Roger Williams Park Zoo

Roger Williams Park Zoo exceeded all expectations! The grounds are beautifully maintained, and the layout makes it easy to explore at a relaxed pace. The variety of animals from elephants and giraffes to snow leopards and red pandas is incredible, and each exhibit is thoughtfully designed to be both educational and engaging. What really stood out was how clean and well organized everything was. The staff were friendly, knowledgeable, and clearly passionate about conservation and animal care. There were plenty of shaded areas, rest spots, and family friendly features like splash pads and interactive exhibits that made the day even more enjoyable. Whether you’re local or just visiting Rhode Island, Roger Williams Park Zoo is a must see. I left feeling inspired, educated, and excited to return again soon!

Peaceful and so full of life. Plenty of different places to sit and have a picnic or even throw a surprise party. Just a few weeks ago a proposal was set up here. Super family friendly and pet friendly. Open every day of the week, open to the public, handicap accessible, free parking, trash receptacles. Unfortunately no fires of barbecue grills are allowed here. It's very clean does Park expands and hits Cranston Providence and Warwick through their different entrances and exits close to highways, including interstate 95, route 10 and route 37. Also don't forget the zoo is free the 1st Saturday of each month WITH A PROVIDENCE RESIDENCE I.D FOR ADULTS ( & up to 4 kids under that ID)

My Daughter, Grandsons, and I enjoyed our visit. Although, not a huge zoo it was well maintened and the staff we came across were friendly, knowledgeable, and answered questions that my Daughter and Grandsons had asked. A good variety of animals. I loved seeing the elephants up close. I would recommend this zoo for a family to visit.

It is definitely geared for children but the exhibits were nice and well maintained. They have petting zoo, dinasour park, zebras, elephants, giraffes etc. Nice gift shop as well as places to eat along the way. Go check it out It's a great place to go

Roger Williams Park Zoo – A Rhode Island Gem 🌟 A clean, walkable zoo that’s easy to explore, with plenty of shady spots to rest between adventures. Animal highlights include a regal bald eagle standing watch like a true guardian, a peaceful red panda lounging as if in meditation, playful goats and alpacas, elegant cranes, and immersive themed areas like Faces of the Rainforest and Wild Woodlands. The staff are friendly and knowledgeable, always ready to share fascinating animal facts that make the visit even more engaging. While smaller than some larger zoos, this Rhode Island treasure offers a balanced mix of animals and attractions that make for a memorable day. Whether you’re a family with kids, a photographer seeking great shots 📸, or a traveler following the call of the Force 🐾, this zoo is well worth the journey.

Absolutely love this zoo—one of my favorite spots to take the kids any day of the week! We have a membership, which makes it super convenient, and it’s always worth it. The zoo is very well kept, and the staff are so friendly and love to chat and educate while you’re there. A lot of people assume it’s small because it’s right in the middle of Providence, but it’s actually a big place with so much to see. Besides all the amazing animals, there’s an awesome kids’ play area with a treehouse, splash pad/water zone, greenhouse, goats, rainforest exhibit—you name it! The face painting booth is a highlight—seriously, the people there are the sweetest and so talented. My kids almost go just for the face painting, with the animals as the bonus, haha. We love this place—always clean, welcoming, and full of fun. Highly recommend for families!

The animals were very cute. I loved the snow leopard and the goats even though small baby brown goat ripped my shirt. There was a funny fish in the pond. The dells lemonade was good. Yay had a nice time with oomf.

Beautiful grounds. Decent size. My 11 year old especially enjoyed the rainforest exhibit where animals free roam and the dinosaur exhibit. The Dyno worth the extra $ 1 time. We will go back and explore the rest again. Elephants and giraffes were also popular...almost able to touch the giraffe.

Just stopping by for a quick update on my lovable local zoo. For motorcyclists - there's dedicated motorcycle only parking in the parking lot to the right of the zoo entrance. I had no idea until just now. Huge win. For gluten-free folks - Tuskers has all allergens listed on their menu & a gluten-free bun available by request. The craziest part of all is that the gluten-free bun is actually good. It has structural integrity. Very tasty burger. Oh & I love the zookeeper chats! Made it in time for the elephant chat the other day & it was so fun. Check the schedule for other animals. Highly recommend.

Overall we love the zoo! The annual membership is the way to go if you are thinking about visiting more than once. Otherwise it can get pretty pricey. My only real complaint is that you have to be extra for the dinosaur exhibit and that really adds up. And of course now that my son knows it's there he wants to walk through everytime. Otherwise the variety of animals are great. Food options are a little sparse and what they do have is always super crowded. I wish they limited the tickets a bit more to the Jack O'Lantern Spectacular so it didn't feel like you were literally just being pushed in a sea of people and parking/traffic is always a nightmare. But it is still amazing what they create!

