Reviews of Dakota Zoo (Zoo)

dale mansavage

Always full of fun. Don't forget to take the train ride it makes you feel like a kid again.

poorscottie

Nice zoo to visit. A good variety of animals.

Kayla Hertz

My family loves the Dakota Zoo. Such a nice area down by the river with mature trees for plenty of shade. Love the train that takes you throughout the whole zoo. Excited for the penguins and red pandas that will be coming in the future!

Ben Wiskar

The zoo is very well laid out. Very good assortment of animals. Very kid friendly.

Chris Jangula

Family friendly, many things to do for kids, and constantly growing and improving. Great place!

sam smith

My son loves going to the zoo! It's a great place to go to relax and enjoy the animals.

Kirsten Kelsch

Even in the drizzly rain the zoo was very enjoyable to walk around. All the animals look happy and healthy!

Dawn Stewart

I love zoos

Brad Coleman

Needs bigger cages for many of the animals but otherwise on par with a zoo of its size

Leroy winterz

It was an awesome place to spend the day .

Timothy Miller

Nice kid friendly zoo. Loved the big cats and the monkey witg a baby monkey! So cute!

nikki Fischer-Buchholz

The animal's were out today, saw the baby wolves, bears were up close, tigers were moving about. Love the zoo!

Sparkles

Enjoyed it but make sure you've got a thick pocketbook for entrance fee plus "the perks" ...food$$drink$$trainride$$

John Smith

I did not visit this zoo. I just went and looked for information on this zoo.

Victoria Tekin

Small and nice zoo. We love the fact that the animals have enough space to move.

Mark Johnson

Really good zoo with many exhibits and a great playground. The grounds were a little rough and I wished places like these would be more deliberate about caring for the environment as much as the animals.

Bryan Neubeck

Fantastic time at the zoo. I would recommend going

Taylor Farrell94

For a small city the zoo is pretty nice

Barbara Hefta

Great family memories made. Right size zoo - older & younger could enjoy.

Amanda Fetter

Love the zoo. Very expensive and wish they did scholarships for people who cant always afford going.

Wambli Gleska W Quintana

My partner in crime visited his family last name Monkeys yeah His name is Tyrone Blak he said it was a great visit to see his family.

Brayden Scott

I just wanted to rate the zoo not say why

Joe Volochenko

Great place to spend a day with the kids

Alexis Moore

This was lots of fun and they honored our Houston Zoo pass. Kids really enjoyed it because it had different animal than we have I the South.

Tamara Jimenez

Great even in the rain

David Irwin

Great zoo!

Andrew Uden

Great little zoo. We took out 2yo and she had a great time. You can get right up close to the enclosures so the little ones can see what's inside. The indoor exhibits were a little too dimly lit and there weren't enough platforms for the toddlers to be able to see up into the snake and lizard aquariums. The native fish aquarium needed lighting but the tropical fish tank was really well done.

Aaron

Best zoo in the state!

Nathan Winfree

Nice little zoo, good selection on animals even though the temperatures were still a little cold

Kylene Hornberger

I love this zoo!!

nolan baxter

Always a good time hanging with the snimals.

M. Joy Groothuis

Adalines first trip to the zoo it was fun and she was very curious on the train ride.

BootleatherGunDogs

Quite a few animals were missing.

TCove .

The zoo is okay. It's small and the admission fee is very reasonable. Good for some entertainment. A lot of small enclosures which could do with some renovations. Park is clean and well maintained. Lots of shade. The tigers were the best part.

Elyse M

Great zoo especially for the price. One of the less expensive zoos I've been to (under$10/person). The animal variety included elusive locals, farm, and exotic animals. I loved that there were so many opportunities to feed the animals so bring quarters! They had the most active river otter I've ever seen!

Joanne C Vida

Nice little zoo. We really enjoyed ourselves, from the goats to the grizzly bears, it was a lot of fun. Admission is very reasonable and the park is small enough to walk around is a reasonable amount of time. Next time we are down this was we will definitely visit again!

