Smithsonian National Zoological Park

The Smithsonian National Zoo is a wonderful place to spend a day, especially with family or kids. The zoo is clean, spacious, and beautifully maintained with a wide variety of animals from around the world. The giant pandas are definitely a highlight — watching them munch on bamboo is a treat! There are plenty of shaded paths and places to rest, which makes walking around very comfortable. The staff and volunteers were friendly and informative. I loved how many educational signs and interactive exhibits were available, especially near the Great Ape House and Elephant Trails. It’s great that admission is free, which makes it very accessible, though parking is a bit expensive. A few exhibits were closed during my visit, which was a little disappointing. Also, the food options inside could be better — pricey and not many healthy choices. Overall, it’s a fantastic zoo experience in the heart of D.C. I highly recommend it for anyone visiting the city, just be sure to wear comfortable shoes and plan ahead for parking!

I don’t understand how the National Zoo can be anything less than 5 out of 5 stars. This place is freaking amazing. I grew up coming here and decades later still find time to visit annually with my family. I have also been to other zoos all over the world and this zoo is right up there with the best. It’s also completely free. You just go on website and order free tickets. When you arrive you scan a QR code and you are in. There are too many amazing animals to see but I’ll mention a few: pandas, elephants, chimpanzees, owls, flamingos, sloths, naked mole rats, horses, red pandas, etc. There are a ton of food options too at somewhat inflated prices though. But you can bring your own food or grab a bit across the entrance. Bathrooms are generally clean and stocked. Parking can be onsite for $30 or you can take the metro or even roll the dice with street parking nearby. Staff are nice and the bird house which houses a play room has some wonderful people working there. I can’t say enough good things about this free and awesome zoo. Do yourself a favor and visit.

The zoo is free, but you need to buy online passes. They have daily passes, but I’m not sure how quickly they sell out. With the passes, you can enter anytime during the day. They also have parking passes for $30. We came to see the pandas, but we ended up staying and enjoying the other animals. We didn’t get to see the orangutans walk the O-line because when we visited them inside, they were being lazy. There’s a lot of walking uphill, so be prepared. Everything was clean, and the animals had plenty of space to play. It’s the best place for a day outing with family and kids. The animals, birds, and mammals are displayed in a systematic manner with full descriptions and easy-to-understand language. Kids will love the display. There are food counters to serve hot and tasty food, and clean restrooms are available at the entrance. There are also benches and a beautiful park for rest. Wheelchairs are available for rent.

The zoo entrance is FREE. Parking is $30. The zoo was nice but, there were several areas under construction or closed off when we visited in early July 2025. Our grandchildren enjoyed the visit - especially the panda! Lunch at the Mane Grill was good. They're very generous with the french fries! I would like to see fresh carrots with Ranch dip as an option with lunch.

This is a wonderful zoo with a great variety of animals, and best of all, admission is completely free! The animals are well cared for and truly a joy to see. It’s such a fun and educational place to visit, and I absolutely love spending time here. Parking does have a fee, but it’s reasonable considering there’s no cost to enter the zoo itself. One thing I would suggest improving is the food selection, there aren’t many options, and the quality could definitely be better. Also, more shaded or designated rest areas would make the experience more comfortable, especially on hot days. Lastly, the overall cleanliness could use a little more attention, particularly in high-traffic areas. That said, it’s still a very enjoyable place, and I keep coming back. There are so many adorable animals, and it’s a great place for families, friends, or solo visits. Highly recommend!

This is a really good zoo. Lots of attractions and it was really clean. It was a little busy but you have to expect that. We enjoyed seeing the pandas. We got our hands stamped and went across the street to Duke's to eat. Then back to the park to finish off our visit. Overall it's good family time. I would recommend a visit here if your in DC.

