos in the USA 🇺🇸, and I highly recommend visiting with the whole family 💯.

Michael Heumann

Google
Clean, animals look healthy and happy, lots of good food and eateries as well. A great place to spend the day with little ones. They have rental strollers, but you can bring your own. Make sure to bring sunscreen and umbrella! We were rained on and made the best of it, but not too many places to escape the rain or sun.

Melinda

Google
We were in town for Houston's 713 weekend so admission was only $7.13. We got there at 1pm and they were sold out by 2:30pm. All of the exhibits were pretty nice, lots of variety with the animals and most of them had companions. The map is situated at all junctions, or you can use a QR code to download it to your phone. It was a really hot day so it was nice to have the various gift shops to take a break in. If you really want to escape the heat, though, go to the Galapagos exhibit. My only complaints are that the Rhino only had a dirty, muddy puddle to drink from, and there needs to be several attendants in the Chimpanzee viewing area to keep feral children under control when parents aren't being parents. Tons of kids were banging on the glass, trying to get the primates to react and they were also blocking the view for other visitors. Other than that, the food was pretty cheap compared to other zoos and the facilities were extremely clean. I love all of their explanations of their conservation efforts, the additional viewing areas, and the attentiveness of the staff as well as all of the facilities catered to different groups of people. Would definitely come back on a cooler day.

David Lindblom

Google
I'm glad the Houston zoo offers a first Tuesday special. Took advantage of that and the family got to enjoy a day at the zoo. A few attractions are being worked on, but that was a small segment, and I look forward to seeing them open in the future. The site is laid out well so you can make one big circle around to see everything. I enjoyed that the open air exhibits and indoor with air conditioning exhibits are scattered about so you have a moment to rest from some of this summer heat. The zoo has a little bit of everything from tiny insects to big elephants, and even an aquarium section.

Daniela Guevara

Google
The Houston Zoo is a beautiful and well-kept place to visit any time of year. There’s a great variety of animals, shaded walking paths, and plenty of spots to relax or grab a snack. It’s especially perfect for families and nature lovers. Just a heads-up for winter visits — some animals may not be out due to the cold, so you might miss a few exhibits. Still, there’s always plenty to see and enjoy. We’ve been in different seasons and always have a great time! Highly recommend for a fun and educational day out in Houston.

Jorge Baca

Google
An unforgettable family experience! The Houston Zoo is a fantastic place, perfect for families of all ages. We had a wonderful time exploring the wide variety of animals — from majestic elephants to playful monkeys. One of the highlights was definitely the carousel — such a beautiful and magical experience, especially for the kids. We absolutely loved it! If you’re visiting during summer, I highly recommend wearing sunscreen and choosing your visiting hours wisely to avoid the peak heat. Despite the weather, the zoo is well-maintained, clean, and filled with educational and entertaining exhibits. Five stars, no doubt. Highly recommended for families looking to enjoy a fun, educational, and memorable day together.

Jennifer S. Walker

Google
Huge, beautiful zoo!! The grounds are gorgeous, the enclosures are large and full of enrichment, the animals are clearly well cared for. Today was extremely hot, and a lot of animals opted to stay indoors-- I can't blame them in the least! I'll have to come back when it's a little cooler and see them. Well worth the trip.

Mr.S Travel Quest

Google
**Houston Zoo Review: A Must-Visit Family Spot with Unique Experiences** While traveling to Houston, one of the top attractions we couldn’t miss was the **Houston Zoo**—and it did not disappoint. Located in the heart of the city, this zoo offers a fun and educational experience for all ages. One major perk right off the bat: **free parking**. That’s a rare bonus in any major city and definitely a great way to start the day. The **Houston Zoo is large and well laid out**, though not quite as expansive as the Dallas Zoo. Some areas were under renovation during our visit, but the zoo does a great job making you feel like you’ve escaped the hustle of the city. It's surprisingly peaceful considering its urban location. A few highlights from our visit: * **Feeding the giraffes** – This was easily one of the most memorable experiences. For a small fee, you get up close and personal with these gentle giants. Highly recommended! * **Dino Safari Walk-Through Exhibit** – A fun add-on for any dinosaur enthusiasts in your group. It does cost extra, but it’s worth it for the cute, interactive experience. The only downside? Some of the animals appeared inactive or disengaged, which made certain exhibits feel underwhelming. Compared to our experience at the **Fort Worth Zoo**, where animals were more active and there were ongoing Q\&A sessions with knowledgeable staff, the Houston Zoo fell slightly short in terms of animal engagement. That said, the Houston Zoo is still a great value—especially if you grab the **Houston CityPASS**, which gives you access to multiple attractions at a discount. Plan to spend **2–3 hours** here to get the full experience. 🎥 **Full video tour available on our YouTube channel: Mr. S Travel Quest**
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Evie T.

