Reviews of Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens (Zoo)

tavia hassani

It's a lovely zoo!! I wish I took pictures but I was just having fun in the moment!! The animals were adorable and hanging out pretty good in the Florida heat!! You can get so near the giraffes and they were even letting some of the kids feed them...super cute!!! Great day!!

Rebekah Barnett

I love the Jax Zoo! It is very clean and lots of fun. They definitely care for all the animals and exhibits. The sloth is my favorite!!

Alejandro Galvis

Jacksonville zoo is very nice. The tigers were very cool. Had a show with dogs, cats, and all types of birds. You can feed the giraffes. There is a small water park for kids. They offer military discount. Recommend also the gorillas and apes; big showoffs. All in all, its a good time for as a family event

Eric Saut

We had a lovely time at this zoo. Beautiful exhibits that appear to be designed with the good of the animal in mind appear throughout. Knowledgeable and friendly staff as well.

Taylor Chatham

Excellent as always. Got there early and spent a good 5 hours roaming around. The lovely workers and handlers were helpful and insightful. I learn something new every time I go :)

Brandt Thornock

The zoo looks amazing. But mostly I like when I practice photograph these animal exhibits is pretty good since when other animals are sophisticated. And before we left to the zoo from one more thing, we went to the Alligator exhibit, and it's so cool with the swampy water. 10/10

Brianne Kemblowski

So much to do and look at. It's hard to do everything in one day. It's not badly priced if you get a membership and go often.

Liz Cerro

Paid for all inclusive tickets for two, so about $60, and most of the bigger animals were put away for the 3 hours we were there. It's a nice zoo though. Clean, and very pretty. Just wish we could have seen more of the main attraction animals. Or at least post the times when they will be put away for cleaning and such, so we could have planned around it.

Trish Santos

Great zoo and setup. Staff was ok. Some employees were upbeat and informative others were cold, rude and seemed annoyed. Overall I loved it and the animals are the Superstars!

August Deis

Beautiful combination of animals and gardens. Plenty of interactive exhibits. Stingray Alley where one can handle stingray to the elevated platform to feed the giraffes. Their venomous snake collection is top notch. World class display of Gabon Vipers and Spitting Cobras.

Liz Diaz

The BEST ever! I had so much fun. It was easy going, staff was so friendly inside the food court as well as outside, and the best part. They had animal views from ALL ANGLES.

Tish Y.

What an amazing zoo! There are so many exhibits. There was a leopard, jaguar, tiger, panther, lions, elephants, bobcat, giraffes, gazelles, otters, and much more. This was a great experience. Very likely one of the best zoos I've ever visited. The train ride was cool and the play park for kids is also nice. It includes a petting zoo and a splash area, which is great in this Florida heat! Reasonably priced Kona Ice was also a treat. Over all, very good trip.

Stacy Minger

Nice little zoo. You can see everything in one afternoon. Really enjoyed touching the rays.

Daniel & Rachel Neeld

Love the zoo. Been a member for years. Special event's are great. The zookeepers really car for the animals.

Erin Brodsky

Great zoo! All the animals seem well cared for, and keepers that we spoke with were knowledgeable. Plenty of things to see, and the landscaping is beautiful!

Lisa Lopez

I LOVE THE ZOO! The tiger exhibit is my favorite, I honestly could spend the whole day watching them. Such a great place to see animals that you wouldn’t normally see, the staff is so helpful and them answer all my weird animal questions. It’s also makes for a great first date and great for field trips. I hope they continue to expand this zoo!

Kylie McCarthy

I can't say enough great things about this Zoo. We were from out of town and there were so many accommodating people. I love the way the zoo is set up in two areas with plenty of places to get out of the heat and take a quick break... and they have a touch sting ray area so wonderful. My husband and I bought tickets online, walked right up and went on our way, we got there at 10:15am. Not too many people and plenty of shaded cover from natural trees. We paid right around 100 dollars and we had 2 adults, 4 children and a child under 3, great price.

CJ Keele

Very nice zoo. Animals are in very nice, large habitats with ample space and enrichment. All seemed very happy, content and healthy. It was extremely hot the day we were there but many areas have cover or shaded. Nice walkways and gardens are lovely. The train that circles the zoo is a nice change of pace and helps to get you from one side to the other. The restaurant had good food at reasonable price. The candy/ice cream shop was excellent. We really enjoyed and will return. Oh and kids love the water area.

Barry Timm

Very nice zoo. Beautifully laid out. Great viewing walkways. Lovely gardens. One of the nicer zoos.

Steven McGriff

It was well kept up with plenty of places to step in the AC between the animals.