Great zoo. We reserved parking ahead of time and arrived around 8:15 and got Lot A - right by the pandas. Pandas were out eating breakfast. The zoo is kind of on two hills so consider that in how you plan your day. Bathrooms aren’t super common throughout the zoo so make sure you take advantage when you see them. Staff was friendly. Only issue we had was an adult “reserved” over half of the Mane Cafe’s indoor seating for kids that didn’t arrive for 20 minutes. This wasn’t organized through the Smithsonian, just an outside group of 60 kids plus all their adults. While I understanding wanting kids to sit all together, the people trying to sit were paying customers just trying to eat their food. These kids brought their lunches and weren’t even in the area yet.

Wonderful visit, we were able to see the majority of the animals in their exhibits even though it was a very hot day. Just be aware there is a lot of walking. I walked 11,000 steps there. It wasn't too crowded not to see the exhibits, we went on a Wednesday in July. They have lots of mist stations for visitors. There are several buildings with AC. The animals looked well cared for.

Well designed and free. The Zoo has everything that you would expect from a zoo. Panda Bears will return soon. The zoo layout is compact, allowing you to see everything in a short interval (plan to spend 3 hours).

This trip was mainly for the kids. They had a good time. Due to the weather, the zoo didn't have alot of the animals out and the carousel was closed. The park was rather empty. A good time to go is during a weekday. We were here on. Friday, December 6. Admission to Smithsonian national the Zoo is free, however, like most fee parks and museums, entry passes are required. We enjoy seeing the orangutan do day to day things; ie eating greens, cuddling, and swinging from the rope. We went to farm and saw some animals. The kids enjoyed the play area. I'd like to describe the "me and the bee" as a hybrid of a splash pad / play area. That was a good time. For lunch we went to sbarro pizza in the zoo. We did the virtual reality safari. We purchased ticket on site. It's $12 per person. It was worth the experience.

My latest Zoo trip coincided with the sad absence of the beloved pandas--bummer! Still, we had a wonderful time here. The exhibits are clearly labeled and there is a little something for every animal lover. My kid wanted to see elephants, primates, and tigers, which we managed to do in an abbreviated 1-hour visit. The Smithsonian recommends 2-3 hours, but you can still see quite a bit, even if you've got a compressed schedule. I went on a sunny and mild winter day. The zoo had plenty of people but it wasn't jammed. Make sure to reserve (free) tickets in advance! This was a breeze--I did it in the morning before my visit, so i walked in and just scanned my QR codes. There is on-site parking (currently $30), but we took metro and walked about half a mile from Cleveland Park. There are so good dining options up there, but you can also obviously take the Woodley Park/Zoo stop. My kid wanted a panda light/bubble wand from the gift shop before we left. I remember back in the 2000s when the giant panda art installations began popping up around DC. The previous pandas really meant a lot to the District. I'm excited that a new crew will arrive in 2025. The zoo is lovely and it will feel even more complete again soon.

Thankfully, the era where we were all in isolation has ended. But at the National Zoo, absurd restrictions are still in effect. The park, which people used to be able to walk through with impunity, has implemented a variety of pointless rules. Only two entrances are now open, one for pedestrians only. Where they should have been looking at opening Klingle Road, they have now closed off beach drive and prevented pedestrian access for those walking along the creek. On top of that, they now require a ticket online to get in. Why? Why do they need my name and number? It's clearly not for capacity restrictions, as everything there was packed. But those notion of restricting access defeats the whole point of the Smithsonian. Whether downtown or up here, the DC experience is about casually wandering through Smithsonian facilities at your own pace, not making an appointment. The zoo worked fine for many years as a park that I used to just walk through whenever I felt like it. There is no reason to change that, the fences and gates are a waste of money, and all of this bullshit could disappear tomorrow and we would have lost nothing of value. They should be getting rid of the fences tomorrow. No excuses. Additionally, many areas were closed related to the apparent arrival of new pandas, which is all well and good, but it was striking to me how many of the other spaces I walked through and thought "I remember when that was new twenty years ago". The COVID era closures should have been an opportunity to spruce up the zoo, not lock it down. This is a DC landmark. I'm very disappointed that the Smithsonian has failed so badly to take care of it.

Fun trip to the zoo. Animals were quite active this time around. A nice free stop to your trip.

