Prospect Park Zoo is a 12-acre wildlife extravaganza off Flatbush Avenue in Prospect Park, Brooklyn, New York City.
The Prospect Park Zoo may be smaller, but it still boasts nearly 400 animals from 150 different species.
With an average of 300,000 visitors each year, the zoo offers three themed exhibition venues that are housed in dedicated buildings.
This zoo is perfect for families with young children who want to learn about wildlife, as it provides close-up views of some of the wildest and most unique animals.
This article covers everything you must know before buying tickets for the Prospect Park Zoo.
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What to expect at Prospect Park Zoo
Come and explore Prospect Park, located in Brooklyn, which is the perfect destination for those who want to escape the city and connect with nature.
Visit some unique small cats, such as the Pallas’s cats, which are known as the original grumpy cats, and black-footed cats.
The zoo is home to a range of animals, ranging from dingos to red pandas.
Attend training sessions that help to stimulate sea lions, or head to Quest Stations and take part in interactive activities that connect you to wildlife and ways to save animals in the wild.
How to reach Prospect Park Zoo
The Prospect Park Zoo is located on the eastern side of Prospect Park in Brooklyn.
Address: 450 Flatbush Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11225. Get Directions
You can reach Prospect Park Zoo by public transport or car.
Zoo entrance
Visitors must enter the Prospect Park Zoo from the Prospect Park Children’s Corner entrance at Flatbush Avenue and Empire Boulevard.
The entrance on Flatbush Avenue is closed at this time.
By Subway
Take the B train or Q train (local or express) or the local Franklin Avenue Shuttle (S) to Prospect Park Station.
You must exit at Flatbush Avenue/Ocean Avenue and walk north on Flatbush Ave. to the zoo.
The zoo is .65 km (.4 miles), and the walking time is approximately 10 minutes.
By Bus
Take the B41 local to Flatbush Avenue or the B47 to the intersection of Flatbush Avenue and Empire Boulevard.
Once you get down at the designated bus stop, walk north on Flatbush Avenue to get to the zoo.
By Car
Prospect Park Zoo has no parking garage of its own.
However, there is a limited number of street parking on Flatbush Avenue.
Prospect Park Zoo hours
The Prospect Park Zoo opens at 10 am all through the year.
During the summer, the Prospect Park Zoo remains open till 5 pm on weekdays and till 5.30 pm on weekends and holidays.
During winter, the Zoo is open till 4.30 pm on all days.
The animal exhibits close half an hour before the closing time of the day.
The last entry to the Zoo is 30 minutes before closing time.
Best time to visit Prospect Park Zoo
The best time to visit Prospect Park Zoo is as soon as it opens at 10 am.
Early in the morning, the animals are most active, and crowds are just about getting in.
As the day progresses and the temperature goes up, animals get lethargic and get into the shaded areas.
We recommend weekdays for a peaceful visit because it gets crowded on weekends and school holidays.
How long does Prospect Park Zoo take
If you are visiting with children, you will need two hours to explore Prospect Park Zoo.
Children often spend more time at their favorite animal exhibits, attending feeding sessions, keeper talks, and trying out various experiences.
If you are a group of adults in a hurry, you can walk past all the exhibits at Prospect Park Zoo in an hour.
Prospect Park Zoo discounts
At the Prospect Park Zoo, active US military and veterans qualify for a complimentary General Admission ticket for themselves and 50% off for up to three guests.
While booking the tickets, you must use promotional code MILITARYCITY for active personnel and VETERANCITY for Veterans.
The Military member must bring along a valid ID during their visit.
Prospect Park Zoo tickets
Prospect Park Zoo recommends that you purchase your tickets online and in advance.
The daily capacity is limited, and tickets are sold on a ‘first-come, first-served basis.
Booking your Prospect Park Zoo tickets online (and in advance) ensures a guaranteed entry.
All tickets are timed, which means while booking, you must select the time of your visit.
You don’t need to purchase tickets for infants two years and below.
Prospect Park Zoo price
Adult ticket (13 to 64 years): US$10
Senior ticket (65+ years): US$8
Child ticket (3 to 12 years): US$7
Find out everything about the four fantastic zoos in New York.
Animals in Prospect Park Zoo
Prospect Park Zoo has lots of animals to see. After all, it houses more than 850 animals, representing about 175 species.
The zoo is a great way to get your wildlife fix alongside the beautiful Brooklyn Botanic Garden.
Discovery Trail
At Discovery Trail, visitors can see animals from diverse corners of the world in settings similar to their natural habitats.
In this part of the zoo, you will spot the Red Pandas.
Some of the other highlights are Tufted Deer, Dingo, Black-Tailed Prairie Dog, Emu, North American River Otter, etc.
Hall of Animals
In Prospect Park Zoo’s Hall of Animals, visitors get to see some of the smallest faces in the animal world.
The highlights of this part of the wildlife attraction are the Dwarf Mongoose, Poison Dart Frog, Red-Crested Turaco, Fly River Turtle, Fennec Fox, etc.
Image: Prospectparkzoo.com
Animal Lifestyles
At Animal Lifestyles, visitors see numerous animal exhibits showcasing life in water, air, and land.
Each exhibit holds a carefully controlled environment that features select animals.
Image: Prospectparkzoo.com
In here, you also see a troop of Hamadryas Baboons and the visitor’s favorite Pallas cat.
Other animals to watch out for are Golden Lion Tamarin, Geoffrey’s Marmoset, Wreathed Hornbills, Lettered Aracari, etc.
Barn & Garden
The Barn & Gardens is Prospect Park Zoo’s equivalent of a children’s zoo.
At this working barn, kids love interacting with the Sheep, Cows, Goats, Ducks, Geese, Alpaca, Pigs, etc.
Image: Prospectparkzoo.com
They can also feed the animals a handful of grain.
Sea Lion Court
The Sea Lion Court forms the heart of the zoo, and the Sea Lions tend to be the most popular residents.
Every day, zookeepers train these curious and intelligent animals, and visitors can witness the sessions.
During these training sessions, the sea lions get noisy and naughty, and there is a lot of laughter around.
From Monday to Friday, the Sea Lion training and feeding at Prospect Park Zoo happens at 11.30 am and 3.30 pm.
On weekends it happens three times – 11.30 am, 2 pm and 3.30 pm.
Map of Prospect Park Zoo
If you are visiting with kids, a map helps you stay on course and not get lost.
Besides helping you locate the exhibits, Prospect Park Zoo’s map can also help you figure out where the restaurants, playgrounds, restrooms, stroller/wheelchair rentals, gift shops, etc., are.
You can download the map of Prospect Zoo now or bookmark this page for later.
Restaurants in the zoo
Guests who want to re-energize can stop by the Sea Lion Store and Café, located in Sea Lion Court, for some food and drinks.
The Cafe offers freshly prepared sandwiches, salads, and lots of healthy snacks.
They also serve ice cream, Dippin’ Dots, candy, and Birds and Beans coffee.
Families who brought lunch from home can use the numerous outdoor picnic tables in the zoo.
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