Nicole Kellett

First time at this zoo. It was very clean and had a nice variety of animals. A couple animal encounters, some free, some paid. All the zoo staff were genuinely friendly and willing to share their knowledge. A nice selection of indoor exhibits scattered between the outdoor ones to help cool us off.

Bryan Hembolt

My family had an absolutely amazing time here. The staff were all very pleasant and friendly. We obviously loved the animals. I would definitely recommend this place for a nice family outing.

Jourdan Thomas

Older and really in need of some updates. Some of the living conditions for the animals are quite sad. I did enjoy the giraffes a lot though. Park was clean and every employee was super friendly with a smile on their face.

Ryan Heath

So fun, between the animals and the beautiful garden's throughout Jacksonville can be proud of their zoo. The kids zone has a petting zoo, splash park and playground. We had a blast!

Rebekah Baker

I went with my Husband and 4 kids ranged from 4 yrs old to 17 yrs old. We had a great time! The only thing was that the attractions need some updating and there was a bit more trash on the grounds then I like to see and there wasn't much to entertain my kids in way of shows. The shows we're mainly geared to adults like the penguins and lion show. The tiger and Jaguar exhibits were the best in my opinion. The sting ray bay was the most interactive and exciting experience my 4 nd 5 year old sons enjoyed doing at the zoo. Which is fine because its free to pet them but you do need to pay a little to feed them and you should because it does cost money to buy the food in the first place. The zoo is big though and we didn't have enough time to explore the other half of fhe zoo so we at least rode the train for free and that encircles the park. 5 hours later I walked 12,758 steps and my sons we're exhausted after having absorbed so much information from the walk around animal attendants who love their jobs (and you can actually tell it especially the workers in the apes section) to the shows, informational placards posted every where and of course the petting zoo. The food was also good and reasonably priced. I really thought that Jaguar food court was cool. After all is said and done I would definitely recommend visiting the Jacksonville Zoo! It was fun and a great overall experience for all of us!

SuezQ

It's a amazing place .I loved it more than any other zoo it is awesome how they have Lego animals for all the kids. It is just the most beautiful sight in the world like u even get to pet backs of sting rays it's just amazing . I suggest this zoo to any families looking for a zoo.they have souvenir shops, restaurants and other things .

Stacie Pringle

The zoo is always a blast. From petting stingrays to getting to see new babies. We love it so much, we got a membership!

Rhonda Pascual

So much fun ! I loved the little train that went through the zoo grounds. The staff were very nice and the animals were awake and in great condition.

Alyssa Myers

Loved the zoo! We actually won the free picture which made it even better! The animals are fun to look at and the gift shop is nice! Great experience!

Matt Smith

A very nice zoo. Well maintained and eat to navigate. Parking is free. This is one of the best Tiger exhibits I have seen. Well done. The food options aren’t too creative but do the job. Glad we took the time to drive up and visit.

Ashley O'Toole

Love this zoo! Exhibits are spectacular, especially the primate and Asian exhibits. The path is easy to navigate and the gift shop is fun! They also give great opportunities to people for volunteering, which is great for the community to get involved with conservation

Destaynee Williams

Love love love this zoo. I took my one year old and 10 year old and we saw so many of our favorite animals. The staff was really nice and informative when my 10 year old had questions about the different animals. I look forward to coming back soon!

Susanne Harrison

The exhibits here are very nice and some are really cool with the connecting tunnels expanding where the animals can go. They have the coolest tiger exhibit I've ever saw. Other than that I was pretty disappointed. If you decide to pass on the train like we did once you reach the end of the zoo you will have to walk the whole length back to the entrance so you can leave. By the end we realized what a mistake that was. We found one water fountain the whole time and it didn't hold pressure for very long. We filled one water bottle up before it stopped. There's 6 of us. Unless you want to take your chances filling up in a bathroom sink you'll have to buy bottled water somewhere. It's Florida, it's hot, get more water fountains that work. Knowing all this we'll be more prepared next time since we bought a membership. It's worth it if you have a large family.

Meagan Puckett

We love this zoo! Very clean, and the animals are so well taken care of compared to others I've been to before. Tons of things to see, and it wasn't as expensive as we thought which is a plus. Definitely going again.

Candace Steele

We have a family membership here and love going to the zoo. The only thing that was off today was one of the bonobo monkeys was being extremely rough with the younger monkeys. He was kicking them aggressively all over a Lego. The keeper near the exhibit said this was normal play behavior but it was concerning. We love the know enclosures for the monkeys. Feeding the stingrays is always fun and the amount of butterflies in butterfly hallow today was amazing.

LeClare Nance

My son enjoyed seeing all the unique animals and riding the train through the zoo. There is also a small waterpark inside the zoo. It's great family fun!!