Henry Boldt

Great place for the whole family to spend the day and enjoy the animals in there natural habitat

Kris Kingsley

All the animals were up and moving for dinner! The girls really got a show and loved it!

Doug Luehr

Really neat zoo, lots to see, very kid friendly.

Cameron Aberle

Great zoo! Probably the best in the state. Had a lot of fun on the train and looking at the animals with my 4 yr old. They have a nice park and kids gold panning activity.

Laura Hickey

Loved it and the grand kids throughout enjoyed themselves

Matt J

Family always has a good time here. Clean and we'll kept. Friendly staff.

TCove

The zoo is okay. It's small and the admission fee is very reasonable. Good for some entertainment. A lot of small enclosures which could do with some renovations. Park is clean and well maintained. Lots of shade. The tigers were the best part.

Raymond Martin

Wow I love this I used to go here when I was a kid and took my kids to this place also used to get Summer passes to go here to feed the animals every year my daughter got to see but then before he passed away he was a big bear great family places to take your kids they would enjoy watching the potbelly pigs and feed the billy and all the other small

Randi Philleo

So much to see! The kids love it. Friendly staff and well kept. Can't wait for the penguins in 2020!

Trenia Rexinger

It was a good way to spend a day with the family. Would have been nice if the vending machines along the way accepted more than just $1 bills... Or worked (1 didn't)... Other than that, a good time.

Dennis

Have been a member of Dakota zoo for as long as I can remember Still miss Clyde

Stephanie Summers

It is a great place to take your family. My kids had a blast and so did us as adults.

shayne m

Nice zoo to walk around if your looking for something to do

Elyse M

Great zoo especially for the price. One of the less expensive zoos I've been to (under$10/person). The animal variety included elusive locals, farm, and exotic animals. I loved that there were so many opportunities to feed the animals so bring quarters! They had the most active river otter I've ever seen!

Robert Money

Wonderful little zoo!!! Great place to take the little ones!

Dawn Gearhart

Beautiful zoo. Reasonably priced. Fun feeding the farm animals. Not crowded. Beautiful paths and walkways. Lots of space for the animals. Able to borrow a wheelchair. Every one very helpful and nice.

Mariel Quirindongo

The place is a sanctuary for the animals.Is clean and enjoy my visit.

Joanne C Vida

Nice little zoo. We really enjoyed ourselves, from the goats to the grizzly bears, it was a lot of fun. Admission is very reasonable and the park is small enough to walk around is a reasonable amount of time. Next time we are down this was we will definitely visit again!

Amy Anton

One of best Zoos!

Maryanne Montgomery

I had a wonderful time. Very spacious and Staff was super nice and helpful. Looking forward to visiting the zoo during my next ND vac.

Jacob Leno

I took my mom there when I was younger and Mountain dreams take my kids there from giving him a five star rating so my kids can see a five star attraction everywhere they go Jay Leno

Dee Mac

made to seem way bigger than it is

J Johnson

This a well-kept, small zoo with a decent assortment of animals both local and exotic. The enclosures are quite dated and leave much to be desired in terms of size, but the animals all appear to be cared for well. Since it is $10 or less for a ticket, it's worth checking out for a couple hours of wandering if you are passing through Bismarck.

Chad Uleryk

Amazing zoo my son loved our visit. Staff is super knowledgeable and helpful we will be going back for sure.

Ridgeley Kraft

Beautiful wooded zoo with great exhibits and friendly staff

Stephanie Sigfusson

Loved it had plenty of great family fun

Amanda Jarrett

Great little zoo. My kids and I had a great time.

Nick Olson

Admission price is pretty steep kids love the animals

Cory Carter

It was fun but big

Mitch Espares

The animals need TLC esp the bears, they are hungry and thirsty when we were there, i love the garden the flowers are beautiful

Christine Nattrass

It's a cool zoo! Warning the concession stand does not serve meals only snacks. The train is a nice way to get out to the bison and camels and elk.