Yelp
I've lived in Houston my whole life and love our zoo. It's been cool to see how the zoo has developed throughout the years with their new exhibits and events. We recently went this past weekend and really enjoyed our time. We went in right when they opened and the line moved very fast. we bought our tickets ahead of time and it helped with the speed of checking in. The zoo is currently under some construction but it doesn't seem to be effecting any main attractions or the animals. On this particular day the zoo was crowded but had a good flow! We got to see all of the animals and they were active this day. Let's get into the pros and cons: Pros: clean, friendly employees, lots of animals, and lots of opportunities to be in the shade/ AC. Cons: zoo events like zoo lights of zoo boo gets way too crowded. Unenjoyable... even
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Serra M.

Yelp
I finally made it to the Houston Zoo after being here 5 years. The weather was overcast, and slightly humid. We made a point of trying to see everything before the sun came out. Although, it's Memorial Day, it's not too packed. I guess we are on a Zoo tour, the last one was in Dallas. I think my favorite part of this zoo is the closeness of the Elephants and Gorillas. Literally you feel like you could reach out and touch them. We did not feed the Giraffe's at this location, but they were very much active. We had a great time and will continue our tour to other locations. Next time we will try the park train!
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Annalisa P.

Yelp
It's been about 4 or 5 years since I went to the Houston zoo for Zoo lights during the Christmas holidays. One of my best friends and I decided to check it out after the pandemic. I believe masks were optional by then. I loved seeing the lights, unique decor and large signs. You can get your photo professionally taken at the oversized JOY signage. There are many events that are held here throughout the year aside from zoo lights. I remember a while back going with church friends in the summer for their scavenger hunt with snow cones hosted by TXU Energy. I recently got to attend another event hosted by them. Feasts with the Beasts is adult only tasting menu event and held in the early evening. Many vendors participate such as Tumble 22, Sweetgreen, Nothing Bundt Cakes, several chocolatiers such as Cacao & and Cardamom chocolate, Gus' Fried Chicken, North Italia, Blood Bros. BBQ, Michael's Cookie Jar, etc. What's great is that they give wooden utensils in a canvas pouch and a very secure, recycled tray to carry your drink and mini food plates. I accidentally threw away my fork, and I asked for another utensil pouch for a full set. They were kind enough to give me another one. The tray held up very well and didn't fall apart considering it was made of paper and got soaked in the rain. This activity is rain or shine, and unfortunately it rained when my friend and I went. What was nice was that they moved the vendors inside the covered areas/exhibits and under covered walkway/seating areas. Since it progressively rained harder, some of the vendors did not show up or left early. Towards the end around 9:30 - 10 pm, they were giving away boxes of pizza and all the desserts. It was nice to see some of the animals at night, but the price point was higher at $149/ticket than the Tastemaker awards (even though I went free as a +1 from a chef friend). Tastemaker was more Michelin-ranked restaurants for $99 or so. Then there's the gorilla treehouse. My work place rented the treehouse conference room for a team building event. The table was beautiful and grand. There were several TVs to view the presentation around the room. There was a framed window for the gorillas to come and watch us while we chatted. It was fun to see them. They would bring their snacks to eat at the window. There was also a covered balcony to view the gorilla habitat from above. There were private restrooms upstairs. We added catering for our event, and they served us fajitas, rice, all the fixings, cookies, lemonade and tea. The food was delicious. We walked around during our lunch break and got to visit the birds, cats, reptiles, elephants and giraffes. Before I left, I looked at the water/aquarium area with the seals. Love that cool underground water tunnel. There are plenty of groups and schools that come here during the day or at night during Zoo lights. It's a great place to bring your kids. If you're not a fan of crowds and children then I recommend Feasts with the Beasts or another time where there aren't as many children. I've been to the San Diego zoo where it is grand, and for Houston to have a zoo in the middle of the city near the world renowned Texas Medical Center, I'd say it's a decent size. If you go often, you can save by getting a membership.
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Mike C.

