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Cleveland Metroparks Zoo

3900 Wildlife Way · Cleveland, OH

Why you should go…

Set in a wooded valley just south of downtown, the zoo spreads 3,000 animals across immersive habitats like African Elephant Crossing and Australian Adventure. The two-acre indoor RainForest makes it a legitimate year-round destination, biting Cleveland winters included. Budget a full day, it's bigger than you think.

  • #zoo
  • #animals
  • #kids
  • #rainforest

Good to know

General attractions guidance

Habits that pay off across this whole category, not rules for this one venue. Always check the official site for the specifics.

  • Book the time slot, not just the ticket

    Timed entry is now the norm at big-draw attractions, and online tickets are often cheaper than the gate.

  • Grab the daily schedule on arrival

    Feeding times, keeper talks, and shows run on a posted timetable that changes day to day.

  • The first hour is the quietest

    Queues build through late morning and peak after lunch, so an early start buys you the shortest waits.

  • Budget past the ticket price

    Parking, lockers, strollers, and food inside the gates are common extras worth planning for.

What's around here?

The closest stops to Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, ordered by straight-line distance. A few more like it, plus some different kinds of fun so you can build a full day.

  • Shopping
    Local Gem

    Steelyard Commons

    Free

    A big-box shopping center built on a former Cleveland steel mill site along the Cuyahoga River.

    1.5 mi awaySwitch it up: Shopping

  • Attractions
    Quirky Fun

    A Christmas Story House & Museum

    Under $25

    Tour the actual house from the holiday classic, leg lamp in the window and all, in Cleveland's Tremont neighborhood.

    2.1 mi awayMore like this

  • Shopping
    Quirky Fun

    B.A. Sweetie Candy Company

    Free

    A 20,000-square-foot candy warehouse stacked with retro sweets, plus mini golf and a soda shoppe.

    2.1 mi awaySwitch it up: Shopping

  • Eat & Drink
    Local Gem

    Great Lakes Brewing Company

    Under $25

    Ohio's pioneering craft brewery: pints of Christmas Ale and Edmund Fitzgerald in a historic Ohio City brewpub, plus guided brewery tours.

    2.7 mi awaySwitch it up: Eat & Drink

  • Attractions
    Family Favorite

    Greater Cleveland Aquarium

    Under $25

    Sharks glide overhead in a 175-foot sea tube inside a converted 19th-century powerhouse on the Cuyahoga River.

    3.5 mi awayMore like this

  • Attractions
    Iconic

    Rock & Roll Hall of Fame

    $25–$50

    The I.M. Pei glass pyramid on Lake Erie where music history lives, from Elvis's jumpsuits to Hendrix's guitars.

    4.4 mi awayMore like this