Saint Louis Zoo

Zoo · Clayton-Tamm ·

Saint Louis Zoo

Zoo · Clayton-Tamm ·

Free admission zoo featuring diverse animals, conservation, and education

Information

1 Government Dr, St. Louis, MO 63110 Get directions

@travelleisure

28,641 Postcards · 5,542 Cities

16 Affordable Family Vacations to Take This Summer

"A free zoo option where families can see animals such as lemurs, elephants, and anteaters up close, highlighted as a major budget-friendly attraction in the city." - Evie Carrick Evie Carrick Evie Carrick is a writer and editor who’s lived in five countries and visited well over 50. She now splits her time between Colorado and Paris, ensuring she doesn't have to live without skiing or L'As du Fallafel. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines

https://www.travelandleisure.com/trip-ideas/summer-vacations/affordable-family-vacations

Saint Louis Zoo

@travelleisure

28,641 Postcards · 5,542 Cities

25 Best Zoos in the World

"With free admission and roots dating to 1910, this zoo sits within a 1,300-acre urban park and cares for more than 16,000 animals. On-site research and care facilities include an Endangered Species Research Center, Veterinary Hospital, Animal Food and Nutrition Center, and a Reproductive Management Center, and visitors can book behind-the-scenes tours and feeding experiences for additional insight." - 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

Saint Louis Zoo

@afar

25,132 Postcards · 3,702 Cities

"St. Louis Zoo The Saint Louis Zoo is touted as one of the best in the country. Add to that free admission and you have the ultimate family experience. Situated on 90 acres in Forest Park, the zoo boasts some impressive numbers: A whopping 16,000 wild animals (not including the leafcutter ants and butterflies) and more than 600 species (many rare or endangered) call it home. The staff here prides itself on animal management, research and education, and wildlife conservation, working hard to create exhibits that closely resemble the featured animal’s natural habitat. Among them, a few favorites include the Penguin & Puffin Coast, Grizzly Ridge (home to orphaned cubs Huck and Finley), Polar Bear Point (where Kali hangs out), and Sea Lion Ridge. Get around the sprawling grounds on the Zooline Railroad, or book a behind-the-scenes tour for a chance to meet penguins, feed giant tortoises, train sea lions, and more."

The Essential Guide to St. Louis

Photo courtesy of Roger Brandt/Saint Louis Zoo

Saint Louis Zoo

@postcardnews

22,027 Postcards · 1,950 Cities

Among the few truly free-admission major zoos in the U.S., the Saint Louis Zoo pairs conservation leadership with charismatic exhibits; rides and shows cost extra. Recognized in USA Today’s 10Best lists and widely recommended by travel editors for a no-fee family day.

https://stlzoo.org/visit/hours-and-prices

Free Attractions in St. Louis (2025)

Saint Louis Zoo

Sean B.

Google

The park is incredibly spacious and well maintained. Specifically, the park is incredibly clean, with plenty of open space to leisurely walk as you make through the park, which I found particularly impressive considering the scale of this zoo (90 acres; 12,000 individual animals / 450 species). The staff were very friendly and were clearly very knowledgeable on all the species that they covered. Just overall I was very impressed with the quality of the animal containments (including the 1904 Flight Cage from the World Fair), and the breadth of animals that I haven’t seen in other zoos. Finally, I wanted to give a shoutout to the their own, “St. Louis Zoo Bier”, a light lager which was actually very enjoyable. Simply, it’s just a beautiful park, and probably my new favorite (previously my favorite was the Smithsonian National Zoo!)

Karee L.

Google

Took my grandson and he loved it. Haven't been since I took his mom 15yrs ago. Very nice zoo and I like that it's free. Drove 5hrs just to take him for the day. We'll worth it

Elecia B.

Google

Loved it! Even tho it was cold out the kids had a great time. There were alot of indoor exibits where it was warm so that was a plus, and staff were friendly. Admission is free, parking is $10 but I did see free parking on the street.

A D

Google

This zoo is amazing! It can easily be as long of an experience as you want it to be. So much to see and explore. Major highlights are: the fact it’s free, the herpetarium, the penguin and puffin exhibits, seeing the tigers, the bug house, and the primate enclosure. It was a cold day near the end of the year and we had plenty of open space. My only (minor) complaint is that there were no snack places or cafes open that we passed by.

Hali T.

Google

We are from out of town— this Zoo is absolutely beautiful! Our son really enjoyed getting to see insects he doesn’t typically see at ours. Huge praying mantis, ginormous walking sticks, leaf bugs, it was a fun time! It was odd for us to pay for parking and enjoy the zoo with FREE admission since our local zoo is not that way. This zoo is big— so wear supportive shoes! St. Louis, you have a beautiful zoo with tons of neat animals, insects, reptiles, and amphibians!

