San Francisco Zoo 2026: Tickets, Hours, Animals & Visitor Guide

San Francisco Zoo & Gardens is a 100-acre zoological park and botanical garden on the Pacific Ocean shore in southwest San Francisco, home to 1,500+ exotic, endangered, and rescued animals of 260+ species. In 2026, adult tickets (ages 12–64) cost US$29 on weekdays and US$31 on weekends and holidays; children (2–11) pay US$20 weekdays / US$22 weekends; seniors (65+) pay US$24 weekdays / US$26 weekends; under 2s are free. The zoo opens 9:30–16:30 every day of the year. Muni riders get US$1 off admission.

San Francisco Zoo & Gardens has occupied its stunning Pacific Ocean–side location since 1929, making it one of the most scenically situated zoological parks in the United States. The combination of ocean breezes, lush park landscaping, and an extraordinary animal collection — including North America’s largest lemur forest, grizzly bears, snow leopards, African lions, and a celebrated penguin colony — gives it a character entirely its own.

The zoo spans 100 acres and includes a historic 1921 Dentzel Carousel (one of only a handful remaining in the USA), a 115-year-old miniature steam train, a Wild Explorer Virtual Reality Theatre, and the Fisher Family Children’s Zoo. With no timed entry and no daily visitor cap, it remains one of San Francisco’s most relaxed and unhurried major attractions.

Top Tickets

# San Francisco Zoo Admission Ticket
# San Francisco Mega Pass (5 top attractions)

San Francisco Zoo Tickets — Prices & Options

San Francisco Zoo & Gardens uses different prices for weekdays and weekends in 2026. Adult (12–64): US$29 weekdays / US$31 weekends & holidays. Senior (65+): US$24 weekdays / US$26 weekends. Child (2–11): US$20 weekdays / US$22 weekends. Under 2: free. SF residents, active and retired military, and visitors with disabilities pay resident rates (US$26 adult on weekdays). SNAP/EBT/WIC cardholders pay US$3. Muni riders get US$1 off at the ticket window. Online and gate prices are the same (plus a US$1 processing fee online).

Category	Weekday Price	Weekend & Holiday Price
Adult (12–64)	US$29	US$31
Senior (65+)	US$24	US$26
Child (2–11)	US$20	US$22
Under 2	Free	Free
SF Residents / Military / Disabled	US$26 (adult)	US$28 (adult)
SNAP/EBT/WIC cardholders	US$3	US$3
Muni riders (show same-day receipt)	US$1 off at window	US$1 off at window

There is a US$1 processing fee for online purchases; this fee is waived at the ticket window. Online and gate prices are otherwise identical.

San Francisco Zoo Admission Ticket

Full access to all 100 acres, all 1,500+ animals, all keeper talks and feeding sessions, the Wild Explorer VR Theatre, and the Fisher Family Children’s Zoo. No time limit — spend as long as you like. Carousel (US$4/person) and miniature steam train (US$4/person) cost extra.

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San Francisco Mega Pass

Covers San Francisco Zoo plus four other top San Francisco attractions from a curated list. Excellent value for visitors spending multiple days in the city. Available as All-Inclusive (1, 2, 3, or 5-day options) or Explorer Pass (choose 2–5 attractions, valid 30 days).

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San Francisco CityPASS

Save up to 45% on the SF Zoo plus three more top San Francisco attractions (from a list of 8, including Alcatraz, California Academy of Sciences, and Exploratorium). Valid for 9 days. A strong option for first-time SF visitors planning a multi-attraction itinerary.

Opening Hours

San Francisco Zoo & Gardens is open 365 days a year, including Christmas Day, from 9:30 to 16:30. Last entry is 15:30 (one hour before closing). The Children’s Zoo and most animal areas close at 16:00. There are no separate summer or winter hours — the zoo maintains consistent 9:30–16:30 hours year-round. Parking costs US$11 on weekdays and US$13 on weekends and holidays.

	Details
Opens	9:30
Closes	16:30 (last entry 15:30)
Open Year-Round	Yes, including Christmas Day
Parking (weekdays)	US$11
Parking (weekends & holidays)	US$13

Note: The zoo has two parking entrances — off the Great Highway for East/South Bay drivers, and at Sloat Boulevard at 47th Avenue for North Bay visitors. Purchase exit ticket at the main gate when leaving.

Best Time to Visit San Francisco Zoo

Visit San Francisco Zoo at opening (9:30) on a weekday for the best experience and lowest ticket price. Animals are most active in the morning, feeding sessions begin at 10:15, and crowds are lowest on weekday mornings. Weekends are noticeably busier. San Francisco’s coastal microclimate means mornings can be foggy and cool — bring a jacket. The afternoon Pacific breeze makes the zoo more comfortable than it might seem on a hot day elsewhere in the Bay Area.

San Francisco’s weather is genuinely distinctive. The coastal fog (famously nicknamed “Karl”) is most common in summer mornings but can appear any time of year. The zoo’s location by Ocean Beach means it is often 5–10°C cooler than the rest of the Bay Area. Pack a light layer regardless of the season.

How Long Does San Francisco Zoo Take?

Allow 3–4 hours for a comfortable visit to San Francisco Zoo with children, including key feeding sessions and exhibits. Adults covering the highlights efficiently can visit in 2 hours. Families who want to include the steam train, carousel, and children’s zoo activities should budget 4–5 hours. The zoo covers 100 acres with no internal transport beyond the miniature train — comfortable walking shoes are essential

Feeding Times at San Francisco Zoo

San Francisco Zoo’s most popular feeding sessions are the Grizzly Bears (10:30 — bears sprint across the habitat to reach food, drawing enthusiastic crowds) and the African Penguins (10:30 and 15:30). Other notable sessions: Red Panda (10:15), Chimpanzee Talk (11:15), Sea Lion (14:00), Big Cats (14:30), and Giraffes (16:30 — available Apr–Oct when Giraffe Lodge is open).

