The Zoo is open at 100 percent capacity and reservations are not required. Beginning May 27, 2023, the Zoo is moving to a cashless system to provide a speedy, carefree, and convenient entry for guests. Visitors should purchase their tickets ahead of time online. For guests who bring cash, we have a cash-to-card service available. The system allows visitors to transfer their cash onto a card up to $500.
Your admission includes full access to all exhibits at the Indianapolis Zoo and White River Gardens. This includes our keepers chats, demonstrations and presentations, like the daily Dolphin Presentation.
You can also enjoy any of our public, non-fundraising events, like Zoopolis 500, summer concerts, ZooBoo and Christmas at the Zoo.
Animal feedings and rides require an additional fee and can be added on to your Zoo experience individually or by purchasing the 10 Ticket Package, which offers 10 tickets to be used towards rides and feeds for the day. Concessions must also be purchased separately.
Parking at the Zoo is on a first-come, first-served basis. Members park for free and nonmembers park for $10. Large vehicles are $20. For complete details on parking at the Zoo click here. On busier days, the Zoo has an overflow parking lot on Harding Street with shuttle service. Follow the directional signs if the main lot is full.
We recommend that guests stow items out of sight and lock vehicles at all times. The Zoo is not responsible for lost or stolen items.
The Indianapolis Zoo is cashless. This is part of an effort to provide a speedy, carefree and convenient entry for guests.
Guests and members are urged to purchase tickets ahead of time online to receive the best price.
We won’t turn anyone away if they bring cash. Our staff will help guests through our new process to convert cash to a debit card at no additional cost.
Tickets are generally only good for the day printed on the ticket. Our guest services office will work with guests on an individual basis and in most circumstances, guests will have up to one year to trade-in their ticket for a ticket good for an equal or lower-priced day. If guests wish to visit on a day where the admission price is higher than the ticket they purchased, they will receive credit toward the higher price ticket. In keeping with our current policies no refunds will be given. The policy of no refunds includes no refunds of the difference between cost of a ticket purchased and the cost on the day the ticket is used.
With the help of our partners at MDwise, we are offering guests the opportunity to visit the Zoo and save over 50% on admission with our new Celebration Days:
The following discounts are available with a valid ID:
We offer $2 off general admission to AAA members, good for up to four tickets purchased at the gate. Please present your valid AAA card when you purchase your tickets at the gate.
We offer $2 off general admission to members of other Association of Zoos and Aquarium accredited institutions, good for up to four tickets purchased at the gate. Please present your valid membership ID when you purchase tickets at the gate.
Through our partners at Visit Indy, out-of-town visitors attending conferences in Indianapolis receive $2 off general admission, good for up to four tickets purchased at the gate. Please present your conference badge when you purchase tickets at the gate.
To honor those who serve our country, all current and former military members receive free admission on Memorial Day and Veterans Day. The rest of the year, military members and their families receive $2 off general admission, good for up to four tickets per visit.
Please bring a form of military ID with you to receive these discounts.
The Zoo offers gift tickets that can be purchased and used at any time during a timeframe of their choosing. These general admission passes are also good during xZOOberance, our Animals and All That Jazz summer concert series, ZooBoo and Christmas at the Zoo. Plus they’ll have a full year to plan their visit.
The Zoo’s new Explorer Pass lets you go wild with lots of fun and exciting adventures. The Explorer Pass is $15 for Members and $17 for nonmembers. Here’s what it includes:
Go to ticket booths to purchase your new Explorer Pass and experience the fun of the Zoo like a pro!
The Zoo is closed the second Friday in June for Zoobilation, which is our largest single-day fundraiser. During the winter, we reduce our hours but try to remain open as often as possible.
We are closed for Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve, and New Year’s Day. We are also closed Mondays and Tuesdays in January and February. During the warmer months, the Zoo is open daily, including Memorial Day, Fourth of July and Labor Day.
For health and safety reasons, guests must leave all coolers in their vehicles. Drinks with disposable lids and straws are not permitted. Guests can carry in reusable containers with beverages and child-size snack items. Water fountains are available throughout the Zoo and bottle filling stations can be found near the restrooms in the Dolphin Pavilion, Oceans, Plains, Café on the Commons and Westside Café.
For a small fee, you can rent single strollers, double strollers and electric carts for the day. These items are available first-come, first-serve, and we do not take reservations. The rental area is located just inside the gate. Find more information on rentals.
The Indianapolis Zoo and White River Gardens are fully ADA accessible. For further details please visit our Guest Services page here.
To ensure the health and safety of the Zoo’s animals, only service animals are permitted on Zoo grounds. Service animals consistent with applicable laws and regulations are welcome. Therapy or emotional support animals are not permitted in the Zoo.
On any given day, our keepers do their best to have as many of our animals out as possible. Animals are often rotated indoors and out as well as to different exhibit spaces throughout the day, so if you don’t see your favorite animal out at a particular time, you might check back later in the day.
However, there are reasons, like weather conditions, routine health checks or exhibit maintenance, that animals sometimes have to go off exhibit. The number of animals on exhibit is also subject to change based on the season.
The Indianapolis Zoo is the largest zoo in the United States to receive no direct annual tax supported revenue. We rely on several sources of income and funds to support our renowned animal conservation mission, such as revenue from admissions, memberships, donations, grants, and fundraising events. As a 501(c)(3) non-profit, be assured that your money is going to support a great cause!
There are plenty of great hotels in the area. We partner with many area hotels to offer packages that include discounts on Zoo admission tickets.
Depending on how long you plan to stay, we also offer a Family Fun Adventure Package that includes four tickets to the Zoo, four tickets to the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis and an overnight stay at a participating hotel — all at incredible discounted prices.
The Indianapolis Zoo is pleased to partner with several Indianapolis-area hotels to offer an exciting, yet affordable family getaway. The Family Fun Adventure package includes free admission tickets to the Zoo, the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis and a two night accommodation at any of our participating hotels! Book your next adventure here.
For the safety of our animals, guests and staff, all visitors must adhere to the following policies and procedures.
Guests must remain on public pathways at all times. Children under the age of 16 need to be accompanied by an adult.
Prohibited at the Zoo: smoking (including vapor cigarettes), weapons, recreational equipment, outside food or beverages.
In order to not scare our younger guests, adults in full face paint or masks are not allowed. Anyone over the age of 12 will be asked to remove face paint before entering the Zoo.
We respectfully ask that guests use modesty with regard to your wardrobe. All visitors must wear a shirt, pants and shoes. Clothing that includes offensive/vulgar language or graphics is not permitted.
All tickets are non-refundable, non-exchangeable, and non-replaceable if lost or stolen. All online ticket purchases are final and no online refunds will be offered. Unauthorized resale of tickets is prohibited.
For more information, call Guest Services at 317-630-2035.
All ticket holders agree to allow their likeness to be recorded and used by the Zoo and its affiliates in photos/video.
