Reviews of Columbus Zoo and Aquarium (Zoo)

Sherry Moore

Amazing zoo! The animals were so well taken care of! Loved the atmosphere and the environments. We traveled to the area just to see the zoo, and would for sure recommend it to others!

Lauren Snyder

I cannot recommend this zoo enough. Kids, adults everyone of all ages will enjoy it. The animals exhibits are all large and you can tell the animals have plenty of enrichment. The zoo talks a lot about conservation and has staff around the park to teach you about the animals. You can tell how passionate they are. They answered any questions you have.

Amanda Biviano

Weekend

Steve Capo

Visited on

Charles E Carpenter

We love the Zoo! We got a family membership gifted for my birthday, so now its our favorite to go to especially in the fall or winter. When its a bit cooler out the animals are definitely more active. If you're going to pay for an extra activity, skip the giraffe feeding and do the camel ride!

Charles E Carpenter

LOVE our Columbus Zoo. Great for all ages. You can go when it’s cold during zoo lights or when it’s hott and all the animals are out. Elephants are by far my favorite to see, love when they are outside :)

Melissa Hall

Wait time

Michael Penrod

Pretty legit place. Kids loved the carnival style ride area. Main zoo is huge!!! We barely scratched the surface. Tip they have very limited food options at this time (mid may 2021) bring your own food. The only places to eat were at the main entrance. And the lines stay super long:(

Megan

We come here quite a bit but decided to see the lights that they put up. It was crowded, but that’s because it was such a great experience. The staff did a great job. The line was very long too get in, but their efficiency made it less than a 10 minute wait to enter the park. I’ll definitely take my family here again.

Robert Hobbs

Free

Carolyn Ford

No wait

Jake Gordon

One of the best Zoos I've been to. Lots of places to see, easy to navigate, train available, handicap trails available, and lots of little pop ups for treats, snacks, drinks, beer, gifts, and face painting. Wear some comfy shoes but pathways are very nice. I wished they had an octopus.

Eric Murray

Aside from a few exhibits being closed this zoo provides a great day out this time of year (October). The decorations are charming to see for Halloween. The animals were enjoying the nice weather and many were very frisky. The additions are super fun and the playful sea lions were a hit for everyone. It's a great way to see and learn about animals and the plaques are helpful for anyone who wants to know more about the rescue process as well as how to help. The grounds were clean and the staff is always friendly. I enjoy visiting multiple times a year.

Jennifer Gigliotti

Price for adult entry

Aaron Atkisson

I have a great time every time I visit the Columbus Zoo. There are a variety of animals both indoors and outdoor. The day I was there I got to see the cheetah race which was pretty entertaining. I’ve heard the zoo lights are amazing and I hope I have a chance to visit in the future!

Paris Bolden

We love the zoo! We live two and a half hours away and we still got a membership here. There's so much to do! I wish they had more live shows but I'm hoping they will once covid passes. I loveee that the cheetahs have emotional support dogs. We can't wait to bathe an elephant! We'll be back soon :)

Tricia Hefner

Wait time

Amber Hart

No wait

Christine Kesler

Yes

Wisco Simple

Visited on

Wisco Simple

$16–20

ravenstorm 12

Wow! One of my favorite zoo's by far. The new seal exhibit is amazing. You can walk through a see through tunnel and watch the seals swim all around you. Absolutley amazing and worth the experience. I like how the animals are in groups from where they come from. Lots of different kinds of experiences from riding camels, touching snakes and sting rays, feeding sting rays and giraffes. Several play areas for kids (however one is closed probably due covid). The zoo does not require masks right now but recommends them in and a few areas for those not vaccinated. Great place for anyone of any age. Bathrooms are located all throughout. Food and drinks are allowed to be brought in (although they do have lots of places to purchase food and drinks from inside the park) from home. No straws to protect the animals. Amazing zoo and great family experience.