Yelp
So let me start off by saying we love going to a great Zoo. Houston is by far one of the nicest and cleanest we have been to. We like it so much we signed up for memberships today. So why the low rating? Prior to heading out to the zoo we inquired about the memberships and different options. I am a retired law enforcement officer with almost two decades of service to my community. On occasion companies will offer a discount to Law enforcement and military veterans, active or retired. I confirmed with the person we contacted at the zoo about such a discount. We fully intended to purchase memberships regardless but were told Law enforcement was eligible. When we arrived I was told I did not qualify because I was retired. Apparently when a Law enforcement officer retires the zoo no longer appreciates my service. Fortunately we also have military personnel in our family and were able to use that status for the discount. The Zoo itself and the people working here are great. I have an issue with their policy regarding retired first responders. I just took it personally I guess.
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Lunden D.

Yelp
Visited the zoo today for Memorial Day. The weather was nice, and we were excited for a fun family outing, but the experience in terms of the zoo ended up being just alright. A lot of the animals were either asleep or not out at all, which made several exhibits feel empty or uneventful. I expected more energy, there was no fun zoo music and interactive entertainment. Navigating the zoo wasn't the easiest either. The signs were kinda small, hard to read, and not always in obvious places. It took extra effort to figure out where we were or what direction to go, especially while pushing a wagon. Some parts of the zoo felt outdated and could use a refresh. The slushy was on point--icy, flavorful, and a much-needed cool-down treat on a warm day. My son enjoyed looking at a few of the animals that were active, and it was nice to get out and walk around. Overall, it wasn't a bad visit, but it felt like the zoo could've done more to make the holiday special--especially for families with young kids.
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Steve G.

Yelp
First, the bad... We spent almost $100 in the gift shop, but they wouldn't give us a bag in the name of conservation, but they didn't offer to sell us a tote bag for five dollars! Feel like that must've been on the lame side... Second, the good. Great zoo! The exhibits are really well done and the place is very walkable with many break areas along the way. We particularly enjoyed the Galapagos Island section with the swim over seal tank that we got to walk through and the penguins that were extremely active and curious. Great time!
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Jocelyn M.

Yelp
Kinda sucks to see the animals locked up, but my kids loved it. Everyone here was very nice. It wasn't as crowded as I thought it was going to be. I felt they had some new exhibits and events which was nice. Parking here was no problem. Overall I felt it was a good experience for the fam.
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Tiffany J.

Yelp
I've been to the Houston Zoo a few times over the past few years for Brew at the Zoo and Sip & Sparkle. These events are adults only and occur after hours. The events are a lot of fun and for the most part, you can see many of the animals. Brew at the Zoo is a craft beer event that is usually held at the end of the summer which means it's pretty hot, even in the evening. Sip & Sparkle is a wine event and is basically a preview of Zoo Lights before it opens to the general public. It was a lot of fun and the weather was more enjoyable. They typically have live music, arcade games, ice sculptures, and other activities for attendees. My friend and I love riding the Merry Go Round. I've eaten at The Cypress Circle Cafe each time I've gone and the food is decent. I haven't purchased any snacks or beverages from any of the food carts. There's plenty of free parking in the surrounding parking lots. Kudos to whoever decided to have adults only events at the zoo. If it weren't for these events, I would probably never visit.
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Mari G.

Yelp
This has been one of the better zoo experiences that we've had. The layout was really great! There was also a water station that you could fill your own water bottle up. The weather was perfect and the animals were active, which was really great! We did stop by at a gift shop by the entrance to get some things in the staff. There was friendly. Getting to the zoo was a bit difficult as once you got close to it they did have some lanes closed and we couldn't figure out why as there was no construction going on. We did have to park far.
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Vineet C.

Yelp
The Houston zoo is a great place to spend the day or half day. I have taken my kids (4&6) many times since they have been born. While there is a lot or walking, there isn't much of an elevation change through the zoo so it's pretty easy. Parts of the zoo are under construction, namely the entrance right now, so it can be a bit congested at times. The zoo itself is what you'd typically expect. The children's section in the back of the zoo is fun for the kids and they have a playground, carousel, and many other things. Parking at the zoo is just chaos. If you don't get there early enough you just have to be luckily to find parking so plan accordingly!
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Jamie M.

