The Best New York Zoos in Manhattan, Bronx, and Beyond

Spend a day with your kids at a zoo in New York City, Long Island, Westchester, and Orange County, and Fairfield where the whole family can visit a variety of exotic and local animals. Some locations even have animal feedings, areas just for children, and touch tanks where kids can participate. This comprehensive list of zoos in NYC and the surrounding area includes updated COVID-19 hours, safety info, and regulations.

• Manhattan
• The Bronx
• Brooklyn
• Queens
• Long Island
• Westchester County
• Orange County
• Fairfield County, CT
• Zoo Live Streams

Zoos in Manhattan

Central Park Zoo

64th Street and Fifth Avenue, Central Park
212-439-6500
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Closest subway stops: NRW: 5th Avenue-59th Street station
Hours: Through March 26: daily, 10am-4:30pm; March 27-Nov. 6: Monday-Friday, 10am-5pm; Saturday-Sunday, 10am-5:30pm. Last entry to the zoo is 30 minutes before closing.
Admission: $13.95; $10.95 seniors; $8.95 children ages 3-12; free for children younger than 2
Recommended ages: All ages
Best time to go: Mornings
Stroller/wheelchair friendly? Yes
Stroller parking? Yes
Changing tables in women’s bathroom? Yes
Changing tables in men’s bathroom? Yes
COVID-19 guidelines: Guests must reserve tickets online for a specific date. Currently, only outdoor exhibits and grounds are open. All guests ages 3 and older must wear masks or face coverings. Guests are asked to maintain social distancing guidelines, avoid gatherings, and follow the posted rules and signs. The Central Park Zoo will continually disinfect the park, limit capacity at the zoo, and staff members will adhere to safety guidelines.

Stop by the iconic Central Park Zoo to see its famous sea lions, visit the grizzly bears or the snow leopards, and be amazed by several types of penguins! The zoo also hosts community events such as Run for the Wild, has a Children’s Zoo perfect for little ones, and offers both virtual and in-person programming that is sure to get kids excited about animals, nature, and protecting both.

Zoos in the Bronx

Bronx Zoo

2300 Southern Blvd., Bronx
718-367-1010
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Closest subway stops: 2 and 5: Bronx Park East station
Hours: Through March 26: daily, 10am-4:30pm; March 27-Nov. 6: Monday-Friday, 10am-5pm; Saturday-Sunday, 10am-5:30pm. Last entry to the zoo is 45 minutes before closing.
Admission: $30.95; $28.95 seniors ages 65 and older; $22.95 children ages 3-12; free for children younger than 2.
Recommended ages: All ages
Best time to go: Mornings
Stroller/wheelchair friendly? Yes
Stroller parking? Yes
Changing tables in men’s bathroom? Yes
Changing tables in women’s bathroom? Yes
COVID-19 guidelines: Guests must reserve tickets online for a specific date. All guests ages 3 and older must wear masks or face coverings. Guests are asked to maintain social distancing guidelines, avoid gatherings, and follow the posted rules and signs. The Bronx Zoo will continually disinfect the park, limit capacity at the zoo, and staff members will adhere to safety guidelines.

The Bronx Zoo is the Wildlife Conservation Society’s flagship zoo. Explore more than 265 acres and meet more than 8,000 animals, including gorillas in the Congo Gorilla Forest exhibit, lions and tigers, giraffes, the animals of North America, and so many more. The Bug Carousel, Treetop Adventures zipline experience, and up-close-and-personal Wild Encounters are open, too, which will help you and the kids maximize your day at this famous zoo!

Zoos in Brooklyn

Prospect Park Zoo

450 Flatbush Ave., Prospect Heights
718-399-7339
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Closest subway stops: BQS: Prospect Park station
Hours: Through March 26: daily, 10am-4:30pm; March 27-Nov. 6: Monday-Friday, 10am-5pm; Saturday-Sunday, 10am-5:30pm. Last entry to the zoo is 45 minutes before closing.
Admission: $9.95; $7.95 seniors; $6.95 children ages 3-12; free for children younger than 2
Recommended ages: All ages
Best time to go: Mornings
Stroller/wheelchair friendly? Yes
Stroller parking? Yes
Changing tables in men’s bathroom? Yes
Changing tables in women’s bathroom? Yes
COVID-19 guidelines: Guests must reserve tickets online for a specific date. All guests ages 3 and older must wear masks or face coverings. Guests are asked to maintain social distancing guidelines, avoid gatherings, and follow the posted rules and signs. The Prospect Park Zoo will continually disinfect the park, limit capacity at the zoo, and staff members will adhere to safety guidelines.

