Miami Zoo is the largest zoo in Florida and one of the most family-friendly activities in Miami.
The zoo covers an area of 750 acres and is home to over 3,000 animals from around the world.
Zoo Miami is divided into themed exhibits: Asia, Africa, Amazon and Beyond, and Australia.
The exhibits feature various animals, including elephants, lions, tigers, rhinoceroses, giraffes, zebras, gorillas, orangutans, and many more.
The best thing about the Miami Zoo is that the animals aren’t kept in cages but roam freely in their natural habitats.
Also known as the Miami Metro Zoo, this tourist spot attracts one million visitors annually.
Miami Zoo is a popular destination for animal lovers and families visiting the Miami area, offering a fun and educational experience for all ages.
This article explains everything you must know before booking Miami Zoo tickets.
Top Miami Zoo Tickets
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Miami Zoo ticket prices
Visitors can purchase tickets to the Miami Zoo online and at the attraction’s gate.
While buying online tickets, you can book them in advance or buy same-day tickets.
The online booking ticket price for adults is $22, and for children aged 3 to 12 is $21.
When you book the Miami Zoo ticket in advance, you save a few Dollars per person on the ticket cost.
Buying at the Zoo’s ticket counter is at least 10% costlier.
Purchasing your tickets for Maimi Zoo online will also save you the hassle of standing in a long queue at the counter.
Same day ticket prices
The same-day online booking price for Miami Zoo is $22 for adults and $21 for children aged 3 to 12.
Even if you reach the Miami Zoo, you can still purchase your tickets online and save a few Dollars.
These online tickets are also called as Fast Track tickets because they help skip the queue.
Important: You don’t need to print online tickets. You can show them on your mobile and walk in.
Miami Zoo discount
Miami Zoo offers discounted tickets to children up to twelve years of age.
Kids two years and below can enter for free, while children aged 3 to 12 get a $1 discount.
The Zoo also offers 25% off regular admission for seniors above 65 years, but you can only book these tickets at the counter.
Unfortunately, they don’t offer a reduction in the ticket price for visitors with disabilities.
Discount Alert: When you book skip-the-line entry to Miami Zoo and Miami Seaquarium together, you get an additional 10% off. Find Out More
Miami Zoo tickets
You get a physical ticket when you buy your Miami Zoo tickets at the venue (as in the pic).
However, we suggest you buy your tickets online, much in advance, for a better experience. Image: Usaforforeigners.com
You can choose from two types of Miami Zoo tickets – the Basic Entry Ticket or the Food & Beverage Package.
The Miami Zoo tickets we have recommended below are smartphone tickets.
Immediately after purchase, they get emailed to you, and on the day of your visit, you show the ticket in your email (on your mobile) and walk in.
*Kids two years and below enter for free.
Basic entry ticket
Miami Zoo has only one ticket, with which you can explore everything inside.
For additional experiences such as animal feeding etc., you must pay extra.
However, they offer an upgrade called: Miami Zoo’s Food & Beverage Package.
With this offer, adults save $5 by pre-booking lunch online compared to buying it on-site.
This great value package includes a lunch basket with fries and a souvenir cup with a fountain drink.
Choices for lunch baskets include burgers, chicken tenders, deli wrap, hot dogs, BBQ pulled pork, or handcrafted salad.
Price of only tickets
Adult (13+ years): $22
Child ticket (3 to 12 years): $21
Cost of tickets with food package
Adult (13+ years): $35
Child ticket (3 to 12 years): $34
On the ticket booking page, you must select the type of ticket you want to purchase.
Visual Story: 13 must-know tips before visiting Miami Zoo
Miami Zoo for free
There are only two ways to experience Miami Zoo without buying any tickets.
Get the Membership
If you are a local, buying the Zoo membership is the best way to enter for free.
You get unlimited free entries throughout the year if you are a member.
Buy Go Miami Card
If you are holidaying in Miami, this is a great discount card.