Jadelynn Dahl

My boyfriend and I make it a habit to go to the zoo when ever we have free time. We love having a membership here. The animals are great and the staff is friendly

Nicole Winsky

Awesome zoo. Friendly and knowledgeable staff. Animals walk right up to the fence so you can take great pictures.

Amber Rangeloff

It is a small zoo. Nice for the small kids in the area but does not have anything big. Most of the exhibits are not even filled.

Chris Schrenk

Great zoo great price

Larissa Larson

We have been members for the zoo for over a decade and always love going!

Paul

The Dakota Zoo is always a big hit with my children. They are always expanding and adding more kid-friendly interactions. We don't live in Bismarck, but have a zoo membership and try to go whenever we are in town.

Rachel Iverson

I love this zoo. Its easy to tell they care for their animals a great deal. My husband come here for walks, we really enjoy feeding the duck/geese in the pond. Staff are always friendly and answer questions. Ice cream is a great perk on a 90 degree day. I'd definitely recommend a visit to anyone visiting Bismarck, or residents just looking for something new to do.

Stephanie S

It was a cute zoo and had many surprisingly exotic animals. I liked that they had a train and you can rent out wheelchairs for seniors. It was much bigger than I initially anticipated and the animals looked well taken of.

Montana Breece

This is the best zoo I have ever been to in my life. We stopped here on our way to Medora and it was the best pit stop we could have imagined. All of the animals seem so happy and playful even on the hottest of days. The raccoons were the most adorable things I have ever seen in person. They were the best to feed as they held up their little paws to grab it from you. I would highly highly recommend going here if you get the chance!!!!

Angel Beltran

The zoo was lots of fun for my granddaughter and a learning experience. Zoo is well kept and the animals well taken care of. Purchased an annual pass for my family and will return as many times as possible. Thank you.

Lynn Quilan Beltran

Had a great time with my daughter and granddaughter at the zoo today. Other guests were pleasant and the employees were really nice. I got a year yearly pass for my family, can come anytime.

Tim Bruestle

Went for "Boo! at the Zoo". There were a LOT of people there, but lines moved smoothly and very quickly with very little congestion. The trick or treat route was pretty well-chosen so there were a lot of animals to see.

Natasha Burt

We love this zoo. It's fun and easily doable in a day. Prices are reasonable, especially if you buy a yearly pass. My daughter loves feeding the goats. Me, I'm partial to feeding the ponies.

Relane Kabanuck

Zoo was clean. Workers were friendly. Train ride waa enjoyable. Ice cream was cold. My favorite part: the otters were out and lively. Actually, all of the animals were awake and moving; what a fun day at the Dakota Zoo!

logan waller

Love it when the animals are up and around.

May Wahl

Awesome zoo! The kids love it and there's some really neat animals there. I'm excited for the penguin exhibit that I heard they are getting!

earl johnson

Always great. Kids at snack shack could use better manners.

Jamie Bowen

Fun but wished the reptile cages were not so empty and that more of the animals were rescued. The buffalo were to far off to see at all. For the price it was good!

Jill Keto

Always a great time and well within expectations of a smaller zoo. A very fun and not too overwhelming place to take kids for a couple of hours.

Blessed All7

Great Easter egg hunt. Family had a blast. Staff and volunteers were very friendly and went above and beyond. Thank you all that was there.

Rachel Fast

Needs major improvements. Pens are full of weeds. Bathrooms are dirty. Animals are malnourished.

addison wildman

It was great, train ride was cool.

paige walters

I love my hometown zoo and all the features that come with it! From the long train ride to the great cotton candy and popcorn (and my favorite part, petting the goats). Highly recommended for a fun day looking at all the exhibits!

Courtney Keith

Cute gift shop, animals look happy and well taken care of, and the walk around the zoo is very scenic

David Schlecht

I love almost all zoos.

