Dallas Zoo Guide: Tickets, Map, Photos, Zoo Lights & Dallas Zoo vs Fort Worth Zoo
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Lions and Tigers and Bears, Oh My!
These Are The Best Zoos in Texas
Animal lovers who are visiting Dallas/Fort Worth have the good fortune to be able to choose between two top-tier zoos.
The Dallas Zoo, the oldest (opened in 1888 with two deer and two mountain lions) and largest zoo in Texas is located three miles south of downtown in Marsalis Park. An estimated 1.2 million people visit here annually.
South central Fort Worth is home to the Fort Worth Zoo, which welcomes nearly one million guests each year. Located less than four miles from downtown and close to the Cultural District and Texas Christian University (TCU), the zoo opened in 1909.
Which zoo is of greater interest to you and your traveling companions may depend on where in the DFW Metroplex you are staying. But whichever one you choose to visit, you will find hundreds of incredible animals to view from a variety of vantage points. Given the vast number of animals that call these zoos home, you can’t go wrong with visiting either, or both!
Since we recommend both of these zoos as being worthy of a special visit, let’s take a detailed look at each of them separately.
Author: Dallas Zoo Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/dallaszoo/?hl=en
Must-see Exhibits at the Dallas Zoo
While far from the largest zoo in the U.S., the Dallas Zoo’s 106 acres have been designed with wide open areas for the animals to roam. The zoo boasts more than 2,000 animals and 400 species on-site. For comparison purposes, the San Diego Zoo’s suburban free-range Safari Park is comprised of an astounding 1,800 acres, and the Minnesota Zoo offers 1,200 acres along with extensive trails.
Inner city zoos such as the Dallas Zoo are usually much smaller and are better compared to the San Diego Zoo’s Balboa Park location at 100 acres, the Bronx Zoo with 265 acres, and the Columbus Zoo & Aquarium which features a combined total of 580 acres.
The Dallas Zoo moved several times during its early years and has been in the current location since 1912. The main attraction areas include Zoo North, Giants of the Savanna, the Wilds of Africa, and the Lacerte Family Children’s Zoo. Click here for a map of the Dallas Zoo or to download the app.
Let’s take a closer look at what animals you can expect to see at each attraction.
- Zoo North: Large birds in the Wings of Wonder exhibit, toucans, sloths, flamingos, the maned wolf, reptiles, tigers, otters, clouded leopard, cranes, primates, and you won’t want to miss the tamarin treetops exhibit. Bug lovers will also want to visit the Bug U! building.
- Giants of the Savanna: African elephants, giraffes and their amazing feeding station shows, and zebras, all living in a natural setting. Also, lions, warthogs, ostriches, and the beautiful African painted dog.
- Wilds of Africa: Start on the Gorilla Trail to the Gorilla Research Station, continuing onward viewing lions, cheetahs, antelopes, chimpanzees, crocodiles, the Forest Aviary, hippo outpost with above and below water views, and the always fun penguin pond. The Wilds of Africa monorail is a narrated, 20-minute safari-themed ride that gives riders the chance to learn about several African habitats while comfortably seated in air-conditioned comfort.
- Lacerte Family Children’s Zoo: Created to introduce toddlers and pre-teens to nature, and in particular animals, there is a strong focus on direct play and how important conservation is to the animals inhabiting the world. This exciting kid’s zoo encourages close-up views with lower railings and viewing windows that are perfect for the little ones.
The highly regarded Dallas Zoo is very family-friendly throughout the park. Admission tickets and parking should be purchased in advance online, and this is also where you can find out about various discounts that the zoo offers. We also recommend checking out the various animal encounters, available for an additional charge, where you can interact closer with a variety of animals.
If you plan to be in the DFW area during the holiday season, check out the Dallas Zoo Lights extravaganza for an illuminating experience like no other. With more than two million lights, holiday boutiques, and a visit from Santa, it’s family fun that shouldn’t be missed.
Getting to the Dallas Zoo is easy. The current parking fee is $14 per vehicle, so you may want to consider riding the DART (Dallas Area Rapid Transit) light rail from downtown. The red line Zoo Station is directly across from the zoo’s entrance, so you can avoid having to find a parking space and a possible long walk. This is an especially good option on busy weekends and unique events days. Plus, the train ride is fun!
Author: https://zoo.sandiegozoo.org/
San Diego Zoo Website
The Fort Worth Zoo is Often Called the Best Zoo in Texas
Sometimes considered the “other” city in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex with less to offer visitors, nothing could be further from the truth when it comes to the incredible Fort Worth Zoo. The facility is consistently ranked in the top half-dozen zoos in the country, and no, the Dallas Zoo with plenty of attributes rarely cracks the top ten listings of various publications.
So, what makes the Fort Worth Zoo such a special place? It’s smaller than the Dallas Zoo at 64 acres versus 106 acres across town, so you might think it has less to offer. However, the Fort Worth Zoo is home to 7,000 animals and 542 species, while the Dallas Zoo has 2,000 animals and 400 species to explore.
