St. Louis Zoo Reviews

When did the zoo on a lovely fall day. What a great treat that there was no admission fee! Really enjoyed the butterfly and penguin exhibit. Just a nice place to go spend the day and stroll the grounds.

This zoo is great! It is free, only the animal shows and special exhibits cost money, currently that is a dinosaur exhibit, it cost six dollars a person, we passed, as I am not into paying six bucks to walk around looking at dinosaur statues. However, all the regular exhibits are enough! Check out the penguins and primates! They also, have birds, insects, reptiles and most are inside. My family went in early spring, arrived at opening and since it was like 55 degrees outside, there were no crowds, even on a Saturday! Also, despite the cloudy, cool weather, we still got to see several outside areas.

Also, there are volunteers everwhere, who are very open and engaging and who will provide all kinds of additional information about the exhibits.

I paid 15 dollars to park in the zoo lot this trip but I recall the park (it is in a large city park) has free street parking.

Where to start….so much walking in between areas of nothing. Most of the exhibits were either being cleaned or had no animals in it. No lions,tigers,bears,monkeys were out where you could see. The train is so small you better be short to get in it. The map is a joke it’s more confusing then the instructions for furniture at ikea. Not much signs with directions on where to go.
Positives the sea lion show was neat but only has one sea lion in it and it was more about the sea lions health then anything. The penguins were awesome such a cool exhibit. Overall ok but was let down.

Didn’t get to see the apes but all in all it was a great trip! Zoo is free but I recommend buying the adventure pass online as you get to do a few more things without buying individual tickets! We will be back!!!!!

My friends and I spent the weekend in St Louis last month, and we spent an entire morning at the zoo. What a BLAST!

The best part is that admission is FREE! What a wonderful gift to the citizens and visitors! We loved all the water features, and the well-designed landscaping throughout the zoo. The animal habitats were some of the best we’ve seen, and we’ve visited many zoos. The location at the edge of Forest Park is ideal; we could have spent the entire day at the Park and the Zoo and still not seen everything.
We really appreciated the reciprocity with Kansas City Zoo; we all received a 50% discount on our Adventure Passes.

The Zoo Map was VERY helpful as we wandered through the habitats. The layout of the zoo was extremely easy to navigate, and all the signage was clear. The bathrooms were well-placed and clean, and we appreciated having indoor areas to retreat to when the day got a little cooler.

We loved the underwater viewing options for the polar bears, grizzly bears, and hippos! Not all zoos have this. The penguin exhibit was a little bit odd in that the birds were right there; we had to be careful not to get too close. We LOVED the stingray petting area!! It was the highlight of the visit for one of us. And the carousel was a surprise to encounter, and we loved riding it. We really enjoyed the Dinoroarus exhibit, even as adults. It was very educational, and we liked the sound and movement. The dinosaurs were placed in their natural habitats and seemed very lifelike.

We would appreciate better signage when approaching the zoo on foot; the lovely wrought-iron animals (“Animals Always” sculpture) on the southeast corner are an iconic work of art, but there is no signage to let the out-of-town visitor know which direction to turn for the south or north entrance.

We are so glad that we chose to visit the St Louis Zoo, and that we had so much time to spend there! We’ll be back the next time we’re in town!

We Love the Zoo!
Our 2 youngest children have had severe emergencies and some medical issues and we've been in some very scary and life & death situations... very stressful for families and parents to have to live through. Having the St. Louis Zoo right across the street from Children's Hospital it is such a blessing because we can go ( and have ) to the zoo anytime we are there or after a stressful event at Children's hospital. It was so refreshing to just walk and relax at the zoo and took the kid's mind off of what happened and relieves some of that pressure and stress before we go back home, Thank you to the St. Louis Zoo for bringing joy and hope to my children and family when we may see none! We are members now and love the benefits!

We had such a great time at the zoo, and it's free! We saw all kinds of animals and enjoyed an adult beverage while following our teen around. We got to hear a tiger talk, which was awesome. There was a lot of damage from a tornado, but the place was in good working order. Definitely recommend going. It was so fun. Lots of animals to see and activities to do.

Not the best zoo I have been to but it does have parts that are world class and considering it is free, definitely leaves a positive impression in my mind.

The parts of the zoo we enjoyed the most were the puffin and penguins exhibit, the bird house, and the sea lion and seal exhibit. The red rocks area is outdated and could use better enclosures. The river wild area was nice but a lot of the animals were not on display, even though this was a 77 degree day.

Took us about 6 hours to see everything. The zoo space itself is not enormous but packs a large amount of animals in the space it has. Since the zoo is free, if coming on a hot day, may want to consider coming here first thing in the morning and spread your visit over two days.

Parking at this zoo is limited and costs $20, which is another reason to get here early before the lot fills up. You can park for free on the streets surrounding the park or across the freeway and walk in. If staying in St. Louis city, another option may be to take an Uber. The South lot is the much bigger of the two lots and has the main zoo entrance.

Food here was above average for a zoo and reasonably priced. Only expensive thing was bottled water at $4.50 but you can bring in your own food and drinks. Thank you to the citizens of St. Louis and St. Louis county for supporting this zoo with their tax dollars and making it free to everyone.

We had an amazing time. This is a superb zoo. Animals have really good spaces and admission is free!

We paid for a behind the scenes tour. We had to book this in advance and I can’t recommend it enough. We chose the tortoise tour. It was fabulous. Everyone we dealt with was friendly and helpful.

This is a fantastic zoo. It was so large I didn't have time to see it all but what I did see was impressive. Animals all had large well-maintained habitats and seemed well cared for.

We chose St. Louis instead of Tennessee this year because of the places that advertised as pet friendly and so far St. Louis is NOT pet friendly and some skanky girl ran up to us at the zoo asking if my dog (which was in a stroller) was a service dog no where on their signs does it state pets are not allowed so our niece of course was disappointed. Don’t bother going to the St. Louis zoo a place that has animals if you have a pet because your in for disappointment. We will definitely be visiting Tennessee moving forward never St. Louis again

This zoo is as good as any other zoo I’ve been to and admission is FREE! There are lots of extras that you can pay for, but you can also enjoy the animals and pretty sights for free!

Although parking was $20, the zoo itself was free. There are plenty of animals to see, including gorillas, tigers, and giraffes. The zoo itself is large and comparable to the Columbus Zoo, one of the largest we've been to. Didn't stick around for the Animals Aglow exhibit, but it looked like it was cool.

It’s free! I cannot believe it’s such a wonderful zoo and it’s free. I am from Southeast Florida. We have 3 zoos
Well, I would have to call them expensive petting zoos now.
I have never seen so many animals in one place. Amazing. The facilities are great and numerous throughout the zoo. The restaurants are good as well, especially the one in the large building at the north entrance. It is more like a normal sit down restaurant.
We ended up staying the whole day!
I was amazed at the”feed the stingrays”
Baby elephant Jet was such an entertainer!
I can’t write about everything we experienced, but i can say, this
Is the best zoo I have ever visited.

We have been to several zoos across the country and this is one of the best we have been to. Lots of animals and displays and all of the staff were super friendly and helpful.

We are visiting family from Texas and decided to see the St. Louis Zoo Wild Lights.

At $18 a person (including young children), this was underwhelming. Sure, there were a lot of Christmas lights (as advertised), and the kids enjoyed seeing them. However, the cost of admission is supposed to get you into some of the attractions. There is a “4D Polar Express” experience, Penguins and Puffin coast, insectarium, and carousal.

The insectarium was easy enough to go through, no issues there. The carousal had a line but went rather quickly. The Penguin/Puffin and 4D Polar Express on the other hand, forget about it. The lines were obnoxious. They didn’t seem to move. I looked everywhere for some sort of signage explaining the process, there are none. There is no employee there to answer questions or guide you. It’s simply stand in line and hope it moves (which the penguin line moved 0% in nearly 20 minutes).

However, there are an overabundance of employees ready to take $6 for a basic hot chocolate, or to sell you the world’s most expensive s’mores kit containing stale and broken crackers and a marshmallow so hard it can be used as a weapon. Oh, and the kit includes enough for exactly one s’more, so be prepared to mortgage your house to purchase one for each child. But if you want an employee present to perhaps help guide your experience or answer any questions regarding the ridiculous lines that don’t seem to move, out of luck there.

There is simply no direction anywhere in this place. Seems rather unorganized, at least to an out of stater like me.

So, if you’re main goal is to see Christmas lights, there are cheaper alternatives than spending $72 for 2 adults and 2 kids.

This zoo is always so clean and there are a ton of animals there to see. It is free to get in which is shocking considering how nice this zoo is. Highly recommend if you are in the area.

On a rather warm afternoon, we enjoyed several hours at the St. Louis Zoo. While the Zoo has been free for many decades, parking was $15, and there were plenty of spaces. The jungle like Zoo park was pleasantly cool, with benches placed conveniently for us old folks to rest and have some fruit flavored soft ice cream. Many of the animals were having an afternoon nap, but the hippos and elephants were active, the hippos in a pool with a view underwater. This was a great visit and we were wishing our great grandson had been with us.

The fact that it was FREE was nice because we had young grandkids who don't last long, so we were able to stay for 2-3 hours and then head back for naps without feeling like we didn't get our money's worth. The habitats for the animals were impressive. We loved the elephants especially. Some of the animals weren't out, but we got to see what we came to see. There were several docents that were helpful as we walked around. We would definitely go back!

I had read somewhere that it would be one of the nicer and better zoos in the US. Of course I can't judge that, but we certainly liked it.
Especially since a visit is free.
It was very hot, so unfortunately the animals were not always visible or very mobile, but there was still quite a lot to see.

Great zoo, and free! There is a $15 charge for parking however. Very well spaced out, a lot bigger than it appears and many animals-although we can never quite make it when they are out and about. Lots of shaded areas and opportunity for snacks!

The St. Louis Zoo is a very clean , well kept Zoo. The Zoo is FREE and $15 to park your car. We'll worth your visit. You will be doing a lot of walking!

I have been to many light shows at gardens and zoos over the years and this has to be my favorite. Beautiful use of the lights and grounds, with several unique interactive parts that the teen/tween enjoyed. Don't expect to see animals, as parts of the zoo are closed off and most animals have been ushered out of view, but for a stroll-through light show, it was great.

Every time I get to visit this beautiful zoo, I have a great time! The atmosphere, for the most part, is very pleasant. I would recommend going on a weekday rather than a weekend if possible. It does get very busy on weekends, as expected. The sting ray exhibit is awesome and one of my favorite things to do while I'm there. It's mostly cashless so be aware of that! As far as food, you'll find a little bit of everything for everyone. I haven't seen much for healthier options, they do offer salads at the Lakeside Cafe if that's something that's important to you. Have fun!

Such a nice zoo. We loved the natural feel of a lot of the exhibits. It was extremely hot the day were there but we still were able to see plenty of animals. Nice little family outing.

Great zoo with lots to see. Very clean and safe place to visit. Some places in the city don't feel safe, but felt very safe at the zoo. Zoo is free. Parking is $15 but if you park on the street and walk a little ways you can park for free.

Great experience there!

Very nice landscaping- “free” to enter but parking is pricey I think close to $15 and lots of extra stuff at the zoo that cost about $15 a person. Overall nice staff and plenty of animals- penguins were really nice especially. Some of the exhibits were huge and a lot of landscaping with no animals in sight. But overall a nice day for the family and you can see quite a bit without paying beyond parking.

Perhaps I’m a zoo snob as an annual member of the Omaha zoo but my family had a disappointing day. We came to this free zoo with only 2 hours to spend so we had a list of what we hoped to do. If you want to go into the children’s area with dinosaurs it costs $. Stingrays cost $. There was a line outside the building to go in to see the penguins. There was no polar bear out in the exhibit. In a desperate attempt to see some animals we thought paying for a train ride would be worth it- $8 each. We saw only 1 tiger rump and a wild rabbit. A long portion of the train ride is actually underground in a metal culvert. In 2 hours we saw 2 bears, flamingos and the one tiger rear. Disappointing

We went here in July was a nice zoo we went on a carousel they have .I t was a hot day so a lot of animals hidden to stay cool .My daughter and I loved the penguins so cute.

The zoo was wonderful! Clean, well set up, great buildings. I did wish that the map was easier to follow (Why don't they put the actual walking paths on those at any zoo?).

We went when it was 50 degrees outside, which gave us the added benefit of there being hardly anyone there. It was amazing! No crowds, plenty of time to walk around. Very friendly people working there.

LOVED the penguins!

Can't believe admission is free! The adventure pass was well worth the money. This zoo is a bit light on animals and a bit hard to find your way around. But, it is heavy on entertainment value (train, 4d movie, shark petting, dinosaur land). FYI - parking is $15 in their lot but street parking is free.