Oh Jeez

We loved it there... They have farm animals you can feed when you first walk in... It's not that big but pleanty of space to let the kids run ahead and burn off all that extra energy from the cotton candy and mini donuts at the concession stands. We had a great time. Next time we go we might try the tour they give on their trains.

Rick Varnum

This is one of the finest zoos I've ever visited. The animals are well taken care of and they seem happy. It's not a crowded zoo. There is lots of space for the animals to roam and play. It takes about 1-2 hours to see everything and my kids really love coming and hanging out because it's a very beautiful place. If we lived nearby we would get the season pass, but the regular admission price is very reasonable.

Audrey rangeloff

Great place 2 go when there's no parking at church

Andrew Engdahl

Fantastic zoo and a reasonably priced annual membership that gets you reciprocity to other zoos! This zoo is the best medium sized zoo I’ve been to and my whole family still treats it like the gold standard when we visit others.

Stephanie S

It was a cute zoo and had many surprisingly exotic animals. I liked that they had a train and you can rent out wheelchairs for seniors. It was much bigger than I initially anticipated and the animals looked well taken of.

Lisa Dewey

I love going to the zoo, any zoo but having a home town zoo like the Dakota Zoo is the best. I really enjoy watching all the animals. It's a great way to spend an afternoon.

Jamie Cook

Always something fun to see. Every time we come back we always witness something exciting from the animals.

Mike Ackerman

I have loved this zoo ever since I was a child! They have made many awesome improvements and are still adding more! We had a family reunion nearby and enjoyed the zoo with our relatives. Can't wait to be back!

Jake Stock

Very professional and clean staff and environment. Well maintained !

José Pérez

Great place to enjoy in family, I love it

Montana Breece

This is the best zoo I have ever been to in my life. We stopped here on our way to Medora and it was the best pit stop we could have imagined. All of the animals seem so happy and playful even on the hottest of days. The raccoons were the most adorable things I have ever seen in person. They were the best to feed as they held up their little paws to grab it from you. I would highly highly recommend going here if you get the chance!!!!

curt tollefson

Cuz lol

Misty Myers

A wonderful way to pass a day

Kyle J

Great little zoo. I was surprised at how much there is in this small looking space. There's loads here! It certainly doesn't compare to other zoos I've visited like the San Diego Zoo, but no other zoo is like that one. For what it is, I think it's a really great place to go spend the day with the family, see the animals, learn more about the wildlife living in North Dakota and make great memories together!

cyraysd

For a small zoo, the exhibits were very nice. Settings like the elk exhibit were pretty natural looking.

BetterLiving SNorbeck

Always a fun time, my grandkids' go to! Love train rides and feeding the goats!

V

Always love this zoo! Great day for the whole family!

Angel Beltran

The zoo was lots of fun for my granddaughter and a learning experience. Zoo is well kept and the animals well taken care of. Purchased an annual pass for my family and will return as many times as possible. Thank you.

Robert Illg

Nice zoo to fill part of a day, the breakfast at the zoo is always popular with families and recommend.

Jessica Rendle

Small beautiful zoo we love it

Anjel Kuhn

What happened to the moose???? Love the baby monkey sooooo cute

larrynstacy

Amazing time! Very well maintained. Stopped by to let the kiddos stretch their legs and we ended up staying for hours. Great zoo!

joe christensen

One of the most extensive and best kept zoos I've been to! I highly recommend you stop and take the time to enjoy this hidden treasure!

Alan Henning

Clean, good variety of animals.

Sara Stadick

Love coming here to walk and see the animals. Very knowledgeable staff that makes the experience amazing. Constantly upgrading and adding more exhibits. Friendly, clean, and fun place.

Tera Lynn Gray

Kids and I drove an hour and a half for the endangered species presentations. Checked online first and they claimed they were still open and event was happening. The large 'closed due to weather' sign on the front gate was very disappointing! We got out of the car and took pictures of animals from the parking lot. Rain won't stop this family!!

jp holmes

Very well kept. Wolves were very cool.