Rebecca Benton

Only got to see half but the half that I did see was a one of a kind experience. Alot of first times for me. Feeding giraffes, feeding birds, petting sting Ray's, seeing rhinos, etc.. the scenery is absolutely stunning. I loved it. Today's trip is definitely going to be a memory I'll never forget and hopefully I'll get to go back soon to see the rest.

Deborah Carter

Spent quality time with my grandson at the zoo. He taught me all about the animals since I had not been to the zoo in quite a while. We really enjoyed the ice snow flavored cones. Plenty energy needed with a young person.

Bonnie Henry

My kids love coming here. The yearly membership is so worth it! They have done some great improvements and continue to make more. The animals are beautiful. The prices are fair. Love the petting zoo!

Jassen Carter

Simple and fun. Events throughout the year and the annual pass is worth it. It gets you in to other zoos across the country or provides a discount. Our family goes about once a week

joshua smith

Awesome spot. Not super commercialized. Still has that small zoo feel with BIG Zoo exhibitsa

K Stryker

Loved seeing the animals. Even though it rained the staff was very helpful at coordinating the safest routes and locations to get out of the storm. Our kid loved the splash pad

Sally Shaw

I love this zoo. Only other one that compares to this zoo is the Columbus, Ohio Zoo. This place is wonderful for children and adults. The animals are amazing. Fun day to spend with the family. In October they have a night sleep over and all sorts of fun things for the little trick or treaters. We loved the trolley that took us around the park...lots of unique animals to see. Lunch on site was tasty too..Great way to spend the day

Jim Bolick

The zoo and gardens were perfect. It was after Hurricane Dorian passed by. Half price tickets is what got us going. The giraffe ramp way was being refurbished. The bad was the food services, I loudly voiced my displeasure at an employee picking up a receipt off the floor and placing it on the food on the tray in front of me. The employee looked at me like it was normal to do that. After I mentioned it was unsanitary and unsafe to do that he passed the food through the pass through window to the back. The food should have been thrown away in the front. The food was not mine but the employees looked as though I was in the wrong for calling them out on this matter. This was in the trout river grill.

Kelly Childs

This is a cute zoo. There is a splash park for kids (bring a swimsuit). Free parking and somewhat inexpensive year passes. Come in the morning or later in the evening in the hotter months as the animals are more active during these times. Newly updated Ape/Monkey enclosure. There are no bears here (grizzly, polar, black, panda or even koala) but they do have an elephant once owned by Michael Jackson. Take the train for a different view as it shows the behind the scenes buildings (vet, quarantine, kitchen, summer program...) and gives you some information on some of the enclosures. You are able to bring your own food in but they also have a few quick order restaurants. Zoo members get a discount at the eateries.

Alicia Ferrell

When my husband and I took our son here a few weeks back we were more than pleased with all the services provided. We were able to bring our own bag stroller snacks and drinks. Although a few exhibits were closed overall the experience was very nice.

Curtis Kleier

Jacksonville Zoo is an awesome zoo. It's the perfect size to finish in a day. There is a small train, giraffe feeding and touch the skates. Food is affordable. This is the second time I went and looking forward to the third visit. If this was a helpful review please give a

Igor T.

Large zoo with many interesting exhibits. Enjoyable way to spend an afternoon.

Amiee' Green

Really enjoyed our visit!!! We were down here on vacation and took a large group (people total) to the zoo. It was hot, so the animals weren't as active as when I've come in the Spring time. However, we did catch the feeding time of some animals and the kids really enjoyed that! We bought the zoo package deal and it was worth it. We didn't have to pay for certain things (train ride, carousel, 4D show, etc.) We'll definitely be coming back for years to come!

Jon Geissbuhler

Great zoo to walk around. If you live in Jax get the membership, it is definitely worth it.

Kushana Danglade

We had a great time at the zoo lots of animals attractions to see and things to do and you can always enjoy the train ride

Jessica Neudigate

Splish splash Tuesday's was a blast! The 4d show was awesome to cool off at. We always love the train rides. And of course, the animal exhibits are great. I wish they had fans or misters throughout the zoo though.

Peggy Bozym

The enclosures for the animals are very nice! I live in San Diego and we have an amazing Zoo. I was thinking this zoo wouldn't be very impressive, but it was VERY nice. We spent several hours and saw everything. It was a great way to spend the day.

Sharon L. Mckibben

I love our Zoo. It has underwent some changes, beginning with the Monkey and Gorillas. The exhibit is fascinating. I love All the animals, there are so many different species of animals and birds, fish, Manatee's, and stingray's. The tiger exhibit is so Awesome as well. Okay, go check it out for yourself.