This zoo is more than deserving of a 5+ star review, if such a thing existed. Prior to July, I had never been to St. Louis before. My boyfriend and I enjoy visiting zoos and aquariums, and we wanted to check this one out. IT'S AMAZING! Plus, it's FREE!! After reading some of the reviews, I can't believe some people were giving 3 stars or less; I feel like their ratings were based on lack of their own preparedness instead of the zoo itself. For example, admission is free. There are free parking areas as well if you arrive at a decent time in the morning. If you're visiting the zoo in the middle of the summer, it's kind of a given that heat will be a factor. There are plenty of shade areas, as well as multiple indoor exhibits and mister machines throughout the park to help keep you cool. I'd recommend wearing light-weight clothing in the summer and a light jacket for the penguin exhibit if you plan to stay in there a while. The penguin exhibit is brisk due to the chilly atmosphere of the penguins. They're very interactive, and the exhibit allows for a very up-close-and-personal experience. We attended the zoo for several hours in order to view all the exhibits. With that being said, there is a LOT of walking involved! I'd highly recommend dressing for comfort instead of style. Outside food and drinks are allowed, so purchasing food and drinks inside the park is not mandatory. Again- FREE! There are specialty train rides and other activities that may require payment. We found that collectible shot glasses are sold at the gift shop located indoors at the penguin exhibit, not the one outside. Of all the zoos we've ever been to, this is by far our favorite. The animals were surprisingly active, despite the heat, and they seem very well taken care of. The enclosures were clean, the grounds were landscaped and manicured, and the atmosphere was overall very positive and fun. There are posted times for the sea lion/seal show, so if that's a priority of yours, I'd recommend getting there early for seating. We don't have kids, but there are many areas of the zoo designed with kids (and bigger kids- adults!) in mind, including the butterfly house and play area next to the monkey house. When entering this exhibit, you are PART OF the exhibit! Along the pathways and climbing areas are listed facts about deforestation and nurturing the planet. I'd recommend spending the day here and enjoying all the zoo has to offer- you won't be disappointed!

We had a wonderful time visiting the zoo. For only $15 (parking), our family (including a 4 and 7 year old) enjoyed the day. We spent about three hours exploring the expansive zoo. There were several paid attractions we chose not to do, but the zoo was filled with other experiences that we didn’t miss them. We particularly enjoyed the sea lions/seals, penguins, and elephants. The only drawback was that it was a little hard to navigate the different areas. The signage and maps weren’t necessarily easy to follow.

This zoo is completely free and absolutely worth visiting. The grounds are beautiful, well maintained, and fun to explore. We saw cubs and a baby elephant, which made the visit extra special. The staff were helpful and welcoming throughout. An excellent attraction for all ages and a must-see while visiting St. Louis.

Amazing Beautiful city park and highly rated free Zoo...been to St Louis many times , but never knew about those gens. 18th floor Hyatt hotel view of the Arch was breathtakingly spectacular...post card views.

Such an amazing zoo for no charge. We go each time we are in St. Louis. It is so big we have never seen it all in one visit. The exhibits are large enough for the animals to have room. Lots of places to grab snacks and drinks or you can carry in as well.

Love the layout of this zoo. Easy to get around and find the animals. We loved the butterfly house particularly. The terrain was easy to navigate.

My wife and I very much enjoyed our visit to the St. Louis zoo. We were blown away at how large it was and how many animals it contained. If we were forced to come up with a downside, it would simply be that a good portion of the animals were in active the time a day we were there. But that is to be expected depending on season and time of visit.

Possibly the best zoo in the country. Visit, and you will NOT be disappointed.
Free, not so overcrowded you can’t enjoy yourself.

Once again this is free to get into. Love this about St Louis!!! It’s huge, first we parked in the South Entrance because we wanted to be close to the train. This place is like close to 100 acres. They have a train and a theater and every animal one can think of. We spent 6 hours and didn’t see all of it so expect to spend a day.

We visited on a day when the temperature reached 106 degrees. Despite that, the zoo was amazing. It was so well laid out and amazing for a FREE zoo. We purchased the “Adventure Pass” for $14.95 per person, which gave us unlimited access to all of the paid extras (touch the sting ray, carousel rides, sea lion show, 4D movie, Dinosaur exhibit, train ride).

We had a great day!

Parking was $20-$25.

When my family accompanies me on business we try to find fun and educational things to do along the trip.

I'm 2022 coming through Louisville Kentucky we visited the Louisville zoo, so this time we had heard numerous wonderful things about the zoo in Saint Louis.

Getting into the complex was somewhat confusing however once in a parking lot with a special needs child the staff was accommodating to show us where to park that was convenient for our child with his special chair.

Admission was free for the whole family and there is a display right inside the zoo that shows many donors of varying financial levels that makes it possible for families to go free. There were varying species of animals that you see at other zoos like Giraffes, Zebras. Hippos. Deer and so many more but the house of primates was one of our favorites.

There is a lot of uphill climbing between exhibits but it was well worth it. Couple of disappointing things were some of the construction in new exhibits, the train was difficult to fit in and some of the concessions were closed. I had really looked forward to the frozen pineapple smoothie in a cored out pineapple but they were unavailable. The zoo staff was very friendly but due to many concessions being closed the lines were over an hour wait for those that were open. The gift shop is incredible!

We visited on a Wednesday morning/afternoon. Not terribly crowded at all. Overall, the zoo appeared to be pretty clean and laid out in an interesting way. I really wasn't paying any attention to the maps and whatnot, so I found it easy to become "lost" but in a really cool way. I would have liked to ride the train as it had an interesting path through the park, but it looked a little crowded and we did not have time to wait. Unfortunately, there were several animals off exhibit. Maybe it was just our luck and time of day/week. It would have been better to see more animals, but, overall, the St. Louis Zoo is a great place to spend the day. I even got a cool shot glass to add to my collection!

I can't say enough about our zoo! The animals are magnificent and the enclosures are spacious. I would love to see the animals in their natural habitat but considering that is not possible this is a great place to enjoy and have a learning experience. We go multiple times a year.

We went Sunday morning right after they opened. If I picked a time to go again I would have waited until about 930-10am because they were busy cleaning their cages and not many animals were out. The best part of this zoo is the penguin exhibit. Must see! Can't beat a free zoo and we also found free parking

Who doesn’t love a free zoo! This zoo is simply amazing. There’s no other words for it. We have been there 3 different times and never actually made it to each exhibit because it is so big! We spent over 4 hours there. You do need to make a reservation- which you can do within 7 days of going. Highly recommend.

My wife and I always make it a point to see the city zoo everywhere we travel. From Europe to coast to coast in the US, we have enjoyed the best zoo's around the world. St. Louis' zoo is in my top 3 list! And you can not beat the price of admission for such a world class zoo...FREE.

Excellent zoo experience overall. While the zoo is free, there are paid exhibits which we did. The pass was well worth it as we enjoyed the sea lion exhibit, train, 4D movie as well as the oh so fun petting of the sting rays. A great time for the whole family.

We usually go in winter when the crowds are less intense and it is always a joy, even without all the 'extras' available. It is clean and well-cared-for.

We visited the zoo on a day where the real feel temp was going to approach 100 so we went early expecting to make it a quick visit. Despite the high temp, the animals were very active which is a good sign that they are well taken care of. The zoo does state that they are a research and conservation facility and it definitely showed as the exhibits were well done. Even the Polar Bear was outside and chomping on what looked like salmon frozen in a block of ice.

Much of the park is shaded and there are several areas where people can get out of the heat like the penguin and puffin exhibit. It was actually quite cold in there, but felt great on that day.

It's one of only a few free zoos in the country, and definitely worth a stop no matter how short. We wound up staying a couple of hours.

Try a Pineapple Paradise frozen smoothie while you're there. It's worth every penny! (Located near the north entrance)

We had a full day at the zoo and still didn't do it all. We arrived before 10 and left at 4. We watch the Seal show which was great, glad we waited for it. We decided not to wait on the bird show to be sure we saw all the animals. We saw baby meerkat, adorable! Young giraffes, so cute and the tiniest stingray. The hippos in the water were awesome! We didn't see the polar bear which was a disappointment but maybe just tooo hot for him outside.
Since the zoo is free and if you have more than a day maybe do 1 day to see all the animals and another day buy an adventure pass to do the shows, train, stingray feeding & 4D movie (too young for teens). We didn't mind paying because it's still ($17.95 each today) cheaper than most zoos; but we should have just bought a ticket to the Seal show and the stingrays & food. Definitely recommend this zoo! If you have a long weekend go to STL for the arch one day and the zoo another. If you have a 3rd day Definitely the science museum.

It was one of the best zoos I have been to! Had a lot of fun seeing all types of animals! It was crazy to see a hippo that close. And it was free!

It was our first time today coming to the zoo. We loved it. Today the highest was around 26 degrees but with the many indoor exhibitions, we didn’t feel as cold. Many shops were closed but that’s okay. The animals were very active and wonderfully cared for. The best part was that it was free. Thank you for letting my family come to visit.

We drove in around 10am just in time for the 11am sea lion show. Plenty of parking within the 2 parking lots. There is 1 single line to enter the lots, which may take a little time. The temperature was in the eighties and most of the animals were inside or just lying down I guess due the heat. Didn't see any polar bears. Want to relax a little? Go the the Sea Lion and the Bird Show. (same location)

Headed here for a few hours with teenagers. Very hot day so walking around the zoo was hot and the animals were in the shade. The train ride was great

The St. Louis zoo is hands down the greatest zoo I have ever visited, and THEN you top it off by having it be FREE?! I wish I lived close enough to come visit more often. I'd absolutely become a zoo member. I had so much fun exploring all the different areas. I particularly liked Big Cats Country. I also loved that the animals have the choice to be in or out of doors, to go where they'd like and do what they'd like in their enclosures. The polar bear, for instance, was having a blast just being a bum and chilling on a pile of ice. The tiger came out and went back in a few times. The orangutans were inside instead of outside. Etc. etc. It was also amazing to see the history of the location, like the original world's fair pieces.

This zoo claims to have a lot of different animals. We didn't see the hippos, most of the primates enclosures were empty. No polar bears, no elephants. It was the worst experience I have ever had at a zoo. Totally DISAPPOINTED.

I've been going since I was a little kid. My favorite zoo, ever! This last Thursday we went from open-close. So worth it! From the beautiful landscape, many animals, food, carousel, sea Lion Show, the new tiger cubs, to everything in between, it was an awesome time! The train is always a big hit! One price and you hop on and off all day. Not to mention, the zoo is free!!! Looking forward to going back next month.

I think we had the best day of the year. Not crowded. Well maintained with plenty to do. They need more polar bears!

We didn’t have a lot of time in St Louis but decided to spend our last 4 hours before heading back to Chicago to fly home visiting the zoo on a Saturday morning, considering it is free which is a huge surprise, but highly welcomed experience! We got there shortly after opening – you can park for free in the nearby park – don’t pay the $15 zoo parking, the park is literally less than a 5min walk to the Zoo entrance and has lots of on street parking. We were really pushed for time, but we were determined to see as much as we could. We had a great time exploring and were incredibly impressed with the animal enclosures – St Louis Zoo really sets the bar for how a zoo should be, the enclosures incredibly impressive and very large. We were shocked to see the zoo has a resident polar bear, which was amazing to see, but we had to do some reading afterwards to find out he was an orphan and unable to survive in the wild – we feel there should be more signs to advise people of this. Overall, the zoo was buzzing on a Saturday morning, lots of food options, pop up bars which was super cool, and of course gifts everywhere. This is quite possibly, the best zoo we have ever been to – and free! If you are in St Louis, we highly recommend this place!

It was very hot and humid but we were able to see a few animals. Beautiful elephant and zebras. This zoo is lovely and I hope to return someday soon.

We went to the zoo not expecting to see much as it was our last day in Missouri and it was only 26 degrees. But we had time to kill and why not? It is a free zoo, but there is a $10 parking charge. Wow! Pleasantly surprised at how many animals were out and about - and the enclosures are so well laid out and seemingly right up close. The penguins are a raucous group - so close you can almost touch them (not allowed btw). Seeing the tigers running around and playing was a delight. I would love to come back. Definitely one of the better zoos I’ve been to!

Top zoo. So beautifully laid out. Shade and seating everywhere. Great variety of animals. And what is beyond comprehension - no admission.

What a wonderful attraction to have in St Louis. We have enjoyed this zoo for years. The dinosaur attraction added in 2021 is incredible. We have seen it already 3 times this year. The children love it to say the least.

We arrived at 8am on a weekday. We opted to pay $15 to park right by the south gate since we were heading out of town upon leaving. There is free street parking around as well.
Although the zoo opens at 8 in the summer, the rivers edge didn't open until 9 and feeding the stingrays started at 9 or later. We ended up backtracking a few times because we didn't know that in advance.
The exhibits were great, a nice mix of indoor and outdoor habitats. Lots of shade on a hot day. There were a variety of refreshment offerings and gift shops and kiosks. The grounds are not so spread out to become worn out before seeing everything. We saw all the exhibits at least once and happily headed home after about five and a half hours. The nine year old we had with us loved it.

Going early all the animals are out. Very clean and enjoyable. The bear was so funny because it was splashing in the water. Great place to visit

I cannot honestly give the St Louis Zoo a positive score. After purchasing over 20 Adventure Passes for my church family, we were frustrated, overwhelmed, and angered by this venue. The parking lot was full and thus closed, forcing our large group to split up and find parking. This alone cost us over an hour... and we were never able to group up again. The attractions on our Adventure Pass were so spread out that it was impossible to see them all. Out of five, we were able to see two. Lines to get onto the train, into the stingrays, etc. were so long that our time was quickly gobbled up. The bird show and sea lion show required us to skip other attractions so we could be there by the time seating was available. Wasted time. We arrived five minutes late and were not allowed in. Overall, we didn't have time to do anything but stand in line. I'll pass on this place next time

Overall was okay. Animals weren't out or were hard to see in their enclosures. It's laid out strangely and we couldn't find a lot of animals.
The enclosures are beautiful though and the animals have lots of room and natural feeling areas, just wish we saw more or that the signage was better. I'd imagine they get a lot of tourists so this seems helpful as we feel like we missed a lot.
Bathrooms were filthy and there was trash all over the park. Our zoo back home has staff always walking and picking up litter, but I noticed this throughout the city too, so maybe it's just a problem everywhere in St Louis.

We loved this zoo! The variety of animals, the layout of the exhibits, the food and drink options, and the fall/halloween decor were all perfect.

Animals, of course! There are also plenty of well-maintained restrooms, snack bars, and a good cafe.

