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Saint Louis Zoo

1 Government Drive, St. Louis, MO 63110 · St. Louis, MO

Why you should go…

Consistently ranked among the best zoos in the country, the Saint Louis Zoo is home to more than 14,000 animals across immersive habitats like the Penguin & Puffin Coast and Big Cat Country. Best of all, general admission is completely free every single day. Come early, grab a zoo train ticket, and make a full day of it in Forest Park.

  • #zoo
  • #animals
  • #family
  • #forest park
  • #free admission

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

  • Museums
    Rainy-Day Pick

    Saint Louis Art Museum

    Free

    World-class art, from Monet to Max Beckmann, in a stunning Beaux-Arts palace atop Forest Park's Art Hill. Always free.

    0.4 mi awaySwitch it up: Museums

  • Sport & Outdoor
    Outdoor Adventure

    Forest Park

    Free

    Bigger than Central Park and packed with free museums, lakes, trails and gardens, St. Louis's magnificent backyard.

    0.4 mi awaySwitch it up: Sport & Outdoor

  • Theatre & Events
    Iconic

    The Muny

    $25–$50

    America's oldest and largest outdoor musical theatre, Broadway-scale shows under the stars in Forest Park, with nearly 1,500 free seats every night.

    0.7 mi awaySwitch it up: Theatre & Events

  • Attractions
    Family Favorite

    St. Louis Aquarium at Union Station

    $25–$50

    Sharks, rays and 13,000 aquatic animals inside a grand 1894 train station, plus a 200-foot Ferris wheel next door.

    4.4 mi awayMore like this

  • Attractions
    Quirky Fun

    City Museum

    $25–$50

    A 10-story playground of caves, slides, tunnels and a rooftop Ferris wheel built from salvaged city treasures. Pure magic.

    4.9 mi awayMore like this

  • Attractions
    Family favorite

    Grant's Farm

    Free

    The Busch family's 281-acre estate: free admission, a tram through roaming deer and bison, goat-feeding chaos, and the famous Clydesdales.

    6.9 mi awayMore like this