Lynn Quilan Beltran

Had a great time with my daughter and granddaughter at the zoo today. Other guests were pleasant and the employees were really nice. I got a year yearly pass for my family, can come anytime.

Michael Fairclough

The cages was not well equipped to make the animals well homie... for instance the ball eagles cage was too low and small

dakota Fox

This zoo does a lot with a little. While it's small compared to zoos in other cities it has interactive areas with smaller animals and allows you to get some wonderful views of wildlife. The pens are built into the landscape giving a much more realistic feel to the experience. Only took about an hour to walk through but it was very memorable. Monkey and Great Cat exhibits were the highlights for me.

Glenda Stoecker

Can't wait to see the new exhibits coming up

Bernard Buck Elk

Good family time!

Alec Boysun

An absolute awesome place to visit

SHANE Goodman

My kid loved this place. She got to feed all kinds of animals.

Heidi Hendricks

The animals are well taken care of; many animals to sew; the people are very nice; there are things for kids and families to do. Love it!

Corina McCalister

Great place for the whole family!

Sergio Smith

Love this zoo! We've had a family membership for a couple of years now and it is one of our favorite outings to go to. Great staff and it is pretty clean! They have good indoor exhibits for winter time, and fantastic outdoor exhibits for summer months! When it's hot, there's a stomp pad for the kiddos to keep cool. Always a joy bringing the kids here!

xSpYdEr125x

I had a pretty good time but i also was horrified at the living conditions of some of the animals their cages were unkept and about 25 percent of the animals were not in the exhibits.

Steven Peterson

Great place to take young kids too

Mechanical Mayhem

Actually a very enjoyable place for the family, well kept and lots of fun animals to see. Recommended for a nice relaxing day in Bismarck, ND!

HOPE BAKER

We love this zoo! It’s just big enough you can enjoy all the animals without rushing around. The animals are active and often visible. The zoo membership is the way to go!

Jeanetta Turner

I loved coming to the Dakota Zoo. It was beautiful to see the animals in spacious living areas. It was easy to get around in, the staff was friendly and loved sharing their knowledge of the animals, has a nice eating area and the admission, food and drinks was all fordable.

dakota Fox

This zoo does a lot with a little. While it's small compared to zoos in other cities it has interactive areas with smaller animals and allows you to get some wonderful views of wildlife. The pens are built into the landscape giving a much more realistic feel to the experience. Only took about an hour to walk through but it was very memorable. Monkey and Great Cat exhibits were the highlights for me.

Bob Moulson

If you do decide to go here, make sure you bring bug spray. I've not seen mosquitoes this bad before. They should sell bug spray in the gift shop. They would make a fortune. Take the train first so you see everything. It is $3.50 a person, so not bad. The exhibits are ok, but it seemed like a third of them are empty. They have a fake rattlesnake in one. The camel was frothing at the mouth bad. If I come to Bismarck again, I'll probably go to something else.

Justin Chow

For a city the size of Bismarck, the display of animals is actually quite impressive. I've been to larger zoos we other more varied animals, but I'd say this one is still worth your time. The crown jewel in their collection are the tigers, so don't miss that!

Brenda Gibbs

Need more animals. Thought it would be bigger zoo

Teresa Beck-Glass

A great place to spend the afternoon with my granddaughter - riding the train to see all of the animals, playing on the playground, or checking out the learning center.

Timothy White

Very Nice Zoo for a small city. Clean, well kept, animals looked well cared for. Good afternoon.

Eric Knight

Good as always

Nikki Spethman

Very nice and relaxing place to take the kids... meet up with my sisters and nephews.

Becky Dressler

Very clean and resonable entry fee

Jerami Ryder

My son had a blast!! All the animals were out. Cheap fun entertainment for the family. We will definitely be back when the penguin exhibit opens.

Tammie Fisher

Seemed a little unkept. Tall grass in exibits couldn't see the animals.