Wonderful time! For only having to pay for parking I was not expecting all the animals. It was just as big as any other zoo and we see so many animals. Everyone was friendly for the most part and parking was a breeze.

This is one of the top zoos in the country and the only one with free admission. They have animals from every part of the world. The staff is friendly and ready to answer any questions. Make sure you give yourself plenty of time because it will take most of the day to see everything here.

A huge zoo that's free! It took us all day and we loved seeing all the animals and exhibits. A must with kids when visiting St. Louis.

The Zoo was great kids had fun… but they won’t remember any of that because we had some scum bc blow life break out our car window and rummage through our car

Beautiful zoo, so many great exhibits. Free entry, but there's a charge for the sea lion show, train ride, dinosaur experience and stingrays, but very worth it. Happy they honored our reciprocity for our hometown zoo membership which cut our costs in half for these features. Visited with two nine year olds. They loved the dinosaurs, sea lion show and the penguins. Wonderful experience.

I'm not usually the one to make reviews, but the zoo made me feel so happy!
As a person with autism and sensory problems, one thing i always have to worry about is "Will I be overstimulated?" and worry about being unhappy in some of the most enjoyable experiences. My partner and I were so enthused to see "zone" signals all over the zoo! Ones that said "Headphones", and " smell zones".

the only thing that bummed us was how short the train ride was, but besides that we had such an amazing time.
we even got to enjoy vegan ice cream or dole whip.
thank you St. Louis zoo, for making us feel so included.

Just a great place to spend the day and learn about the animals. The train is a bit silly--not many views of the animals (mostly a bamboo forest). But it will get you around the grounds when you are tired and the "all day" pass is a nice touch. Some of the best elephant viewing at any zoo I have been to (and I have been to more than 30). The big cat area is also top-notch. Some great dining options also. Great living conditions for the animals and a lot of info on conservation efforts.

World class zoo, and no charge for main entrance, excellence in events. What could be negative?
The former army of dedicated volunteers is gone, I suspect because of chaos. They closed it down for fights. The last few times, many groups poorly supervised kids or not at all- let teens run wild. Also handicapped adults and kids, in groups poorly supervised. One incident where an adult with special needs seemed to be on the edge of violence.
Free does not have to mean chaos. There should be some group criteria, flow control, and management. Patrons, people with small kids, and animals, the stage is being st for tragedy. We witnessed on teen jump precariously onto a rock by the lions areas. This not a scene I want to witness.

Couldn’t believe it when a St. Louis local told us this zoo was free as well as awesome, so we had to check it out.

The park is gorgeous and well-kept. Tons of incredible animals with large enclosures, yet still allowed us to easily see all the animals!

Our favorites were the penguins, grizzly bears, polar bear, elephants, apes, and red panda!

Bring a lunch and make a day of it!

(Note, parking was not free. We paid $15 cash)

This zoo would be amazing in the summer when all exhibits are open. We came here on Spring break (end of March). The birdhouse is closed, indoor monkey exhibit closed, no sea lion shows, animals like the hippo and rhino were missing, many vendor booths closed, and 4d movie wasn’t working. Although the dino exhibit was short, my kids loved it. The train is a must!! Our favorite animals to see were the elephants. Given that the zoo is free, can’t go wrong! If a big family, buy the membership and skip the 4d movie.

This is a great zoo! Lots of species not normally seen in the zoos we have been to, so seeing these animals is a nice treat. The layout, enclosures, and exhibits make it very easy to navigate the zoo grounds. Great place to spend a few hours!

This is the best zoo in the mid-west or even the country. I have been to the zoos in San Diego, Cincinnati, Detroit, KC...and the STL Zoo is just so much more fun. It is easy to get around. There is plenty of shade if it is hot and plenty of sunny spots if it is cool. You can park close...if lugging strollers, etc. The animals are easy to see-where most are in a realistic env. Love the hippos and Elephants and peacocks - kids loved the snake house - it smells yucky but they loved it. Admission is free if you can believe that! It is always a fun day and Forest Park offers so many places to have a picnic.

We LOVE this zoo!! So incredible, lots of different kinds of animals, and when the train/carousel is running, I highly reccomend getting the adventure pass for $12.50 to get unlimited for each attraction.

We did the behind the scenes giraffe tour, and both our volunteer guide Polly, and our zookeeper Sarah, were PHENOMENAL and we had an AMAZING time, extra thanks to those two.

Couldn't reccomend this zoo or its attractions or behind the scenes tour more!!

Residents of saint Louis City and County pay a separate tax to keep the zoo and other cultural attractions free; called the Zoo/Museum district. If you avoid special exabits, shows and the short railroad ride, there is essentially no cost. I always felt that a small fee should be charged for people who are not in the district, but this has never been done. Beautiful grounds and different display houses. Paid lots on north and south boundaries, but you occasionally can find street parking for free.

The animals are so close its wonderful! Even in the winter this was an excellent stop. Very well laid out and easy to get around.

Halloween at the Zoo was not what I thought it would be. There were some Halloween displays and random Halloween inflatables but there could be more.

The train was nice and it costs $4 but you can use it all day.

The animals make it worth it but sadly there were multiple exhibits that were closed. The staff claimed Covid was responsible. The Covid restrictions were mixed. Some wore masks, some didnt. Same with the social distancing.

I love zoos. I make it a point to stop at a zoo on each trip I go on. This one was fun, lots of places to stop and see animals and exhibits, kids had fun. There wasn't anything to set this zoo apart from others. The size was good for a family trip.

The St. Louis zoo was a very nice way to spend a Saturday morning. I was there for about 5 hours and it’s completely free to get it. You will have to pay for parking, food, and any extras you want to do in the park like the Sea Lion show. If you do one thing I recommend the Sea Lion show. The little train is cute but sort of kid oriented unless you get tired and want help getting from different areas of the park. Best exhibit is the penguins.

Make sure you get a free reservation in advance. The zoo is a very popular and busy place and without a reservation not obtained

Excellent adventure, there are so many animals to see, it would take about 5 hours to see it all, but well worth it.

This zoo took me by surprise. I wasn’t expecting much from a free zoo in the middle of a city, but it was fantastic! Parking was $15 a car, which is a very good value, considering you get to park your car and go to a FREE ZOO.

The animals seem to be very well taken care of: there were several staff members who were very knowledgeable about the animals we encountered and we witnessed the habitats getting cleaned out regularly. The areas where they house the animals are spacious, which is a huge relief to me. It makes me nervous when zoos house animals, especially elephants, but these elephant’s habitat in particular was huge!

Besides taking care of their animals, they also have fun things to do, like the train which loops around the park. Its $4 to ride unlimitedly and you can get off at different areas around the zoo (if you have mobility issues, this is definitely a good solution.) They are also have an underwater tunnel, which I’m a huge fan of! It was an excellent place to go to relax, get some AC, and watch the sea lions.

I would love to come back to this zoo one day!

As far as zoos go, this little gem is one of the nicer zoos we've been to. Free venue, but appreciate donations. Many enclosures seem to have plenty of space and white noises (waterfalls) to keep the humans from disturbing each other and the animals. If you want to park near the zoo entrance there is a fee. If you don't mind walking you can park along the road. Zoo located in Forest Park which is beautiful in itself.

If you’re in St. Louis, this stop is a no-brainer. Online reservations are required, but the price is zero. $15 parking, easy walking distance to the entrance. Plenty of animals on beautiful grounds. Plan to spend maybe three hours.

My wife and I met friends at the zoo so that we could walk, catch up, and see animals along the way.
It was horribly hot that day, not the fault of the zoo, and a lot of the animals were not visible.
The puffins, in their chilled shelter, was the best part for us. We did get to see bears, elephants, and hippos.
The train ride was nice, it was just horridly hot.
I would recommend this zoo to anyone, just pick a cooler day, and make sure you are ready for the high concession prices.

My husband and I went to the Zoo yesterday after many years. We came in the South gate. (parking was $15 and worth every cent) We parked right near the entrance gate to the Zoo. WOW - have they ever made the walkways so pleasant. We were able to walk along looking at the animals and signage so comfortably. We also noticed several wheelchair and baby carriages along this route. The landscaping and flowers were beautiful and well tended. There were also docents at several of the viewing sites like the polar bear and the tortoises. Everyone asked questions. There were many options for places to rest or picnic. Also there are many gift shops and food options. We spent about three hours walking throughout the zoo and it was perfect before the heat of the day. We will go again.

We visited as a grown-up family and anticipated spending only a few hours at the Zoo. Instead, we ended up staying all-day. Plenty of things to do. We finished by riding the train and enjoyed that too!

Nope…your kids over 8 will hate it. Go to another state’s zoo. We wasted our money. Don’t do it. My husband liked the statues. Parking is too expensive.

Free Zoo! Our reciprocal membership with our local zoo even got us 1/2 off of the regular price for the adventure package of extra stuff, like movie and train.

While you do have to pay to park and for some of the activities, the zoo itself has free admission. We were able to buy the pass for the activities like the train, sting rays, carousel at a discount since we are members of our local zoo.
We absolutely loved the penguin area, it was a great way to cool off in the hot summer. The Sea lion show as incredible as well. Get there early if you want a good seat, it was full even during the middle of the week.

My kids loved Sting Rays, so we went to that area first. You do need to pay extra to touch them and feed them.
Understandably, they make you wash your arm up to your elbow before entering. I only mention that fact since I forgot to bring in our sunscreen to the zoo and this washes off.
There was so much to see, were were there for over 5 hours and still did not see everything. Of course, we did go back to the penguins two times since we loved it so much.

We felt that the prices at the snack shops were reasonable.

We really loved our time at this zoo, and learned a lot.

They have PENGUINS!
This zoo was impressive with free admission and such a vast variety of animals. There were staff at the enclosures to give information if you had questions. I’d love to go back the next time I’m up this way. If you can’t find street parking, the lot parking is $20.

This Zoo is rated one of the best in the whole US and the best part is that it is free! Love the variety of exotic animals and I especially enjoyed the Aquarium ! A must see when you're in St. Louis

I love zoos and was really looking forward to this one as it has been consistently highly rated. I was disappointed because while it is a huge property, it didn’t seem to have the number of animals on display that I have seen at other zoos. I also found it confusing to navigate as they don’t provide many maps showing where you are and the printed on is hard to read because of the small icons. Also, the whole African section was closed for paving. The Orangutan indoor was closed. The Chimps weren’t out. The list goes one. If you are just wanting some time outside, this free zoo is a nice way to spend it - but very glad I didn’t have to pay.

Ps - expect a LOT of advertising in the names of houses, pavilions etc and every walkway, bridge and bench seems to have been donated , so much so it was distracting- guess that is the price of free admission

It was REALLY busy and our kids got crowded out by the day care/school groups because they would wait their turn, while the other kids just elbow and shoved their way past to the front of exhibits. We had looked at the time for the sea lion show, but it was really the birds of prey going on instead, not sure if they just didn't update the website. A lot of the exhibits were empty. We did LOVE that it was mostly shaded and the grounds is beautiful. We got lost fairly easy, which is our own fault. Loved the monkey exhibit and interaction of it all. I mean if I lived nearby, I would visit a lot just because it's free and a large area to walk around with the kids. We liked the train ride, but waited at the wrong station where no one was really getting off, so it took a really long time to get on.

Great zoo! Animals weren’t out as much as we hoped. They need better instructions on how to navigate. It was confusing at times. Painted marks on the ground for each attraction would be so much easier. Train was cool! Food lines were long bc many of the booths weren’t open yet. Parking is always hard to find but it was expected. Definitely check out forest park while you’re there.

This is a great zoo at a good price. You pay for parking and a few optional add-ons, like a dinosaur exhibit and the train. This is a BIG zoo. I thought the animal enclosures were nice and spacious. The food was around $10 for an adult meal, but included fries and a drink. The turkey club sandwich was tasty.

The St. Louis Zoo is fully worthy of its ranking among the best zoos in the world.

The topography of Forest Park combined with the zoo's natural and naturalized landscaping allow for a huge variety of wildly different settings in a relatively small space. This is not to say that the zoo is small--not by any means. The hills, valleys and flatlands are all largely hidden from view just as individual exhibits within the general divisions are largely hidden from view of one another. To me the zoo seems significantly larger than its already generous size.

A first-time visitor can easily spend the majority if not entirety of a day. Performing animal shows have generally fallen out of favor; bird (largely raptor) shows and sea lion performances are held on weekdays on a seasonal (summer) basis. There are of course special events as well.

With so many excellent exhibits I cannot call out any in particular. I have though always liked the big cat area. Since you largely and literally overlook the cats they seem far less "edgy" than those in other zoos when both people and animals are at roughly the same level.

The miniature train that largely circles the zoo is genuinely nice to ride; this means it gets very busy. They're slow--of necessity--so many like us on this visit likely don't even bother. There is a fee for the train.

Our mid-afternoon, mid-summer, mid-week visit found an unusually large crowd due to the unseasonably low humidity and temperature. A great many of the outdoor animals were relaxing/napping in the shade. The animals that were active seemed engaged in normal behavior completely ignoring people--unless it was their regular feeding time ;) I believe this is characteristic of healthy and unstressed animals.

There are of course plenty of places (especially in the summer season) for people to get food. Pricing is high but not outrageous. There are some surprisingly attractive places to sit and enjoy a basic lunch.

There is no entry fee for the zoo. There is a large amount of free parking lining the major streets of Forest Park around and near the zoo but these can be a considerable distance over very hilly terrain from the two zoo entrances/exits. Controlled parking immediately adjacent to the entrances costs $20.