Denise C

Google

The zoo was great! Can see the animals are well cared for. The enclosures are clean and well maintained. The Penguins were definitely the highlight...we caught it when they had the bubble machine going so the penguins were going around trying to pop them. It was such a fun experience! I love how each of the enclosures are so considerate to give you a clear and as close proximity in a safe manner for you and the animals.

Diamond S.

Google

I first visited the Saint Louis Zoo on October 1, 2024, alone with my psychiatric and medical response service dog. First, I want to address the staff—they are amazingly educated. I was appropriately stopped and asked the two legal questions under the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act): Is that a service dog required because of a disability? What work or task is the dog trained to perform? Afterward, I was given a map and clear information about areas my service dog could not enter due to safety concerns (such as open bird exhibits), as well as instructions on how to contact staff if I wanted my dog temporarily held so I could still visit those areas. As a service dog handler, this was a huge 10/10 experience. Everything was handled professionally, respectfully, and correctly. Now onto the zoo itself—it’s huge. Like, huge huge. I spent several hours there on my own and loved every minute. It felt much larger than the Fort Wayne Zoo, and there was so much to see. I do wish the big cat area was laid out a bit differently, but the enclosures themselves were still well done and engaging. I actually returned on October 24th with my husband during our honeymoon (we got married on October 22nd!). He absolutely loved the zoo as well. Once again, I was appropriately stopped and asked the correct ADA questions at the entrance—which, as a legitimate service dog handler, I truly appreciate. On this second visit, I realized I had somehow completely missed the ape section during my first trip! I’m not sure how that happened, but I was very glad to discover it the second time around. Overall, the Saint Louis Zoo was an incredible experience—well-designed, expansive, and staffed by knowledgeable, respectful employees. I would absolutely recommend it, especially to fellow service dog handlers.

Brenda F.

Google

This zoo is FREE, and it’s amazing. Beautiful, fun, and such a great experience. We saw cubs and a baby elephant, which made it even more special. The staff were helpful and welcoming. Loved this place!

Justine S.

Yelp

I am so impressed by this zoo. Not only is it huge, the animals are well cared for, everything is clean and well arranged, they are open year round, and it is FREE! One of my favourites things to do in St-Louis. Even if the weather is bad, you will get lucky and manage to see something, otherwise they have plenty to see indoors as well. I visited during the winter holidays and there was so much to see and do. The train does have some issues (if there are too many people, the wait is too long and they don't have enough trains for the demand. If the weather is bad, it will not run) so I don't recommend getting it unless in the summer it runs faster and more frequently. The light show during the winter is also so pretty! And lots of the indoors exhibits are open (penguins, insects, etc) You are guaranteed a good time if you visit!

Courtney N.

Yelp

St. Louis is so lucky to have this zoo, and we're even more lucky at the fact admission is free! I am a frequent visitor during all seasons of the year, a member, and a zoo parent! They provide excellent care to their animals and it's very clear that all care takers put pride into the work they do as well as respecting the animals they serve. It's also a unique environment being that a majority of workers are volunteers, talking to them it's clear that they all love it here. If you are feeling extra adventurous I would recommend a behind the scenes tour or getting tickets to one of their many events. It is so much fun to be able to see where the animals are when they are not out in their exhibits, learning about their back stories, and understanding what it takes to care for specific species. If you do not want to pay for parking, you can get there early enough and easily snag on the street parking at Forrest park!

Trinity P.

Yelp

I just thought all zoos were free until I had a talk with a friend. This place is real cool and it's great for children, and there are plenty exhibits. I attempted to enjoy things myself and I liked seeing all the animals, the entire zoo looked well-kept as well. I don't see shows very often or other things that are scheduled or planned but when I do they seem well organized! Very nice place for animal lovers or people who are studying about animals. I will be back, of course.

Steven B.

Yelp

Anybody who has visited the Saint Louis Zoo, knows it is one of the best in the United States. Best of all, it is free. Yes, you will pay an arm and a leg to park, but the zoo experience is free. Everybody reviews the zoo during its' regular state, so I am going to be a little different and sing the praises of their, "Wild Lights". It's a stroll through the zoo after dark and you get to enjoy all the walkways lite up in bright colorful lights. Some of the themes are, Winter Wonderland and Zoo Animals. Many of the animals are not out at night, but the Penguin house was jumping with excitement. To watch the cold weather loving birds, was a true delight. As we strolled through the lights, we got to watch a couple of snowflakes perform on rollerblades. The night I went with my cousins was a cold breezy night, but it was well worth it. So, I recommend you bundle up and go for a stroll in the Wild Lights.

Melissa I.

Yelp

I had such a great time here, I can't believe this place is free. You only have to pay $10 for parking. It is a huge zoo and took about 4 hours for me to complete. The downside was a decent section of the zoo was closed as they were doing some construction of some kind. Therefore, I was not able to see the Elephants, Rhinos or Lions, and some others. I wish they would have stated this before I got into the park on the website. These are some of my favorite animals and I would have still gone but would have liked knowing this beforehand. All the staff was very friendly and knowledgeable. The enclosures are all a great size. My favorite animals I saw were the Polar Bear which I only think I saw once at one other zoo and the gorillas. I would 100% come back if I was in the area and 100% recommend!