Roger Williams Park Zoo's 33rd annual Zoobilee! Party with a Purpose was on Saturday, June 28th. Every dollar raised helps save wildlife and supports the Zoo's mission of conservation and education. Prior to this event, I received an email from the Volunteer Management Office asking for volunteers to support the success of the major fundraiser. Also, each completed volunteer shift earns one complimentary ticket to Zoobilee (unless otherwise noted) ($125.00 retail value). My friend and I signed up for the Friday, June 27th 1:00pm-5:00pm - Set-Up Crew shift. We were asked to do various tasks such as moving tables and setting up composting bins. We had a great time volunteering. The next day, we arrived for the event about 15 minutes earlier. Guests started to form lines to check in and our IDs were checked to ensure all guests were 21+. At 7:00pm, the gates opened and we started checking out the vendors. First up was Holukia Shaved Ice, Massage Envy, Johnson Brothers, Del's, and Kristi's Kraftails. As you walk deeper into the zoo to the elephants and giraffes, and then up to the farmyard and rainforest building, we were indulging in delicious bites from top restaurants and sipping on refreshing cocktails. My friend and I were stuffed by 9:30pm and we even had leftovers to take home. We really enjoyed the chicken tikka masala from Kabob & Curry, 1/2 Shake Shack burger, and the dessert tent. It was really nice that some of the vendors had coupons and giveaways, we got to see some animals, and zookeepers were around showing and talking about some animals. There was also a Photo Booth and live music from a band. Overall, Zoobilee! Party with a Purpose was a really fun night and I can't wait for the 34th annual Zoobilee! Party with a Purpose!

What a treasure in Providence, RI! The zoo is the third oldest in the country, but the exhibits are kept fresh. It is divided into sections which make it easy to navigate. The zoo is maintained very well. The animals are given caring and knowledgeable attention. My family loved seeing the animals in natural settings. They walked along the wide paths seeing giraffes, elephants, monkeys, exotic birds, reptiles and much more. The magnificent Snow Leopard was out and about today which was exciting to see. A large classic Carousel is on the grounds. Food, Dippin Dots etc. are available.

We've had a family membership to this lovely zoo since our oldest child was a baby. She's 22 now and we still love going here! Today I went with our youngest child and we had a great time! I had forgotten that it was a holiday and the parking lot was packed at 9:15, only 15 minutes after opening time. Entering the zoo was a very efficient process - no line at all! A staff person outside the entrance scanned my digital membership card, checked it against my ID and we were inside a split second later. Even though the parking lot was packed, the zoo didn't feel overly crowded and we were able to see everything we wanted to see without difficulty. The new penguin exhibit is great and it was really fun to watch them from above the water and also watch them through the large window as they zoomed around underwater. Some of our other favorite animals at Roger Williams are the giraffes, the red pandas, the tree kangaroos, the gibbons and the flamingos. We also love seeing the golden tamarins and the sloth in the rain forest house, and the ant eaters in the same area are really interesting as well. Today we enjoyed the armadillos who were very active and seemed to be having lots of fun when the keeper sprayed water from a hose for them to run through. One great thing about this zoo is that there is lots of shade, so even in the summer heat it is still pleasant to visit. I also love not having to lather on the sunscreen since so many areas are shaded. There are also misting areas, and a few exhibits are air conditioned. We didn't visit the Big Back Yard playground area today, but this was always a hit with my children when they were younger. We usually bring our own water and snacks, but there are many food options available at different stations throughout the zoo. Our visit today lasted about 2 hours and we saw everything we wanted to see. I think you could easily spend 3-4 hours here if you wanted to go at a more leisurely pace, stop for snacks, and enjoy the play areas. We've loved coming to Roger Williams Park Zoo for 22 years and I hope we keep on enjoying it for many more years to come.