Visited with our adult children who enjoyed 'reliving' their childhood memories at one of the best zoos in the Midwest. Amazing place, with many air-conditioned buildings, and several unique play/explore areas for kids. Reptiles and insect buildings were very popular. Plan to spend at least a 1/2 day and you'll come back the next day.

Wow. What a great zoo. Grounds were all well taken care of. We did the adventure package..saw the bird show and seal lion show. Amazing is all I can say. This zoo admission is free which would make it very affordable for a family. Saw lots of family there with wagons loaded with snacks and water bottles. A must see when in St Louis!

The zoo was a nice interlude on our recent family vacation. We spent one morning walking through and it was really enjoyable. It was raining a little but that wasn't a detractor. Some of the animals weren't out and about but that was ok too. It was a relaxing and enjoyable morning. The zoo is free and a great part of the St. Louis landscape. We really enjoyed our experience.

Definitely one of the best zoos that I’ve ever been to. Great exhibits and great staff. The woman in the monkey house was particularly helpful and friendly.

We loved this zoo! It is free to visit (parking is a cost) and it's the best of both old and new exhibits. The animals had plenty of room to roam and the layout was wonderful. Lots of shade too. Highly recommend a visit while in the area.

It’s free you can easily spend 3-5 hours here $15 parking book online something are closed mask required but people walk around without it

We went to St Louis Zoo to see for first time and we didn't know it has 2 entrances. So, our phone map took us to North entrance and it was not organized at all. The parking for this entrance was too small and of course full and rest parked beside the long road for long miles. We had to walk about 15-20 minutes from our car to entrance. Going through entrance, you have to walk a lot to see the first animal. Then, we wanted to see the lion and it was way back at the end of zoo. Not well designed. We live in Memphis and Memphis Zoo is way much better than this zoo.

This was the best zoo our family has ever visited. Now, some background. We lived in Southern California from 1987-2016. During those years, visited the San Diego Zoo several times. It's a fabulous zoo and most raking agencies put it as the #1 zoo in the USA. Until we visited here, we felt the same way. But after visiting, there were things that the St. Louis Zoo did which really stood out. First, the upkeep of their grounds was immaculate. It was just like you were walking around Disneyland. There was no trash or unkept landscaping that we saw anywhere. Just as much as the San Diego Zoo, they took great care of their facility. The San Diego Zoo, however, is so large that it can be a challenge for old adults or young kids. Sure, there are trams to help but the amount of walking required there is a lot. The St. Louis Zoo found a way to keep the walking paths close as you wound your away around the various sections of the zoo. From an efficiency perspective, we absolutely loved this. You can see so many more animals with a lot less walking than at San Diego. And, of course, with the zoo entrance fee being $0, that's just nothing shy of amazing. Kudos to the person(s) in charge of sponsorship marketing at the zoo. They know what they're doing. For sure, a big thanks goes to the *many* benefactors who've made the St. Louis Zoo the treasure that it is by offering a completely free zoo visit (except for food, drink & gifts : ).

It’s a nice attraction specially if you have kids in the group. We took the train which took us around the whole zoo. Its a daily pass and you can hop on and hop off if you have members not able to walk throughout. It was a warm day. So couldn’t see the lion or the bear. The polar bear was a nice attraction. So were the penguins. There are about 6 categories and each one of them have eateries or snack shop. Its a free zoo. But has a parking fee. Get there early. It gets full on a weekend

We reached the zoo on a Tuesday morning the day after Labor Day. It was fairly empty that day. We entered at around 10 AM and we were there till they closed the park. I think we still didn’t finish all the enclosures. Awesome zoo. So many animals - huge enclosures and wonderful to stroll and enjoy. We had lunch at the Lakeside Cafe - it is pretty decent. We did the train, the VR experience, the string ray experience which were part of the Adventure band. They did not have the Sea Lion Show and Bird Shows - those end in August. If you love animals. You will have a fantastic experience at this zoo. My kids aged 13 and 6 had a whale of a time. Highly recommended.

This is a truly great zoo. It’s not too big (San Diego, Bronx, National) or too small (Honolulu, Seattle, Staten Island).

Very doable in a few hours.

The penguin house is amazing. Don’t want to ruin the surprise, so that is all I will say.
Ditto on the polar bears.

Animals seemed to be enjoying themselves. The zebras were playing, which involved flat out galloping.

Enjoy!

We visit the Zoo often as a couple (live locally) and with our grand children and family. We are a longtime Zoo member. Sadly, the Zoo appears to sliding downward. For example, animals are frequently not on display. While I understand some animals are permitted to roam in and out, there are times when they are not on display for the entire day or longer. My grandchildren are often disappointed when an animal they long to see is unavailable. Why doesn't the Zoo have an electronic ribbon board at the entrances announcing, in advance, animals not on display that day? Or, announce when approx. animals are expected to be on display if inside for a planned portion of the day. The Ape House has been closed for YEARS; orangutangs are rarely outside. The sea lion pool rarely has more than 2 animals swimming. The Zoo also had a sea lion feeding each day at a designated time; but no longer. There are only 2 giraffes now as there were 3 previously. Also, fewer camels and other larger animals. Food prices are now exorbitant considering the quality. A single soft pretzel is $8. Ditto for a small nachos and cheese. A 22oz fountain drink is $4.25. (Suggestion: bring your own food.) Food lines are long (out the door): fewer manned cashier stations. Finally, believe the Zoo is more drab looking than previously. It's clean for sure. But has a worn feeling and appearance. Perhaps more of their revenue is going to building the new Zoo "extender park" in north St. Louis County - an awful, out-of-the-way location.

We decided last minute to go to the zoo and what a good decision it was. With the exception of the heat it was a wonderful time. There are a lot of hills as well as buildings that house the animals which made it nice. The map was a bit confusing when trying to figure out where the restaurant we wanted to eat at was (we never did find it) so we ate at the first one we found. Prices at restaurant was reasonable and food was tasty and plentiful. What a nice surprise that the zoo was free to enter just pay for parking and some activities.
We definitely would go back.

We were with my son, daughter-in-law and 2 grands. We were in town for the Fourth of July fireworks at the arch. The zoo was wonderful, we all had a great day. The zoo was free we paid to park and bought a pass for $15 for the train, seal show, carousel and film. I would definitely do the zoo again. A wonderful family outing.

Free to get in but $15 parking is steep. $4 soft drink and water is high as well. So park in forest park and bring your own drinks. Most of the animals were sleeping not much of a show but ok for little kids

Surpassed our expectations for a free zoo! (Food prices and lots of gift shops help make up for the lack of entry fee). The overhead tunnels in the lemur exhibit were really unique and fun. We visited on a March afternoon; zoo is open until 5 but by 4pm most of the animals were put back in their inside enclosures and there was not much to see.

What an excellent zoo, and it is FREE! I'd easily pay to go here (Shhh) My husband has been working in this area for months and likes to visit on his free time. I was able to recently join him for a few days so he was excited to show me where he likes to hang out. We are animal lovers and like to visit zoos when we can. I was SO impressed! It's a modern, very clean zoo. Exhibits are very well done, and we got to enjoy so many active animals. The polar bears were a big hit with me, I could have watched them play for hours. Decorations were great for Halloween too. We even enjoyed a ride on the train. One of my favorite zoos I have ever been to.

We expected to have a great time here and we did. Easy parking which you pay for but the zoo itself is free. The landscaping here is incredible. Lush and healthy and puts you mentally in a good space. The variety of animals is amazing. I was especially impressed with how many birds you can see. The animals look well cared for and the staff and volunteers were very nice and helpful. There is ample opportunity to rest or get refreshments. It was easy to get around. Going on a weekday in the fall meant it wasn't crowded!

There is a lot to see at this zoo. It is in a large park that also has museums and ball fields. The zoo has a very wide range of animals kept in nice habitats. You'll need about a half a day to see it all, allowing for a food break. Price is right too [free]!

Pretty damn good considering twas free. There’s a train that’s not free but it was worth it imho. There’s an aquarium, penguin house, etc etc but my fav had to be the bear exhibit where you got extremely close so much so that I’m not sure I’ve ever been this close to a wild animal. A must for families in the area with small children.

Nothing but a waste of time. Drove two hours to not see a single animal. They must all have Covid. Just about everything but the gift shop is closed.

This was the finest zoo I have ever visited, although I haven’t been to a zoo in a long time. It is very clean, well organized and the animals are in excellent habitats yet visible easily. If I lived here, I would come often and bring any visitors here. The exhibits are fantastic. The parking lot costs $15 but there is free parking also if you get their early or catch someone leaving. We arrived at 8:50 and parked right across from the North entrance. I thoroughly enjoyed all the exhibits, but the penguins were my absolute favorite. They are so entertaining and right there in your face! Love, love, love this Zoo!

Was so glad to take my grandson on his first visit even if he slept through the morning visit in the mist. We were lucky to get tickets the same day during a pandemic. Easily found street parking only a short walk to the entrance since we arrived early. Not a big zoo but plenty to see with a baby and a 2 year old. Glad we had early morning tickets as it got crowded as the day went on even with limited ticketing.

Went early and only planned on spending a couple hours, but we opened and closed the place! Although free, we chose to purchase a wrist band for some of the attractions, which was a good move. The zoo was clean, staff friendly and did I mention, free?? Food was reasonable and good. It's a great place to visit!

The zoo has a lot of different animals .My favorite is the giraffe and you can feed them. They have a really neat reptile house and there's a section with indigenous animals.

Despite the crowds over the 4th of July weekend, we really enjoyed our visit ! We did have a reservation but it didn't appear that there was any limiting of the crowd ? The exhibits were well documented but the "way-finding" signage could have been better.

Really missed an opportunity! It rained and so you shut everything down! Spend 20 for parking and 12 for a stroller to see Hardly any animals! What a disappointment!
Free or not.. very dissatisfied!

This is the second best zoo I have ever been to. The first is San Diego which is basically known as the best zoo in the country. The Dino exhibit is the best one I’ve ever seen. The life like figures were amazing. Most of the animals were visible and the new primate habitat was awesome for the kids to climb through and interact with the monkeys. This is the top thing to do in town with kids. It’s also free to enter.

Spent 5-1/2 hours at the zoo and saw 3 animals! An alligator, penguins and one elephant. Felt like the taxpayers who pay for this zoo are getting ripped off! They have spent so much money planting flowers and fauna, I had to keep reminding myself I was at a zoo, not the botanical gardens! They have added to many kiosks to SELL food and souvenirs that it seemed I was at Six Flags! Most animal enclosures were closed (per the signs posted). Stopped for heat relief at the cafe and their employees were leaning on the counters and looked overly bored and put out that we even were ordering food and drink. This zoo has real problems. Who is in charge here? Taxpayer support here needs to be looked into! Guess it’s cheaper to plant flowers than feed animals.

i make it a point to visit the zoo in any city i travel to. this zoo is at the top of my list. exhibits are beautiful. animals are beautiful and very well cared for. seals, penguins, puffins, hippos, bears. amazing that the entrance fee is $0 - yes $0. there is a $15 parking fee.

Excellent Lineup of animals! Beautiful environment. Awesome for all ages! Clean, well maintained! Must when visiting the area! Not to mention Admission is FREE.

The zoo is just perfect! Beautiful surroundings and walking paths. Most of the exhibits let you get pretty close to the animals. We paid extra to pet the stingrays and give them a snack - well worth it! The penguin exhibit is also a highlight. They recycle and promote education about protecting the planet and all creatures great and small. The zoo is a must-see when you're in St. Louis.

You have to make your reservations on-line before you go as they are operating at limited capacity. The tickets are free, but parking is 15.00. They require masks.

Parking is $20 and unfortunately when we went not very many of the animals were out or doing much of anything other than laying in the shade. It was only a high of 67 that day so maybe this can be more successful in the fall? Gift shop was a good size but mega crowded and very difficult to shop or check out with only 2 registers. You have to pay for a bag btw so keep that in mind as you are looking to buy stuff.

No matter why you are coming to St. Louis the Zoo is a must!
2-3 hours is probably plenty for young adults without kids, and with COVID you have to reserve tickets in advance for going on a Friday evening there were still tickets leading up to the day of.

We had a wonderful time at the zoo. They have a wide variety of animals to see and some of them were very interactive. One of the hippos posed for photos and two bears splashed playfully back and forth. I like to ask questions and the staff was very friendly and open. We have been to many zoos and wildlife parks and this is one of our faves (probably second next to San Diego). It's also free, which is amazing!! (Not including photos because my minor child is in them)

Very fun zoo. Liked it was open early. Seal show was our favourite. The Cafe was air conditioned and a great space to take a break.

We enjoyed a quick visit to the zoo on a chilly day in May. We bought the train tickets, but zoo admission is free. We loved how close we could get to the animals. Our group especially enjoyed the polar bear! The penguins and puffins were cool too. Great zoo and a great way to spend some time together with family.

Even though it was really cold, we still had a great time at the zoo. Beautiful grounds to walk around and it's all free! Would definitely come again on a warmer day so we can see more animals. The zoo staff are very knowledgeable, friendly and willing to answer all questions and talk with you as long as you would like.

First off, the family membership pays for itself with the cost of parking after like two visits. If you have a family or frequent visitors and you live in the area, this should be a no-brainer.

My little kids love this zoo, and I've been impressed by the little extras. The train is such fun to ride on, but it can be tough to wait for on busy days. Catch it at a busier station and the line will move faster. I wish there was a way to pack on our stroller so we could use it to get from one station to the next, but I can understand why that'd be a pain for them to manage.

Some of the animal environments were lackluster and we passed a few where the animals were nowhere to be seen, but appreciate the obvious care the animals are given by and large. The gorillas and elephant environments were especially nice.

