The Peoria Zoo is a popular zoo located in Peoria, Illinois – about 165 miles from Chicago.
It is a medium-sized zoo that covers an area of approximately 14 acres and houses a diverse collection of animal species from around the world.
The zoo offers various exhibits and attractions that allow visitors to get up close and personal with the animals while learning about their natural habitats and conservation efforts.
Peoria Zoo is a popular destination for animal lovers, conservation enthusiasts, and families seeking an educational and enjoyable day out.
This article covers everything you must know before booking tickets for Peoria Zoo.
Top Peoria Zoo Tickets
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What to expect at Peoria Zoo
With more than 400 species worldwide and various interactive exhibits, the Peoria Zoo offers visitors of all ages an experience they will never forget.
Every time spent at the zoo is enjoyable, whether giving food to the goats at Petting Corner, watching the sea lions relax in their pool, or interacting with the rhinos on Hornbill Island.
It’s not just mammals at the zoo, either!
You can see amphibians like the Frog, invertebrates like the Tarantula and Scorpion, and birds like the Hawk, Emu, and laughing Kookaburra.
Youngsters can interact with the gentle white rhinos up close or discover everything there is to know about the zebu.
They can see those cunning mole rats or learn what a mandrill is!
Keepers also provide special events, educational activities, and private tours during the year.
A Safari Gift Shop at the Peoria Zoo’s entrance offers a wide selection of fantastic items and souvenirs.
Where to book tickets
Tickets for Peoria Zoo are available online and at the attraction.
Online ticket prices tend to be cheaper than tickets at the attraction.
When you buy online, you can avoid the long queues at the ticket counters.
Booking early allows you to get a sense of the Zoo’s calendar and helps avoid last-minute disappointments.
How do online tickets work
Visit the ticket booking page for Peoria Zoo, select the preferred date and number of tickets, and buy the tickets immediately.
Once you purchase tickets, they get delivered to your email address.
There is no need to get printouts of the ticket.
Show the e-ticket on your smartphone at the entrance and walk in.
Please carry a valid ID with you.
Peoria Zoo ticket price
The Peoria Zoo ticket is priced at US $12 for all visitors aged 13 to 64 years.
Seniors aged 65 and above get a discount of US $1 and pay only US $10.
Kids between two and 12 are charged a discounted fee of US$9
Infants up to 1 year get in for free, but you must get a free ticket for them as well.
Peoria Zoo entry tickets
Step into the animal world and discover how they live, play, and eat.
You get access to six exhibits and can view 100 different species worldwide with your Peoria Zoo entrance ticket.
With daily professional presentations arranged throughout the day, you can learn about the needs of caring for animals.
The playground with the rock wall is part of the tour.
Giraffe and budgie feedings are available seasonally for an additional charge and can offer extra unique touches to your visit.
Ticket price
Adult Ticket (13 to 64 years): US$12
Senior Ticket (65+ years): US$11
Child Ticket (2 to 12 years): US$9
Infant Ticket (up to 1 year): Free
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How to get there
The Peoria Zoo is located in Glen Oak Park in Peoria.
Address: 2320 N Prospect Rd, Peoria, IL 61603, United States. Get Directions
You can reach Peoria Zoo by bus or car.
By Bus
The nearest bus stop is Prospect and McClure.
You can also get off at Prospect and Gift, 400 meters (0.3 miles) from the attraction.
If you fail to get down at Prospect and Gift, you can also stop at Prospect and Arcadia/Peoria Zoo/Glen Oak, which is again 400 meters (0.3 miles) from the zoo.
By Car
The easiest way to get to Peoria Zoo is by car, so turn on Google Maps and get started.
You can find several parking spaces around Peoria Zoo.
Peoria Zoo timings
Peoria Zoo is open daily from 10 am to 5 pm.
The last admission allowed is at 4.30 pm.
The zoo is closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve, and New Year’s Day.