Roger Williams Park Zoo is the third oldest zoo in the country, but you can barely tell. Exhibits get refreshed every few years, keeping your zoo experience new and exciting. The zoo is divided into sections and easy to navigate. You'll start in the Savannahs, and end back where you started or if you have a little one, extend the adventure and continue on to "Our Big Backyard", a rotating, interactive play area for kids. For restrooms, I was surprised to see how well maintained they are! My favorite sections/exhibits in no particular order: Alex & Ani Farmyard: A mini version of a livestock show I'm familiar, including a petting zoo where you can pet/feed Shetland Sheep. BE WARNED: petting any of the animals are at your own risk and the Alpacas may spit! The Savannahs: visit the African Elephants - it was amazing to see them so up close. They love wandering near the gates to scoop up the grass with their trunks The Rainforest: The replicated atmosphere of a rainforest is perfect for the animals that live here. It's an open concept enclosed structure that allows tropical birds to fly free and cute monkeys to run around. The best little surprise? Seeing two sloths in the space sleeping in a hammock. Fortunately, the scarier things found in the rainforest are also located here, but are behind glass ie: anaconda & poisonous dart frogs Himalayan Trek: A bit of a disappoint with how small this section is, especially for the animal I was really looking forward to seeing: the Red Panda. Wild Woodlands: incredible, one of a kind experience to see our national bird, the Bald Eagle, out in the open -- these particular birds can't fly due to wing injuries. World of Adaptations: insanely cool to see the Komodo dragon, but wishing it had a larger space Penguin Exhibit: the newest exhibit that just opened on May 24, 2025 and already a crowd favorite! The penguin version of the Bachelorette, there are currently 11 male penguins, and one female penguin. If you didn't know, penguins mate for life and I can't wait to see which one she chooses!! If you've been to the Roger Williams Zoo prior, you may recognize this former space as the seal pool for Bubba, who has know been moved to another facility. PRO TIP: you can bring outside food and drinks

So .. I have had a membership to the zoo since 2009. Unfortunately right now they are doing a lot of construction throughout the zoo, which is bothersome to the animals as it is to guests. This is going on during zoo hours which I feel is ridiculous, seeing that the zoo closes early. They could be doing this at other times. It's very uncomfortable for some guests, especially those who are handicapped, have disabilities, or special needs.. hopefully they finish it up soon so we can continue to enjoy this beautiful zoo we have here in Rhode Island.

The zoo is great. I've been coming here since I was a child on field trips and now I'm bringing my baby with me. We went about 2 weeks ago at the beginning of April, it was kind of cold out and not that many animals were out. There were some signs in front of the exhibits saying that some animals are indoors due to the weather or it being off-season something like that. We had a wrap at the small restaurant they have there, it was a good time.

The Roger Williams Park Zoo was a pleasant visit. The park is very large, has a vast amount of animals, every staff member was helpful, and you could get very close to each exhibit. Since it was cold, I enjoyed how visitors could go inside the elephant and giraffe exhibits, where the temperature is comfortable. There, you could see them at a close distance and take photos/videos. The gift shop is large and has a vast selection of zoo items and apparel. FYI.....make certain to ask about discounts when purchasing tickets. They provide many (Teachers, students, military, veterans, seniors). If you're in the Providence area, don't hesitate to stop into this zoo and enjoy your visit.

Great zoo that allows visitors to get fairly close to the animals and lots of opportunities for good sightings. So happy they still have elephants which a lot of zoos have phased out. The petting zoo portion was nice, my toddler enjoyed it. It seems odd the zoo store is in the middle of the zoo and not at the end of the loop. We tried to go in the tropical house but it smelled musty and moldy so we immediately left. It was nice they accepted our home zoo's membership for a discount (as we were tourists to this one).

Positives: - The zoo is well designed and has a nice flow to it. - There are several areas where you can interact with the animals. - Well placed resting areas. - Ticket prices reasonable. Negatives; - Animal variety not the best I've seen. - Some exhibits were closed. - Parking lots are tight and narrow. Can be a little messy on busy days.

My husband surprised me and took me here for a few hours. What an amazing zoo! We loved how much room the animals had, how educated the workers were, how natural the habitats were, and that the animals had privacy if they needed it. This zoo requires a lot of walking and although they don't have a ton of animals they had a good variety. We will definitely be back and highly recommend stopping here if you are in the area.

I love a good zoo and I love to visit zoos when I visit new places. While visiting an old friend in Rhode Island, she brought me to the Roger Williams Park zoo. We came with her son on New Year's Day. It was a slightly overcast day and we pretty much had the entire zoo to ourselves. The zoo is quaint and has very nice exhibits. I was blown away by how close you feel to the elephants and giraffes in their enclosures. I feel like most zoos have a tremendously large barrier between the animals, but not at this zoo. Given the size of the state of Rhode Island, this zoo felt very appropriate. You can spend a pleasant morning or afternoon here and still have plenty of time to do other things.

This was my first year ever seeing the holiday lights and it was such a fun experience (although I was absolutely freezing and couldn't believe how cold it was). There was so much to see and they even had little sections to buy snacks and refreshments. I ended up getting a hot chocolate and although it was probably the same one I could buy at a grocery store it was the best $7 of my life. There's also a s'mores section with little fire pits and you can pay to get all the ingredients to make them.