Yelp
This review is strictly for the Zoo Lights (the whole other part of the zoo is its own awesomeness). So don't go to Zoo lights looking for animals, this was a complaint I heard. Zoo lights are strictly vibrant light & holiday displays throughout the zoo. I cannot imagine the poor animals already dealing with medical area noise now being beamed by lights. The zoo staff does a stellar job caring and blocking out the light noise for the animals. There are even more sensory and calm areas for humans needing less stimulation. My family has been attending zoo lights for about 10 years now and as an annual tradition it's very much adored. The whole experience from start to finish no carousel ride, 2 stops for hot cocoa, and playing in "snow" and lingering at some favored light displays will take a little over an hour. I feel like zoo lights is a well oiled machine. It is an extra cost even with a membership. They haven't changed up the hot cocoa cups or we just have bought all the styles at this point. So we bring them back for $2 refills. Initially this year buying hot chocolate with souvenir mug is $9. The mugs hold up really well in the dishwasher so they were worth the price. We popped in at 5, & surprisingly parking was the least painful I've ever experienced at the zoo. Zoo lights is definitely a must do for the holiday!
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Carol P.

Yelp
Line to get in goes pretty fast even if there are a whole bunch of school group kids. My absolute favorite was the exhibit right at the entrance with the penguins and sea otters. The area where the sea otters swim right above your head is like other places shock exhibits. That was amazing and by far my most favorite part of the zoo. The rest of the zoo is what you would expect. Some animals were more active than others. The red panda was not hiding or sleeping, which is a rare rare thing for me. Had a good time.
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Cassandra S.

Yelp
I will say this is a very costly Zoo. We looked online and it did say free so it was disappointing when we arrived to find out it was not. Apparently it's only certain days. I will say I have been to freeze Zoo's, and the zoo was top-notch. I never had the urge to barf over a foul smell. It was very well kept, and taken care of. There was so much it was a large zoo. We spent two hours here and didn't even finish going around the entire zoo. I highly recommend this zoo for anyone in the area
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Alejandro R.

Yelp
Great spot to see some incredible animals, support conservation efforts, and get some walking in. It's located within Hermann Park. There's plenty of free parking. The zoo keepers walking around are very knowledgeable and kind. The exhibits are compact and close together, there's a lot of shade, and several areas (like the new galapagos area) are indoors with blasting AC, making it a viable option even in the heat of the summer. We spent about 3 hours here and saw most things, but it probably would've taken us 4 hours to see everything. There's some handy pamphlets at the front with a schedule of events throughout the day like elephant baths. The zoo lights in the winter are beautiful and definitely worth a visit! The parking lot is huge and free, and the location beside Hermann Park gives you the opportunity to enjoy the park as well - plenty of playgrounds and a pond where you can rent paddle boats.
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Charisse T.

Yelp
Took the girls to the Zoo today and what a time we had. It was hot but a good breeze flowing through, and that made it a great day. These girls got face painting, ate fries, and fed the giraffes. We ended the day with a great train ride. I hadn't been to the zoo in a while but this time around we had a blast.
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Joanne C.

Yelp
Been going to the Houston Zoo for years and can say that my experience is different every time in a good way.most recently just when to for zoo boo and I have experienced it for 5 years now and the decor changes which is nice! I do recommend getting there right when it open to get a good parking spot and to beat the crowd in. Also it helps to buy a ticket online before coming. Kids 3 and under are free! When you purchase tickets you purchase to enter at a time frame. If it isn't crowded then they are not strict on entry time. If it's crowded then they have you wait behind a roped off section until it's time then you are allowed to the ticket scanning area. Wagons and strollers are welcomed and a must have if you are toting around little ones. Food is pretty prices. Chicken tender kids meal was $15 which only came with 2 strips, apple sauce, graham crackers, fruit, and kids drink. I did pack snacks for my kiddos because no one wants a hangry child. Keep in mind you cannot bring wagons or strollers in the gallapagos area. They do have a section close by the wait line for you to park them. Yes there is a line to get into the gallapagos area. There is a coffee stand for those like me that didn't have time to make coffee because you were busy getting your kids ready and out the door. One of the workers did tell us to go online before coming to purchase different experiences such as feeding the gallapagos turtles. You most likely won't be able to walk up and purchase on the spot. However the giraffe feeding is always available and cost $9 for 3 pieces of lettuce to feed them. Kids get a petting zoo and carousel to enjoy. The fun thing about the Houston zoo is of course the animals but the fun events that they also host through out the year. It's forever expanding and always a great experience. Now that they weather is getting cool might be hitting up the zoo more often.
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Lindsey D.