Gracie L.

Yelp

This zoo is simply the best! From attending field trips when I was in elementary school to spontaneous weekend adventures here as an adult, the St. Louis Zoo always exceeds my expectations. There's seriously so much to do, and the hours of exploring everything somehow zoom by every time. During my most recent visit on a Sunday morning in November, all of the animals were super active. We especially loved the chimpanzees, as well as the sweet baby orangutan! However, my FAVORITE part of this visit was having the opportunity to feed the giraffes. Coolest experience ever! For $7 per person, you receive a few large pieces of fresh lettuce to feed them. They stick out their tongues right through the fence, and it's definitely an up-close and personal experience. They are gentle giants! I would totally pay for this experience over and over again. Also during my most recent visit, I stopped to grab an iced latte from their Starbucks. Heads up... if you order an iced drink, you will not receive a lid. They said it's for the safety of the animals. Hot drinks do have lids, and straws are available for iced drinks. I ordered on the Starbucks mobile app, and the employee I interacted with to pick up my drink wasn't the friendliest, but my drink was delicious! I always try to find nearby street parking for free, but the zoo has parking lot spots available for purchase. The zoo itself is so clean and well-maintained. Such an enjoyable place for all ages!

Nicole S.

Yelp

Keep in mind, as you're elbow-deep in a crowd of people, that the Saint Louis Zoo is free to the public, so that's why there's so many people there at once. I had to keep reminding myself of that fact. The zoo is paid for by Saint Louis taxes and is therefore free to enter, but you'll just have to put up with hordes of people standing in your way as you try to see the rhinoceros. Also keep in mind that The Man wants to get paid somehow, so parking is not free. In fact, it's around $15. However, you might be able to find some free parking along the street near the zoo. There is also a free parking lot at Turtle Playground, over the freeway bridge, not too far from the zoo entrance. We didn't see any of the special shows or go inside any of the indoor exhibits. We did walk around the whole zoo. This is a nice little zoo, but we didn't see too many animals out and about. It could have been the time we visited (afternoon), perhaps. We spent maybe an hour, but that's the benefit to visiting a free zoo: You can stay as short of a time as you want and you won't feel too guilty.

Chloe B.

Yelp

Blown away by this zoo. Little did I know, it is free! Admission is a 0. Parking is 15 per car. The animals have large areas to roam. There are so many species and varieties of animals! My few favorites were the hippos, one eyed penguin (so cute!), and the tigers. The train is an amazing system to use to get around the park! Plenty of food places throughout the zoo. Don't forget, they do holiday themes! Yassss! Don't forget all the cute merchandise you can purchases! Highly recommend!!!

Emily F.

Yelp

It's always a blast at the Zoo! I recently visited for the Wild Lights event during the holidays! The Zoo was decked out in festive lights and animal figures spanning most of the Zoo. It was so fun walking around and taking in the lights all around us. I was a little sad that the only animals out and about to see were the penguins, puffins, and polar bear - although this makes sense in the Winter time. I also enjoyed a "Frost Bite" hot chocolate with peppermint schnapps drink to keep me warm as we walked around. They also had warm chocolate chip cookies and s'mores kits for sale! Note that the Wild Lights event is not free and tickets can be purchased online. The event runs until December 29th.

Steven T.

Yelp

This was my first stop in town and on a Monday after 3 pm parking and enter were free, cool not knowing that they close at 4 pm so I would not cover much of the zoo and I was leaving the next morning for the Ozark's. It seems like a cool zoo that has a bridge connecting it to the parking lot so you don't have to cross the street. I wish I could more but the train ride looked cool.

J David H.

Yelp

One of my favorite zoos in the country and you won't pay a penny to enter due to generous donors. It's one of the most family friendly things to do in Saint Louis. Parking is plentiful in their lot, but there is a fee of $10. If you get lucky there is some free curbside parking. There is enough to do that you can plan for a full day. However, I've done in a half day. The Saint Louis Zoo tries to make the experience as family friendly as possible. That includes keeping cost in check for merchandise and concessions. By the way they have Ted Drew's ice cream. My fave exhibit are the penguins which recently had their habitat redone. They are so fun to watch, but beware it's frigid. There is so much to see and it's fun for the whole family and it's free!

Marissa J.

Yelp

This review is for all of my out-of-town visitors. You cannot go wrong with visiting the St. Louis zoo. This zoo is free and one of the best zoos in the world. I'm not just being biased because I live in St. Louis. Before heading back home, you have to make a stop here. There are shows, food, and so much more. Did I mention it's FREE?

Nycole R.