It's definitely not the San Diego Zoo, but had a nice time walking around park. Admission is free to the Smithsonian National Zoological Park, but you must get your daily pass online. The pass is only good for the day you plan to visit. Panda Bears should be arriving soon. Check it out! Happy Yelping :)

I love zoos, so I took my granddaughter, who was visiting from Brazil, to the DC Zoo. She wanted to see the pandas, but you had to be a member to see the pandas, and membership was $75-- that would have cost me $150 for both of us to see the pandas, which we had to forego (sadly). The other exhibits were fun, but this zoo did not compare to Cincinnati Zoo, Bronx Zoo, San Diego Zoo. We were also berated by a zoo staff member when we entered the zoo, "Didn't you see the sign?" This person humiliated us in front of others unnecessarily when we tried to register for our visit. In the end, it turns out that we didn't have to register anyway, so we were insulted for no reason except that we were trying to do the right thing. Overall, this is a poor zoo as zoos go, but it is always easy to love the animals, so it may be worth a visit.

The National Zoo is an amazing place to spend the day! The various trails and habitats are wonderful with so many varied animals. Being part of the Smithsonian, it is free though you do need to make an online reservation. They also host some late night events like Zoo Lights during the holidays that are very fun. Tickets for those can go fast though and do cost a small amount.

We had so much fun at the Zoo! We enjoyed walking around and seeing the tigers and lions. One of the tigers was swimming/bathing, which was cool to see! The ape house was really neat. And the orangutans were so funny! We also enjoyed the reptile house and the large Komodo dragons. This is a very family-friendly place. Most people were walking around with strollers and young kids. The park is hilly, so be prepared for uphill walking. The zoo is well-maintained and a great free attraction. Make sure you sign up for tickets online in advance.

I love that this zoo has free admission and is very large. You are required to reserve your tickets online as there is nowhere to get tickets in person. I sadly visited during a time of no pandas as the pandas returned to China last year. Two pandas are scheduled to arrive sometime this year though. This is a great zoo with so much to explore. I noticed some of the information panels were lacking, but they were overall informative. The Think Tank exhibit is a very well put together educational exhibit about animal behaviour and psychology. My one grievance I had with this zoo was the lack of indoor seating and eating areas. I came on a day with a high temperature of 38 degrees Celsius. I walked around the entire zoo, and all the eateries appeared to be outdoors. The visitor center has an information desk, restrooms, and a gift shop, but no indoor seating or informational exhibits. The buildings that we could enter said that no food or drink was allowed. I tried to find somewhere indoors to sit so I could cool down a bit as I had mild heat exhaustion, but I couldn't find anywhere.

I think this zoo is just ok... I want it to be more. It had some nice exhibits but nothing overly special. We missed the pandas so will go back and try them next time. The elephants are the highlight in my personal opinion.

Amazing experience as always, and FREE! You have to make online reservations and we were able to get same day admission late on a Saturday. Earlier in the day, we couldn't get any tickets, so try early before you plan your visit. We really lucked out being able to get tickets so late in the day only because we kept trying. Don't recommend gambling like we did, get tickets early! The only disappointing thing was that the pandas were not in the zoo since they were all sent back to China. Hopefully there could be a diplomatic resolution to the issue in the pandas come back. Everything else was great, except some of the lines for the aviary and apes. Bring comfortable shoes for lots of walking. Beers $11 and Cocktails $15 available in the park as well as some overpriced food. Highly recommend a visit anytime in Washington!

6/29/24 SATURDAY Weather forecast was scheduled to be cloudy. When we arrived at opening, it was. We started at Parking Lot A. The zoo sits on a hill and slopes downward to Parking Lot D. Non-motorized wheelchairs would probably be a challenge...and we only saw one motorized wheelchair for the day. The sun eventually popped out about 11 am but the beautifully landscaped areas provided much needed respite stops wherever you're going. The pathways are big enough to accommodate large groups of people and there are sizable nooks where if your party had to step on the side to take care of something, you can step on the side and not have to standing in the middle of flowing traffic. We saw a lot of animals. Except an anteater...which the four year old wanted to see since reading Dan Marvin's, "I Don't Eat Ants" book. But for the life of us, didn't get to see! Next time!