Yelp
I had a great time at the zoo with my daughter. The map and layout was a bit confusing and the drinks were ridiculously expensive. $6 for a paper cup with no lid no straw or $9 for a larger cup with a lid and a straw with $2 refills. I didn't even look at the food prices but my daughter got a cup of ice for free, but it was a great experience. The zoo was very large. We tried to look at all of the animals but we did miss one small section on accident. By the end of the day we had walked almost 10,000 steps so it's definitely big. Loved the gorilla's! They had lots of opportunities to meet the people who care for the animals and ask questions. I wish I lived in Houston so I could go all of the time. I'm so glad we went. They also had several photo opportunities, they had 2 turtle shell props you could crawl into and two sets of elephant ears you could stand in front of and I'm sure there were others I didn't notice but unfortunately my 15 year old was too cool to take her picture with them.
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Tristin L.

Yelp
I haven't been to the zoo in over 5 years. Went this past Saturday and had an absolute blast, the changes and improvements they have made over the past years is absolutely stunning. I love it!!! The sea lions had to be my favorite part and the feeding of the giraffes!
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Debbie K.

Yelp
We had been wanting to go to the zoo for a while now. The place is awesome. A word of advice we got from one of the zoo keepers - go early in the morning. They open at 9. The morning is when the animals are the most active. We didn't get to see a lot because they were either hiding from the heat (yes, it was hot the day we went) or they were in their inside houses. You definitely need the map to get around. It's a little wonky to navigate. We found out when we got home and looked at the map again that there was a lot we didn't get to see. We had lunch at the Cypress Circle Cafe and it was really good. I was surprised that it was not very expensive either. We are definitely going back. Waiting for the weather to get a little cooler and will definitely be going in the morning.
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Briana W.

Yelp
Houston Zoo... not too bad!! Clean and not too crowded for a free day. I appreciate free parking as well even with a small walk. Check in was super easy and the paper map definitely came in handy. Animals were active and playful. From penguins doing backflips in the water to the lion walking and roaring, it was great. I noticed many families had coolers with them so that's good to know I can bring one next time. I did stop by a cafe to get water and it was $6 for decent size bottle. I only saw about half the zoo before my child was over it and was ready to go home. I definitely plan to return and perhaps explore on my own. Happy Yelping!
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Ngoc H.

Yelp
The family and I decided to come here for Black Friday and it did not disappoint. We thought it would be crazy busy but it was decent. Not too crowded. The weather was cooler but not too cold. The animals were out and enjoying the sun. We ate at the cafe and it was ok. Overall nice family time.
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Olivia N.

Yelp
Overall rating: 4.7 Wow, I know this is known as a large zoo. But the largest zoo I've seen for Asian elephants in the states! I wish they had a map because they separate it by location and is definitely a full day occurrence. They also have giant ant eaters which I've never seen in my life. They looked like puppets, so cool. I don't have that much to say, it was a great zoo.
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Theodore U.

Yelp
My family has a tradition...any city we travel to, we want to see their zoo. On our trip to Texas we visited 2 zoos. The first being the Houston Zoo. The Houston Zoo is located in the middle of the beautiful Hermann Park. Parking at the zoo was free, which was a nice surprise. Admission to the zoo ranges from $25 to $30. It appears that it changes depending on what day you go. We got our tickets using the Houston City Pass, which saved a little money. When you first enter the zoo, there is a beautiful seal lion exhibit. It's hard to tell from the front, but go in through the Galapagos turtle area, and there is a door that will open to the underwater viewing area for the seals. It was a very cool experience. Another highlight of the zoo was the giraffe area. There is a huge barn that has a glass mirror that you can look into. Due to the rain, the giraffes moved into this area often while we were there. Overall this is a cute zoo. Compared to our San Diego Zoo, it is small and only took a couple of hours to see everything. But it was still very nice. On our visit, there was a Dinosaur exhibit that was open. This is an extra cost. I believe it was $5 per person. I would suggest skipping this. It was not worth the extra cost to me. It was very small. I didn't count, but there was probably less than 10 dinosaur animatronics in this display. Of course, the kids love it, but if they are like my son, they would have loved it even if it was just one dinosaur. The extra $25 for our family to go into this one could have been used for other things. Lastly, when we visited, Houston was under a severe weather warning. It was raining so hard that I needed to purchase ponchos. The ponchos sold here are basically trash bags. You will NOT be able to use them again, which was unfortunate for us. At Disneyland and Seaworld a poncho is made out of the thicker plastic and can be used multiple times. I spent $90 on ponchos and 2 umbrellas. The umbrellas didn't even say Houston Zoo! Overall I enjoyed our time at this zoo. Had it not been raining we would have stayed longer.
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Emely R.