The staff was kind and helpful very nice place wide variety of animals. I got scammed and paid double for dippin dots ice cream but other than that fun experience dinosaurs are really cool

This is my local zoo and I really like it! The have elephants (although they will be leaving in a few years, 2027 I think?) which is rare for zoos I guess, and giraffes. Although it's a smaller zoo (2-4 hours with a lunch break), it provides lovely exhibits for the animals, you won't see a lot of just stone and pavement. The new rainforest building is really cool. You can feed some goats at the petting zoo too! And see a red panda (who look nothing like pandas by the way). There is a lot of construction in there right now in the section you enter into, they tore down a bunch of trees to make a new learning center. They seem to get new animals every few years too, so that's nice. Always friendly keepers too, happy to answer any questions. I love to ask them the animals names if I see them!

Roger Williams Park Zoo is getting bigger and better. I've always loved this zoo ever since I was knee-high to a grasshopper. Getting a membership is the way to go, you can bring a guest and you'll get your money's worth within a few visits. Concessions are reasonably priced but the gift shop is outrageously expensive. Soon the park will have a learning center and a new penguin exhibit. I'm glad that they also have misting stations to cool off with on hot days.

We love that this place is only 15 minutes away. It's a perfect go-to, especially during summer. They also have events throughout the year like Halloween and Christmas, which we have taken advantage of (fun holiday activities like smore making, although it is really expensive). We have been getting the family plus pass for the past couple of years because it's a great way to also invite out of town guests. I only wish that everything was truly opened at 9. Some exhibits don't open their doors until 10, which is an hour after the zoo opens. Other than that, it is a clean and fun zoo.

The Roger Williams Holiday Lights Spectacular was such an incredible experience for a wonderful price! We had almost two hours of fun, s'mores, gift shop exploring and more in the beautiful Roger Williams Zoo! We couldn't believe how much there was to do and see for the entry price of $14 a person, and even less for children! Highly recommend to anyone looking for a unique, fun, budget-friendly night out with the family or the sweetheart

My family and I had an awesome time at the Roger Williams Park Zoo last week while we were up in Warwick visiting for a couple of days. I didn't know what to expect. My sister was under selling this zoo and I thought it was just a small little local zoo. Well, I was wrong! This zoo was great! My kids loved looking at all the animals - the elephants, giraffes, red wolves, camels, and beyond! The staff were SO friendly. Some staff explained what the animals were doing, or how they take care of them. Other staff members told us to look here or there to see other wildlife (like the cool snapping turtle as we crossed a bridge). We were lucky enough to also catch a bird show. It was so cool to see all the different birds land right above us. Everything at the zoo was so informative! I also added the dino exhibit to our tickets. I was unsure if I wanted to add that extra cost to each ticket ($9.00), but I am glad I did, as my kids were in absolute awe looking at all the different dinosaur animatronics. They were very cool to see and I must say the young dino lover in me had a great time too. The dino exhibit spills out to a little play area and thank god my kids were too beat to ask to play on any of the rides. At $5.00 a pop it was a little too expensive to spend that kind of money. Make sure to bring some water for the hot summer days. You can bring in your own! We also brought a fan that sprays water too to keep the kids cool. We went after lunch so we didn't have to spend any money on food. We had a good solid two hours exploring the zoo. The interactive areas were great too. My kids got to brush the goats and pet an armadillo. I am very impressed with this zoo. If you are in the area looking for something to do - the zoo, and the park too, is a great place to spend your day.

One of the best zoos I've ever been to, and let me tell you, I've been to a lot of zoos

I haven't been to the zoo in ages and it definitely had a makeover. My friend won tickets to the Dragons and Mythical Creatures and invited me along for the ride. I'm so happy I said yes! We went on a hot day and the attendance was offering free cold water which I thought was super kind since the zoo has vending machines with bottle water. I also appreciated how the zoo has mist areas around that mist water to ensure you stay cool! There were also cold hand washing stations with hand sanitizer after petting the animals which was also refreshing. The animals seem to be happy rolling around and staff were all genuinely happy which made the experience that much more pleasant. The Dragons and Mythical Creatures was also an incredible experience. I love how they had their own stories and how much detail was put into each creature. This was super fun and I would definitely do this again but at night when everything is lit up.