Kori Wieder

We love the zoo! My 2 year old gets SO happy when I tell him we are going. On top of seeing tons of animals and learning, there is a splash pad! Which is needed in this heat. Annual passes are worth I if you plan on going often. Even 4-5 a year would pay for themselves!

Sean Kelsey

Again stuck in the middle because half of the staff were wonderful and the other didn't know how to or maybe just didn't want to do their job, which was standing inside telling you about the animals that were there. I don't remember what ones exactly but for example like the frogs or snakes. I don't think this the worker's fault I know it's the Zoo's fault for exploiting children and having inexperienced kids there to do the job of an adult.

Jordan Cruz

My son is 4 and he absolutely loved this Zoo! It was raining so not all the animals were out, but we did get complimentary water bottles & enjoyed the train ride!

Tammy Brandl

Great zoo! A wonderful way to spend the day or the afternoon. Beautiful Bamboo Garden and Japanese Pond area.

Kelli Jeanne

I have been to many zoos, so please take that into account. I found this zoo to be kind of small. I expected somewhat more than was there based on their website. It was a well maintained zoo, and took maybe an hour to walk through. The zoo offers concessions and has a picnic area. Extras include a train ride, a carrousel, sting ray area, butterfly area and 4D theatre for an additional fee. They have wheelchairs and strollers for rent.They offer senior, military, AAA and college students discounts.

Tonya G

Our family is looking forward to a Summer full of fun at the zoo! No matter how many times we visit this zoo it’s always a new adventure for us! The animals are always out & interactive. The staff is amazing! They have so much compassion with the animals and so much knowledge!

Jonathan Anders

Love going to the Zoo here with the kids. The animals for the most part seem to be out where you can see them with a few that hide. My family got the year family pass and definitely think it is worth the money.

Jane Black

This zoo is great! The children went two days in a row and still there was so much more to see. The place was enjoyed by all. It was well worth it!

Julie Rittershofer

One of my favorite zoo's I've ever visited! It's a little pricey at $20 a person, but you can EASILY spend 3 hours here. There are a couple indoor exhibits with AC to cool you down throughout your walk and the aviaries are awesome!

Amanda Goodman

I love this zoo! Staff is knowledgeable about the exhibits and are happy to answer your questions. A guide named Alex taught us very interesting things about the monkeys and what it is like to work at the zoo. Seems like a fantastic place to start a career!

Jodi Bowers

Well laid out, the animals are well taken care of. It's alot larger than I anticipated. Couldn't do the whole thing in one day with small children. So much fun!

David Pullin

Great zoo. Alot of different animals. I went at 9:30 am and most of the animals were pretty active.

Taylor James

It was my 1st time at the Zoo since I was a small lad in CA... I went with my wife and the staff was very nice and the animals were very great to learn about and look at. Overall I HAD A BLAST! would definitely go again!

Pam Charbonneau

This was my 1st visit too the zoo and we had a blast. Lots of places to get wet too cool off great plus. Animals where out and pictures are great we where able to obtain. Food was great, love the water refill stations. Restrooms where clean. Zoo attendants where exactly knowledgable. We will be coming back as soon as it cools off a little more. Thank you. Pam

G Management

Without a doubt "Going to be the city of Babyboomers" and you better find a place now because it's growing faster than can build. Great Job Jacksonville.

Juan Bianchi

Good variety of animals..could use a little bit more cleaning.

Heather Lofing

My family has been members for 3 years. My kids are always asking to go. The Tiger enclosure is wonderful and offers many opportunities to see the tiger, even in the AC. The newest Ape Exhibit is, according to my son, amazing. He loves watching the monkeys swing and play around the giant tree.

Tracy Poore

The zoo is a great place to visit. The adult night event was a little lacking. Drink lines were enormously long and not much variety as far as the food trucks. You could not get to the bands or the outdoor entertainment area without wading through people waiting in line for drinks. It woul be much more enjoyable of there were additional lines for obtaining drinks away from the entertainment.

Joann Feliciano

I'm from NY and the Jacksonville Zoo is AMAZING. You actually get to see the animals up close. My fave was the encounter with the giraffes. The NY Zoo you walk sooo much and you don't get the same experience.

George Carnicle

We ALWAYS LOVE going to our zoo! This time we enjoyed the splash pad immensely!!! Also got to see so many tigers <3

Christina H.

Who doesn't have fun at the zoo? Their add on fees can get pricy but it's in our backyard!! I have a membership and this past year we went a handful of times, my son loves the carousel! Picture takers could try to get better pics. There is not a lot of staff. It seems almost every employee works at the entrance and then a few sprinkled throughout. Their Halloween is very good you should go to it! Their Jurassic walk through was fun, full of great size Dino's!!!! They put in amazing effort! The "park" is a nice break very shady and the slides are the best. The kids can get tired quickly! You can bring in your own food and drinks. Overall we are pretty lucky to have this spot. It's always a great time.