Yelp
One of the largest Zoos in the USA! It's mostly outdoors so make sure to bring a hat, water bottles, and sunscreen you will thank me later! The staff seem like that really take care of all the animals well. Clean and friendly staff all of the zoo. Lots to see including African animals, sea animals, reptiles, and so much more! Highly recommend for family and friends if your in town to check out (:
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M.A. B.

Yelp
Very nice zoo - especially enjoyed the Galapagos area and the penguins. The lions and tigers were hiding today but enjoyed seeing the cheetahs, giraffes and elephants. Lots of shaded areas and plenty of spots to sit. Had to walk 1/2 mile from parking lot as it was PACKED today! But a pleasant walk.
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Caroline R.

Yelp
The zoo has amazing events throughout the year such as Zoo Ball, elegant evening and huge fundraiser for the zoo, and Sip and Sparkle, where you can try different wineries from the area all while looking at Christmas lights and animals! Special events are always happening and can be for adults, the kids or both!
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MaryAnn T.

Yelp
What an amazing place! It's hard to tell you everything because there is so much to tell, so I'll be brief - Clean, well maintained, animal enclosures are huuuuge. Plenty of room for them. There are a lot of exhibits that have an expert guide that tells you important details and some funny things about the animals you are looking at. I thought that was terrific! I can't say enough about this place.. you just have to make it there and see for yourself- The tickets can only be purchased online, so check it out! You won't be disappointed.
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Taylor N.

Yelp
I cannot view half of the animals and I spent $40 to get in. That is absolutely ridiculous. The zoo is too high to not see all the animals. Then the animals I saw were sleepy or not outside.
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Summer B.

Yelp
Went on the most perfectly beautiful day during spring break...so you know what that means = 1.5 mil people. So many strollers and wagons and lines galore. Luckily we had a membership pass, but it was still a beast just to get in the zoo. Once I'm we had to maneuver and wait our turn behind all the 5million strollers and wagons (that mostly had no children even in them) and the kids climbing over fencing on exhibits. As an animal person myself, some of the exhibit enrichment seemed to be lacking, but others were glorious. The cute touches of the keeper interactive signs talking about the animals was a cute personal touch. We stopped off at the African ice cream place and got a pineapple dole whip that was out of this world. It was $6.50 and I shared it and it was more than enough for the both of us (adults). I would go again - but I would rather go during one of their events they hold that is adult only and after hours. I would gladly pay extra for the lack of crowds.
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Casey C.

Yelp
Houston has a great zoo! I love it. And the Galapagos area is just stunning!!!! We loved it and can't wait to go back. We have a family membership and it makes it so worth it! There are so many learning opportunities in all areas of the zoo which is nice. They have a great area for younger kids to run around and play on a playground. I love our zoo!
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Maria E.

Yelp
FYI: Tickets must be purchased in advance online (for non-members). Useful guide to visiting the zoo with kids: https://mommypoppins.com/houston-kids/best-of-lists/5-ways-to-get-the-most-out-of-the-houston-zoo-with-kids I think this zoo is best enjoyed with a membership. During our visit, a lot of the animals weren't out. I guess it's been a while since I visited a zoo and I've forgotten how it all works but they have indoor/outdoor areas and follow daily schedules. We tried multiple times to see the lions and bears and they were never outside. I'm certainly not implying that the animals should be forced to go outside to ensure visitors' entertainment but just noting that you may not see the big attractions when you visit. This is why a membership is great so you can see different animals during different visits. Plus, you don't need to buy tickets in advance. I think this is a mid-size zoo, not too small but not huge either. Pretty walkable and you can see everything in one visit (as long as your kids don't get tired). As far as the habitats go, some of the enclosures were very large while others seemed a bit small. Parking is rough so come early or be prepared to walk. If you can visit on a weekday, that's preferable in order to beat the weekend crowds. The food is surprisingly decent -- the Cypress Circle Cafe had delicious and healthy salads (wasn't expecting that).
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John M.