Yelp

These days, you can't get much for free....unless you are visiting the St. Louis Zoo. That's right, boys and girls! Admission to the zoo is free! And what's even more delightful is that this zoo is really well done-worth a decent admission price, if there was a price. What brought me from across the country was the hippos. There are few zoos left that have them, and they have them here. We even lucked out and got to see one out of the water for a bit, before sliding into the water to join it's friends. Not only did we see hippos, but we saw orangutans and chimpanzees. The baby chimp was energetic and put on quite a show climbing all over the exhibit. The butterfly area was really nice with some gorgeous flowers and plants. What really surprised me was the insectarium. It was so cool to see such a variety of creepy-crawlies and to learn what is and is not an insect. The only thing that could have made it better was getting to hold them. But I get why they won't do that. I suppose I'll just have to catch them out in the wild. This zoo was well worth the cross-country travel and one that I look forward to returning to visit again in the future.

Bailey L.

Yelp

I love this zoo and honestly tend to visit it whenever I find myself in STL. Other than being just a great zoo overall, full of amazing animals and exhibits, it's also free to the public! They do have additional add on's or experiences you can pay for such as petting the sting ray, finding the giraffes or their train ride (Which you can ride ALL DAY LONG), but you can enjoy the entire zoo event without the extras, This last visit it was rainy, so the zoo was relatively empty. We did get to see a few of their lion cubs play, honestly a highlight! We also pet and fed the sting rays, which was very cool. We did try out the train, per a friends recommendation, but I do not think I would do so again, unless I had kiddos and wanted to save a few steps or take a break to ride around the zoo. They have so many team members around the zoo providing insight and answering questions about the animals, which is really great and adds to the experience. They do have paid parking right nearby, but you can also park for free around the park if you are okay walking a short distance, which we did. Definitely one of my favorite zoo's!

Haley M.

Yelp

The St. Louis Zoo is one of the best. I've visited several zoos that required payment for entry and have been so disappointed, I think the STL Zoo may have just ruined me for life (in the best way possible)! Parking is $20 for a car or free if you can find street parking in Forest Park, but it fills fast! The Zoo itself is free so that's incredible and the number of animals they have is amazing. You can get pretty close and personal with a majority of the animals and the views are great. My family and I visited on a Saturday between 11-2 and it wasn't too crowded. The place is very walkable and handicap friendly. 10/10 spot for a day trip or weekend in the Lou!

Melissa J.

Yelp

We went to the zoo on Sunday. Our timing was perfect. We got three parking spots on the street near the entrance. It was a cloudy day and we had a few brief rain showers but we pushed on. It's always fun seeing all of the animals. We love our free zoo and hope it remains that way. Looking forward to the expansion that's coming to the Children's area and to North County. Did you know there's a preschool at the Zoo?! We have a pregnant elephant. That's exciting. The animals looked like they were ready to eat and some were waiting to get inside. A lot of the places were closed but there are several places to get food and other treats. They even have a place that sells drinks in a pineapple. They had Boo at the Zoo so there were several Halloween themed spots to take photos. They will also have Christmas lights at the Zoo. This is a great spot to take out of town family and friends or a place to hang out on the weekend. Great exercise too.

Kelse S.

Yelp

The St. Louis Zoo is by far one of the biggest staples in our city. It's free, well taken care of, safe, and SO big. The variety of animals is wonderful, the staff is pretty friendly, and it's clean. I came with some friends and their kids on a Friday morning and it was HOT. I'm happy we came in the morning time, as it was only going to get more hot and the crowds were definitely not as big as they would be on a weekend. I ended up parking in the north lot and went to the Starbucks first. Solid addition to the zoo, as we all love some caffeine. We made our way through and saw so many great animals and areas. I love how different groups of animals have different designated areas. It not only makes things easy to navigate but adds lots of differentiation to the visit. My personal favorites are the giraffes and penguins, and it's so cool we can see both just a small walk away. We rode the train, which was delayed due to the heat (it happens) but they did all they could to ensure we were back on promptly. Always love a trip here!

Cassandra S.

Yelp

We haven't been to the zoo in so long. I just like that they have you paper parking as it's always mentioned as the best free zoo when in all reality, it is not free. You can try to find street parking, but it is very limited and I would say you have to get there pretty early to find anything Significantly and very large. We stayed for approximately four hours and we still could've kept going. There are some food options. The gift shops are scattered throughout. I only wish they had more food options, such as drink stations set up more throughout the zoo.

Marissa C.

Yelp

Very nice zoo, and you cannot beat the price - free! There is a parking fee if you park in the zoo parking lots, but so it goes. The parking lot offers a couple of EV charging stations, though given their popularity, it would be great to see some more added. They also offer some special events for an additional cost, such as the winter Wild Lights, and a really fantastic Animals Aglow lantern fest. The ticket fee was well worth it for the lanterns - they were stunning and well positioned around the zoo, with so many great interactive pieces, such as lights, bubbles, and lanterns you could interact with, plus the stunning lantern photo stops. We also enjoyed the Dinoroarus exhibit, which featured dinos that moved and made sounds. Very neat zoo!