Michael Nath

My family had an absolutely amazing time here. The staff were all very pleasant and friendly. We obviously loved the animals. I would definitely recommend this place for a nice family outing. Like

Bradley Bell

Family fun. Always love the animals and my son enjoyed it the most! Tickets are reasonably priced, staff was friendly. Had a place when you walk in for the kids to play in the water. Paid to feed the giraffes but they weren't hungry. Refunded our ticket to get the money back. Overall great time!

Samantha Owens

Really great place to visit! Might even consider getting the membership. Some parts close early unfortunately an hour before zoo closing. Did not get a chance to see the butterfly hollow part as it closed early. The live and 4d theater are amazing!! Kids had a blast

Lauren NotaroSmith

Lots of people visiting. No handicap parking available for my husband as they were working on parking lot. Was very chaotic getting in and out

Nathaly Sanchez

Lovely zoo.. went with a 2 year old. We got to feed a giraffe.. the food in the Restaurant (don't remember the name) was good also. We had a blast!

Jennifer Williamson

Night at the Zoo is the best!! Fun games, music, food trucks and just FUN FUN FUN. Loads of animals out. My 3 boys just love coming here!

Kelly Thompson

Perfect family day and they offer military discounts and have membership passes! No outside food but you can bring in a water bottle. A lot of nooks and crannies to see amazing wildlife.

domesticated_papa

Love how there is one main road and the exhibits all link back to that road. Makes visiting the entire zoo more efficient

Michelle Samanta

It poured majority of our time there and we still managed to have a good time! Grabbed a couple of ponchos from the gift shop and a pair of toddler rain boots..(both reasonably priced) and we were on our way!

Colleen Wagner

Love our zoo and the way it’s laid out. Great landscaping, educational displays, and refreshing water park for the kids. If you children give their camps a try you won’t be disappointed.

Mike Lamb

Great experience. Really hot and big though. Takes more than a day to experience everything.

Cindy Brewer

Love our Jacksonville Zoo. Fun exhibits and lots to do. Enjoyed posting stingrays and feeding the giraffes. Peaceful walk in butterfly hollow. Cooled off in splash pad too.

Ed Brown

What a wonderful zoo! The keepers are very knowledgeable. Such a great job on the animals habits.

Angel-David Rodriguez II

An exciting adventure for the whole family! Lots to see and do! Great for adults and children and teens!

Clifford Herndon

It's great for kids, they can learn, get exercise and be with family and friends. Great for adults, they can teach their kids and grandkids about animals

Jonathan Hedman

Grandson loved it. Although didn't get to see 1/4 of the animals. They were either hiding or just simply not there

Coty Hughes

Loved it here! Second favorite zoo I've been too (behind Bronx Zoo) and I've been to alot! The grounds are just stunning,exhibits large and beautiful, lots of cool animals, air conditioned places to sit and eat etc. My favorite was the Okapi and sting ray encounter! It did take us about 4 hours to see the whole place. Would recommend taking the time to visit this zoo!

Rodney Johnston

I enjoyed Jacksonville zoo I had a good time I enjoyed the scenery and the animal I would definitely go back again and again and I recommend you take in your family for A-day and make sure you bring water and food and make it the day and joy

Juliane Bottomley

This zoo was fantastic!! The staff are all super friendly and knowledgeable and the exhibits are great. The animals all seem happy and curious and definitely well cared for. There is lots to do for all age groups and the grounds are pretty expansive. Definitely a day well spent!

Taylor Ransom

We had a wonderful time at this zoo! It was clean, open, and nicely laid out. They also had opportunities to feed the stingrays and the giraffes.The staff was very nice and helpful.

charles johnston

I personally love the zoo.. today's visit seemed a bit empty as far as the animals were concerned but it has also been so hot lately. Alot has changed since the last visit for the better. Great to see the focus more on conservation and education rather than just a zoo full of animals. Look forward to our next visit.

ForgivenHumanity PS4

My daughter's absolutely love this place. There is a ton going on here. Waterpark, water fountain, animal feeding, stingray petting, train tour, tons of animals, shops etc. Highly recommend the season pass for people who have the opportunity to visit more than twice. You get your money back on two or three visits alone.

Bernice Pull

Wonderful zoo! A perfect place to stop by and see some wildlife. The animals were very well taken care of at this zoo and the staff were really nice.