Yelp
I have to be honest, we did freakout a bit on the cost of entry to the zoo for 3 people, so we opted for a season pass, and we will make good on a couple more visits...But we also have to say that this zoo is fantastic....We visited way back in 2011 and its definitely changed...a lot. There is a ton of shade through out the zoo...along with a crazy amount of staff...very informed staff as well. Total walk thru time was right around 4 hours for us...Wife, myself and the GD (13)....overall the cost was worth it.
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Kevin B.

Yelp
This was a nice zoo! We came here last year while visiting for a wedding and it was a nice way to spend a spring morning. Parking was a challenge, but it was a weekend, so we expected that. The zoo has lots of nice exhibits and the animals appeared well-cared for throughout. We particularly enjoyed seeing the red pandas and elephants as they are two of our favorite animals. There was lots of shaded areas around the exhibits, which was a nice touch since it can get so hot in south Texas. If you're a member of your local zoo (Nashville for us), you may be able to get discounted tickets for the Houston Zoo. Ours were half off!
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Becky T.

Yelp
Very affordable, kid-friendly and accommodating. I work with special needs clients and the staff is always welcoming and ready to help with anything that's needed. One employee noticed my client during a meltdown because she saw a feeding she wanted to go to but we hadn't lined up in time. He was so gracious and offered to escort us in, he spoke TO her (not at, big difference) and explained that if she could be quiet he could "sneak us in." She saw the elephants get fed, I got a happy kiddo, and to participate in a wonderful human experience.
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Alexander W.

Yelp
Visited as a family, two adults and two kids. The only reason for 4 and not 5 stars is many animals were housed and not walking around. We had an amazing time seeing what we did. The zoo was very clean, staff friendly, and overall a great family environment.
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Smith Family O.

Yelp
Houston Zoo Lights, beautiful lighting every where. Great date night place to enjoy. Many families having a great time, dressed in PJ's and Christmas clothing. Worth every penny spent. We had a great time together as a group and recommend coming.

Paul P.

Yelp
Every now and things go as planned. We ordered our tickets online for a 9am arrival. That went smooth. We arrived at the zoo around 910am and the free parking was close and lots of spaces available. We had a number of perfectly timed encounters. The penguins were being fed when we got there. Awesome! Then the elephants were also being fed. Great timing. New baby elephant was adorable. I'm a big gorilla fan and they were out and active. Amazing to watch. The zoo seemed like perfect size also. We had a wonderful time and we will be back. Hopefully the ticket prices don't go up with how the economy is.
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Taylor C.

Yelp
First- the parking has got so bad!!!!! Take an Uber or park at the science museums garage if there's room. That's your best bet but I've seen it pretty full also. Otherwise the weathers starting to get nicer and with zoo at the boo going on I thought I'd post! As for the decorations or activities at zoo at the boo I don't have a lot to say there wasn't that much and a lot was reused from the past and not very spooky. But they have a few late hour nights left for zoo at the boo with everything all lit up so that's cute! More importantly I FINALLY saw the NEW Galápagos island section and oh my godddd it's so great! They have good rundown of the area and some videos on their website if you're interested. They have new black tip reef sharks and bonnet head sharks in a nice tank with tons of fish and a big green sea turtle! They have new jellyfish( I think bay nettle??) and some Humboldt penguins. And they have this beautiful tunnel with sea lions swimming all around you! So many other things in the new area so please go see it it's so nice and a good chunk of time out of the sun! And of course the rest of the zoo was great just a lot of walking lol! Oh and don't forget they have free Tuesdays and a section for other discount tickets!
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Tracey L.

Yelp
I brought along three little ones with me, and they had a ball. It's a big zoo with many twists and turns leading from one exhibit to the next and many enclosures. We encountered all kinds of animals that I thought I knew the names of but was wrong. It was this one area where it looked like people were swimming with the seals, but it was a lovely illusion. Once you got inside the enclosure, It was a window that made it look like people were swimming with the seals; it was really neat. I have to mention there are many food places throughout the grounds to get something to eat or cool off with a bottle of water. There's even a mini-inside food court, so don't worry about the heat. But I did see people with small coolers with wheels. I don't know if it's allowed, but I saw many of them, which is a great idea. The outside of the zoo is just as entertaining, with a huge body of water filled with turtles and these gorgeous birds. I saw people in those little paddle boats sailing along up and down. It made for a great day with my nieces and nephews.
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Stanley R.