Joshua D.

Yelp

Review Visit: March 30th, 2014 One of the best things about the St. Louis Zoo? FREE admission! Ok, there are other cool things about the zoo, but a free large zoo in a large city is quite a rare things these days. There is paid parking, but if you look around, you can park just a little further away and have free parking, too! The zoo itself is ginormous. Everyone says you need 2 days to take it all in. You really do. My cousins and I went on a blustery March day and the park was busy, but never felt crowded or too busy. Some of the exhibits were closed due to it still being cold. Sucks, but understandable as all Zoos do that. We spent the majority of the day here and it was a blast. There is just so much to see. One of my favorite things to see there was Cypress Swamp. It was this huge area dedicated to look like a swamp with it's natural flora and fauna. For the adults, they do sell alcohol at a reasonable rate. I walked around drinking Budweiser from a pint can and it was only $5 a piece. Telling people I got drunk at a zoo is a great story to tell people. If you have a weekend to spend and you want something cheap, hit up the St. Louis Zoo with your friends or family. If you get through the zoo in a day, there is just so much else to do in St. Louis that you literally can't be bored.

Chad M.

Yelp

I was in the area and figured this could be an excellent place to admire some animals I've never seen before. I had a good feeling about Saint Louis Zoo. My significant other and I entered through the North Entrance, which was a building. Admission is Free, so that was a fantastic way to start. We followed the Zoo Entrance signs to be led out of the building. Our first stop was the Grizzly Bear exhibit. I was able to see two. They were intriguing to watch. After that, we went to Penguin & Puffin Coast. This area contained Lichtenstein Penguin Cove, in which I got to see the King Penguin, Rockhopper Penguin, and Gentoo Penguin exhibit. They were all so beautiful. There seemed to be drama between some of them. We went through the Taylor Family Puffin Bay afterwards. In there, we saw the Tufted Puffin and Horned Puffin display. These were also so beautiful. It was calming to watch them swim. The American Flamingo display was on an island. It was nice to admire them from afar. The Lesser Kudu and Saddle-billed Stork exhibit was fairly large. The handsome head and spiraled horns of the male lesser kudu make up the logo of the Saint Louis Zoo. Both of these animals seemed calm in their environment. The Bird Garden had some interesting animals to see. I saw the Bateleur Eagle first. I haven't seen anything like that one before. Right past that was the Cinereous Vulture. That one had an animated looking face and barely looked real to me. It was very cool! The Bald Eagle was huge. It seemed to be peaceful. The American Crow was the last one I saw in The Bird Garden. Big Cat Country was quick for us to walk through. I got to see the Jaguar exhibit and that was worth it. In the Charles H. Hoessle Herpetarium, I checked out the Black Mamba display first. That thing sure was long! I was impressed. The Puerto Rican Boa seemed relaxed and it was bundled up towards a corner. After that, we headed to the Zoo Exit. Our last stop was Treetop Shop & Zoo Exit. There were a lot of different items here and it was hard to choose what to get. I ended up going with a Saint Louis Zoo SLZ Visor 4403 for $18.00, a Saint Louis Zoo magnet for $4.00, and a Saint Louis Zoo Logo Stylus Pen for $3.00. The prices weren't bad at all. We were given a free Saint Louis Zoo reusable bag with our purchase. That was generous. The service I had throughout my visit was amazing. I didn't have a single issue. Overall, I had an awesome time here and I enjoyed seeing every animal I encountered. I definitely want to come back to see more of this place. Date of visit: 7/8/2024

Tharin W.

Yelp

FREE! It is hard to beat free! A large zoo with tons of different animals and a (with a fee) train ride around the park. We enjoyed the shaded areas and the very diverse animal offerings. Clean, not too busy and good viewing points.

Andrea M.

Yelp

YOU HAVE TO VISIT THE ZOO. It's rated one of the top ones in the nation. Says our local friends anyway. Parking was only $20 per car. The hippos, polar bear, penguins, and bird exhibits were my top favs. The hippos and polar bear decided to grace us with their presence. They were close to the windows, and it gave us such a nice view. The penguins were so close you could almost touch them. One was standing near the edge of the exhibit, and it was literally within arm's reach. This area was kept cold so brace yourself. The bird exhibits were also an up close experience. Man, there were some really loud birds. There's apparently a lantern event going on. Our friend said it was worth seeing. We just didn't feel like coming back at night since there were much to do. But the lanterns looked really cool even during the day as you explore the zoo.

Edward C.

Yelp

#1 it's FREE! ST. LOUIS Zoo kind of speaks for itself. It's one of the top rated Zoos In the USA. The atmosphere is amazing. Super chill, and all the workers are friendly. All the animals appear to be well treated and the workers always seem so happy to work with them. As far as the pricing, it's honestly pretty reasonable. It's higher than normal, which is to be expected at a place like this, but it's not like Six Flags pricing. There are a couple extra things you can do inside which cost a little extra money. These things include, aSea Lion show which is amazing and kids love, petting stingrays and baby sharks, and an elephant show from time to time. You can also pay to ride the train, and a carousel if you're interested. There is an option of a season pass which is around $100 dollars but it's well worth it if you go a couple times a year. There are different options that are a little cheaper so be sure to look into them. All in all, I most certainly recommend a visit here!