Things to not miss:
- The train
- The Sea Lion show (you can bring your own food and drinks!)
- The big bag of popcorn is your best cheap snack option, but you can pack in anything you want to eat or drink. Next time I plan to bring a cooler and make it a picnic at the zoo day!
- If you're gonna dine in, Cafe Kudu by the North entrance has the most variety.

Things to consider:
- The north garage fills up faster than the south, and I don't see any big difference in the experience between which way you enter.
- Family membership gets you up to 6 free parking passes, which is major. The next tier up will give you unlimited parking. You'll also get a large number of free passes for things like the carousel, train, sea lion show, and other experiences
- Food at the restaurants can be a bit slow and overpriced
- If you have small kids, a stroller is a necessity, and you can rent them. You won't be able to take it with you on the train

The St. Louis Zoo is one of the best we have ever been to. It was very hot the day we went, but we were able to cool off in some of the buildings as we explored. We also loved the train that ran throughout the park at all times. The animals were active and seemed happier than most zoos we have been to. Overall, a great experience and. A great day!

Well laird out,with great selection,manicured grounds and helpful staff make this a real winner and best of all it s free..truly a wonderful bargain to the citizens of st louis and visitors

This zoo way exceeded my expectations . I live near the historic Philadelphia Zoo and unfortunately my last visits there were of many empty cages with few animals.
Not here!!! With the exception of the big cats, there were many, many animals to observe and enjoy. The biggest and most surprising treat was the bear population. Two in particular were born entertainers. They pressed their snouts right against the glass as the visitors did on the other side. We could practically kiss. Then, they began to jump up and down as the children on our side of the glass did as well. Humans and bears danced in sync for about ten minutes. I have never seen anything like it and will never forget it.
The zoo itself is situated in a large and beautiful park. And best of all, it’s free.

The zoo grounds were well maintained and the staff extremely kind and helpful. The animals were well cared for and healthy in appearance. Lots of snack options for the family.

What a great zoo. I’m from Chicago area where we have two pretty good zoos but this one has some pretty good exhibits. Though we didn’t see the giraffes, gorillas, or chimps because they were off exhibit, we did see elephants, sea lions, and my personal favorite the hippos.

Excellent zoo. Free. Easy parking. I saw that there is a patrol that constantly drives through the lot for safety. I did not purchase any additional activities as there was so much to do and see already. Bathrooms were plentiful. Easy to refill water bottles. We left in the middle to eat lunch out of our car so did not try the food. We did have slushies which were standard and good on a 95 degrees day.

Good god, what a nightmare. Took me 15 minutes to see an animal after fighting my way through cheesy fake decorations and 1000 stands selling kids sugary stuff. Then to see a polar bear in Missouri. WOW. Nice that it's free, but my spirit was temporarily sucked out of my body while visiting.

When we arrived mid-afternoon, we only had a couple of hours to spend. This zoo is large enough that two hours was not nearly enough time to do it justice. So, we had to do a little "picking and choosing."

I thought the size of the enclosures were more than adequate for the number of animals within. Their collection is large and varied.

This zoo is FREE...........very impressive!

My son and I flew in Friday morning and the zoo was our first stop. It wasnt crowded and I can appreciate having time slots due to covid. We got to see some cool animals. Betsy was amazing at the stingray exhibit. She took her time and explained the stingrays and helped them come over so we could feed them. We would definitely come back. Hand sanitizer stations all around.

This is one of the nicest Zoos in the US. It will take you 4-5 hours minimum even without kids. There's other things to do too like a 4D theater. Great location in the park as well!

Nice place to spend a few hours. We parked on the street so the entire visit was free. Minimal charges for special things like the railway and carousel. We had a wonderful day here

Zoo is a great, interactive place to visit. There are tidbits for all ages - music playing, animal shows, train rides. Exhibits are very clean. Animals are well tended and content. Staff is helpful.

What a fantastic Zoo! We went on a very hot and humid day and were so grateful for all the shade and air conditioned buildings. We also loved the great diversity of animals and the large and well kept exhibits. Beautiful grounds and the remnants of the World’s Fair were special.

Fantastic experience!! Bring your walking shoes it is a large zoo for being in the city! My only issue was the map was hard to read and the signage in the park was medicore. However food options were great and the park was super clean!!!

This is a highly rated zoo with natural settings for its inhabitants. Admission is free but parking is $15. After walking around on a very hot and muggy day, we decided to take the zoo train. That was an excellent idea. It has a hop on hop off arrangement. We ate lunch at the Kudo Cafe. Our timing for tis was good because we avoided a thunder shower. We continued on to a scenic area and were saved from another shower by seeking shelter under a canopy at the black bear exhibit. We were not alone. Despite the showers, it was a great way to spend the day (even if I am prejudiced in thinking that nothing compares to the Bronx Zoo).

Is there a better free attraction in the US?
I like the Covid restrictions as the zoo is it wasn’t overcrowded.

Suggestion - get tickets to exhibits as soon as you walk in.

Attended Boo at the Zoo event at $15/person. Very deceptive marketing strategy…Somewhere in large print they should note that the animal exhibits are closed for this event!! This is a Halloween photo op event .. you can dress-up and walk around the decorated Zoo grounds and be seen.. and spend more money to buy refreshments.. This could be held at any of the area vacant malls!!! To be fair they do list the activities.. but for my $75 it’s what they didn’t say!!! Who pays to go to a free zoo and not see animals???I haven’t been in 28yrs and probably won’t go back.

I took my friend that was visiting from CO and she was in shock that our zoo is free to attend. We lucked out and the weather was amazing. We loved it. Wish more of the animals had been out, but understandable with the season. We wish we could have done the Wild lights event, but we didn't have the funds to do it. We did see a lot of the decorations which were great, it just wasn't lit up.

The zoo is very nice with lots to see. A great variety of animals. You could easily spend a day here with your family.

I was truly blown away by the size, the enclosures are all a good size, the animals look well cared for, the zoo staff are lovely, you just have to get past the oger on reception...
very good assortment of activities to do.
The animatronics of the dinosaurs was out of this world.
would recommend 100%,
☆☆☆☆☆

Love this zoo!! It’s nice, clean and free ($15 parking ) ! Some shows cost but it’s still very reasonable. A definite must see!

My husband and I enjoyed our day at the zoo. There is so much walking though so make sure you wear comfortable shoes as I did not. I probably would have been okay but we had to park a mile away on the street because we didn't know the parking lot cost $15 and was full! There were many animals to look at but a lot of the exhibits were closed. While the zoo does have a large amount of animals to look at, the exhibits are not laid out in an organized pattern so it's easy to miss things. I feel that most zoos are this way though and I have never understood why there isn't a path that just winds around one way so you don't miss anything! And as usual for zoos there are tons of annoying kids screaming and running around and getting in your way when you're trying to view things. Parents should teach their children that if there's somebody standing there that they shouldn't step right in front of them! One of the prices well-mannered people pay when you go to a free attraction!
The Penguin house was really cool even though water went right into my eye which kind of grossed me out. There were tons of food options there as well but we did not eat anything from the zoo. We also got to see the seals doing tricks which was fun. We went at the end of March, it would be really nice in the summer!

We loved checking out the FREE zoo, just pay for parking! Don’t miss it! So many animals, beautiful landscape and friendly staff.

We really enjoyed our visit to the zoo. The animals are in what appears to be very natural friendly environments. They seem very comfortable in their crested habitats.

Free attraction that makes for a great half-day trip. Parking is $15, but much better than paying an admission fee for 6 people. Well maintained landscaping on the pathways makes for an enjoyable walk. I would not recommend showing up right at.or shortly after opening. We went in Oct and the mornings were a bit chilly. There were a lot of empty enclosures, and I'm guessing the cold was keeping the animals hunkered down a bit more into the afternoon range. Several other a la carte activities that are available for around $3 to $8. If you avoid those, makes for a very cheap outing. They have lot of elephants and the set up gives you plenty of options for good viewing. The sea lion exhibit is awesome. Had several come right up to the glass and interact with us. A definite stop if you're looking for something to do.

One of the best zoos around and ....its free. Only pay for parking. The zoo is laid out very well with lots of animals. I am sure the heat kept some animals in hiding. The area with the Cheetahs, Wild Dogs and such was almost completely empty, which was disappointing. But majority of animals were out. No trip to St Louis should be made without a trip to the zoo.

We had a nice time walking around the zoo. We were surprised that the zoo was free to enter, however parking can be crazy. We did have to drive around a while to find a open spot on the street. The paid parking lot was full. We did go around noon, so maybe going in the am would be best.
Great place to go with children.

Very nice zoo. Lots of variety as far as the animals. Be prepared to walk a lot as it is a spread out type of zoo. Workers are very informative and helpful. Grab a quick lunch at a snack bar and it is pricey but good.

I've lived in the St Louis greater area for my entire life. In years past when we'd visit the zoo there were many more animals to enjoy. Now a person is fortunate to see very many at all. Today my wife, and I went. There were few birds in the outdoor exhibit, one seal outside, one tiger, one cheetah, one sole ostrich, two giraffes, and one gorilla. We did see a few kangaroos, a few gazelles, and some prairie dogs. Wow, how very impressed we were not! They didn't even have the new pumas to view. I must say, we were horribly disappointed. We were always told that our St Louis zoo is number two in the country. I no longer give any merrit to this boast at all.

We visited the zoo for the first time in four years. We really liked the new primate area where the primates can roam outside in a fantastic play area. We always enjoy the Penguin house, especially when it’s 97 degrees outside. The new Dinosaur area is pretty cool too with the animatronic dinosaurs all around in the former kids play area.

I visited the zoo with my kids and family, all 10 of us in total. The kids ranged in age from 3 to 16. We arrived shortly after they opened, and left maybe 2 hours before they closed. We could have easily stayed all day, but some of the kids were getting tired. It was a hot summer day! There are plenty of indoor exhibits to help break up the outdoor time, in case it's a hot day. It was a very well maintained zoo and the staff was always so friendly and helpful, answer all the silly questions our kids might have had! It's amazing that this place is free to the public (although there is a fee for add ons such as the train ride and sting ray experience). I really enjoyed this zoo!

I have seen a lot of zoos. this one was nice but definitely a tourist trap. they charge out the nose for everything. my 11 yr old daughter had a good time, and it wore us all out. we underestimated the size of the place. pack your own lunch and save money, I'm glad we did.

This zoo was absolutely fantastic! The enclosures are large, and the animals are well cared for. The penguin area, though, is amazing!! There were several places to dine, and between them all, they had a nice selection. Ask for extra crispy fries or they will floppy and not crispy.

This is a must see stop for St Louis. The zoo is free except for a few experiences: the train, petting sting rays, children's playground, sea lion show and parking. They have an awesome children's tree house by the monkeys exhibit that is free.

We got there as soon as the zoo opened on a Thursday. We were disappointed in the beginning because every single exhibit we saw was closed because they were cleaning the exhibits. It was very discouraging and would have been nice to know when we got there that they were cleaning certain exhibits so we could plan around that section. Once we got past those closed ones it was an excellent zoo and the penguins were our favorite!

Beautiful. We visited mid morning, parking wasn't hard. Everything is clean, bathrooms clean, eating area clean. Was not busy during our visit. Our 1 year old was able to walk on her own and be safe. Animals we out mostly sleeping but was able to get good photos. They do serve adult drinks and they were amazing.

We loved this zoo and appreciate that it is free to the public! Although it was busy when we went, we were still able to find street parking (quite a bit of availability if you don't mind walking a few extra minutes). It was quite hot, so many of the animals were not out. We did catch a few exciting ones - Asian Elephants were quite active, as were the gorillas, apes and orangutans. Our favorite was the penguin building, so neat to be so close to them when inside! We parked near the North Entrance and a quick 10 minute walk will take you to the Art Museum next door, which was very lovely as well.

We love this zoo!! Would absolutely come here again, even if it wasn’t free! Great exhibit spaces and so much to see. Would recommend at least 4 hours here to do and see things thoroughly.

One of the top zoos in the country. if you are wanting to see everything make sure to plan for a whole day as the zoo is very large. We spent 4 hours which was great with two kids under 6.

We went twice thus weekend. Once during the day and once during the lantern glow. We love this zoo not just because it is free but because the exhibits are all so great. The penguins are so fun to watch and they can even splash you.

This zoo was FREE, and probably one of the best zoos I’ve been to. Most of the animals were out and active. One of our favorite stops was the primate house and their outside enclosure - so cool! We were even able to find free parking on a side street, so the entire morning was a free experience. A must-stop when you’re in St. Louis.

The exhibits were really well done. Too often it seems that the animals are in jail but the spaciousness of the exhibits were awesome. Not all the animals were out as it was chilly. So we didn't see the giraffes. The polar bear, on the other hand, seemed to be a happy camper.

There is lots of walking so dress accordingly.