Session	Time	Location
Red Panda	10:15	Exploration Zone
Grizzly Bear	10:30	Bear Country
African Penguin (AM)	10:30	Penguin Island
Chimpanzee Talk	11:15	Chimp Habitat
Sifaka	12:30	Primate Discovery Centre
Meerkat	12:30	Exploration Zone
Sea Lion	14:00	Fred Carroll Family Sea Lion Pool
Big Cats	14:30	Lion House
Rainforest Animals	15:00	SA Tropical Rainforest & Aviary
African Penguin (PM)	15:30	Penguin Island
Giraffes (Apr–Oct)	16:30	Bernard Osher Giraffe Lodge

What to See at San Francisco Zoo

San Francisco Zoo’s headline attractions: Kachina and Kiona, the orphaned grizzly bear sisters whose feeding sprint is a crowd favourite; the Giraffe Lodge (open Apr–Oct) where visitors stand at giraffe eye level; North America’s largest Lemur Forest; Mexican grey wolves (Prince, David Bowie, and Jerry Garcia); the South American Tropical Rainforest and Aviary; and the African penguin colony. The restored 1921 Dentzel Carousel and 115-year-old steam train are iconic for families.

Must-See Animals & Exhibits

• Grizzly Bears — Kachina & Kiona: Two orphaned sisters whose 10:30 feeding session is among the most exciting keeper demonstrations at any US zoo. The bears sprint across their habitat to reach their keepers.
• Giraffe Lodge (April–October): Visitors enter the lodge while giraffes are fed at 16:30, enabling eye-level encounters. A genuinely memorable experience.

• Lemur Forest: North America’s largest lemur collection — multiple species in naturalistic habitats throughout the zoo’s dedicated lemur area.
• Mexican Grey Wolves: An endangered species almost extinct in the wild. The three wolves (named Prince, David Bowie, and Jerry Garcia) are visible from a 270-degree viewing area.
• South American Tropical Rainforest & Aviary: Walk-through building with birds, two-toed sloths, and anacondas with minimal barriers between visitors and animals.
• Penguin Island: African penguins with twice-daily feeding sessions (10:30 and 15:30).
• Koret Animal Resource Center (ARC): Watch trained volunteers and keepers care for animals; learn about conservation programmes directly from the people running them.
• Fisher Family Children’s Zoo: Petting area with farm animals (sheep, goats), three distinct playground zones (toddler, preschooler, pre-teen), and the Dentzel Carousel nearby.

Historic Attractions

• Little Puffer Miniature Steam Train: The zoo’s 115-year-old steam train carries passengers through Bear Country and South America sections. A beloved tradition for generations of San Francisco families. US$4/person.
• Dentzel Carousel (1921): A national treasure — one of fewer than 150 original Dentzel carousels surviving worldwide. Beautifully restored with 1,000 hours of work per animal. Riders choose from hand-carved horses, lions, dragons, cats, and more. US$4/person; adults ride free standing by a paid child.
• Wild Explorer VR Theatre: Immersive Virtual Reality experience transporting visitors to the high-elevation forests of Rwanda to experience wildlife conservation firsthand.

San Francisco Zoo vs Oakland Zoo

San Francisco Zoo (100 acres, 1,500+ animals, 260+ species, Pacific Ocean setting) and Oakland Zoo (50 miles away, 85+ acres, 850+ animals, 260+ species) are the Bay Area’s two main zoological parks. SF Zoo is larger, more historic, and more centrally located in San Francisco. Oakland Zoo is smaller but has invested heavily in new habitats and is known for its California Trail native wildlife section. For families with a single day, San Francisco Zoo is the stronger choice for sheer variety and the iconic Pacific coastal setting.

Restaurants at San Francisco Zoo

• Leaping Lemur Café: Central location with indoor and outdoor seating. International menu — the best all-day dining stop in the zoo.
• The Station Pizza Parlor: Near the Little Puffer Train depot. Outdoor seating overlooking the Bear exhibits and Eagle Islands.
• Café Playfield: Adjacent to the Elinor Friend Playground. Children’s meals made with local organic produce.

Visitors can bring their own single-person food supply in small containers. No large coolers, glass items, or alcohol permitted.

Getting There

San Francisco Zoo & Gardens is at Sloat Blvd and Great Highway, San Francisco, CA 94132. By public transport, take the MUNI L Taraval line outbound to the Zoo — and show your Muni receipt at the ticket window for US$1 off admission. MUNI bus lines 23 and 18 also stop at the Zoo. By car: two parking lot entrances (Great Highway or Sloat Blvd at 47th Ave). Parking: US$11 weekdays, US$13 weekends. Free street parking is available along Sloat Blvd past the entrance.

Address: Sloat Blvd & Great Highway, San Francisco, CA 94132

• By MUNI L Taraval (recommended): Take the L Taraval line outbound to the Zoo stop. Show same-day Muni receipt at the ticket window for US$1 off admission.
• By MUNI bus: Lines 23 and 18 stop at the Zoo entrance. Lines 18 and 23 serve different parts of San Francisco — check SFMTA.com for current routes.
• By car: Two parking entrances: Great Highway (for East/South Bay drivers) or Sloat Blvd at 47th Ave (for North Bay drivers). Purchase exit ticket at the main gate. US$11 weekdays, US$13 weekends.
• Free parking: Street parking along Sloat Blvd past the entrance is free — a popular option for budget-conscious visitors.

Frequently Asked Questions

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