I absolutely adore Roger Williams Park Zoo, and consistently love every second of the trip (even the drive down to Rhode Island!). I had such great experiences with Roger Williams as a kid, and continue to as an adult. This is a very family friendly zoo and is fun for all ages. The staff at RW park zoo care about their visitors and go above and beyond to make the trip an enjoyable experience. Noteworthy, RW does well with conservation and creating a sustainable environment for the animals. Right as you walk in, you can tell that this is part of their mission. Animals are regularly catered to and their zones are in good condition. They are also given breaks, which is great, and so you'll often see some wildlife missing from their exhibits. As for the experience, this is a midsize zoo so you'll probably spend about 2 hours walking the exhibits. The zoo also has an outdoor eatery with a stage nearby for dining & a show. If that hasn't sold you yet-- there is also a petting zoo, an indoor "forest exhibit", an interactive ride, and soft pretzels sold throughout the park. Come check it out!

Went to Roger Williams Park Zoo for the Pumpkin Halloween Spectacular. Great price online and worth it. What I did not like was the parking situation as no one seemed to know where to park. No signage, dark, no lights, it was challenging. The wait time to get into the pumpkin section was crazy and no one knew what the wait was about. Once you are in it, it is understandable. The pumpkin carving was truly extraordinary and artistic!

One of my favorite zoos!! Everything is always so well kept and I can tell they take good care of their animals.

Oh yes! A place that we visited three times during our three-month stay in Providence. There are so many highlights, to name a few, the petting zoo with alpacas, the elephants and the giraffes. Oh, and a tamarind monkey had tiny babies who were holding onto her back which was super cute. If I lived in providence, this is where you would be finding my daughter and I.

One of my favorite places in Rhode Island and it is a mere 10 minutes away from my house by car. I like to visit my favorite spots: the Japanese Garden and the boathouse. I often pop into the Botanical center to see the palms (only $5 to get in and worth so much more!). There is a lot of wildlife there, too - turtles, carp, blue herons, swans, geese, bunnies. So lovely!

I love a good zoo, don't you? For a zoo that isn't all THAT big, my husband and I spent more than a couple hours here and very much enjoyed ourselves. It was the middle of the week and middle of a summer day and still many animals were out and about. Some were very close too! The elephants were using their trunks to rip up juicy clover outside their enclosure. I spent a lot of time with them while my husband laughed at the red river hogs running adorably from one pile of alfalfa pellets to the next pile around their pen. It reminded us of our treat-incentivized cat. We were also up close and personal with blue macaws and small primates who are freely mobile in the rainforest exhibit. There is even a sleepy, lady sloth! A word of caution: poop happens. Also, you are required to wear a mask to protect the animals. The zoo keepers wear sea blue collared shirts. The river otters obviously know blue shirts mean feeding time because they crowded up to the glass whenever zoo staff passed by their enclosure, even if it wasn't the person who feeds them. I noticed other animals exhibiting similar alertness. I'm not saying you SHOULD wear a blue shirt to gain an exciting reaction, but ...

Rhode Island is lucky to have such a lovely, well managed zoo with so many wonderful animals! Every time I go to the zoo, I learn more about these animals and how the zoo is helping with research, conservation, and protection of them. The zoo is a great place to go with children to watch the otters zoom around their enclosure and marvel at how huge elephants are. It is also a great place for adults! A trip around the zoo takes between 1-3 hours, depending on how slow you go. A really wonderful place, cannot recommend it enough!

I really love my membership and I love the big back yard. It's a great play place for kids. BUT as of this summer with the dinosaur exhibit, I've emailed them and commented on Instagram that their exhibits (now the pumpkin one) are blocking handicap assessable access to the big back yard. My company put a lot of money into that treehouse to make it welcoming for all, but "all" can not get to it when they must ask for help to get through the greenhouse, which is the only way currently in and has 2 doors going opposite directions so it is impossible to do alone. I would have liked a response back, but they simply deleted my comments instead.

We came here on a Monday morning while in town visiting. It was a little crowd there but easy to move around. This zoo is a bit on the smaller end compared to other zoos i have visited. I will say the staff was friendly and helpful and plenty around. I felt bad for most of the animals because they didn't have enough living space especially the giraffes whose habitat was under construction and forced into a very small space. Most of the animals also were hiding or laying down so not very active. It was something cool to do on a Monday but that's about it.

First time going to the holiday lights and it did not disappoint! The lights are coverd over the whole zoo, helping the crowds disperse. Beautiful displays and cheerful Christmas music throughout. Can't wait until next year!