We had a great time, even though we arrived late and had to pay $30 for parking, although there was no charge for entrance into the zoo! We got to see a lot of animals, but unfortunately, we missed seeing the red pandas. Also, the other pandas had been sent back to China, which made me feel sad. There was a lot of walking, especially uphill to the panda area from the parking lot. There were options for food, alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, as well as plenty of snacks available for purchase.

The nation's zoo is a manageable size and admission is free. Tickets must be reserved in advance through their website. The gift shops (there are multiple, and they are spread out, which helps with crowd management) are small and inventory is limited, but sufficient. The property is set on a decline. I recommend walking all the way downhill, then making your way uphill and visiting exhibits on the upslope to help out those with little legs in your party.

The Smithsonian Zoo is a fantastic spot with diverse animals and well-maintained exhibits. It's fun, educational, and perfect for families. A great place to enjoy nature and wildlife!

We had an enjoyable day exploring the Smithsonian National Zoological Park, where the entrance is free but parking comes at a cost of $30. While the suggestion to use public transit and walk in is wise, opting to park meant starting at the bottom of the hill and trekking up to the top before navigating back down again. Despite this minor inconvenience, the exhibits were impeccably maintained, and the animals appeared to be well cared for. It's worth noting that the giant panda exhibit is presently closed, so visitors should consider this if it's a highlight of their visit. One of the highlights of the zoo is its easy-to-navigate layout, allowing visitors multiple vantage points to observe the attractions. Additionally, the presence of numerous drink and ice cream carts, along with food options like Sabarro pizza, a BBQ truck, and a hamburger joint, ensures that refreshments and meals are conveniently accessible throughout the park. This accessibility, combined with the free entrance, also explains why the zoo sees a considerable number of field trips and group outings, adding to the lively atmosphere of the experience.

It's not the same without the pandas. There are political issues above my pay grade, but I felt the loss of them today. They were my favorite animals to see, and I hope our government can work with China's on getting them back. If they do I'll rate higher, but they really were the proverbial stars of the show. There is still plenty to see and do. The online ticket pass, is a minor inconvenience, but admission is free. I recommend metro to Woodley Park station. You can drive in here, but the parking is expensive and not always easy. Nice folks here and I enjoyed time seeing the ape house, and the reptile house is a joy. They have quite a variety of amphibians and reptiles to see. I do believe they don't have as many native to the US snakes than previous occasions. The tiger was napping, but was pleased to see the lions out and about. Some don't like zoos for a variety of reasons, and I respect their views, but the elephants here are a reminder to be conservation minded. They are truly a sight to behold. This is a wonderful place for families, but please get the pandas back.

I had to come and see the pandas before they leave. The zoo is small and worth a visit. It's a great way to escape all things DC and take in the animals around. We found parking easy and convenient. The staff was great, at least the ones we encountered. Check out the website to see how things operate for when you plan to visit.

The zoo is free. It was really nice and big. The elephants are great. Big fan. The Amazonia part is my personal favorite. Also it's great timing because the park is big and it was hot. So there was great relief in being inside for a while. We showed up at 2 and didn't get to see everything because the park closed at 5:30/6. That's a planning issue on our part. But yea, this will probably be even more exciting once the pandas show up

A relaxing beautiful zoo. So many beautiful adorable animals to look at. There are also food vending spots to hangout at after or before e walking around the zoo. I sure well be re visiting soon