Shanne Farrington

My family and I visited from NC and were very pleased overall. They have some animals that I'd never seen before & the layout of the zoo is easy to follow and well shaded which is lovely. My family and I enjoyed the experience and will come back to visit again soon.

Lonnie F

Our entire family enjoyed this zoo! I was off from work for the holiday for 4 days & we spent 2 of the days here! Nice set up & employees were friendly & very knowledgeable of the animals.

Burne Hill

Jacksonville has one of the best zoos in the entire country and I strongly suggest buying the family passes and making this a family trip as much as possible. We love the train ride around the entire outside ring of the zoo and getting the behind the scenes tour that way - added value. The new part of the park with the big cats was a great addition to the zoo. The only thing is if they could update some of the other older exhibits like the reptile area.

C B

We love to visit the zoo! Free splash pad is a huge plus during our summer visits! Super friendly and helpful staff always!

Delaney OQuinn

Birthday Party Yurt with cupcakes and individual icecream, goody bags and lunch for guests. Meet and greet with 2 small animals, train ride with a shout out to Birthday child, and games for little ones to play with for an hour and a half. $30 per person over the initial 10 guests over party price of 325$.

Isabella Silsbee

Beautiful, and wonderful. The animals are great. They seem happy. The staff is very friendly and nice. The food is quick. The rides are great.

Steve Weaver

Always good to go visit every year. I would hope the zoo does something fun with the employees every so often. I see a lot of the employees just not looking like they like their job.

Daiane Gomes-Santos

I loved the Jacksonville Zoo because, given that I'm 6 months pregnant, it had everything I needed to make my experience comfortable and fun. Snacks, enough water to refresh, places to sit and rest a bit, enough greens that made shades and all the animals seemed pretty well taken care of, which also comforts the heart. Great experience today!

Madelen R

Beautiful place love love love it. My kids were super happy to come and visit everyone was super nice .everyone but one guy he kinda was not nice to my daughter and then went to another coworker and was telling her how he is so tired of people and how sometimes he just wishes he could punch someone in the face ... The better part of me just walked away from that but the mom in me wanted to put him in his place and show him how to have customer service ... But other then that awesome trip...

Rusty Cash

The largest zoo east of the Mississippi river has tons of fun for the whole family. Ride the train the the land of the tiger and check out the state of the art enclosure. A series of pathways allow the tigers to interact with the guest. Or if you're more a fan of primates take in the troop of bonobos. Jacksonville Zoo and gardens is one of only a handful of zoos to exhibit this spectacular species. Pay close attention to the artful use of landscaping to creat a sweeping seamless stroll through a beautiful garden. The Jacksonville Zoo is an entire day of family fun and a truly can't miss adventure.

Pauline Oneal

I love it except I don't do snakes. I also would like to recommend that when given an armband they should hand out maps to every one not just one per family. Their were quite a few people who got lost when we went. Their should be a smoking section for those who smoke cigarettes. Out by the gorgeous water is a great place to smoke.

Angela Ledford

Friendliest and most helpful staff I've ever encountered! Everyone there was SO kind, informative and helpful. We had a wonderful visit in spite of the heavy rain!

Bekhy Carrillo

We live in San Diego & go to the work famous zoo there all the time. But this zoo didn't disappoint. The enclosures didn't have a cage feel so you don't feel sorry for the animals

Terri Mclaughlin

Gay friendly. Very good food. Great atmosphere.

Katrina Sikorski

It was a lot of fun. Awesome enclosures, happy animals.

Samantha Aparicio VLOG &Reviews

Very cool zoo! As an adult I enjoyed it! The views the animals and the design. Overall experience wonderful best zoo hands down in Florida.

China Cat

The zoo has really done a great job of making it an awesome place to go. There night events like Halloween trick or treating for the kids is great and safe. They are always upgrading the zoo.

Hannah Riley

This is the best zoo ever. We got to feed giraffes and the animals are so close you can really see them.

Matthew Baldwin

Great zoo with very friendly staff. Easy to walk through the whole zoo in a morning or afternoon. We took our time and were there for about four hours. The enclosures are very well designed and allow for great views of the animals. One of my favourite zoo's.

Teresa Allen

We visited on June 12th from out of town. We got there as soon as they opened to avoid the rush. Everything was organized parking was a breeze! There was a young girl working giving information about the elephants who was eager and ready to provide us with information. I loved her energy!

Nikki F.

I love the zoo. My children & I always have a great time

Amber Busby

My first time going was with my kids on vacation and we loved it. All the animals were great and the train ride was fun. You can expect to spend a good part of the day walking around to see everything. My kids lived the little water splash pad too, it was nice to cool off and taking a break. The restaurant was ok, we got tacos and we didn't care for them.