My husband and I have traveled all over USA and I am a zoo lover. I’ve seen some sad ones and good ones but WOW! This one is definitely a winner! The whole areas of the zoo is beautiful in the walking areas. We enjoyed a bench here and there to just enjoy it all and people watch. I really wish we lived closer I would be here all the time. We live in Gulfport Mississippi. I had read on a review ( to make sure it was worth the stop and not be disappointed ) that you could spend the whole day there. To be honest I laughed and rolled my eye type thinking…yeah right. Ummm- YEP you sure can. We spent 5 hours there and pooped out, didn’t see it all. A lot of animals weren’t in some of the areas in which is always upsetting at any zoo, not sure why that is. I can understand one or 2 but there were many. At least here you only pay a cheap $20 for parking and free entrance. That’s unreal, if there are a lot of people that try to not park and pay the $20 then they aren’t helping at all to feed the animal’s and the caring for them. I think you should charge at least $3 a person and that would help! I wouldn’t mind that at all. The parking machine was tricky but got help from a very nice employee. At anytime in the park, getting lost we asked which way etc and everyone was great. All bathrooms nice and clean.
The bigger area cafe was not impressive since there were about 35 ish empty tables and non of them were wiped clean, all greasy and crumbs on them. Finally got one clean one by a trash can inside and the employee just about knocked my husband off his seat getting behind him to empty the trash can. No excuse me or anything?? I think he might have been more than just handicapped so we let it go. Honey mustard was empty in both containers. Fries were kind of on the cooler side, chicken sandwich was good though. Nothing special about any food at most zoos though.
I have to say the worse part for us , was the train ride . It was fast and would have been great if we had leg room and they didn’t hurt our butts. Wooden seats and you can definitely not have your arms hand on side arm wall, it will hit bushes. They have NO room for any type of handicapped person. Large people had a very hard time. There is a huge step to get in and off the train. It does have a foot step on some parts to use, just make sure your by one. You do get to ride it all day though and hop on and off. So nice concept, just a terrible seating . It’s really meant for up to 12 year old size people, to be comfortable.

The train ride is nice g set a you around the entire zoo you just don’t get to see too many animals.. The zoo used to be maintained a little better before.

The St Louis Zoo was so much fun! Hippos and the penguins were the best exhibits we saw. The hippos were swimming around and interacting with the zoo goers. The elephants were also great. We enjoyed seeing a few different animals than the have seen recently in zoos

This is the best zoo I have ever been to. And it's free ( parking $12). Even though it is free when we were there you did have to make reservations on line . You can two different entrance time . We went in the morning and there already was a line to get in on Friday morning. But the line moved super quickly. We ( two adults ) spent 4 hours at the zoo but you could certainly spend even longer. The number of exhibits and the diversity of species was amazing from the reptiles to the hooved animals. I was especially impressed with the small primate area with its arboreal maze/ jungle gym that provides an enriching stimulating environment. St. Louis zoo should be congratulated for providing a wonderful experience for both animals and the public.

The zoo is free but the attractions inside have a minimal cost to them. You can still go through the zoo without spending much money. There are many animals to see and the train around the zoo is nice to be able to see things on the side.

This could have been wonderful, but it wasn't. The majority of the zoo was blocked off. Although it began at 6:30, it didn't start getting dark until after 8 and it ened at 9:30. The live for the live performance was long. The only thing to do was to eat overpriced unhealthy food (no thanks) or buy trinkets (again no thanks). We just sat for over an hour waiting for it to get dark. Unless you like waiting, eating crap food and spending a ton of money, I would encourage you to skip this event. They need to do a better job!

The zoo admission is free parking is $20 after you park you walk across a small walkway that goes over road so you don’t have to walk in traffic. You need to get the one day pass buy it on line it’s cheaper and saves you money it includes 4 d theater carousel dinosauras sea lion and bird show and zoo line railroad it’s unlimited. Plenty of restrooms cafes food choices and bench’s to sit out side plenty of animals etc

Huge zoo with massive collection of animals which appear well cared for. Admission is free. Recommend devoting a whole day because short of that and you will miss many of the exhibits. The variety was excellent. Staff was friendly. Lots of walking. There are parking lots and street parking. Lots fill up fast during spring break. So much to see and lots and lots of walking.

Good experience for the value. The zoo is free- just pay for parking. There are other exhibits within the zoo that cost to experience. I recommend going early - by 10am to see the animals eating and moving around.

The animals seemed happy and well cared for. They were able to move around their compound aith plenty of areas to eat and rest in shade. If you are the least bit out of shape or have any handicap you might really want to consider renting a scooter. This zoo is large and the terrain has hilly areas. All the exhibits have ramps for easy entrance/exit. My only complaint was the bathrooms were really nasty but that is as much the visitors' fault as the employees.

The Zoo was on countless lists of must-dos in St. Louis when I researched my trip. And it's free, hooray! That's about as far as the articles went, though, so there were a few surprises that are no issue at all if you know ahead of time:

1. Reservations are required to get in due to COVID. It is still free, but you need to register online. Most days there will be slots available that you can quickly sign up on your smartphone if you are caught by surprise in line. I did that in maybe 60 seconds while I watched plenty of other patrons get agitated and rude to staff when they couldn't walk right in.
2. Admission is free, but not all exhibits are. I was excited to see stingrays, only to find it was a paid interaction and you couldn't see them otherwise. A train and some other shows also require payment. Again, not expensive and not a big deal, but would have been nicer to know ahead of time.

Overall, still a nice time. If you can swing it on a weekday, it feels like you have the place to yourself. The only real bummer was that I visited during an especially hot week and couldn't see several animals as they were understandably "hiding".

Just an amazing zoo - beautiful landscaping, great exhibits, and a wide variety of animals in their natural settings makes this a must see!

We love this zoo. It's free to get in, but parking nearby does have a fee, which isn't bad in my opinion since the zoo itself is free. There are lots of animals there. Wear comfortable shoes because there is lots of walking! The zoo wasn't super crowded when we went (late afternoon on a Friday.)
There is also free parking that you can find if you look for, but it will result in a whole lot more walking. We did not buy any food or beverages while we were here, so I can't speak for those.
The animals seem fairly well cared for, as far as zoos go.
We skipped a whole section of the zoo and were there for a few hours on our most recent visit. We didn't skip for any reason dependent on the zoo. We had to go somewhere after and were killing time.
On previous visits we've spent the entire day, so l would suggest giving yourself a day or at least half of one.

We are driving to the zoo every 2 months/our driving is about 4.5 hours each way/ but we don't mind. Whole family is having so much fun, that's what matters.

For just $15 for parking this was a great experience. We only had a little less than two hours since we got there at 2:15 and they closed at 4. We got to see the grizzly bears very active, one jumping in the water. The reptiles were active too. The big cats were all asleep other than the jaguar. Some of the monkeys were entertaining but not all. Penguins were adorable as expected.

Hands down great experience. I would recommend finding free parking and paying for the experiences pass.
My only regret is rushing through in 3 hours and not spending more time there.

We bought tickets to go through the dinosaurus exhibit and it was really neat! If you have dinosaur lovers you have to check it out!

OK, we arrived at 4:00 P.M. on Sunday (a beautiful fall day) with about an hour to see as much as we could. Which wasn't much, as it turned out. The zoo was very crowded, it's filled with kiosks and "things" that impeded traffic flow, and the overall impression is that the facility is dated and needs an overhaul. We weren't there with kids, so maybe that's a different experience? All the zoo animals we saw had their backs to the excited children and adults who pounded on the Plexiglass panels of the exhibits. One creature had a covered itself with a blanket and was hunkered down away from the homo sapiens on the other side of the enclosure. I wanted to join it.

We were very impressed with the St Louis zoo. The zoo and its animals appear to be well taken care of. We spent over 2 hours on a Sunday afternoon in March 2025, in perfect weather condition.

They had many large animals, and some of the animals were quite active, like a pair of zebras we saw chasing each other.

Lots of signages so we were able to explore the various sections to see the different types of animals. They even have a penguin enclosure and another for butterflies.

There were little booths for face painting and different areas selling food, as well as a Starbucks stall.

Free entry to the zoo except for $20 parking per car, and other add-ons activities like the zoo train and 3D movies.

Highly recommend a visit to the St Louis zoo.

I have been to several different zoo’s and the STL zoo is always my favorite. We usually visit at least twice a year. We usually go early in the morning which unfortunately sometimes the animals aren’t out yet, so recommend going a little later in the morning after the care takers are done feeding and cleaning the exhibits.

This is a great attraction for guests of all ages. My husband and I visited last fall and were very impressed. The zoo is located in Forest Park, and has limited on-site parking, but it's easy to find free on-street parking nearby. It's a nice neighborhood to walk through on a beautiful day.

The animal exhibits were amazing. We spent a ton of time watching the polar bear, the hippos, the kangaroos with a joey, and so much more! I liked how they did small groups at a time to walk through the penguin exhibit so it wasn't crowded.

There is no admission, but we gave a freewill donation because it's very clear the zoo takes pride in providing a great experience for guests. We spent the entire day there!

I had visited the zoo more than twenty years ago and was somewhat hesitant to visit again because I was concerned it would be less of an attraction than I remembered. I was pleasantly surprised. The zoo has been updated and many new attractions have been added, the grounds are well maintained and the animals appear to be well cared for. It was an enjoyable visit and it’s still free, remarkable.

The zoo was the primary purpose of our visit to Saint Louis, and it was worth the drive. We spent 6 hours at the zoo on a weekday in July and saw all of the animal areas. We parked in the south lot, which was worth the $20 fee, given the free admission and proximity to the entrance. Highlights for us were the butterfly garden within the Insectarium, the penguin & puffin walkthrough, the grizzly bears and the entire Rivers Edge section. We were impressed by the care of the animals and the friendly staff we encountered throughout the zoo. We also enjoyed the ice cream and Dole Whips for cool treats to beat the heat. This was our first visit, but won’t be our last!

The St. Louis Zoo was my favorite activity on vacation. We visited on a rainy Thursday, and there wasn't hardly anyone there. The north parking lot ($15) was easy to find. We bought ponchos from the gift shop and rented a locker ($10) in the front entrance area. We purchased a bracelet for the adventure pass at the front desk which gained us all day access to the train, 4D theater, carousel, and dinosaurs. We thought this pass was well worth the money! The map and signs were easy follow. The animals looked well kept. Employees were friendly and able to answer all of our questions. The food we ate there was average tasting. We spent around $36 for lunch for 2 adults and 2 kids. The train ride took us through areas of the zoo we could not see while walking. It was a quick way to get around our of the rain. The 4D theater was enjoyable. It sprayed water, blew wind gusts, blew bubbles, flashed lights, and had gentle vibration all in synch with what was happening on the screen. The dinosaur exhibit was a big hit for all of us. The dinosaurs were life like and some even spit water. The butterfly area was fascinating to me. It is unreal how close you get to be to the penguins. The penguins were beginning to nest on our visit, so we were able to see the males standing guard over the females sitting on their nest. Overall this is a great family zoo. We plan to return again and again.

We took the behind the scene train your in addition to going to the zoo, and the staff and volunteers at the zoo went above and beyond to make the experience memorable for our kids. Train engineer Tim told us all about the history of the trains, got the kids special souvenirs, and made sure they enjoyed the train ride around the zoo. Volunteer tour guide Eric spent so much time with our family making sure we knew all about the zoo, its animals, and how to make the best of our day. The people at the zoo go above and beyond to share their love of this special place and made our trip so wonderful! Highly recommend signing up for a behind the scenes tour if you can!

My wife & I are long-time STL Zoo members, but the frequency of our visits decreased significantly once our kids became adults. So our recent visit was an opportunity to see what's new at the zoo, while enjoying a cool sunny spring day.

On arrival toat the South Entrance, the man at the information desk was very helpful in answering our initial questions. My wife then had a great time observing & feeding the stingrays @ Caribbean Cove, and the young ladies attending to the rays & sharks were enthusiastic and engaging. The young keeper in the primate area was equally knowledgeable & personable. We were sorry that much of the bears' habitat was closed, but we did enjoy seeing the penguins & puffins nearby.

The only noteworthy disappointment during our visit was one that we've had for a long time: the design of the River's Edge section is very poor for the purpose of observing the resident animals, making it little more than a loop walk through some fake rocks & unremarkable plants. Skip that stroll, and use the time to ride the train - the scenery is more satisfying AND you can sit down for awhile.

Absolutely loved this zoo! It was so gorgeous and had a lot of walkways and viewing points I haven’t seen at a zoo before. This zoo is free as well which is amazing and has cheaper activities if you wanted to participate! Lots of workers/volunteers around that answer questions as well!

Went twice. First time, animals were absent in many venues and/or lounging at a distance. Second time, on a Saturday, crazy crowded, but lots of animal activity.

Need a reservation, but free entry.

There is plenty of shade at this zoo. It is very clean and the staff are so friendly. We weren't there very long because it was a hot day, but the inside exhibits were air conditioned and every one looked like they were having a wonderful time.

The Saint Louis Zoo is the best place on earth. It's home to Kali, the splooting polar bear! I adopt Kali every year as part of the zoo's adoptive parents program! Raja, an Asian elephant, is pretty cool too. Our zoo has a ton of events...Zootoberfest, Boo at the Zoo, Holiday lights, Jammin' at the Zoo! Make sure you sign up for their newsletter so you can attend the fantastic events!

I enjoyed the Saint Louis Zoo, they had so many animals out, it looked as if the Animals were well taken care of, and we had a good look and the animals to and such a great view of the Elephants. I would recommend the Saint Louis Zoo for anyone who loves seeing animals!

Excellent zoo. Animals appear well cared for. Keep in mind it requires a lot of walking but admission is free so you can come and go without feeling like you need to see it all in one day. Parking is close and $15 but a limited amt of free parking available along streets. I would recommend bringing a coller if on a budget. Great for families.

This zoo is surprisingly free with some great exhibits. The primate house particularly outdoor section and the penguin house were highlights. A few spots were empty that day like rhinos but many animals were out.

This famous zoo has always been on my to visit list. I finally managed to see it on a recent trip and am so glad I did! I'd learned about it in school and seen references to it in the media for years. It lived up to its storied reputation and then some!

It's free to visit, and the local bus dropped me right across the street. Everything was geared for the Halloween celebration, Boo at the Zoo, so it all looked festive.

As a lover of penguins and puffins, I especially loved the great exhibit that housed them.

It's easy to get around, with plenty of spots to eat and drink. Highly, highly recommend a visit! I know I'll return!