Jensen W.

Yelp

If you haven't been to the STL Zoo, walk don't run. Seriously. Our zoo is free & is one of the best in the nation, so why not take advantage of a free entry!? You'll find yourself emerged in our Polar Bear Kali, Pancakes the Sloth in with the Saki monkeys! We can't forget Raja, the elephant who might do a trick or 2 for you if his zoo keeper is around! This zoo has plenty of opportunities to grab a snack or a meal!

John M.

Yelp

This has been on our bucket list for years....Traveling from Texas on a round trip thru several states...we landed....The zoo is massive...and Free? to get in. Parking is $15 with a short walk to the entrance... As with many zoos and being hot outside several animals were nowhere to be found. Staff is friendly...we spent a solid 3 hours and we may have missed a few spots it was still a very entertaining visit.

Thama P.

Yelp

This place was epic! Seriously epic! We went during Animals Aglow and we were just I love. The event was for 3 hours and we were there for every minute and could have been longer! I could not recommend this zoo more. We had delicious food, that fit the themed event. Parking was free! The hospitality of the staff, the beautiful stunning lanterns were unreal. Please visit it was worth it!

David G.

Yelp

Our family has visited the St Louis Zoo annually since moving to the area, basic admission is free. We have found parking at the South entrance lot to be convenient, though there is a $20 lot fee to be noted; having the cash in hand makes this portion super quick. The park itself is sprawling with lots to see and many hills and valleys, lots of walking and lots of exercise. That said, there is a small train which continually runs a route (see Rail Road & Stations on map photo) to the various sections for about $8 per passenger, per day. This is a serious leg savor worth some consideration. Pro- Tip: invest in the "adventure pass" up front for $15.00 per person (aged 2+) and get the rail pass included and included unlimited access to pay events like the 4D theater, the robotic dinosaur exhibit, sting ray petting pool, and kid's carousel and more which themselves run about $6 per person, per time. The $15.00 "adventure pass" quickly pays for itself in extra access and convenience. Coolest experience: The 4D "Ice Age" (15 minute short movie) was really neat... snow, water, bubbles... 3D vision. Our kid's loved it. Biggest gripe: The train itself does not have facilities to accommodate strollers. So, the group who arguably needs transportation the most, parents with small kids who get tuckered out quickly, have to abandon the strollers at the original boarding station and walk/carry the kids in each subsequent section. Adding on a flatbed caboose at the end of the passenger train for strollers would be much appreciated and perfect this park amenity.

Morgan H.

Yelp

Great zoo with lots of healthy animals and great information provided. We visited when they were closing at four for the holiday lights event, which also meant that all food vendors/little shops were closed in preparation for that. My only negative comments are that the big cats seemed stressed.

John K.

Yelp

Great time at the best zoo and there's no admission fee. Really enjoyed seeing the grizzly bear and polar bear. The polar bear is huge. The penguins were active and fun to watch. One penguin was splashing people which made everyone laugh. There's a moma tiger with three cubs and the cubs were chasing each other and chasing mom. Enjoyed the hippo exhibit. Two hippos got vocal then they all climbed out of the water. They are beautiful massive creatures. We like the tunnel in the seal exhibit. The seals swim right over you. What melted our hearts were the baby chimpanzee and an adult orangutan. The baby chimpanzee was trying to butter up all the older chimpanzees that had food. The orangutan walked right up to us and sat down. He/She is beautiful. Tip- come during the week before school lets out. You'll have a blast.

Michael S.

Yelp

Most of the reviews here focus on the animals. After all, it is a zoo. However, the two gift shops at the north and south entrances, as well as other areas inside the park, have a varied assortment of zoo and animal themed items. Clothing, plush toys, home decor, books, art, and other items offer a varied selection for gifting. There are also St. Louis souvenirs. Of course, you have to be in the zoo to visit any of these shops. As long as you are though, they're worth browsing. Visitors with children, beware! The number of enticing things could be impactful to your wallet.

Charly P.

Yelp

WOW, I'm not even sure where to start here! St. Louis Zoo is hands down THE best attraction you can do for free in MO, and maybe the entire US! They have almost every animal on exhibit that you can think of, from African Painted Dogs to Lions to Spiders to Bears (oh my) and so much more! All of the animals are cared for and you can tell. The grounds are also beautiful! I didn't see a single piece of trash in the entire zoo! The exhibits are unique, interactive, and well thought through when it comes to traffic flow through them. There are also plenty of vantage points so no one gets cut out of the view! The food options are great here as well. On our trip we enjoyed a grilled chicken sandwich, chicken quesadilla, cheesy fries, popcorn, and Dole whip! I also wouldn't consider the food overpriced, which is great and unexpected! The staff were incredibly helpful and happy to be so as well. Parking was easier than expected! They do have several paid parking lots but there is also plenty of free parking on the main road around the zoo! Pro tip: come early, you're going to want to spend all day here!

