Queens Zoo is an 18-acre zoo in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park in Queens, New York City.
The cageless zoo features American animals and birds such as Andean Bears, Bisons, Wolves, Sea Lions, Waterfowl, Raccoons, Otters, Mountain Lion, etc., in naturalistic settings.
In this article, we share everything you must know before booking your Queens Zoo ticket.
Table of contents
What to expect at Queens Zoo
Check out the video below to get an idea of what animals you will see at the zoo.
How to reach Queens Zoo
The Queens Zoo is at 53-51 111th Street in Flushing Meadows Corona Park, Queens, New York.
The Zoo is one of the many attractions in the Park.
Queens Zoo entrance
You can enter via park path on 111th Street, between 49th and 50th Avenues (south of NYSCI and north of Terrace on the Park).
Or enter the Park near the ‘Playground for all Children’. (Corona Ave & 111th Street)
By Subway
Take the #7 train to 111th Street Station.
The Queens Zoo is 1 km (.6 miles) from the station, and you can walk the distance in about 12 minutes.
By Bus
Take Bus No Q58 to Corona Avenue and once you get down at one of the many bus stops, either take an uber or walk the distance.
Queens Zoo parking
If you plan to drive to Queens Zoo, it is better to fire up your Google Map and follow the directions.
Since the Queens Zoo has no parking of its own, you can use either the public parking near the zoo or near Queens Museum.
Queens Zoo hours
The Queens Zoo opens at 10 am, all through the year.
During the summer, the Queens 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.
The Queens Zoo business hours are as follows:
| Dates | Opening hours |
|---|---|
| 27 Mar to 6 Nov, Mon to Fri | 10 am to 5 pm |
| 27 Mar to 6 Nov, Sat & Sun, holidays | 10 am to 5.30 pm |
| 7 Nov to 26 Mar, Daily | 10 am to 4.30 pm |
Best time to visit Queens Zoo
The best time to visit Queens Zoo is as soon as they open 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.
Image: Queenszoo.com
We recommend weekdays for a peaceful visit because it gets crowded on weekends and school holidays.
How long does Queens Zoo take?
If you are visiting with children, you may need two hours to explore Queens Zoo.
Children tend to linger longer around their favorite animal enclosures, attend feeding sessions, keeper talks and try out numerous experiences.
If you are in a hurry, you can walk past all the exhibits at the Queens Zoo in 45 minutes.
Queens Zoo discounts
At the Queens 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.
Queens Zoo tickets
Queens 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 Queens 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.
Queens Zoo prices
Adult ticket (13 to 64 years): $9.95
Senior ticket (65+ years): $7.95
Child ticket (3 to 12 years): $6.95
New York is a paradise for wildlife-loving families. Read about all the Zoos in New York.
Queens Zoo animals
Queens Zoo is one of the first zoos to be conceived as a cageless zoo.
The picturesque zoo features animals from the Americas who are
divided into their natural habitats.
The Aviary
The Aviary’s dome is from the 1964 World’s Fair, which was held in Flushing Meadows.
The massive enclosure houses many birds from across the Western Hemisphere.
Visitors can expect to see Cattle Egret, Scarlet Macaw, Sun Conure, Bobwhite Quail, Military Macaw, Blue & Yellow Macaw, etc.
Domestic Animals
At this exhibit, visitors see fascinating domestic animals, some of which can even be touched.
Kids love the Flemish giant rabbits that can grow to be as heavy as 9 kgs (20 lbs), Texas Longhorns whose horns span six feet, Belted Galloway Cow (also known as Oreo cows), Jacob’s Four-horned sheep, etc.
Sea Lion Pool
Both adults and kids love the sea lion pool because of all the drama the sea lions put up.
Kids love to see the sea lions use their oar-like flippers and torpedo-shaped bodies to dive and swim.
Sea Lion Feeding at Queens Zoo happens at 11.15 am, 2 pm, and 4 pm, every day.
Since it can get crowded, it is better to reach the book at least 15 minutes before feeding.
Animal Trail
This section of Queens Zoo has an array of wildlife from the Americas.
In here, visitors see animals such as Coyote, American Bison, Canadian Lynx, Southern Pudu, Andean Bear, Pronghorn, Puma, Roosevelt Elk, etc.
Don’t forget to look up and spot the Bald Eagle.
Waterfowl Marsh
Waterfowl March is home to water wildlife that is native to the Americas.
You can expect to see Canvasbacks, Hooded Mergansers, Redheads, lots of fish, and Turtles.
You must keep an eye out for the colorful Argentine Ruddy Duck.
Queens Zoo map
If you wish to cover the Queens Zoo in good time, it is best to get the zoo map.
A map can help you locate the enclosures and sections and the facilities such as restrooms, restaurants, playgrounds, stroller/wheelchair rentals, souvenir shops, etc.
Maps can be handy for families with kids, especially if they want to spend more time with their favorite animals or want to create an itinerary in advance.
You can download the Queens Zoo map now or bookmark this page for later.
Sources
# Queenszoo.com
# Wikipedia.org
# Nycgovparks.org
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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