Wonderful day trip to do with the family and friends.
All of the animals are very visible
The rangers are extremely knowledgeable.
Definitely well worth the visit!
Most importantly it's free admission!

We had perhaps our best zoo experience ever. It was a cloudy day and cooler. Almost every animal was out and active. The grizzly bear in the water entertained the kids for a long time. One of the gorillas turned around and slapped the glass giving everyone a scare and then a laugh. I love how the zoo is laid out to make a giant oval.

I absolutely love going to St. Louis Zoo. The design and layout is beautifully done. Animal shows and of course the zoo train with it beautiful scenic route. My favorite zoo of all time and free to get in.

been here many times, a lot of it is free and if you live in the area and love it I would defiantly buy a pass (like for train tickets). it is decently easy to navigate the zoo and there are so many fun animals to look at, very fun to go to 10/10 recommend!

There are some ratings that have it one of the top in the US. I didn't find it all that great. It was clean and ok for a average mid size zoo.
People working there were friendly. Food was what you would expect from a zoo, expensive and OK.
Exhibits were nice and walkways were well maintained.

An amazing zoo. I love zoos and visit as many as I can and the St. Louis Zoo is an incredible one to visit. They have an amazing array of animals so plan to stay at least most of the day (I got there shortly after opening at 9.00am and was there until 1.00pm and the only reason I left was to visit the art museum).
The only issues are that the layout is confusing and portions are closed last minute for repairs but do not let those minor issues keep you from visiting this incredible zoo.
Admission is free but they charge for parking in the lot adjacent so plan to park on the street and walk a bit (not too far).

I love zoos and have been to many. This is one of the better zoos that I've visited. It's free (I can't believe it), but you do pay for parking ($15) and any of the extras (train, shows, etc). It's large and has many animals to see. With 2 young kids, we were there for 5 hrs.

Con: could use more signage to direct you to exhibits

We arrived at noon. The temperature was 81 degrees with very low humidity. It was a perfect day for the zoo. Unfortunately, the animals were not available. There were no bears, lions, chimpanzees, or gorillas. We looked outside, then inside the buildings. The volunteers said it was too hot. (???). I've been to Kenya - the temperature doesn't affect these animals.

So where were the animals? I don't know. We walked the entire park.

Very disappointing. This is not like the zoo that I've seen on previous trips going back all the way to the mid-fifties.

Very typical zoo. Nothing completely stands out, but we loved our visit. Our kids enjoyed the walk and the layout is nice. Plenty of shade, I sort exhibits and things to vary up the heat of the day. Parking across the street is $10 I believe, but we found parking on the street for free since we went later in the day.

This is definitely one of the best zoos I have ever been to with a variety of animals. We especially liked the hippos, cheetahs, and tortoises at this one. Also, they had a baby chimp.

We were amazed at how nice this zoo is, especially since it is free. The grounds were beautiful and clean, the animals habitats seemed good sizes, cleaned and easy to see. We have been to many zoo’s and would rate this as the top.

Lots to see and do. Couldn’t see it all in one day with young children. Adventure pass is good value. Lovely zoo with lots of shade and resting areas. Very impressive

Heard this place was amazing. Maybe we caught it on an off day but a lot of the animals were missing. The parking there was $20 so we passed it n found a street spot for free. Waited until the end of the day to ride the train for discounted price and glad we did. It goes through a lot of dark n smelly tunnels and you only see a few animals along the way. Overall a decent zoo but glad we didn’t actually pay for the visit. The employees in the gift shop were super friendly and we did buy a couple Christmas gifts.

One of the best apps I’ve ever been to (worldwide). So open and the animals are in wonderful habitats. Really cool for kids too! B

I love that the zoo is free & you can pay for the extras if you want them. We had a cool snap the other day & we saw TONS of animals out! The bird building had extremely close up viewing (see pics). We spent 4 hours there & could have stayed longer. Clean grounds & bathrooms(the one on the lower level of the primates building; sort of hidden/unsigned). Plenty of shade & seating.
We parked for free along the side of the road in Forest park maybe 2-3 blocks from the north entrance. There were also $15 lots also about 2 blocks from the same entrance. Would love to return if in the area again. Staff were friendly & informative.
I am from New Orleans & I went to our zoo about 3 mo ago & it isn’t nearly as good as this zoo & its $27!

Great zoo. We love that it is free and yet still good! We parked on the street by the picnic shelters and walked into the zoo.

This was such an amazing zoo! The fact that it's free is a bonus. There are plenty of animals to see and great little areas for food. Loved seeing the leopard kitties! Wonderful exhibit for the penguins too!

This was a bucket list Zoo for me. I was rather disappointed. Most of the animals were off exhibit. Which i can understand , if it gets too hot etc. However, Native african species were off exhibit. that's kind of weird. The zoo was pretty clean, and the decor was ok. There are statues here and there , and i did pay the 15.00 to ride the train . it goes through tunnels to each area. Parking is reasonable at 15.00 as well. I went mid day . Not crazy crowded but not empty either. Lots of ill behaved kids running around with zero parents watching them. Saw at least 2 kids lost and crying that staff were assisting. I was sad. I wasn't expecting San Diego or Philadelphia Zoo or Belgium experience. but i did expect some wow factor. I did the whole zoo. Here is the list of animals i actually saw , they advertise 16,000 animals. I saw a tiger, 5 orangutans, a black rhino, 6 flamingos, a harbor seal ,a tortoise, a wild squirrel , a wild sparrow, a duck with 2 ducklings , a capybara and a peccary and 2 african dogs. that was it. that was all the animals on exhibit that day . it was a Thursday, at 1pm - 4 pm. There were plenty of concession stands, lots of pineapple drinks , and plenty of souvenirs that were surprisingly not overpriced . I bought 15 postcards , featuring animals that were not at the zoo but were advertised as being at the zoo. I travel back in a few months, ill try it again and see if the experience is any better. This one was rather depressing.

this was great place, loved it, the grandkids loved the zoo seeing all the animals, cant wait to see it again

It's a beautiful zoo! I was there a couple weeks ago and had a wonderful time!
The animals are gorgeous and the place is massive.
I definitely recommend going there early, when the park opens, so that you can see everything. We got there around 11/11:30ish and went to the bird show first. We stayed unti closing and missed a few parts because we didn't have time to explore everything.

The pass is 100% worth it, the train is a very quick way to get around. And you get to pet stingrays!

The staff was wonderful, and they answered all the questions we had about their animals

The St. Louis Zoo is a great place to visit. Especially during the summer months when the zoo hosts Music evenings at the zoo. The exhibits are clean and give an authentic sense of belonging. Add this zoo to your list of visits!

Beautiful zoo. You can choose your pace.
Affordable convenient parking.
Lots of places to sit/rest and shade.
I highly recommend.

the zoo was clean and I did like that you had to reserve a ticket. sanitary stations were available and mask required. I think early in the day was best for less crowds and easier for social distancing. I enjoyed the zoo greenery and waterfalls and spaciousness. The parking is across the street from zoo and easy to access.

We love the St Louis Zoo and visit annually. The animals always seem very well cared for and happy. It doesn’t smell so you know the zookeepers are on top of keeping the habitats clean. They always have interesting exhibits. The best part is admission is free! There are some special exhibits that require a small fee as well as train and carousel rides that will cost you, but as these things are all optional a family can have a great day out for little to no money.

Our favorite exhibits are the puffin and penguin habitat - the penguins really seem to enjoy splashing visitors - and it’s a great spot to cool off in the summer, the gorilla house; watching them scale their play structure effortlessly was fun, and the sea lion show is was great, just to name a few.

We’ve been to zoos all over the country and hands down, St Louis is our favorite.

It’s nestled in a large, beautiful park and close to the art museum which is also worth a visit.

Overall great experience. The changing landscape was great. The exhibits were very nice, lots of staff were present to give you information. Looking forward to returning, to take the train which was not open on this day.

the zoo is magical in a way that makes you want to keep on coming to veiw the magnificent animals the staff were amazing atnavigating us

We had a good time! The zoo admission is free and you can get the adventure pass ($15) to take advantage of some additional things. We have a reciprocal zoo membership that allowed us to purchase the adventure pass for half off (up to four tickets). If you elect not to purchase you can still have a good time. Several exhibits were closed due to Covid I’m assuming. Parking was $20. But for our family of four if we didn’t t get the adventure pass, $20 is a very cheap family outing for the day. We stayed about five hours and still didn’t get to see everything.

Really nice zoo, much more animals than animal kingdom in Disney World. Is free and due to covid you just have to reserve the hour you are going in the web page. Really nice to visit.

As a wheelchair user, at most zoos I am unable to see most of the exhibits... Here I was able to see A LOT... with a few staff members even offering to have people move so that I might have a better view

This zoo was amazing! I didn't have the highest of expectations knowing the zoo is completely free but it far exceeded my expectations! The zoo is huge and it is very well cared for! It was clean and beautifully landscaped and the animal enclosures were of decent size, often having several areas to view the animals in them. We spent several hours here and still didn't see anything. I really appreciated that the penguin and puffin exhibit was cold so there was no glass wall separating you from the penguins like in most zoos. I'd highly recommend arriving close to opening to get free parking along the street without having to walk too far. But honestly, I feel the price of parking is well worth it since there is no admission charge. Think of it more as spending just $4 or $5 per person for a family of 4 which is extremely cheap compared to most zoos. We rarely ran into a crowd of people as the zoo is very spread out. The only downside was the map seemed hard to follow. I took a wrong turn more than once and had to stop to figure out where we were. But overall our experience was amazing!

We love this zoo! Amazing views (underwater) of seals swimming around, polar bears, etc. We cannot believe this high-quality zoo is free. Well worth visiting while in St. Louis.

It was a very good zoo and it is free. The reason for a 4 is summer temperatures can limit what you see. You do pay for parking and extras like the train. Still for $15/person it is a bargain. Our only issue was so many of the animals were either not exhibited or simply sleeping due the excessive heat on our visit. We did visit after 4:00 on a summer Friday when the zoo remains open until 7:00 PM. Due to the heat we really only visited exhibits that had AC or close to them. The artic display area was awesome at 55 degrees and the seal and sea lion habitat also was a comfortable viewing area. With that said we did see a couple of big cats, snow leopard and Jaguar. It is an incredible facility but be sure to check the weather. Extreme heat can be excessive if you have to visit on those days.

it is very fun to go there, fun times with the animals. You can travel quick with some trains, and you can see any animals you want very closely.

The Avery is closed due to bird flu. I believe the time of year we went wasn’t optimal for seeing all animals? I thought the zoo would be bigger than what it was, but it was still a nice time. We went during the week around 1pm . It was extremely crowded . Plan to get there early in the morning to get up close parking ,otherwise you’re gonna park on a side street and walk a distance

St Louis Zoo is FREE. The animals are plentiful and well cared for. We loved our visit. Leave plenty of time to explore this expansive place. Lots of walk My and kid friendly.

Stick it out.

You will hit traffic going to the zoo, it took us about 30 minutes to get to the zoo, and then an additional 20-30 to find parking on the street because the lot was full and then the system went down. It cost $$$$ to park in the lot, find a spot on the street and it can be a free day!

The zoo is free and it was great! Huge, so many animals, but be careful a lot of things cost extra.

Feeding the stingrays for example would cost us $20 for a family of 4 for tickets to pet them, then another $2 per cup of feed.

The penguin exhibit was my absolute favorite! So many animals that seem happy, and playful.

This zoo is a must see! There is a lot of walking but the layout was great. We saw many animals in beautiful surroundings. Loved the Bird and reptiles houses and architecture. You can tell animals are loved and well taken care of. We have visited many zoos and this is one of our favorites

Plus free admission! We got there early and found parking relatively easy

All employees friendly and helpful

This place is amazing! Even more impressive that it's free!!! There are things inside that cost money--food and drinks, obviously, as well as a train, carousel, movie, etc. Those are all extra, but if you can convince your family to pass on those it can be a very affordable day.
There is a paid parking lot that is $15 for the day. If you get there early enough there is a lot of free parking in the park next to the zoo. We got there right at opening time and it looked like most of those places were taken.
I'm a fan of 'souvenir refill cups' as I am the type to be sipping on something all day long, so I will always do those first thing in the morning. I think the math on their cups here was four--meaning if you get four refills you come out ahead. I surpassed that easily, so great deal for me! The other food and drinks were typical amusement park prices, but the food was good, and the zoo being free took any sting those prices might have had away.
The zoo grounds are just beautiful. It's HUGE and very spread out, but each area had it's own distinct look. The animal attractions were attractive and well-done. A few animals were sleeping during the hottest part of the day, and a few exhibits were down (we hard there was a polar bear, but never did see it) but most were up and well-maintained.
I will say the penguin exhibit here was easily the best I've ever seen. You could get SO close to the penguins it was amazing (and all I could do not to reach out and touch them--there was ample opportunity!)--it was worth the visit all by itself, and we definitely spent the most amount of time in there than anywhere else. Also, it's nice and cool if you're there on a hot day!
This really is a 'can't miss' attraction--especially if you're a fan of zoos. Even if you aren't, you have to see this one--it's ranked as one of the top zoos in the world and is easily up there with the National Zoo in D.C. and the San Diego Zoo.
Spend a little time walking around the park when you're done--it's beautiful and well-maintained, and is three times the size of Central Park in New York!

This place is so much fun! It is huge too so there is lots of space to find animals. Lots of fun... and lots of animals!