This review is long overdue. We come to RWPZ regularly and have been annual members in the past. We have attended a few events here and generally just enjoy walking the grounds, seeing the animals and enjoying families enjoying a day at the zoo. There are a variety of animals including cheetahs, elephants, giraffe, tortoise, buffalo, wolf, red panda, birds, a petting zoo, education center, private event center, zip line ride, children's play area, and a very nice pathway along the pond with signs describing what creatures live there so you can keep an eye out. They often have demonstrations with animals the kids can touch and learn about, you can feed the giraffe, and sometimes watch an elephant get a bath. All good fun. We most recently went to the Asian Lantern Spectacular and these life sized and bigger lanterns are very well crafted. In addition to the lanterns are sound effect so the monkeys chatter and the dinosaurs roar. We arrived before sunset and I took photos on our first round of the park. We made a second loop after sunset and the park had a completely different look and feel once the lanterns are the main source of light. It was really magical! A very nice choice for date night. Events like these help to support the zoo, keep the animals fed, in good health and keep their educational programs in tact. There were a number of animals still out to be seen during our first round of the park, before the sun went down so it was a great mixture of lanterns and visiting the animals. There was also a guest performer playing a traditional 21 string Chinese guitar during our visit. Her music was mesmerizing. It's these small details that really make the RWPZoo events shine. The gift shop near the 401 Café is really lovely with stuffed toys, tshirts, games and other gift items. Restrooms are located inside this building, as well as near the entrance/exit. The food offerings include burgers, popcorn, ice cream, and other basic fare. They also have a beer cart nearby. Food can be ordered online by scanning a QR code located on signs near the 401 Café with your camera. Pick it up at window when called. The parking lot is quite large and on sunny weekends, fills up quickly. There are several handicapped spots near the entrance as well as EV charge spots. You can purchase an annual membership (there are many tiers based on family size) at the entrance making entrance quick and easy for future visits or purchase your tickets at the booth. At the time of this writing, 'Timed' tickets were purchased on line to stagger admission and allow for spacing of guests throughout the park. Face coverings were required during our visit for the safety of staff and guests. Even lots of little one's had their masks on.

I love going to the zoo....it's always fun to see the animals and depending on the day, they might be doing different activities or being fed or taking part in some kind of animal encounter... This zoo is the country's third oldest zoo It opened its door in 1872. Today, located amid 40 acres of beautiful woodlands, the Roger Williams Park Zoo provides visitors the opportunity to see animals from all over the globe. Each year approximately 800,000 visitors from across the state - and around the world - enjoy the Zoo's amazing displays of animals from all over the world. Natural environments are home to more than 150 species of animals including a Komodo dragon, as well as zebras, red pandas, African elephants, Masai giraffes, snow leopards, bears, anteaters, flamingoes, sloths, and more. The major exhibits are: Alex and Ani Farmyard: Is a petting zoo where visitors can feed the animals food provided by the zoo. It primarily features animals such as giant rabbits, Guinea hogs, alpacas, Kunekune pigs, Nubian goats, a miniature donkey, Shetland sheep, and various chicken breeds. Fabric of Africa: Includes exhibits for the zebras, elephants, giraffes, cranes, river hogs, wildebeests and more... Faces of the Rainforest: Has many types of monkeys, iguanas, frogs, sloths, otters and such.. Feinstein Junior Scholar Wetlands Trail: Focuses on animals from the Rhode Island area like Canadian geese, herons, turtles, ducks etc.. Marco Polo's Adventure Trek: Has Asian fauna like camels, bears, red pandas, snow leopards and more... North America: This exhibit has bisons, bald eagles, seals, porcupines, snakes, and wild turkeys, among others.. World of Adaptations (formerly Australasia): it features animals primarily from Southeast Asia and Oceania The Komodo dragon at the zoo is the first of its kind in New England. The daily admission is about $20 for an adult. Zoo memberships are available on an annual basis.

We were totally mislead about they availability of mobility aids. Online,we reserved a scooter the morning. We were then told they weren't renting any because they were changing companies for them. They also has no manual wheelchairs. Thankfully my son brought one just in case. When I contacted them via email I was ignored for 2 days but finally got a response( probably because I kept sending emails) from management. Unfortunately, it was basically an " oops my bad" it won't be like that next time. All the penny making machines were broken (one of my granddaughter favorite souvenirs), many displays were closed due to construction. I will say, the animal handlers were so incredible- very knowledgeable and friendly