For one flat fee, it gets you free entry to over 30 tourist activities, attractions, and tours in Miami.
As for the Miami Zoo, you can show the Go Miami card and get free admission.
How to reach Miami Zoo
The Miami Zoo is off the Florida Turnpike’s Exit 16, near many other South Florida attractions such as Everglades, Florida Keys, etc.
Miami Zoo Address: Zoo Miami, 12400 SW 152 St., Miami, FL, 33177. Get Directions
If you are a local, the best way to get to Zoo Miami is by car via the Florida Turnpike (exit 16).
There are a lot of parking slots at the Miami Zoo, and it is free. Click here to know more about the nearby parking lots.
If you are a tourist, we recommend taking a bus and getting down at SW 124 Avenue and 152 Street bus stop, which is the closest stop to the Miami Zoo.
The bus stop is 2 Kms (1.2 Miles) from Miami Zoo, and you can walk the distance in 20 minutes.
You can also take an Uber or Lyft from where you get down. Estimated Uber rates to reach Miami Zoo below –
| Type of Uber vehicle | Cost |
|---|---|
| UberX | $9-10 |
| Connect | $7 |
| UberXL | $13-14 |
| Lux | $11.50 |
| Comfort | $12-14 |
| Premier | $18-20 |
| Premier SUV | $23-25 |
| Uber Pet | $13-14 |
On weekends and holidays, Miami-Dade Transit offers a public bus service inside the Miami Zoo.
You must board bus route 252, available hourly between 9 am and 6 pm on weekends and public holidays.
You can also contact the Miami Zoo authorities at 305-251-0400, ext. 0 or 305-278-4929 between 10 am and 4 pm for a complimentary ride to the entrance.
Miami Zoo hours
Miami Zoo opens at 10 am and closes at 5 pm every day of the year.
The last ticket is sold at 4 pm.
Some animals start going in for the night at 4.30 pm.
On Christmas, the Zoo opens at 12 pm and closes at 5 pm; on Thanksgiving Day, it begins at 10 am and closes at 3 pm.
Feeding times at Miami Zoo
If you and your kid are interested in feeding the animals in this Zoo, you have multiple options.
Giraffe feeding
During this feeding session, you climb a wooden platform and face the Giraffes even as they wrap their long tongue around the food in your hand. Image: Zoomiami.org
Time: 11 am to 4 pm
Cost: $5 per feed or $12 per basket of feed
Rhino feeding
This is a chance to feed the Greater one-horned Indian Rhino. The massive Rhino steps up to you opens his huge mouth, and takes the food from your hand from his prehensile lip.
The Rhino’s noisy chewing is the highlight of this session.
Time: 11 pm and 3 pm
Cost: $5 per feed
Camel feeding
This is a chance to feed the Dromedary camels (also known as the Arabian camels) of the Zoo.
Time: 11.30 am, 1.30 pm & 3.30 pm
Cost: $5 per feed
Giant Tortoise feeding
In this session, you and your kids can feed the World’s largest living tortoise species.
Time: 12.30 pm and 2.30 pm
Cost: $5 per feed
Bird feeding
This is a much sought-after activity and is also suitable for smaller kids.
You get into a 1,656-square-foot aviary housing 100 plus colorful birds and feed them.
This feeding session’s highlight is the birds’ chirping and singing, which gives you an out-of-the-world experience.
Time: From 11 am to 4 pm
Cost: $3 per feed
Best time to visit Miami Zoo
The best time to visit Miami Zoo is as soon as it opens at 10 am.
The Zoo is not too crowded early in the morning, and the animals are still fresh and active.
Moreover, the afternoons get pretty hot if you’re visiting in the summer.
The afternoons also get crowded, and navigating your way around the place becomes tough.
Best season to visit
No one wants to be in a Zoo in the blistering sun as the sweat and humidity take all the fun away.