Kristie Kulzer

Great place. Super friendly and knowledgeable staff. Train rides and concessions. Large area to walk. Definitely a great place to spend the day. Lots to explore with kids! Some new baby animals this year too!

Greg Lucas

We stopped here to break up the road trip and ended up spending the whole day, even the food was pretty good. I have yet to make it back again but someday I hope to visit again. I was expecting a small local zoo but they have hundreds of animals so plan to spend a decent amount of time in order to see all of them.

Becky Dosch

We have loved this zoo since our kids we're young. They keep the grounds clean and the patches are easy to navigate on foot or with a stroller. Too tired to walk any more? Hope the train and see the entire zoo.

Jennifer Anderson

Wonderful visit, we were able to see the animals and walk around in a smoke free environment. Staff is very knowledgeable about each animal and knows the names of all animals in the zoo. Parking is easy and general admission is not super expensive like at some other zoos.

Brian Dose

So, the animals seem happy but being a self taught native flower guy, I could not help but notice all the invasive weeds running amuck. It was almost like they made a decision to let the weeds take over. We have been to the following zoos: San Diego, Washington DC, Brookfield, Lincoln Park (Chicago), Omaha, Forest Park (St Louis), Traverse City Michigan, Miller Park (Bloomington IL)...so we have seen some zoos. But, back to the animals, the bear and wolves were very active. The displays were dated but ok. All in all, a decent way to spend a couple of hours.

stan shelnutt

Nice zoo!

Shoe Blue

Very nice zoo

Charissa Syvinski

Spent a few hours here re recently. Very nice zoo! Lots of animals and the zoo keepers answered some questions for us at one of the exhibits. Reasonably priced. Lots of petting and feeding options.

Teri Stone

As much as I hate to say this, the zoo is in desperate need of major renovations and more animals.

Jamie Oster

Very good experience

Michael

Nice zoo good place to take the kids if you need something to do in Bismarck.

Heather Harper

One of my son's favorite places to visit.

Madisen Houston

Wonderful place for families and people of all ages! Highly recommend a visit!

Jackie Nicholson

Love the zoo and taking the family and grandchildren. The train ride is fun but need better guides.

Martha Johnson

Wonderful zoo, lots of animals and beautiful scenery.

Frank Clark

My wife and I spent about 2 and half hours walking the zoo grounds. It was so peaceful. We thought it was very clean and all the animals looked very happy and healthy as well

David Secker

Very nice exhibits and helpful staff. Good place for an afternoon adventure!

Darcy Catalano

Was very nice. My grandsons first trip to the zoo.

Cassie Brandt

This is the most amazing zoo I've ever been to. Only $9.50 for adults and they had tons of animals ( I must say, no elephants or african animals, but I did not miss them). We got to see all the predators up close, there is a really cool wooded loop for walking and all sorts of animals. Do not miss out on this great zoo.

Jamie Bredeson

Who doesnt like the zoo. A variety of animals and a cute lil petting zoo.

Cheryl Fladager

Great family zoo. Has a fun train that you can ride and tour the whole zoo. It's a great way to see the whole area. They have a very wide range of animals. A kiddie park and really fun discovery area to go in and cool down on hot days. They also have fun family activities you can attend through out the year.

Cassie Harrison

Been pretty much the same for the past 35 years. We were members but my kids only wanted to go once because they said it was boring. And I won't disagree

Victoria Pauling

This is our favorite zoo in ND! Big areas for the animals, a fun playground for kids, and just a beautiful facility to walk through. Our kids love the tunnels that go into the animal enclosures!

KC P

Nice place to bring your family.

Luke Torgerson

Very large zoo. Good variety of animals.

DeMay Fox

There were a few cages that didn't have animals in them. Other than that the walk, playground and animals they do have were fun to see and watch! Was very fun feeding the Shetlands as well.

Hope Landsberger

My daughter lovea to come to the zoo and see the beara. As of right now theres not to much to see due to them. Doing a renovation but still a wonderful place to bring ypur kids for the day no matger the age!