This review is for the Asian Lantern Spectacular. I wasn't too impressed. I was going back and forth between a 3 and 4 but decided to give it a 4 because you actually got to see some of the zoo animals so it was sort of like a 2 in 1 trip--zoo and lanterns. I thought there would be more lanterns to look at but they're scattered throughout the park as you're walking. The coolest one was the dragon, it was big and bright. I do know that a lot of work goes into making these figures so I do admire the dedication that went into this event from an art perspective. There are food shops around including hotdogs, pretzels, dippin dots, etc and the bathrooms are open. There was also a woman playing the Zheng, a 21 string instrument, and the sound was beautiful (I can't even play the 6 string instrument). Buying tickets was easy. I believe tickets are only sold online so plan ahead. The event will be on until July 4th and goes from 5-10pm. We bought our tickets for $25 each + $5 processing fee (if you are going as a pair or group I would recommend one person buy all the tickets so the processing fee is only charged once as opposed to charging it to all orders individually). We did 8pm which was perfect because it was light enough at the beginning to see the animals but got dark during the second half to see the lanterns better. If you're going more for the animals go during the day but for lanterns at night and for both 7/8pm. It took us about an hour and a half to complete. This is great for kids and families and adults who are bored (me). This park has always been confusing to me but I've gotten more used to it over time. If this is your first time visiting I would go a few minutes earlier to navigate the park. They aren't super strict with time. I arrived at 7:40 and my time wasn't until 8 so don't panic about being too early or too late (but do come before 8:30pm so you have enough time to see everything)

Covid protocols ever changing I figured I would update my review! Still 5* of course. All parking spots are now open! Food carts are open! Most of the park is open and with ropes to help with one way flow. The lines move much faster in exhibits like the rain forest thankfully!! You do still need to get your tickets online and not at the gate - you chose the time you want to arrive, but can stay as long as you want! Masks are still necessary which honestly I'm glad, since you do end up getting close to people at times, but never felt unsafe. Great job handling everything!

Zoo price keeps going up, but exhibits really starting to show their age. Some animals are still great to marvel at, but too many empty areas and booths closed. Gift shop pricey as well as food venue. Only one open at the time, some items not available to order. Could use an update.

Everyone must go to Roger Williams zoo at least once in your lifetime. My mom, sister & l went & had the best time ever. We'll start with the prices, very reasonable. The zoo was very clean. Enough seats to sit, if needed thru out the zoo. There were penty of restrooms. The staff were friendly & knowledgeable. There was plenty to see. The exhibits were big enough for the animals. Clean & had extra stuff to keep the animals from getting bored. We have all been there at least three times through out the years. Must go!

Went on a trip, taking advantage of the 50% off during January and February. There were a few zoo animals that were not in their enclosure - either due to renovations or some other reason. Red Pandas and Bison were missing to name a couple. The Tropical Rain Forest enclosure was nice and hot on a rather cold day. Be prepared to take your jackets off when inside. There are birds and monkeys that are free to roam the enclosure (not in cages). The highlight of the tour were the elephants/giraffes. We spent about 3 hours including a lunch break. Their fries and chickens tender portions were generous for the price.

One of the reasons why I wanted to visit Rhode Island is for this zoo. I read good things about it and loved that parking is free. Arrived during Spring Break around 12PM and we had to go down to one of the further parking lots. Manageable walk. Got on the line to get our tickets scanned. Wait time wasn't bad and once you're inside, the place is well spaced that it didn't feel overly crowded. Huge space for the animals to roam. Saw flamingos, elephants, giraffes and more. Kids had a great time. I would avoid the food court here if possible. Saw several people pack their picnic lunch and there were plenty of tables at Tuskers to eat at. Hot dog bun was dry, chicken in the chicken salad was rock hard. Fries were the only thing that was decent.

I have always been impressed with what an amazing zoo our little state has! The animals all look well cared for, and the employees seem happy to be working there. We decided to bEcome zoo members this year, and took advantage of a nice warm January day to make our first visit. I had a feeling that we would get to see a few animals, but most would be away for winter. We were pleasantly surprised, however, when we found nearly eVery animal out enjoying the weather as well! We were fortunate enough to see the new baby golden lion tamarin, as well as many other impressive creatures that live here. If they can impress this much in January, I can't wait to see what the rest of the year has in store!

This was a lovely zoo. Be prepared to walk a lot. Many kinds of animals to see. I was impressed by the amount and variety. This was the wrong time of year to see the zoo up and running full force. There were many concessions closed as well as some activity centers. There was still quite a bit to do and see though. We loved the Rainforest, Elephants and Giraffes the best. The only place open to eat was Nourish 401 Cafe. Really expensive in my opinion. Only 1 of us bought something and it came to $24 for a Chicken sandwich with fries and a water. The sandwich wasn't even that good. So I personally wouldn't recommend eating here. The bathrooms were also a bit disappointing. The ones in the children's area were not working and the ones upfront needed a facelift. Especially the door, it would stick, so with clean hands you had to yank it open. I saw they were creating some new buildings and expanding some enclosures. I would recommend the bathrooms getting a makeover next. Otherwise I'd love to see it again when it's up and running to its fullest.