Stephanie D.

Yelp

I visited the zoo on a Thursday with my husband and kids. Parking was easy; it costs $20 to park and admission is free. Some of our favorite exhibits included the penguins, sea lions, polar bear and orangutans! The train is awesome for getting around; you can see a lot of red rocks from the train. There are shops to purchase souvenirs and places to get food! The carousel was closed the day we were there. I think we will try to return sometime in the next couple of months when the leather cools down.

Paul P.

Yelp

Decided to go to the zoo with a friend. It was cloudy and chilly. It was fun as always. And good exercise to walk around the zoo.

Jen T.

Yelp

One of the most amazing zoos we have visited! Free zoo, you can choose to pay for parking or park within the park and walk to one of the entrances. They do have activities for a fee if you choose as well.

Kim W.

Yelp

This zoo is amazing and has got to be one of the best, if not the best. The zoo is free! Wonder attractions and super clean grounds. Plenty of seating to take a break and relax. They do offer other attractions for a minimum cost - train ride, carousel, 4d theater. Street parking is free but limited. So much to see and do so go early and spend the day.

Helene S.

Yelp

What an A-ma-Z-ing Zoo from A to Z. Visit the St. Louis Zoo in Forest Park for a great day in St. Louis. So lucky that our visit was on a perfect, sunny day in October. So interesting to bump into events manager Helen on the evening of an employees event and learn the history and fun facts about the zoo. When was it founded? Why is it free? How is it supported? What to see? The zoo was established after the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair. The land that was used for the World's Fair was set aside to be used for free opportunities for all who visited. The land became Forest Park which is larger than NYC's Central Park. It is the site of museums, walking trails, sports courts and, of course, the St. Louis Zoo. Nice to learn why all of these great attractions are free on Forest Park. The first zoological exhibit, The Flight Cage, was purchased after the World's Fair from The Smithsonian. It cost $3,500. The zoo was formally established a decade later. Resistance was due to people being worried about the smell of animals in the city. The zoo was the first to be supported by taxes. Today, the zoo is filled with so many great exhibits. Loved the Puffin and Penguin Coast. The Rockhopper and Humboldt Penguins are so cute. The River's Edge has hippos, elephants and painted dogs. The polar bears and grizzlies put on a show. The orangutans at the Historic Hill are so cute as they lazily swing around. Parking is $15. A membership is just $79 and includes parking for six visits and 36 member tickets for the railroad and shows. A great place to spend a few hours or a day at the zoo.

Bill S.

Yelp

"Someone said it's all happening at the Zoo...I do believe it , I do believe it's true!" A trip to the St. Louis Zoo is always a hit! Elephants, fighting bears, seals jumping thru hula hoops. What can top that? Get your annual Zoo membership and make it a regular event. You won't be disappointed!

Devon B.

Yelp

Our zoo in St. Louis definitely deserves its high ranking in this country! It is awesome and FREE. There are lots of options if you are hungry or thirsty, including gluten free chicken strips and alcohol for those of age. Our light displays are fantastic and take place during Halloween, the winter holidays, and recently during April for Animals Aglow. I highly recommend coming to see the light displays at any time of year they are offered - they are enjoyable no matter your age.

Rhonda W.

Yelp

We came from ohio to see the baby orangutan forest. We walked around there all day AND went to the Orangutan area three times That day without any luck. Now we saw a lot of cool stuff at the zoo. The estuary with the birds was super cool. I never knew that there was such a thing as a pretty vulture. The baby Tigers were cute. I'm glad they have bears and polar bears but really don't like their habitat. Anyway for a free zoo this is spectacular. Parking has increased so now it twenty dollars. There's not much parking there, So if you don't get there early Your kind of out OF luck. There is free parking outside of the ZOO but it FILLS fast since there's so much at the park. And the Hills are real. after walking the zoo all day i was grateful we found good parking. Well we drove about five hours to get to the area and spent two nights, so we made it one last try to see the Orangutang and finally got lucky. My husband just dropped me off and was waiting in the car so I couldn't spend very long but I could have watched him the new baby all day. It was hard to leave. The amount of handicapped people there people pushing twelve strollers, wagons,in those riding devices was next level annoying. So hard to walk and no room to pass them. Sigh in my day toddlers walked ... why is that not a thing anymore. 4 year old was throwing such a fit . scratching hitting screaming at his dad. Sounded like a demon. Wow this new parenting style . Obviously. The weekends are the worst time traffic and the crowds. Oh my goodness avoid it if you can. Unfortunately that was the only time we could go.

Lorie L.