How lucky are we to have a FREE zoo in DC? And such a fantastic one at that? We love visiting this zoo so much and are so grateful that it is near home. We usually swing by just for an hour or two and hit up two exhibits each time. While you can pay for parking in the lot, we usually opt to look for street parking. Sometimes we have to circle a bit but have always been able to find a spot! If you have young kids it's most convenient to get dropped off at the main entrance and have the other parent go park by the other entrance down by the kids farm. That way, it's an easy downhill walk all the way down and no need to double back! So many exhibits and buildings to explore here. While we are sad that the pandas went back to China, there is still so much to see here! The newly constructed bird house is amazing and a must-see. We are also partial to the small mammals building - so many cute animals in there! My favorites are the sand cat and the meerkats. The Amazonian rainforest is also amazing and basically like an aquarium! So many giant fish and creatures to admire there. Also there are really cute guinea pigs once you exit. There is a small Bee playground for kids and lots of bathrooms everywhere. There is also a carousel that is $4 per person. Lots of refreshments throughout, but Dippin Dots and Ben & Jerry's and all the ice cream are closed during colder months but there is one gelato place open and they also have popcorn and cotton candy. The gift stores have nice souvenirs that are pretty reasonably priced as well. There are also benches throughout the walkways for you to rest if you get tired. Don't forget to get a free admission ticket online before going! They scan the QR codes at the entrance and are very strict about every person having a ticket, even infants. Also, they close the entrance and also the entrances to all the exhibits half an hour before closing so make sure you get there in time! You have to check out the zoo if you're in town, you won't regret it!

Beautiful atmosphere and you will see animals from all over the world. Worth the trip 100%!

This was a great zoo, I was able to go twice during my trip! It was exciting to learn that the pandas are coming at the end of the year! I really loved all the panda merch and the panda statue. You can definitely finish the zoo in a few hours, there's a lot of distance to cover. In the morning, the animals are still pretty sleepy so there's not too much activity. There's a lot of feedings and different animal events, you just need to pay attention to the signs. I really enjoyed seeing all the animals. There were even animals that I've never seen at any other zoo. I highly recommend it as a must visit on your trip to DC!

The best way to get here is to take the metro, Cleveland Park is my preferred station both Woodley Park and Cleveland Park are the same distance but Cleveland Park doesn't have a steep incline. You need a pass for entry, it's free. Check times. Zoo closes at 4pm, last time I checked. Great employees. The zoo needs a lot of repairs and upgrades. Its best to eat before or after. The options here at the zoo, no bueno. The Pandas are gone :( However, the birdhouse got a nice reno. Can't wait to see that.

The Zoo in Washington DC was a delight. We arrived in the afternoon time and we saw many animals. There were Otters, Seals, Meerkats, Flamingos, Elephants, Owls, Sloths, Cranes, Lion Tamarins, Lemurs, Armadillos and much more! You would have a great time spending some time here when you visit. The zoo seems really large, since we did quite a bit of walking around to different habitats and enclosures. There were a few habitats that didn't have any animals which was fine, we figured they were resting indoors or it was just an empty habitat. We saw the that the zoo was well kept and maintained and the animals all seemed pretty happy. Except for one area, it was the enclosure for chimpanzees and other monkeys; it smelled like the subway on a bad day or a really badly maintained porta-potty. That didn't damp our experience overall. We would likely visit again in the future, so hopefully, they have a way to keep the great apes clean and happy since the area they were kept was smaller than expected for them.

Awesome zoo. Lots of cool critters. Like all Smithsonian adventures the admission was free. Very well kept grounds and exhibits. So happy we made this stop.

Nice zoo with well-cared-for animals, including some rare creatures in preservation programs run by the zoo. Well designed walking program with bathrooms and refreshments along the way (get your exercise for the day!). They feature different habitats and enclosure types and great variety of large and small animals. You may want to consider the weather and outside temperature as well as the time of day you visit (to make sure the animals are out and about). We visited when it was 95% - oof. We attended as many presentations as we could, which were very informative and interesting (recommended). This is a very well-run and enjoyable zoo. If you go to their website, they have some fun live cams: LionCam, ElephantCam, and NakedMoleRatCam.

Zoo is free, it's recommended that you get a pass before entering. Also come early because they close early. Zoo was alright. A lot of the animals I couldn't see because they were either sleeping somewhere or hiding. The bird house and elephant area had them very visible. I didn't get to see the apes because it was too crowded. What I would've liked though was a scooter or trolley. The hike uphills back to the entrance was a long one.