Yelp
I am not personally a huge fan of zoos. In the final analysis I don't think there is any humane way to display rare animals and still make money. As I watched the 2 huge bald eagles, our national symbol, exhibit nervous and anxious behaviors every time the helicopter ambulance landed and took off from the high rise next door, I cringed. The zoo itself is well designed, very walkable, ample stock of beautiful and amazing animals. I was thrilled again and again by the leopards, the Galapagos exhibit, the giant anteater. The food offerings are quite good and they offer well priced tasty food. The bathrooms are clean and convenient. We all enjoyed the train ride around the park. The price of admission is in line with similar amusement venues. Parking is free! and there is plenty of it. We had a really great day with our young grandchildren, and their parents. I am just not that comfortable with the "side show" kind of feeling. I think that the Houston Zoo does a great job of balancing the need to educate people about the dangers facing our animal neighbors. Things that include extinction, habitat loss and responsible care for our environment and its inhabitants.
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Kailani T.

Yelp
This is my first time here at this zoo I wasn't too impressed by the customer service. I feel like more people that work here, Hate their job then love it! But I will mention a couple of names of excellent workers that had great customer service! Anna, who worked in the meerkat department she's been there for 10 years was super friendly and absolutely loved her job! Denny, he was very helpful with helping us find the giraffes! & had no problem stopping when we approached him! But overall, I enjoyed my experience seeing all the beautiful animals, but a lot of animals seemed very sad and bored, and it just reminds me that we don't know what they're really going through and a lot of people don't care, but in some of my pictures, you can see how depressed most of the monkeys are because of deforestation. Their habitats have been completely destroyed. We must remember that even though it's nice going to the zoo the animals are there, because we completely destroyed their habitat. It's very sad mentioning this, but I just had to on a brighter note I really enjoyed my time and exercise because you will be walking for hours. Make sure you wear tennis shoes and stay hydrated.

Jay E.

Yelp
We had such a fun time, the little ones loved seeing all the different animals, I would recommend this place for a fun family outing.

Barron H.

Yelp
All the animals and nature habitat is amazing. Unfortunately, it is not so friendly for humans. If you have any type of disability and can't be on your feet or walk for long periods of time, there is just not enough park benches/seating.
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Shauna M.

Yelp
We had such a great time at this zoo! It was hot not going to lie, but they provide a lot of shade, and also a good chunk of the zoo is inside and can cool down while seeing all the animals. Even when outside in heat, we still saw so many animals! Great place. Prices are pretty steep. Won't lie.
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Sherman O.

Yelp
This is definitely a family favorite. It's a very clean zoo. I feel like they have a variety of animals. Parking is free. Be aware that parking on some days might be tough. It gets very heavily visited on those holidays, and the traffic in and out could take awhile. Be patient. There are a variety of activities beyond the animal exhibits like train ride, merry-go-round and playground. I'd recommend getting the family pass so you can take your time visiting a little bit at a time.
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Pree R.

Yelp
Review for the Christmas light show event - We went a few days after Christmas just for a night out in Houston downtown area. The set-up was organized for the most part, but it was definitely dark from the parking lot going to the zoo. There were plenty of light displays set up all around the zoo, some prettier than others, and even a few days after Christmas there were still a good number of people out. Took us about 40 minutes to walk through. Tickets were pricey at $39 per person when purchased online, but I can understand if I think of it from a "a lot of electricity is going into this" / "got to pay the people who put up these lights" perspective, haha!

Christiane S.

Yelp
I have a membership and love it. I can always take one of my friends for free. It's fun and good exercise.
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Floyd C.

Yelp
Houston Zoo never disappoints! Beautiful grounds, happy animals, and friendly and knowledgeable staff.

Rachael P.

Yelp
NO PARKING HERE! I purchased tickets online, which happens to be the only option. when we arrived at the zoo, there was zero parking available. FYI, tickets are nonrefundable. I guess I just made a donation to the Houston zoo.