This is why Spring is the best season to visit Miami Zoo.
The weather remains pleasant from mid-February to May.
The temperature is just right, and there is hardly a chance of a hurricane.
How long does Miami Zoo take
Miami Zoo is a massive attraction, and if you visit with kids, you will need five to six hours to see all the animals, listen to keeper talks, attend the shows, and try out the rides.
You can explore Miami Zoo in three hours if you are a couple of adults.
We recommend regular stops at restaurants to energize yourself.
Don’t waste your time waiting in the ticketing queue. Book your tickets to Miami Zoo in advance.
Monorail or Tram at Miami Zoo?
To explore the Miami Zoo, you can walk, take a Safari cycle or opt for a Monorail or a tram.
If you are traveling with kids or aren’t in the best shape, we don’t recommend the walk or safari cycle.
It would be best if you chose either the Tram or the Monorail.
Monorail at Miami Zoo
For an aerial view of Zoo Miami’s beautiful canopy and animals, you can board the air-conditioned Monorail.
It has four convenient stops throughout the zoo, which makes it an excellent way to explore the wildlife attraction.
Monorail costs $5 per person for an all-day pass. The service starts at 10.30 am and continues till 5.15 pm every day.
Here is the path the monorail follows within Zoo Miami –
Tram at Miami Zoo
Miami Zoo’s Safari Tram takes visitors along the public walkway on a narrated tour of Asia and African habitats.
During the 45-minute Tram tour, visitors relax even as they learn about the Zoo’s animal collection.
You can purchase the Tram tickets for $7 per person from the tram booth near the Conservation Action Center.
Even though it is costlier, for a better experience, we recommend the Tram.
With six world-class zoos filled with thousands of animals, Florida State is a wildlife lover’s paradise. Read about the best zoos in Florida.
Miami Zoo map
Miami Zoo comprises 740 acres, 346 of which are developed and houses the Zoo.
Visitors who want to see all the animals must walk over 5 Kms (3 Miles) of walkways lined with exhibits.
With so much to see and do, losing track of your location inside the zoo is easy.
Besides finding the animal enclosures, Miami Zoo’s map will also come in handy in finding visitor services such as restrooms, cafes, monorail tracks, etc.
You can either bookmark this page or take a printout of the Miami Zoo map to take it along.
Children’s Zoo within Miami Zoo
Children love visits to the Zoo – they are intrigued by the different animals and are curious to know more.
Miami Zoo understands this, and that’s why it has a special attraction called ‘Children’s Zoo’ built for these little explorers.
Kids can ride the theme-park-style wildlife carousel and feed the animals at the Wacky Barn.
If your child wants something adventurous, they can get on the Humpy’s Camel ride.
The best part? It doesn’t cost much but increases the excitement levels of your child. Book your Miami Zoo tickets.
Miami Zoo reviews
At 4.5, Miami Zoo is a highly-rated tourist attraction on Tripadvisor.
Check out two Miami Zoo reviews we have selected, which give you an idea of what to expect at the Zoo.
Great Zoo!
We were in Florida in Jan for two weeks and went to the Miami zoo one of the days. What a large and beautiful zoo it is! We found it to be clean and the workers very friendly. This is a must-see if you are in the Miami area. Jeffrey F, Ohio
Great zoo with lots of animals and activities
Zoo Miami is a great way to spend a day with the family, especially for those with younger children. For tourists, it is a bit of a trek away from South Beach, where tourists tend to stay. However, if you’re traveling with young kids or are merely just an animal lover and enjoy a walk through a large park, this is a great activity. Prices are reasonable considering everything that’s included. MJT0813, Florida
Sources
# Zoomiami.org
# Wikipedia.org
# Tripadvisor.com
# Holidify.com
The travel specialists at TheBetterVacation.com use only high-quality sources while researching & writing their articles. We make every attempt to keep our content current, reliable and trustworthy.
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