National Zoo Lights is a special event during the Christmas Holiday season. The cost is $6 per person & $30 for one vehicle to park in one of the Zoo's parking lots. We arrived on a Friday evening around 5:30pm (it opened from 5-9, last entry is at 8:30pm). Plenty of staff to guide you where to park and they scan your parking pass and entry tickets because once you park- you're "in" the Zoo - so have your tickets ready! Its been awhile since we came to Zoolights but its different than it used to be. Now they have animals lanterns that are lit up, instead of just strands of Christmas lights in the outline of an animal. These were super cool! Lots of places to stop and take a picture - make sure to practice taking pictures of yourself in front of very bright lights because you'll be super dark while the lanterns are very bright :) Wasn't super crowded at first but definitely got busier as the night progressed. Lots of places to grab a bite to eat or popcorn to grab and roam around. You won't really see any animals at night and they close the indoor animal houses to let the animals rest- this is a major difference from years ago as they left those open previously. So if you think you'll see animals when you- you may not. Even the animals that are usually outside may go inside to sleep as it's warmer. Our family enjoyed walking in the Zoo at night and seeing the decorations so I would say its worth it and the money goes to animal conservation - so a win win!!

This zoo would be incredible, even if they charged an entry fee! I was so impressed with the clear signs, wide walkways, and large enclosures for the animals. I also was impressed with the size of the gift shops and all the options offered. I bought 2 Red Panda shirts, though they were sleeping when we came. They were a total of $55, and only $3 for a small tote bag to carry them around in. We did not sample any of the food here, or do any of the wildlife talks advertised. We just enjoyed walking around and checking out what exhibit we stumbled onto next. You can enjoy a lot of the zoo even if you just pop in for an hour. However, to fully appreciate the experience, I'd say about 3-5 hours is needed to walk the park and see each exhibit. The zoo is kind of centered around the Panda exhibit, which will cease to exist at the end of this year. I'm curious what exhibit they will use to replace it. We did get a chance to see one of the pandas while there. It was a poor angle, and we were only able to see him from the cafe overlook on the opposite side of the park. I am so grateful the zoo offers multiple viewpoints of the pandas, so we were able to get a closer look. It made our entire visit that one was out and about. I wouldn't recommend eating here. Water bottles are pricey at over $3 each, and I've heard the food options are lackluster, to say the least. That being said, the zoo needs to make money somewhere. The zoo is easily accessible by Metro for tourists, and very disability friendly. I can't recommend this enough as a must stop in Washington D.C.

5 Stars because it's free for the whole family, and a very good zoo. 10 minute walk from metro subway, which happens to have a McDonald's right next to the station. The frozen custard at the Zoo was amazing, best soft serve around as it was extra dense. Fairly big zoo with plenty of stuff to see. Perfect place to go during Bee Week

Can't believe this zoo is free for everyone. Parking is $30. You can purchase the parking pass online or pay upon entering. This zoo is nice but it was a lot of walking and configuration isn't the best in my opinion. Maybe the weather is too hot so we didn't see as many animals. Glad they have strollers for rent and carousel for my kids to end the trip.

I love zoos so much that I volunteer at one on the weekends! I take any chance to see a variety of animals, and this zoo has a lot to see! The admission is free, but parking can be hard to come by. Purchase parking tickets in advance to be sure to get a spot! It was quite busy on the weekend, but I still spent four hours here and could have stayed longer! Enjoy!

If you're ever in our nation's capital; be sure to make the National Zoo one of your pit stops. I had a fantastic afternoon at the zoo and highly recommend tourists and non tourists like myself to take a few hours to simply walk around on the zoo grounds and explore! FYI, parking fills up quick so I would suggest get there early or take public transportation. It costs $35 per vehicle. The zoo itself is free! We went on a hot day so a lot of the animals were hiding or put away but we did see lots! The highlight of the trip was hands down; the popular giant panda bears! Keep in mind that due to their popularity; there are typically long lines to see them. It does move fast nonetheless. The pandas were most definitely worth the lines! One was napping and the other was feeding on bamboo at the time! Sooooo cute!!!! I got lots of pictures and videos to share. Already feeling sad at their impending departure at the end of December. If you visit the zoo, you must visit the pandas before their departure. Wear your comfy shoes and plan for a good time at the National Zoo!

