Plan a St. Louis Zoo Trip

Are you looking for something to do with the family that will add some fun to your day without killing the entertainment budget? Get ready for a day of adventure, learning, and excitement with a day trip to the St. Louis Zoo, voted America’s Top Free Attraction according to 10Best.com.

What Time Does the St. Louis Zoo Open?

The Zoo is open from 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM daily with extended summer hours of 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM Monday – Thursday and 8:00 AM to 7:00 PM Friday – Sunday to allow more families to enjoy the facilities.

How Much is the St. Louis Zoo?

If you couldn’t guess by being named America’s Top Free Attraction, it’s free! That said, there are certain attractions that have an additional charge to offset their cost. These are some of our favorites:

• The Children’s Zoo: $4 per person Children under 2 are free
• Sea Lion Show: $4 per person, children under 2 are free
• Conservation Carousel: $3 per person, children under 2 are free
• Stingrays at Caribbean Cove: $4 per person, children under 2 are free
• Zooline Railroad: $7.95 per person, children under 2 are free
• 4-D Theater: $4 for members, $5 for non-members, children under 2 are free
• Safari Tours: $5 per person
• Wild Wonder Outpost: $2 for members, $3 for non-members

If you’re looking to save on your trip to the zoo, consider arriving early. Attractions such as the Children’s Zoo, Conservation Carousel, and Stingray Exhibit offer free admission during the first hour of the zoo’s operations daily.

To save even more, visitors can purchase an Adventure Pass for $11.95 online (plus a $1 service fee) that allows them to enter the Sea Lion Adventure, Children’s Zoo, Conservation Carousel, Stingray Exhibit, Ride the Railroad, and enter the 4-D Theater for free.

Does the St. Louis Zoo Have Polar Bears?

The St. Louis Zoo features more than 16,000 animals from more than 600 species in the 90-acre Forest Park location, including polar bears. Among the most popular animal exhibits are:

• Polar Bear Point: Home to Kali, a 4-1/2-year-old male polar bear who loves to swim and dive to the delight of onlookers.
• Bird House and Garden: Located near the 1904 Flight Cage, the Bird House and Garden are a tranquil escape for bird lovers and is within easy walking distance from six aviaries open for viewing.
• Big Cat Country: Home to Lions, and Tigers, and Leopards – and many more species – big cat country allows visitors to get up close and personal with some of the fiercest predators on the planet.
• African Nile: See Black Rhinos, Nile Hippos, Spotted Hyenas, and other residents of the Dark Continent in this expansive, interactive exhibit.

This list is only the tip of the polar bears’ iceberg. With so much to explore, it’s easy to see why the St. Louis Zoo tops the list of so many families around the region as one of the best budget-friendly things to do. Plan your family’s next great adventure in St. Louis now!