Jesica Philistin

The Columbus Zoo is just incredible! Adventure cove is open and the zoo is back to full capacity. The food is actually pretty good , plan on about 15$ per person to eat each meal. I highly recommend spending the 3$ to feed the giraffes, it is pretty cool. Another great feature is Stingray Bay where you can feed and touch the Stingrays. All in all its a fantastic family destination for a full day of fun .

Fred Pineau

I enjoyed my visit to the Columbus Zoo plenty of interesting exhibits to see, the gorillas being my personal favorite. The boat ride to see the animatronic dinosaurs was awesome. The rides were also fun. The layout of the zoo could flow better and even to we bought tickets online ahead of time it was still somewhat of a hassle to get in the zoo. But over all it was a fun day.

Deborah Tingler

Wait time

Anna Miller

Great experience and kids love it. Camel ???? ride giraffe ???? feeding cheetah ???? Run aquarium fish ???? feed Lots of food ???? places in side, train rides and ???? seals underneath, many sit out places as well. Huge parking. Suggest to take 15$ wristbands for rides so that kids experience many different things.

Crystal Payton

Love this zoo! This was our first time seeing the lights. We are from California and did not expect to see so much here. So many exhibits and animals were able to be seen! Lots of concessions for hot coco and coffee to keep you warm. What a great time!

Stacy

Had a great day and pretty much all the animals were out to see . Loves the new dinosaur area and ride. Leland loved the carousel. Great family day wit more than enough to see and do.

Wendy Szczerbiak

Weekday

Maryam Liberman

Visited on

Andrea Velasquez Reynard

$21–30

Kristin Gonterman

Visited on

Sarah Selzer

Weekend

Alison Covert

Not sure

Dawn Grieves

Visited on

Breanna Louis

Another fun trip to the zoo. It was Boo at the Zoo, they had a train with costumed characters and booths handing out candy. We had a wonderful time, even if our feet are a little exhausted. They had qr codes a lot of places for menus, maps, and informational videos which I thought was a great idea.

Erica Y. Portier

Amazing Zoo! Animals appeared energetic, healthy with nice enclosures and great enrichment activities. Really enjoyed watching the animals playing and having fun. Fairly good size zoo, well maintained, plenty of RV parking, and great family activity. There is a parking fee. It was not very busy and after a couple of short rain showers the people pretty much cleared out but the animals were still having a grand time. A lot of baby animals to see at this zoo too. Even saw the 6 week old baby elephant!

Jennifer Johnson

Yes

Amber Penner

What an amazing place! The zoo is huge, and we didn’t even make it through everything, despite spending 5+ hours there. There were fantastic animal exhibits (otters, bats, and koala were my favorites!) and if you times it right, you could see feedings at certain exhibits, with a zookeeper providing additional info. We got to see the Tasmanian devils enjoy their lunch. My son loved the camel ride, and the whole family thought Dinosaur Island was a blast, although the train ride was a letdown (short, loud, and nothing good to look at). There’s a playground with some water/splash pad type stuff happening so the little ones could cool off. Food options could be better. It seemed like 60% of the concession stands just sold soft pretzels, which was redundant (and difficult when you have a 5 year old who hates soft pretzels). We didn’t have time for the aquarium or rides on our visit, but we’ll definitely be checking those out next time!