Jeff Landes

Nicely laid out. Water park for the kids to cool off. We applied our entry fee on the way out to the yearly pass so we are able to visit more often.

Charles Bare

This is a great zoo with a wide variety of animals. The giraffe enclosure is excellent and allows you to get very close to the giraffes. Also enjoyed the stingray exhibit. Touching stingrays as they swim by never gets old.

Aimee Byam

The Jacksonville Zoo never disappoints. We go at least 3 times a year and have a great time every visit. The animals (especially tigers and gorillas) are seemingly very spoiled. I will say that it’s a beautiful zoo but ever since the landscaping got better and has grown, it has significantly cut down the breeze on the pathway. It’s very hot without the breeze in the summer dispirited more shade. Love this place still and will continue going for years to come!

Andrew Medina

We love this zoo. It’s very affordable, never too packed, tons of activities for kids, special events on holidays, many places to eat, a train ride, obviously every animal you can think of, plenty of parking. We got an annual family membership and are able to walk right in. Really never have to wait in line. Feeding the giraffes and feeding the rays are my son’s favorite.

Tony Vastano

A top notch world zoo. The newest exhibits are truly amazing and the zoo as a whole is very good, probably the best in Florida. I go to many zoos around the world and the Jacksonville Zoo is truly one of the better ones. Some of the older exhibits show age but are not small or bad exhibits by any metric. The new exhibits, like the African Forest are just amazing and show off the Bonobos very nicely. I highly recommend this zoo.

Adam Ant

We went on an overcast Sunday (7/28) and it was awesome! All the animals were out and they got pretty close to us. Maybe because there were less people beating on the glass

Timothy Pearson

Nice zoo, always something new, grand kids have a wonderful time everytime they get to go

Hannah Sincavage

I love this place so much. I've been going here for 10 years, and there are constantly new things to grab your attention and keep you coming back. There's butterflies, stingrays, bonobos, tigers, and everything in between. I highly recommend going to keeper talks in the ape section, because we stood there talking to a woman for thirty minutes about the different family structures and relationships. This is such a great experience, and I got so many steps too.

Phyllis Appleby

Exciting day. Lions roaring and playing. Awesome bird photos. Beautiful flowers. The best corn dogs ever - my favorite. Great gift shop - I buy something fun every trip to y zoo. One of the best zoos ever.

Sherry Baker

All animal exhibits need to be maintained better, all viewing glass is filthy, all water is murky and stagnant, looks like they do no maintenance in the animal enclosures at all. You can't even see the koi fish in the water. The walking paths are nice, but we are there for the animals and it is just not up to par. Very disappointed. Sorta feel sorry for the animals.

Kathy Reneau

Very clean and resourceful. Enjoyed the walking paths and the train. Raining, but had a great time!

Judy Ficken

Love this ZOO! Gardens are gorgeous, animals are beautiful and super well kept. We are grandparents, and plan to take all grands often. A must see!

Brian Arcudi

We visited in June, it was 100°+ degrees. Could only take the heat for few hours. Other wise there was a good bit of animals. The ring railed lemur's looked like they only had a hot stainless steel bowl sitting in the sun to drink out of and no misting systems. I was concerned for their well being.

Mel Shrader

Great zoo! Take the train ride! Lots of animals with great displays. The giraffes were awesome and you can feed them by hand. Nice day out for the kids.

RUSSELL HENNINGER Sr

Nice experience here at this zoo, exhibits quite worn and need updates. Staff friendly and courteous, and work hard at keeping things up. Quite a good collection of animals and unique butterflies.

J Pbr

Great place to take your family. Love the enclosures and tunnels that connect them

Monica Rollins

I love the zoo so much I was nice and clean and me and my son had a blast. my problem was the food. but to get my good right away and all of it to be cold at both the grill and the taco place.

Louise Esjornson

Great ape exhibit. Zookeepers and other staff made the experience even better. Snakes seemed happy, which seems like a good sign to me. Splash pad is nice. Not even shade or water available throughout and some exhibits are a little run down, but it seems like they are working to fix that.

Andy Carrasco Diosdado

I loved it here. Had a lot of fun and so did my family

Trace Sorrell

Love coming here with my daughter and wife. The membership is an amazing deal and one of the best purchase we made all year.

Krissy Griffin

The gardens are amazing! What a perfect zoo for our Jax. Animals are always out and the employees are very educated! We love this place so much we bought member passes!

Shauna

When you’ve been to San Diego zoo, it’s hard to find another zoo that is comparable. Not too bad of a zoo though. They have nights at the zoo and very good Christmas programs.