So much fun for kids and adults. We had such a blast learning about all of the animals. Can't wait to go back on another summer day to be surrounded by the wonders of nature.

I've been to tons of zoos and so has my husband. My husband even worked at a zoo for many years taking care of elephants, tigers, lions and more and he knows what to look for and this place has it all. This was one of the best zoos we've ever been to. This zoo is a fairly large zoo. It was very clean with super friendly, knowledgable staff. They have a huge variety of animals and all the enclosures looked fairly large and in good condition. I will say we got there right when they opened at 9am and it was the best decision! Most of the animals were out and active and it was not busy! Some of the animals such as a the elephants did not come out until 10am which was fine, there's plenty to see in the mean time. By the time we left around 11am, it was getting PACKED! So get there early! I would 100% recommend this place and will DEFINITELY be back if I'm in the area.

What a great zoo to visit with family and friends! We spent a few hours here visiting all the animals. My favorites were the red pandas, the baby gold tamarins, and the baby anteater riding on its mother's back! While the zoo was crowded, there was definitely plenty of room for everyone to have a good view. Note: If you're going on a free zoo day (donations of nonperishable items are encouraged) make sure you give yourself plenty of time to find parking.

The Japanese lanterns were absolutely beautiful. Mike and I went with our daughter Jane and her husband and my two grandchildren. I had looked forward to this because the kids love the zoo and are very interested in outdoor art as well. They live in New York City so they are exposed to a lot of different art venues. It was rather expensive but everything is these days. I think back to when I had five young children and I could never have afforded to take them to someplace like this. Especially when you consider once you get in they want to buy food and souvenirs that are very expensive. It bothers me that the zoo has become exclusive and not available to everyone. We have a 7 o'clock appointment and went in thinking that we were going to get some ethnic food and do the crafts with the kids that they had advertised. Then at dark we would see the lanterns lit up. We went into the zoo and we could see the lanterns although it was light they were so beautiful. We walked and walked and saw almost no animals. We were also looking for food as it was late and we wanted to feed the kids. We couldn't find that either then we looked for the crafts so that they could make some thing as a souvenir and never saw any. When it got dark the lanterns were quite beautiful and we enjoyed walking through there but the kids were hungry and it was late. I was very disappointed that what was advertised was not what we experienced. We would've enjoyed some ethnic foods and not just a few items thrown on the regular snack bar menu. And of course they were very pricey. And then there were no crafts for the kids to do and they got tired of walking. So all in all it was pretty but certainly not worth the money for what our expectations were as it was advertised.

We thoroughly enjoyed our visit to this largely cage-free zoo that is one of the nation's oldest. Advance tickets are currently required so plan ahead to avoid disappointment. Our visit coincided with the Asian Lantern Spectacular which must be interesting at night when the various displays are lit up. I read the zoo houses over 150 plus animals in a largely cage-free environment. I did not count them so I will have to take "their" word for it. Some of my personal favorites were the Watusi cattle, keel-billed toucan and laughing kookaburra. There is a petting zoo for the young and young at heart. Highly recommended.

"Someone told me It's all happening at the zoo. I do believe it, I do believe it's true" (At the Zoo - Simon and Garfunkel) Five stars all the way. Our group of two carloads of friends had a wonderful time here. To me, the zoo is the perfect size -about 40 acres of wonders. You can walk through the grounds and pretty much see everything in about two or three hours. They have over 160 species of animals including some very cool beasts like a Komodo dragon, zebras, red pandas, elephants, giraffes, snow leopards, bears, anteaters, flamingoes, sloths, and even piranhas. What I really loved was just how close you could get to some of these animals. I don't think I have ever been as close to a giraffe or an elephant as I was here- no more than ten feet away. We had a great look at how the elephants feed themselves by using their trunks to vacuum up hay and straw, or to shovel sticks into their big mouths. There were big hanging burlap baskets of straw way up in the air, but they weren't tall enough to prevent the beasts from reaching them with their trunks to feed themselves from way up high. That was very cool. There was a big jungle rainforest exhibit with exotic birds, all sorts of monkeys, fish and insects. That was another great exhibit. This is Americas third oldest zoo - it goes way back to 1872. That's pretty awesome. I can't say enough good things about the zoo. Adult admission is a very reasonable $17.95 while children 12 or under get in for $12.95. Go see for yourself.