We have been a few times. It is a great zoo and it is free. You can pay to park or park out on the streets in the park. The new dinosaur area is fun (not free). The train is always a must for my little ones (not free). Some of the bathroom throughout the zoo are not the cleanest. Other wise we alway enjoy walking through and seeing the animals. We usually do not make it through the whole ting in one day, we have to split up the things we want to see for that visit (with a 3 & 5 year old).

no entry fee, could bring in own bags with food/drinks, chose to park in nearby streets for free parking on the north side. Saw a lot of animals and filled 4+ hours and could have spent a couple more. You will have to pay for "special" exhibits like stingrays, seal lion shows, train rides but in reality, could do this visit on a minimal budget. We only spent money in the gift shop.

We had hoped to spend most of a day here, but rain changed our plans and we were only able to spend about two hours in the zoo, but in that two hours we saw more animals and were closer to them than most any other zoo we have been to. We loved it, and although we were moving through very quickly to see all we could, we thought the habitats were very well done, with multiple viewing areas. We got some great pictures and were surprised at the underwater viewing of the sea lions, it's worth the visit to the zoo just for that one experience! It is a great place for all ages, and also very accessible. My wife uses an electric scooter and she was able to enjoy everything with us, very nice. We could have easily spent most of a day here and loved every minute of it, and after seeing what we did, it would be more than worth twenty dollars a person, but it is free, which is amazing. We would recommend this as one of the best zoo's we have seen anywhere.

I went to the STL zoo as a kid, now taking my first grandchild for the experience. If you visit STL it is a must as the value can’t be beat! No charge to enter! Still free! It has changed in part to new exhibit styles from my youth and the pandemic rules are still an issue, but the value for a second to none is all of my travels!

Terrible. We waited 2 hours to ride the train, they communicated horribly and in the end we didn’t end up riding the train and the refused to give us a refund. Will never come here again or ride the train, they were so disrespectful and it ruined my trip!

My husband and I were pleasantly pleased with the Zoo. Great variety of animals and exhibits. The grounds are beautiful with plenty of rest areas, food pavilions, children areas and something for everyone. Great experience that we highly recommend.

The St. Louis Zoo is one of the few zoos I know of that does not charge admission. There are potential charges involved- $15 for parking (if you are willing to sacrifice convenience, you can eventually find a free parking space), and various entries fees for certain attractions. Nonetheless, the zoo is a bargain compared to almost any other! The zoo is very large, and there are hills to climb, so be prepared (electric scooters can be rented). The River's Edge is a very large and nice exhibited covering river life on 3 continents, definitely a must see! Canopy Trails is opening soon, and it will showcase many of the primates, looks awesome! Big Cat Country is also quite nice. There are lots of things for the kids to do, especially in Discovery Corner. A ,lot of the kid-friendly attractions are the ones you have to pay for. On the whole, this is a very good zoo, and a definite stop for a family.

St. Louisans are incredibly proud of our local Zoo; as soon as you start looking into reviews, articles, etc, you'll hear it. And for good reason, as a new mom, one of the most underappreciated values a spot can offer is a good no-strings attached good time. The no-strings attached refers to the free entry (no cost means if your kids melts, or you do, you aren't feeling bad about the investment) and you can park for free as well, skip the lots and find spots along the winding Forest Park roads.

A great selection of animals, really intentional curation and conservation happening as well. The volunteers and most zoo keepers are readily available to help, guide, and educate. Our polar bear is a great story and a look into the inner workings of the modern and ethical acquisition of animals.

The zoo does host "fundraisers" throughout the year, charging even if you have a membership, for special (often after-hours) events. We truly enjoyed the lanterns (giant colorful animals) and were happy to pay a little extra to support our treasured zoo.

A membership can cost around $100 for the year and gives you a few perks such as select number of tickets (based on membership level) for parking, carousel, trains, and 10% of purchases on goodies and food.

I take my kiddo a lot during the summer for short stints early or when the day is overcast/drizzly- few people, great opportunities to see animals out and active, and talk to volunteers one-on-one. We also tend to invest in a fun cup ($13?) to keep bringing back for $1.75 refills all year.

Even as a stranger, it can be such an easy spot to spend a few short hours with your kiddos, no money needed as you can bring your own snacks and water inside.

We visited from Jacksonville FL and spent two hours here in the afternoon. My first thought was how clean the property was and the fact that it's free! There was plenty of parking close to the entrance. Compared to other zoos I've seen, St. Louis had beautiful habitats for all the outdoor animals. I would have liked more signage to learn about the animals, but I really, really liked the tunnel under the sea lion exhibit! There was no way we could see everything in one visit.

The zoo walkway was shady and pretty. The layout on map was easy to follow. Animals were active and unique. Animals looked well cared for. Zoo was free. It is a must do when in St. Louis

With a 10- and 13-year-old in tow, zoos are still one of our go-to adventures—and when admission is FREE? 🚨 Count us in! You’ll pay just $20 for parking, but entry to the zoo itself won’t cost a dime. Some special experiences like the sea lion show, stingray touch pool, or giraffe feeding do have an additional fee.

What really impressed us was how thoughtfully designed the zoo is.
🌳 Most walkways are shaded—an absolute blessing on those hot, humid summer days. ☀️ And the animal habitats? Surprisingly spacious and natural-looking, giving the animals room to roam and relax. It does make spotting them a bit more of a challenge, but that just adds to the fun—it’s like a real-life safari! 🦍 🦒 🦓

In our opinion, it’s a must-see and absolutely worth your time. Whether you're visiting with kids or just love animals, this zoo delivers a fun, educational, and budget-friendly experience.

its been about 25 yrs, since we have been to the zoo. alot has changed, its alot better. the animals seem to be up close, expecially loved the puffins, but we loved all the animalls. there was aloat of exibits that were closed, but it was still nice. it cost 10 $ to park, but it goes to feed the animals im sure

I love nature and seeing all these beautiful animals make me feel good but also feel sorry for them at some points. Apart from that it is a wonderful experience and wauld 100% roccomend this.

I do have to keep in perspective that the zoo was free and for that it is a great place to visit. BUT, our local zoo I feel has as much to show and in a friendlier environment than what I experienced here. Glad we went, but won't make an effort if in the area again. Beautiful Lion and the Elephants were our highlights. We often get the flattened souvenir pennies - well apparently they didn't want to sell us any because out of 4 machines I tried none would take my money. Also like to get a shot glass as a souvenir - none to be found here. Had a great watermelon slushie.

The St. Louis Zoo was the best zoo we've been to thus far, and we've been to many across the world. Also the cleanest we've been to. the staff was amazing and the zoo itself was great! We were truly impressed!

The best part was that it was free. It is worth buying the Adventure Passes for all the attractions required a fee. One thing to note to save you some time is that you don't have to buy these passes at the park entrance; you can buy them at any attraction inside.

If in St. Louis, it's well worth the time.

We were there for over 5 hours and could have stayed for one or two more, but we were too tired to see the rest. Amazing zoo. We haven’t been in over 4 years (we live 5 hours away) and had an amazing time. Loved the Halloween decorations and we purchased the adventure pass! Absolutely would do that again. The sea lion show was great, the 4D movie was fun and my kids enjoyed the carousel, petting the string rays, and train ride. We enjoyed Zootober fest. Delicious bratwurst. I will always recommend coming here!

The St. Louis Zoo is absolutely adorable! We have traveled to zoos across the world and this is one of the best! However, it doesn’t even come close to our favorite, the San Diego zoo! Not many restaurants were open either. The zoo was very well kept.

I enjoyed the St Louis Zoo. Parking is $15 in the lot. Free on the street. Zoo is free. However there are a lot of extra attractions that you have to pay for. I highly recommend the adventure pass. I enjoyed the Zoo. It's a lot of waking. Over 8,000 steps from 9-5
I do not recommend the train
The ride itself wasn't bad. But the seats are low to the floor and are not adult friendly. Unless you are stick thin and short the seats are not comfortable. There is a handicap seating on the train that is laughable. It would be nice if they had a tram ride through the park with comfortable seating.

Free Zoo, it’s beautiful and huge, our family had the best time here, a sincere thank you for all the people that made possible to enjoy such a great place.

For a free zoo, it was pretty cool. Multiple animals were active, and the zoo was pretty big. My family had a fun time here, and we walked around and did everything. There were a lot of empty enclosures, but we went in the spring, so it was a little chilly, and there had just been a storm the previous day, so those might have caused the animals to be inside and out of sight. There was also one section of the zoo that didn’t have a lot of description of the animals in the enclosures, but the rest of the zoo did, which was helpful because my family likes to read the facts about the animals. This was a lot of fun even on a gloomy day, and I would recommend this as a fun place for the whole family!!

We didn't even get in! We got stuck in parking traffic for 30 minutes. Once you turn on the road to the parking lot, there is no escaping. They needed traffic control and there was none. Friends that did make it in said many exhibits were closed.

One of best zoos we have visited. The habitats were very well done. Zoo is free. Only need to pay for special experiences such as stingrays and sea lion show. We parked on the street so we did not pay for parking. The areas had plants and waterfalls. Very well done. Highly recommend

Fun for free. Even in not the best weather (crazy heat) there's lots to see indoors. Plan at least 3 hours to get highlights.

I’m from Saint Louis, but my younger cousins live a few hours away, and they love this place. There is so much to do and see. They also have various programs for young kids at different times during the year.

While I like the free admission, you have to pay extra to see any of the shows or rides. Many of the animals you couldn't see in their enclosures, or exhibits were closed. I loved the Polar bear and penguin exhibits. Best I have ever seen! Would like to see better signage for areas when walking around. Staff was friendly and helpful.

We made a last minute decision to visit the zoo and are so glad we did. It's very large and has a lot of neat animals to see. I agree with some prior reviews that said some of the animals weren't out, but it wasn't enough to leave us disappointed. I felt that a good number of animal exhibits put you closer to the animals than other zoos or animal parks I have been to. I particularly liked the bird house because you were right there with the birds. The grounds were really nice too and even though it was warm and humid there was a lot of shade.

I love that the zoo is free. The variety of animals was wonderful. We took a train ride which costs $8 a person but worth it. The train wrist band is for all day and it can you move around the zoo especially with tires kiddos. You have to pay to park but worth it. If you are in St Louis you need to take your family to this zoo.

I don’t think you can really complain about such q big family experience when it is free. We did pay for the visitor pass so that we could do the carousel, dinos, sting rays and train. I might skip some of that next time but it is probably worth it for the first visit. Food was not amazing but I gu as you can bring a picnic with you. We visited the new monkey park and watched them for almost an hour.

This zoo is wonderfully arranged and well thought out. The animals are kept in environments to both enrich them and their human observers. A must see!

This zoo is FREE... which is unusual. Had a great visit even though the weather was rather chilly. Most animals didn't mind the cool temps. Some of the eating places were a little late opening up, but there was still plenty of places to eat. All employees we encountered were very friendly and helpful. We have been to several zoos throughout America and this is one of the best.

The St. Louis Zoo is a great place to visit. It's one of the best zoos in the world. No kidding. If you like the outdoors, exotic animals, and learning, you will love our zoo. (I live in South St, Louis County.)

I got here a little late in the afternoon. I’m not sure if some of the animals were put in another place for the night, but I didn’t get to see all of them. The ones I did see were amazing. Their habitats are good size and are clean and nice. I really enjoyed walking around and seeing everything. There is a train ride that takes you around the zoo. This is a must do if you go to St. Louis!

Very nice zoo! Animals were closer than other zoos. Indoor displays were well presented. Easy to walk. It is free but needs reservations, parking was $10. Good place to visit!

Amazing. Will go again and again. We took our parents and 1 yr old there for a visit this time. Park is free and you pay for parking only. Parents enjoyed a lot and it was a nice visit at the end. Our little cub got to see the bear which made the visit amazing despite really hot weather. lol

Admission is free and you only pay for extras like the train rides or special exhibits. Penguin and Puffin Coast is a must. The penguins love to splash visitors that get a little too close.

We added St. Louis Zoo to our plans and were rewarded with a sensory experience to challenge the jungles and other wildlife habitats on all continents. Including Antarctica!

STL Zoo has a stellar reputation and we can reinforce that opinion. But, the more we looked at these animals in penned enclosures, we felt sorry for them. I'm no tree hugger but I felt like we were in a wildlife penitentiary. Credit to the staff for making the "cells" as humane as possible. Still...wildlife were meant to be wild. End of soapbox

PS - There were two zoos on display on our visiting day. The place was swarming with grade schoolers, whose energy made the inhabitants tame by comparison. I wager the animal inmates did not shed a tear when the hordes were bus reboarded.

All in all a fine albeit boisterous experience.

It was a very hot day when we visited, so some of the animals were not out and visible. However, we saw elephants, turtles, got to pet stingrays, and watch the polar bears swim. Enjoyed the train ride around the zoo. The cafe had great food! Many places to stop for refreshments throughout the zoo, and a wonderful gift shop.

The zoo is great, it very large and has tons of animals. I am giving it a 4 star only because we were told they only do a sea lion show on the weekend and the gorillas werent out while we were there. Other than that it was a great time.

The zoo is located in Forest Park, and it's free. Parking in zoo lots costs money, but parking at Turtle Playground (located just a short walk away within Forest Park) is free. Exhibits are very well done and the animals appear well cared for. The super cold air conditioning inside the zoo building was very welcome when we visited.

This is an amazing zoo. The animals were lively and active, which made the zoo more fun. We enjoyed the set up and the walk... wear sneakers.

After many times driving by the zoo going towards Biloxi, I finally got a chance to visit this zoo in July 2021. I went with my nieces and nephew on a trip to St Louis. There was a lot of animals to see and the grounds are huge. I didn’t get to see everything which is fine I got to see plenty. From what I remember, all the animals seemed to be well taken care of. I think there was some construction but I don’t remember where it was. I loved how you could get a watermelon drink inside of a watermelon and get it spiked. Enjoyed the day.