Yelp

So excited to have visited the St Louis zoo! It's been 16+ years. Our entire day we were enamored by the trees and their shade, large exhibits, historical buildings and some species we've never seen before. My favorite areas included the butterfly dome, the area for "cats" and the walk through for the monkeys that put you in an elevated space, like walking through a massive treehouse. FREE to all visitors, you are only responsible for parking ($15) and if you choose, additional attractions like the carousel, 4D theater and more. We made a pit stop for lunch, splitting chicken tender meals with fries and drinks, plus grabbed a Starbucks which is near a fantastic seating area overlooking the lake. Check out their website for information on exhibits, shows and family fun. Gift shop is robust but a splurge for most any item.

Katherine B.

Yelp

Great zoo obviously. Considering that it's free, it's great to support by buying something here and there. There were docents out educating about Seafood watch and world ocean day, and there was a bubble party too! Giraffes were out and it wasn't too crowded due to it just finished raining.

Kenzie S.

Yelp

Went for the zoo and got some boo! The boys had a BLAST today! This is hands down the best free zoo in the nation! They have boo at the zoo happening so normal zoo hours are 9-4 and the "boo" parts starts at 5:30!

Zach H.

Yelp

Best free zoo in the country. You could spend multiple days here discovering everything. Be prepared to walk it's pretty spread out. Free parking available if you don't mind walking a little bit.

Meghan M.

Yelp

The STL Zoo is the best! There is such a diverse range of animals. It's also a great place to learn about conservation which is so important. All of the workers are very friendly and knowledgeable. There are plenty of food and drink options. And there is no admission fee. Definitely a great place to visit.

Zach D.

Yelp

The zoo is one of the highlights of Saint Louis. There are multiple events throughout the year for all of the holidays. They sell cold beer. If you're a zoo person, one day is not enough.

Benjamin K.

Yelp

This is the best zoo in the country. No questions asked. I get to go here all the time because it is totally free.

Jennifer M.

Yelp

The zoo is free, what more can I say? Become a member and get free parking and even more perks! The improvements they have been doing to this place have been very nice. I really like the bear and chimpanzee enclosures which really bring you close to these animals. The play area near the monkey house is simply amazing! If you haven't been in awhile, go back...lots to see that might be new to you, too.

DaQuia C.

Yelp

The girls and I thought it'd be cool to check out the zoo. I think the exhibits are really awesome and I like that they try to get you as close as possible to the animals. There aren't a lot of staff, so I saw people doing things that were a bit unacceptable. But there were signs posted with a number to call if you saw bad behavior, but they weren't all over. I think they should start using QR code maps and move away from the paper so people aren't littering and of course to help the environment. One thing I noticed about this zoo that was a bit different from others was that some of the animals weren't endangered or in need of conservation help/interference. So that's a little weird and makes me feel like those animals were just for show/entertainment which then makes the zoo part of the problem. Another thing is they don't have "about the animal" information. They had it for the monkeys though. But it's nice to know the animal's story and why they're there, but I guess if they're there just for entertainment and not to be helped, it makes sense that they wouldn't have a story. We came on a Sunday in March. Maybe half of the animals were out. Overall it was nice.

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Saint Louis Zoo

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Free Attractions in St. Louis (2025)

Saint Louis Zoo

Sean B.

Google

Karee L.

Google

Took my grandson and he loved it. Haven't been since I took his mom 15yrs ago. Very nice zoo and I like that it's free. Drove 5hrs just to take him for the day. We'll worth it

Elecia B.

Google

A D

Google

Hali T.

Google

Denise C

Google

Diamond S.

Google

Brenda F.

Google

Justine S.

Yelp

Courtney N.

Yelp

Trinity P.

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Marissa C.

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Thama P.

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Morgan H.

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John K.

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Michael S.

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Charly P.

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Stephanie D.

Yelp

Paul P.

Yelp

Decided to go to the zoo with a friend. It was cloudy and chilly. It was fun as always. And good exercise to walk around the zoo.

Jen T.

Yelp

Kim W.

Yelp

Helene S.

Yelp

Bill S.

Yelp

Devon B.

Yelp

Rhonda W.

Yelp

Lorie L.

Yelp

Katherine B.

Yelp

Kenzie S.

Yelp

Zach H.

Yelp

Best free zoo in the country. You could spend multiple days here discovering everything. Be prepared to walk it's pretty spread out. Free parking available if you don't mind walking a little bit.

Meghan M.

Yelp

Zach D.

Yelp

The zoo is one of the highlights of Saint Louis. There are multiple events throughout the year for all of the holidays. They sell cold beer. If you're a zoo person, one day is not enough.

Benjamin K.

Yelp

This is the best zoo in the country. No questions asked. I get to go here all the time because it is totally free.

Jennifer M.

Yelp

DaQuia C.

Yelp

Saint Louis Zoo

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16 Affordable Family Vacations to Take This Summer

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16 Affordable Family Vacations to Take This Summer

25 Best Zoos in the World