Visitors to the Fort Worth Zoo frequently offer praise for the layout of the park, including more shade and water features than at other zoos. They also tend to like the smaller footprint, making extensive walks with small children less of an issue. It is clearly designed for visitor comfort and is also known for having a more modern feel. This isn’t to say that the Dallas Zoo isn’t wonderful place to visit. With more acreage, there are more exhibits to experience and an abundance of trails to enjoy.
The most popular attractions at the Fort Worth Zoo are the African Savanna, Predators of Asia and Africa, Elephant Springs, the World of Primates, the Penguin Exhibit, Raptor Canyon, Texas Wild, the Museum of Living Art, and a Children’s Ranch. Also popular during the warm weather months is Safari Splash, where kids can play and yes, cool down while getting wet from the multiple fountains. Click here for a map of the Fort Worth Zoo or download the zoo’s app to your smart phone.
Taking a closer look at the most popular attractions, here are some of the animals you can expect to see:
- African Savanna: Giraffes with an elevated deck for feeding, springbok, ostriches, hippos with a 70-foot long underwater observation area, black rhinos, antelope, and flamingos.
- Predators of Asia and Africa: A big cat complex with other African animals including cheetahs, wattled cranes, lions, African painted dogs, Sumatran tigers, and hyenas.
- Elephant Springs: The Zoo’s herd includes a three-generation family, all of whom get to frolic in the 500,000 gallon pool below. They especially love the waterfalls!
- World of Primates: You’ll find all four great ape species here including gorillas, orangutans, chimpanzees, and bonobos.
- Museum of Living Art: Komodo dragons, crocodilians, snakes, frogs, turtles, and lizards.
- Texas Wild: The Lone Star State is home to its share of native animals. See up close black bears, mountain lions, red wolves, white tail deer, American alligators, bobcats, jaguars, coyotes, the Texas kangaroo rat, plus a collection of birds of prey.
- Children’s Ranch & Corral: Especially well-suited to toddler and pre-teens, this attraction is located just inside Texas Wild! Kids and their families can get in close proximity to goats, sheep, and other farm/ranch species. Firsthand connecting is possible with miniature donkeys, pigs, snakes, chickens, and so on.
- Safari Splash: This special play area will cool off the kids and give their parents some down time during the hottest months of the year. The extremely popular attraction is open seasonally.
Author: https://www.fortworthzoo.org/
Fort Worth Zoo Website
Boo at the Zoo
Boo at the Zoo is the Fort Worth Zoo’s annual Halloween lights and family fun experience. Check it out if you will be nearby in late October.
Much like the Dallas Zoo, the Fort Worth Zoo is a family-friendly attraction that is fun for everyone. While admission tickets can be purchased at the gate, it is recommended to buy them online in advance to avoid long lines on busy days. Guests who pre-purchase online just scan themselves in and are quickly inside.
Parking is just $5 per vehicle but do be aware that the zoo lots fill quickly on weekends, holidays, and during spring break. Arriving in the morning is advised. You may want to consider taking Uber or Lyft to the Zoo to avoid traffic and parking congestion. There is bus service to the Fort Worth Zoo, but there is no light rail option.
Some other suggestions include consider visiting for less during half-price Wednesdays which are available year-round. Also, it’s good to know that school trips that visit the zoo usually arrive early and depart just after lunch in the early afternoon. Arriving mid-morning works out well as the zoo becomes much less crowded during the afternoon on school days.
Author: https://www.instagram.com/fortworthzoo/
Fort Worth Zoo Instagram
Where Should We Stay Close to the Zoos?
With downtown Dallas and downtown Fort Worth being 32 miles apart and the zoos a few miles beyond that, a hotel centrally located may work out best for your visit. But that all depends on what else you plan to do while in the DFW area.
Our suggestion is to log onto the hotel booking website Travelated, which we use no matter where we’re going. The site is amazingly easy to navigate, offers a wide range of hotels all around the Metroplex, as well as incredible prices.
If you want to stay closer to the Dallas Zoo, Travelated recommended hotels in the city proper or the mid-cities of Arlington (along I-30) and Irving (close to DFW Airport) may work out best. For the Fort Worth Zoo, consider hotels in Fort Worth proper as well, plus the Arlington area. Arlington is also where the Texas Rangers play their Major League Baseball games, the Dallas Cowboy of the NFL play football, and the Six Flags Over Texas amusement/theme park is located.
Dallas/Fort Worth is Zoos and So Much More
With two fabulous zoos, all major league sports, world-class dining, incredible museums, historical sites, and shopping beyond compare, it’s hard to think of a better place to spend a few days away from home that the entire family will enjoy.
The Dallas Zoo and Fort Worth Zoo are both amazing parks that you can spend many hours exploring, so if you asked us which one to visit the answer is easy. BOTH!
