Bronx Zoo: Hours, Tickets and a Visit Guide

The Bronx Zoo is at 2300 Southern Boulevard in the Bronx. Opened on November 8, 1899, it now spans more than 260 acres and is home to over 11,000 animals across more than 640 species. With that much ground to cover, check the map and decide what you’d most like to see before setting out.

The zoo operates year-round, with closures on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, New Year’s Day and Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Hours vary by season, and some attractions are not open throughout the year, so check the official site before you go.

Every visitor needs a date-specific ticket, and ticket prices vary by date. The Bronx Zoo recommends buying online ahead of time; same-day online tickets depend on availability, and tickets may not be available at the gate.

The Bronx Zoo Admission ticket includes unlimited access to the Star Attractions available on your visit date. Limited Admission tickets exclude those attractions, which can be purchased separately for an additional fee.

Limited Admission is free on Wednesdays, but you still need an advance ticket. Reservations for a Wednesday open on the preceding Monday at 5:00 p.m. WCS members can enter for regular daytime visits without a ticket or reservation, provided they show a valid membership card and photo ID. Member-only events and other ticketed programs may have separate reservation requirements.

Tickets and member admissions allow one entry only, with no re-entry. The last entry is 45 minutes before the zoo closes. Animal exhibits close 30 minutes before closing, and exhibit lines may close sooner if the wait exceeds 30 minutes.

On dates when Holiday Lights operates, daytime ticket holders and members must enter by 12:00 p.m.; later entry requires a Holiday Lights ticket.

The Sheridan Hotel is about a 6-minute drive from the Bronx Zoo. If you’re taking public transit, the zoo lists the 2 train to Pelham Parkway as an ADA-accessible route; from the station, head west toward the Bronx River entrance, Gate B.

The BxM11 express bus travels from Madison Avenue stops between 26th and 99th Streets to Gate B at the Bronx River entrance. In the Bronx, the Bx9 and Bx19 stop at 183rd Street and Southern Boulevard, near the pedestrian entrance at Gate C.

The Bx12 and Bx22 serve Fordham Road and Southern Boulevard, five blocks south of Gate C. The listed BxM11 fare is $6.75 each way.

The zoo has two main parking lots: one at Southern Boulevard and another off the Bronx River Parkway. It recommends the Southern Boulevard lot for the best arrival experience. Parking is first-come, first-served and may fill to capacity, so factor that into your arrival plans.

Listed all-day parking costs are $22 for a car and $24 for a bus. Weekend preferred parking at Fountain Circle is listed at $30. Rates and availability can change, so confirm the current details before you leave.

The Southern Boulevard entrance is the zoo’s recommended choice for accessibility. It’s the most level section of the park and provides access to a majority of exhibits. Wheelchair rentals are listed as free, while electric convenience vehicle rentals are listed at $54.43.

Some amenities follow a seasonal schedule. During the winter season, the Children’s Zoo, Monorail, Butterfly Garden, Zoo Shuttle and Budgie Landing are closed. High winds or temperatures below 35 degrees may also affect outdoor exhibits and amenities. From November through April, outdoor water lines for fountains and bottle-filling stations elsewhere in the park are closed because of freezing temperatures.

If you’d like to spend more time outdoors, Crotona Park offers a separate green space to add to your plans. For a dedicated overview of its paths and recreation, see this guide to Crotona Park.

For a waterfront outing, consider Starlight Park or the paths and views at Soundview Park. Check the zoo’s operating details before your visit, then plan any park stop around the time you have available.