We parked down the street, we knew we were only spending two hours, there is also parking on site and metered parking. Iconic residents are the giant pandas, but the zoo also has birds, great apes, big cats, Asian elephants, insects, amphibians, reptiles, aquatic animals, small mammals and many more. We loved seeing the big cats, pandas, bears, elephants and otters. They were closing a bit early due to Halloween (they close a few nights early for Halloween parties) and they are closed on Christmas. It is free admission but you need to make a reservation. They do have a few places to eat/drink/get a snack but we had breakfast before we went. The line at one snack bar looked a bit long so perhaps bring a snack if you have cranky kids. It was a lovely time, we have been before, if you have not plan to spend most of the day. Have fun!!!!

A free zoo!!! And a free zoo with not 1 or 2 but 4 pandas??? Sign me up over and over. Just avoid summer heat next time!! So exciting And the pandas! Love the pandas. They are so playful and fun to watch. The zoo itself is massive. So big! No Starbucks inside is my only complaint. And it's all free! All the tax dollars are working hard here. I love it! The nicest, free, well maintained and gorgeous Zoo! With Pandas. Only complaint besides Starbucks? Parking is a highway robbery! It is free zoo but parking is wildly expensive!!

The Smithsonian National Zoological Park (also known simply as the 'National Zoo') is a zoo that opened in Washington, D.C. in May 1889. It is one of the oldest zoos in the United States. The zoo's founding mission is to "provide engaging experiences with animals and create and share knowledge to save wildlife and habitats". The facilities host about 2,700 animals of 390 different species; about one-fifth of them are endangered or threatened. Animals on display include birds, great apes, big cats, elephants, insects, amphibians, reptiles, aquatic animals, and small mammals. Since the zoo is a member of the Smithsonian Institution, admission is FREE. My family and I recently visited the National Zoo while we were in Washington for a few days. We all had off from school/work for our Spring Break. My wife and I visited the zoo many years ago when we were still dating. We were excited to show it to our two boys. My favorite section is the Great Ape House which is home to Western Lowland Gorillas as well as Orangutans. The gorilla family welcomed a baby girl named 'Zahra' last year. We enjoyed seeing her explore the grounds with her mother. The orangutans are actually allowed outside the enclosure by way of the "O-Line": a series of high cables supported by metal towers that enable the orangutans to move between the Ape House and the Think Tank. All of the visitors got a kick out of watching them act like daredevils on the cables. Right nearby the Ape House is "Gibbon Ridge", which is home to a group of Siamangs. These are the largest species of gibbons, which are classified as Lesser Apes. Regardless of what your favorite animals are, the National Zoo is a great place for families to visit. There are plenty of interactive activities in addition to the animal collections.

The national zoo is always an amazing experience! It's free to get in, but you need to get a free ticket online in order to do so. Parking is $30 a vehicle I believe as of August 2024. Be prepared for a lot of walking and bring a refillable water bottle. They have fill stations! Super sad that we didn't get to see the Pandas this time around, but still so many other amazing things to see! If you're visiting DC, this should be one of the top attractions on your list!

I visited the new bird house at the zoo - great exhibits, especially enjoyed hearing the varied songbirds and watching ducks swim and search for food underwater. Live food and berries are placed for the birds so they will eat near you and fly over you. I bought a children's book, local DC artist postcards and "bird friendly" coffee at the gift shop. Check the schedule for talks from zoo keepers.

Everything went well , friendly staff and active inhabitants. Got to see all the animals as well as great weather to go along with . Saw some animals I've not seen at the zoo's I've been to . Also whereas some spots I've been to the attractions were under renovations or the animals were a no show . It here . Also easy to navigate and free to boot .

The Zoo is massive and free. Parking is around $30 if I'm correct. We had so much fun exploring so many animals. The kids love taking photos behind cutout animals throughout the Zoo and next to the animal statue. We discovered many different species of reptiles and bird species that we don't have in our local zoo. The animals farm section has a cute bee themed kids playground next to donkeys, cows and goats. There are plenty of clean restrooms. There are many different parking and entrance so remember which section you are parked in.