Sam M

Love going to this zoo, probably one of the nicer ones I've been too and the staff really cares about these animals. They were pretty good at answering any questions we had about the animals & their care too. Had a really good time here last time we visited and really enjoyed our other visits in the past. The plant life all over here is beautiful too, the asian water garden full of bamboo is my favorite spot

doug shields

Awesome place to go and learn about animals. Very tranquil zoo.

Renee Giroux

Best zoo we've been too! Such a great place to spend a day. We loved visiting every part of this zoo. Highly recommend!!

Reshma Karim

Very nice place to visit for all ages. I thought only my kids will enjoy and learn..but truth is I learned more! Very nice place..also have water splash playground and many more activities to do! Highly entertaining!

Deutschland Reform

The Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens is a medium sized zoo located right at the Trout River. The zoo features a good variety of animals, plus lots of shade for the animals and visitors. One of the highlights of the zoo is the Giraffe platform, which elevates the visitor of the zoo to head level of the giraffes. Guests can purchase food for the giraffe and feed it to them. One of the main attractions for children is the Stingray Bay where visitors can pet the rays. General admission for adults is around $20. The zoo is open 9 to 5 during the week and 9 to 6 on the weekends. For visitors arriving early, parking (no additional charge) will not be an issue. In fact, early birds will find quite a few very nice, shaded parking spots close to the main entrance. According to the park rules, guests are not allowed to bring their own food inside the zoo. If you plan on eating lunch at one of their restaurants, it is advisable to do so early in the day. Even during a regular weekday, waiting lines are starting to build up as early as 11:30 am.

Pri

A very well maintained zoo that is fun to visit. I loved the whole Kenyan theme they got going on considering I'm from Kenya. The train tour is a must. Lots of animals that over might have only seen on TV prior. The souvenir shop is reasonably priced and would definitely encourage parents to at least take their kids here once, they'd love it.

Pinku Oxenstierna

The employees are always friendly. They always cheerfully hold a conversation about the animals. The bathrooms are usually kept up but on occasions they can be ran down. The best time to go is when it is raining because a lot of the animals love to come out.

Jeannine Duprey

Nice way to spend the day. It could use some updating. More people need to go and support this zoo.

Jacob Hintze

I love this zoo. The size and layout is just right. This is always a must stop place when we are visiting. I wish more zoos were like this one.

Sarah Frank

I think this is one of the best zoos in the country. It is amazing to have seen the thirty-year transformation. Gorgeous zoo.

Alysha M

A must see! We were skeptical at first with the price and if it was worth it. It really is. We took our seven year old. We arrived right when they opened and we were glad we did. The people who say get there early in the other comments are totally right. It was a nightmare trying to inch our way through the snake exhibit about two hours later. Food inside is pretty good. Realistic, affordable prices. Same goes for the snack foods. Not Disney prices at all!

Tiger Lily

I absolutely love this zoo! I visited a few weeks ago with my aunt and we had an amazing time. She is an annual pass member with one guest. I've visited with my mom other times and there has not been one visit that I did not like. I usually go during the weekdays, though, when it's less crowded but that was not possible this time. The giraffe overlook was impossible to pass through, unfortunately, so I wasn't able to feed my favorite animals but I have done it before so it wasn't a total loss. Also, one of the trains is being overhauled so the wait for the train was VERY long. I would also recommend that they expand their menu at the cafes to include gluten-free options. I have been to the Trout River Cafe and they do not have GF options for people that may need them. For the price that you pay to enter the park, you'd think they would work on that. Take a page of Disney's book and offer more dietary friendly options, please!

Pritam Singh

Nice place for a family outing. It was hot and the gorillas was not active...beautiful bamboo garden as you walk by around. African forest is beautiful.

Michael Strickland

Our family hasn't been to the Jacksonville Zoo in over 6 years and were very happy with the improvements that were made! The tiger exhibit is new and was great, even saw a demonstration of how they would perform checkups in the tigers. All the kids had ample opportunity to ask questions of the knowledgeable staff.

Chris McCall

First time visitor. The zoo is nice, very clean and easy to navigate. The most impressive part was the landscape. Absolutely beautiful!

Makenzie Everitt

It was amazing! The place is old I remember going there when I was very little but it was working great! It was very kid friendly and was really fun. The animals were easy to see and you could really tell what they were. There is a train that takes you around the park and the workers tell you about the animals and stuff. It's great for kids. There is a playground and lots of interactive stuff like a stingray petting area and you can feed the giraffs. It is beautiful too. They have nice paths and beautiful flowers and stuff everywhere. The glass is kept very clean so you can take good pictures of the animals. It is an amazing experience and I love going.

Diana Bibbee

Had a Great morning. Took my granddaughters saw baby gorilla, fed Giraffes it was Awsome