4 Ways to Enjoy a Day Trip to Philadelphia Zoo

Whether you’re looking for adventure, visiting with family and friends, or hoping to get up close and personal with your favorite species, you can always find something new to explore at Philadelphia Zoo!

Situated on 42 acres of lush gardens, Philadelphia Zoo is an oasis in the heart of West Philly—the perfect outdoor destination for those seeking reprieve from the bustle of the city. Visit our award-winning exhibits and see 1,900 rare and endangered species from around the world; enhance your visit with our attractions, designed for all ages and interests; and fuel up at Tiger Terrace, 215 Cafe, or any of the other delicious eateries located throughout our campus! The Zoo is the perfect day trip destination for those looking to explore the rich history and adventure that Philadelphia offers.

For the Adventurous

Dive beneath the ocean’s depths, feed the tallest animal on the planet, learn about endangered species from around the world, and so much more. Add these stops to your next Zoo visit to satisfy the adventurer in you!

• Wild Explorer Virtual Reality – Deep dive with a marine biologist, soar above the plains of Africa, and trek deep into the forest—all from the comfort of Philadelphia Zoo
• Giraffe Feeding Experience – Stop by African Plains and feed our giraffe trio their favorite browse—but hold on tight, their tongues are much stronger than you’d think!
• Behind-the-Scenes – Brush Tony the rhino, feed our hippos, scratch our giant tortoises, and so much more when you book a behind-the-scenes experience
• Wings of the World – Hand feed a variety of colorful birds from around the world in this free-flight bird exhibit

Up-Close-and-Personal Animal Experiences

Get closer than ever to your favorite species when you add these stops to your next visit!

• Lemur Island – Visit PECO Primate Reserve and share a space with our family of ring-tailed and mongoose lemurs in this walkthrough experience
• Coming Soon: Flamingo Walk – Stroll alongside the Zoo’s flamboyance in our NEW walkthrough flamingo experience
• KidZooU Barnyard – Brush and pet the sheep and goats in the contact yard at KidZooU
• McNeil Avian Center – Walk through the rainforest at MAC and encounter free-flight birds from around the world enjoying the exhibit with you!

If You’re On a Time Crunch

Only have an hour or two to visit? This itinerary is perfect for parents with small children looking for a quick outing! Pick 4-7 stops from this list for the perfect 1-2 hour day trip to the Philadelphia Zoo.

• Rare Animal Conservation Center — featuring naked mole rats, fruit bats, and monkeys
• Reptile & Amphibian House — home of anacondas, crocodilians and giant tortoises
• Big Cat Falls — featuring lion, tigers, leopards
• PECO Primate Reserve — home of gorillas, lemurs, gibbons and orangutans–including lots of new babies
• African Plains — featuring giraffes, rhino, zebras and hippos
• KidZooU — home of barnyard with goats and sheep, ferrets, and fish
• McNeil Avian Center — featuring Victorian crown pigeon, toucanets, turacos, starlings
• Outback Outpost — emus, kangaroos, and wallaby walkthrough coming soon

Fuel up at the Tiger Terrace grab & go eatery to save on time!

Play at the Zoo

The Zoo is your playground! Add any of these stops to your trip for some added fun.

• KidZooU Playground – Climb our mini obstacle course in KZU
• Amazon Rainforest Carousel – Hop on your favorite animal and take a ride on our historic carousel just outside Treehouse
• SEPTA PZ Express Train – Take a ride on our miniature train at the south end of the Zoo
• Wildlife Rescue Climbable Sculptures — Wildlife Rescue comes to the Zoo with larger-than-life climbable sculptures of endangered species, from the majestic bald eagle to the astonishing orangutan and more