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Arkansas Alligator Farm & Petting Zoo, Hot Springs, AR

Photo: Picturesque Hot Springs National Park, E. L. Glass, Hot Springs, Ark., Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped and resized.

AttractionsFamily FavoriteQuirky FunLocal Gem

Arkansas Alligator Farm & Petting Zoo

847 Whittington Ave, Hot Springs, AR 71901 · Hot Springs, AR

Why you should go…

Founded in 1902, the Arkansas Alligator Farm and Petting Zoo is one of Hot Springs' oldest tourist attractions, built to give visitors something to do beyond the thermal baths. The zoo houses alligators alongside miniature goats, wolves, lemurs, raccoons and other animals in a hands-on petting zoo setting. Visitors can feed baby alligators meat on a stick and watch live alligator feeding shows held several days a week from May through mid-October.

  • #zoo
  • #family
  • #animals
  • #petting zoo
  • #history

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

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    Buckstaff Bathhouse

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    A historic 1912 bathhouse on Bathhouse Row offering traditional thermal mineral baths and spa services.

    1.1 mi awayMore like this

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    1.2 mi awayMore like this

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