Vena TrollSlayer

Yes

Jerry Wilkin

Wait time

Jay HoL

Visited on

Tammy Smith

Absolutely amazing people work here. On our red panda experience: Tom, the woman who was helping him, the red panda keeper. On our twilight golf cart tour: our driver Joy and her young lady helper (and Tom again!) And a HUGE thanks to Brianna who fielded more phone calls than anyone should ever have to with grace and patience. Let me explain. I have an adult daughter with mobility and vision deficiencies and trying to figure out what she would be able to see and do was a bit of a challenge. Brianna served as liaison between us and the keepers so my girl got to experience something "normal" (her word, not mine) people get to do and she had the time of her life!! Through a ton of teamwork the zoo staff arranged for a folding chair to be brought into the red panda exhibit, helped us guide her through the twisted trail up to the exhibit door (she had to be out of her scooter to make this 30 ft walk) and then maneuvered her through the double safety doors so she could sit in the chair and participate in the red panda experience. Then reverse the process afterwards. WAY ABOVE EXPECTATIONS!!!! And then, after that awesome experience, we get on the tour with Joy and she gets us into the most amazing parts of the zoo and with the best close up views of the animals. We were so close to the cheetahs my daughter could see their spots! It was wonderful!! I can't say enough good things about these people. It was so obvious that they love their jobs and care about not only the animals but the people who want to see and learn about them. Definitely worth your time--be sure to check out the special experiences you can do!!

Karlton Howlett

Price for adult entry

Kassie Richardson

This Zoo was amazing! It was in the 30's today, however the animals that were out were so active! It was nice to see them enjoying the weather (bears, foxes, wolves, reindeer, moose). The indoor viewing platforms were clean and with less traffic we were able to take our time in the reptile houses and really view the animals! We had a wonderful time and plan to come back in the summer!!

William Lieberman

Yes

Travis McBride

Absolutely wonderful. Went with friends and we all had an excellent time. The hot coco at the Cinnabon was excellent. Part of the zoo are open to see animals as well.

Vinod Kuwar

Reservation recommended

HOMEGROWNLOSER

Exciting light with music. Many food and drink stands. Can be very crowded and most people don’t wear masks. Best time to visit is mid afternoon while animals are quite active around feeding time; and stay till dark when lights are shining with Christmas music.

miranda byrd

We just love the Columbus Zoo. This last time that we went it was cool and had rained so the animals were all very active.

Frankie Fawkes

Up to 10 min

Zachary Evan Medley

Lights were awesome! Cold but so worth it!

Deanna Sticha

$11–15

Sarah hyatt

Visited on

Jeffrey Kanne

Price for adult entry

Sarah Armoto

No wait

Ahmad

$21–30

Natasha Kilby

Price for adult entry

Mary Anne

Yes

Myesha Jahmall

No wait

Mallik Reddy

No wait

Isaac

Great place to see some animals and then watch the lights. And, enjoy the Christmas music with the lights. Got some good snacks & drink stores, too. Great for family or just chill :) Nice crowd, not super crowded. Going around 3pm is good, cos’ when we left, saw a long line of people entering and alot of cars coming, too

Robert Eblin

So much to do and the animals are very active. Nice big zoo with lots of activities. Sadly, Zoo employees that we came into contact with were all very rude.

Raine Baker

Visited on

Roger Deutsch

Wait time

Clint Strong (powderwt)

Glad to see most animals were out! Im glad it wasn’t over crowded. Definitely wear your walking shoes. I highly recommend bringing your own food and drink as well.

Adam M

Reservation recommended

Danielle Randall

Wait time

Vasu M

$21–30

jarred lowe

This zoo is amazing! I have been to many different zoos and this was our best time ever! We have the brown bears playing in the water with each other. The polar bears are always playing. The cheetahs which are my daughter's favorite were so close she could hardly contain herself. If you are ever in the area be sure to stop here!

Hannah Boss

No wait

Jennifer Mauch

Yes

Gaurav Agrawal

Reservation recommended

Daniel Coley

Wait time

Courtney Sellers

Huge zoo. Lots of things to see/do. Well worth the drive and visit.

Abby D

Wait time

a hamilton

Reservation recommended

WK Loh

Public holiday

Chad Hunkins

We spent 5.5 hours at the zoo. The exhibits were well maintained. The staff friendly and helpful. The zoo was clean. Our favorite exhibit was the polar bears and Africa. I recommend a visit if you are in the area. $21 for kids. $28 for adults.

Kevin Draiss

I enjoyed this zoo. It had a variety of animals and the enclosures were spacious.

