Tickets to the Zoo Miami

The ideal season for visiting the zoo is spring, from February to May, when the weather is comfortable for long walks. Another great option is in December, when the zoo offers night events with more than one million dazzling tree lights, turning the park into a magical wonderland.  

The Miami-Dade Zoological Park and Gardens is open every day all year round from 10:00 AM to 05:00 PM. The zoo welcomes visitors even on major holidays, but opening hours are slightly reduced. On Thanksgiving, the zoo closes at 03:00 PM. On Christmas, it starts letting visitors in at noon.  

During the winter holiday season, the zoo also holds special night events on Fridays, Saturdays, and some other select days between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Eve. On such days, Zoo Miami closes one hour earlier, reopens after sunset, at 06:30 PM, and remains open till 10:00 PM.  

• 3,000 animals

Zoo Miami is home to over 3,000 animals representing over 500 different species from Africa, Asia, Australia, and South America, as well as native species found in Florida. You can see giraffes and flamingos, tigers and elephants, koalas and kangaroos, and many others.

• 1,000 species of plants

Zoo Miami is also a garden showcasing numerous flora species. You will admire different palms, baobabs, orchids, and one of the most curious trees — the South African Sausage Tree with hanging fruits that look like giant sausages.  

• 4 miles of walkways

Zoo Miami is the biggest zoo in Florida and the only subtropical zoo in the continental United States. It occupies almost 750 acres, and you can spend the whole day there. There are 4 miles of walkways, so be ready for a long walk. 

The zoo is situated 20 miles southwest of Downtown Miami, in Miami-Dade County, at 12400 SW 152 Street. You can easily reach it by car due to its convenient location off Exit 18 from Florida’s Turnpike. The zoo offers free parking for its visitors. 

On weekends and major holidays, you can get to the zoo by public bus, taking the 252 route. On weekdays, the bus does not stop at the zoo’s main entrance, but you can take a complimentary ride from the nearest bus stop, SW 124 Ave & 152 St.  

• Little Havana
• Máximo Gómez Park
• Miami-Dade County Courthouse
• Olympia Theater
• South Beach

Day tickets for Zoo Miami cost $22.95 for adults (13 years and older) and $18.95 for children (3–12), excluding the local 7% sales tax. If purchasing on the zoo’s website, total prices are $24.56 and $20.28, respectively. Entry is free for children ages two and under and Zoo Miami members. 

The zoo offers a 50% discount to active and former U.S. military personnel and 25% to up to six of their companions. The zoo also guarantees a 25% discount to seniors aged 65 and over and 4% to Miami-Dade County employees.