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Como Park Zoo & Conservatory

1225 Estabrook Dr, St. Paul, MN 55103 · St. Paul, MN

Why you should go…

A St. Paul treasure since 1897: a compact, walkable zoo with gorillas, big cats and polar bears, plus the stunning glass-domed Marjorie McNeely Conservatory dripping with orchids and palms. Admission is by voluntary donation, making it one of the best family freebies in the Midwest. The steamy Sunken Garden is pure bliss in January.

  • #zoo
  • #conservatory
  • #gardens
  • #free
  • #family

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 Como Park Zoo & Conservatory, ordered by straight-line distance. A few more like it, plus some different kinds of fun so you can build a full day.

  • Museums
    Family favorite

    Bell Museum

    Under $25

    Minnesota's natural history museum: beloved restored wildlife dioramas, hands-on labs, and a state-of-the-art digital planetarium.

    1.9 mi awaySwitch it up: Museums

  • Sightseeing
    Iconic

    Minnesota State Capitol

    Free

    Cass Gilbert's 1905 marble statehouse with one of the world's largest self-supported marble domes, free guided tours leave hourly.

    3.0 mi awaySwitch it up: Sightseeing

  • Sightseeing
    Iconic

    Cathedral of Saint Paul

    Free

    One of America's grandest domed churches, crowning a hill with sweeping views over downtown St. Paul.

    3.2 mi awaySwitch it up: Sightseeing

  • Attractions
    Historic

    Historic Fort Snelling

    Under $25

    Restored 1820s stone fort at the Mississippi–Minnesota confluence, where costumed interpreters unpack centuries of layered history.

    6.3 mi awayMore like this

  • Attractions
    Family Favorite

    Minnesota Zoo

    $25–$50

    4,800+ animals plus the Treetop Trail, the world's longest elevated pedestrian loop, on 485 wooded acres.

    16 mi awayMore like this

  • Attractions
    Family favorite

    Valleyfair

    $25–$50

    Minnesota's big amusement park since 1976, 40+ rides, eight coasters, and the included Superior Shores Waterpark on the Minnesota River.

    19 mi awayMore like this