Some of Prospect Park Zoo’s coolest animal inhabitants include sea lions, dingos, emus, and the fluffy Pallas Cat. Take a winding walk along the Discovery Trail to visit red pandas and tufted deer, or visit the zoo’s smallest species in the Hall of Animals. The zoo’s barn and garden are the perfect places for little ones to explore, too!

Zoos in Queens

Alley Pond Environmental Center

224-65 76th Ave, Oakland Gardens
718-229-4000
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Closest bus stop: Q88: Springfield Blvd/75 Av
Hours: Monday-Friday, 10am-4pm; weekend hours fluctuate. Call ahead before heading to APEC on the weekends.
Admission: FREE; $5 suggested donation
Recommended ages: All ages
Best time to go: Anytime during the week; call ahead to see best weekend hours
Stroller/wheelchair friendly: Yes
Stroller check or parking: No, but an open space at the front of the building allows for unofficial stroller parking.
Changing tables in men’s bathroom: Yes
Changing tables in women’s bathroom: Yes
COVID-19 guidelines: Masks required. Programs operating at limited capacity.

Alley Pond is dedicated to educating kids (and parents!) about animals, open spaces, and waterbodies, as well as protecting and preserving nature. Some of the Animal Ambassadors you can visit include rabbits, chinchillas, turtles, snakes, and birds. APEC hosts a variety of in-person programming for kids including the Summer SENSES science exploration program and other summer camp sessions, holiday-themed weekend programming, and the Vet Tech 101 program. And, you can always explore the center’s beautiful trails!

Queens Zoo

53-51 111th St., Corona
718-271-1500
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Closest subway stops: 7: 103rd Street-Corona Plaza station
Hours: Through March 26: daily, 10am-4:30pm; March 27-Nov. 6: Monday-Friday, 10am-5pm; Saturday-Sunday, 10am-5:30pm. Last entry to the zoo is 45 minutes before closing.
Admission: $9.95; $7.95 seniors; $6.95 children ages 3-12; free for children younger than 2
Recommended ages: All ages
Best time to go: Mornings
Stroller/wheelchair friendly? Yes
Stroller parking? Yes
Changing tables in men’s bathroom? Yes
Changing tables in women’s bathroom? Yes
COVID-19 guidelines: Guests must reserve tickets online for a specific date. All guests ages 3 and older must wear masks or face coverings. Guests are asked to maintain social distancing guidelines, avoid gatherings, and follow the posted rules and signs. The Queens Zoo will continually disinfect the park, limit capacity at the zoo, and staff members will adhere to safety guidelines.

Besides being home to a wide variety of wildlife—from alligators, to mountain lions, to Andean bears—that visitors can view at their leisure, the zoo also offers a walk-through aviary, an animal trail, and several very cool domestic animals such as Flemish great rabbits and Texas longhorns! There are several educational programs kids can take part in, including online wildlife school, professional development programs, and school break programs. Visit the zoo’s website to learn more.

Zoos on Staten Island

Staten Island Zoo

614 Broadway, Staten Island (The Broadway entrance is closed. Use the zoo’s Clove Road address, 705 Clove Road, in your GPS)
718-442-3100
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Hours: Monday-Sunday, 10am-4:45pm
Admission: $10; $7 seniors; $6 children ages 3-14; free for children 2 and younger.
Recommended ages: All ages
COVID-19 guidelines: Online reservations are required; visit the website to make your reservation. Masks required for visitors ages 3 and older. See website for full COVID-19 protocols.

The Staten Island Zoo has everything kids could want in a zoo, including a children’s center, horse barn, the Honey Bee Apiary, an exhibit that showcases cuddly otters, a reptile wing, and several dinosaur sculptures! The zoo is also currently offering virtual zoo visit programs every hour Monday-Friday, 9am-4pm, as well as the Weekly Wildlife program every Wednesday, 12-12:45pm.