How long does Peoria Zoo take
Visitors typically see all the animal displays, unique attractions, and wildlife performances at Zoo Peoria in four hours.
You might need an extra hour if you are visiting with the kids.
Youngsters frequently stop to take photographs and eat when they are near their favorite animal cages.
Some families end up staying at the zoo all day.
If you are visiting with an adult group that is short on time, you can move more quickly and finish it in two hours.
Best time to visit Peoria Zoo
Since Peoria Zoo opens at 10 am, it is best to go as soon as possible.
The animals retreat to shady regions as the day goes on and grows hotter, making them occasionally difficult to see.
The first half of the day is when the animals are most active, and there are also fewer people and lines.
When you arrive early, you have plenty of time to explore the zoo before lunch.
Peoria Zoo often draws a sizable crowd on weekends and holidays.
To avoid crowds, schedule your visit for the week if feasible.
The fantastic time to visit the zoo is during the rainy season since animals are usually more active during this time.
Peoria Zoo Map
A map is necessary to organize your visit to the 14-acre Peoria Zoo because it is spread out.
Finding the enclosures, sections, and facilities like restrooms, restaurants, picnic areas, locker rooms, and gift shops will be simpler.
They are useful for families who want to start watching their favorite animals instead of whatever is in the way.
You can navigate the Zoo’s grounds more easily and spend less time getting lost or hunting for specific exhibits by using the map of the facility.
Peoria Zoo exhibits
Scroll down to learn more about Peoria Zoo’s exhibits.
Africa Exhibit
The Peoria Zoo’s African exhibit, Zambezi River Village, has a created Zambezi River surrounded by grasslands.
It has six species groupings that are all preserved in artificial natural environments.
Some of these animals are red river pigs, giraffes, lions, and Colobus monkeys.
Asian Trail
Heading down the Asian trail reveals animals from Asia, including the Galapagos tortoise, the Muntjac deer from Taiwan, and the revered Takin from China and the eastern Himalayas in Asia.
Australia Walk-About
Go on a walkabout between 10 am and 4.30 pm to see Australian wildlife.
Wallabies and Emu may both be accompanied when walking.
Several viewing areas outside the exhibit offer additional opportunities to watch these creatures.
To witness Australian birds, Emus, laughing Kookaburras, or Black swans, go to the Budgie Aviary.
Conservation center
At the Conservation Centre, you will find a few endangered species, such as the Chinese alligator, spotted turtle, Mexico axolotl, cardinal tetra, and firehead tetra.
Contact Barn
Children can get up close and personal with a variety of animals in this area of the zoo, like domestic donkeys, chickens, zebu, llamas, and the Nigerian dwarf goat.
They can also view Koi fish in a pond.
Tropics Exhibit
The Tropics Exhibit shows the Greater Spear-nosed Bat, various geckos and other reptiles, and frightful insects like scorpions and tarantula spiders.
Here you may also see African animals, including slender-tailed meerkats, black-handed spider monkeys, mongoose lemurs, and ring-tailed lemurs.
FAQs about Peoria Zoo
Here are a few frequently asked questions about the Peoria Zoo.
You can buy tickets at the Peoria Zoo. However, online tickets are also available if you don’t want to wait in a queue for longer times.
At Peoria Zoo, visitors aged 13 to 64 years pay US $11, while children aged 2 to 12 years pay US $10. Senior tourists over 65 years old need to pay US $10.
You will need four to five hours to walk around and see all the animals and exhibits.
Yes, visitors can feed the giraffes at the Peoria Zoo. But you need to buy tickets from the gift shop since giraffe feeding is not included in the online ticket.
Yes, the wildlife attraction in Illinois is open to the public during winter as well. However, it remains closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve, and New Year’s Day.
The Peoria Zoo is open from 10 am to 5 pm every day. The last admission allowed is at 4.30 pm.
Yes, the Peoria Zoo is wheelchair accessible.
Sources
# Peoriazoo.org
# Wikipedia.org
# Tripadvisor.com
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