Very nice Zoo. Most of the animals were hiding. It was pretty hot outside. I love the fact that these places are free. You will need to get a ticket online. The lady at the front said it is to control the number count ever since COVID. I was able to see some elephants, and the tail of a zebra as he ran back inside for shade. I had a nice walk and the place is shaded enough to not be just standing in the sun. Went into the bird exhibit, not much in there at the moment but again, it has been really hot. I enjoyed myself and would definitely just come back to take another look.

I've gone to this zoo so many times since I lived over 10 years in the DMV as both a child and then going back now that I have kids of my own. If you live around the area or are visiting, you need to visit. The number one reason being it has pandas. There are only 3 zoos in the whole country with pandas, so it is very rare to see them in person. One thing that I will never forget is I was able to see the baby panda soon after it was born! Besides the pandas this zoo has tons of animals. One of my favorite sections to visit is the small mammals. They have lots of tamarin monkeys. I have also seen a few of their babies. OMG just too precious. They've got the classic zoo animals like lions, tigers, bears, elephants, hippos, giraffes, and gorillas. Be aware though the great ape building stinks! For those with young kids they have a farm section that also you can pet many of the animals. In my opinion the most underrated section that I think you should not miss is the bird house! This is excellently done and has so many different species of birds. You can be inside the bird house with them! The animals all seem well taken care of. They have plenty of food options but the food itself is not very exciting. There is also a carousel close to the great cat's exhibit. Free zoo though it does cost to park. I have found street parking close before, but that was pretty lucky. The metro stop is not as close as you would think, and it is a very steep uphill walk from the metro stop if you take the Woodley park-zoo Adam Morgan exit. You could take the Cleveland Park metro stop to get there and then go downhill and take the Woodley park-zoo Adam Morgan stop when leaving. I'd save my steps since you will be doing a lot of walking once you are inside of the zoo. The zoo is on an incline as well. Bring your walking shoes!

Nice zoo. Tons of cool animals and exhibits to check out. There's a steady incline along the majority of the park, so depending on where you start/stop you could be walking uphill.

The zoo itself is above average, with many nice exhibits. I wasn't disappointed by the panda exhibit being closed... the pandas while fascinating are ultimately an instrument of soft power wielded by communist China to soften its international image, and the National Zoo should not be used as an outlet for foreign propaganda. That aside, my only gripe is the parking... the attendants try to shake you down for $30 cash while claiming their wireless pads are frozen and unable to take credit cards or provide receipts -- it has all the hallmarks of a racket.

The fact that this zoo is free is an immediate 5 stars. Literally can't complain about anything when it's free. There's nothing to lose. Plus this zoo has so much to offer. RIP to the pandas, but they still have like every animal ever. I would recommend coming here in the fall or spring, and if you're able to, a weekday, because it does get crowded in the summer. My worst nightmare is being at the zoo in the summer on a hot Saturday. You will get sneezed on or run into by children. Be warned when you enter through Connecticut ave, it's basically a downhill slope until you reach the end and circle back around, which you then have to hike up an incline. So be prepared to be mildly exhausted for the second half of the trek back up to the entrance/exit. The cutest thing about this zoo is that they decorate the little animals' enclosures when it's their birthday. It's the cutest thing ever.

This is a great spot with great animals. My absolute favorites are the Andean Bears (so playful and there are two younger ones and their mom which is so fun to see them grow up). Otherwise we had fun experiences with the elephants, gorillas and chimpanzees, and the smaller animals. This is a lot of walking but it's such a beautiful set up, bring in your own food and picnic maybe, and a good variety of animals. We had a lot of fun!

This is a great activity to do with the family. There is not cost to enter, but parking is between $25-$30. I would pack a lunch as the pricing for food is astronomical. I would plan to be there from open to close as there are so many things to see and do. There are water bottle filling stations throughout the park, so bring a reusable water bottle. I've throughly enjoyed every visit and so have the kiddos. Though we have missed the giant pandas for our last two visits. I am interested to see what takes their place.