Raven

Weekday

Joanne Moore

It was so good to get back to the Zoo! Last year, 2020, was a mess and we weren't able to go to the zoo. Decided this year to renew our membership and it was the right choice! It was a great day. All the animals were out and the new section of the zoo was really cool. It was fun to see the sea lions and pet the stingrays. Looking forward to many more trips this year. PS the lights at Christmas are really cool.

Wendy Szczerbiak

It is a great zoo. So many animals and other attractions to see and do. Plenty of things for kids of all ages.

David Pyle

A little pricey but the Wild Lights display was fantastic. Best to go earlier in the season. After Christmas and it's very busy. Not a lot of animals but you're there for the lights, hot chocolate and funnel cakes, of course.

Jordan Brown

Weekend

Anne Leidigh

Price for adult entry

Andrew Summerford

Great zoo! Great place to take the Family. Prices were very reasonable. Lots of animals and stuff to see and do. Very well maintained park. But, Bad RV Parking, not marked well. Everybody parked there.

Scott Sypien

Holiday light show is beautiful. Buy tickets in advance if possible as line to purchase tickets there is long.

Joe Malinowski

Wildlights at the zoo we feel this zoo is right up there with Disney's animal kingdom. Love this zoo so much.

Victor Santana Jr.

We come from Toledo and get half off with our Toledo Zoo membership which is pretty cool. We like Columbus Zoo because there is a lot more to do there vs other zoo's. We like the rides and variety of animals. Staff is nice and friendly as well. The ride bracelets are worth the extra money and will save some money instead of paying individually for rides.

Victor Santana Jr.

We come from Toledo and get half off with our Toledo Zoo membership which is pretty cool. We like Columbus Zoo because there is a lot more to do there vs other zoo's. We like the rides and variety of animals. Staff is nice and friendly as well. The ride bracelets are worth the extra money and will save some money instead of paying individually for rides.

Danielle Caudill

Great zoo, everyone is masked but still quite crowded. Didn't feel comfortable going inside the exhibits that were open, but there are plenty of outdoor exhibits to see and enjoy. Well worth the visit!

Ben Stout

Reservation recommended

Nephi Wright

Definitely worth the two hour drive. Plenty of things to do and plenty of animals to see. I was excited that they're doing shows, so you get a chance to see the animals in action. My daughter and i love the polar bear exhibit and the giraffes. Still haven't had a chance to go to the water park...planning on it in the future. Definitely going back before summer is out.

Charity Pleasant

Wait time

Bruce Phipps

We had a great moments here, it was Sunday, 70 f cloudy and crowded! My kids enjoyed in all rides. I wouldn't recommend families to visit this zoo only one day! At least you need 2 days. Definitely, we'll visit it again.

Johna Grennell

Yes

Kendra McKinney

Price for adult entry

Janelle Ward

Weekday

Bill Baughman

What an amazing zoo. First time to Columbus and definitely had to visit Jack Hanna's zoo. Unfortunately we went mothers day and it was dumping rain all day so most of the animals in the outside exhibits were hiding from the rain but we made the most of it and enjoyed all the indoor exhibits. We all signed up for the 'Chatting w/ the Cheetahs' tour. It was awesome to see all the Cheetahs up close and personal and to learn about each one. As part of the tour, you also get to see, pet, and feed an aardvark, and meet some warthogs.

James O'Keeffe

Weekend

emeka duru

Loved it! We got there as early as we could and im glad we did because while it wasn't busy when we first got there and we were able to make a huge dent in seeing all there is to see. By around noon the people were everywhere! We thought about going through the sting Ray room again but saw the line and thought we've seen it once this trip that's okay. Gift shops were very nice. We had a snack food to hold us over until we got to eat and it was very good. Unbelievable how many creatures there were to see and most of them awake and playing or eating or something! Also the caretakers actually had a wonderful relationship with the animals!

Jackie S. Wishop

$31+

Jeremy Ginsberg

Great Zoo! Very open, and outside. Love that you can go to a exhibit and walk all around it to see the animals

Marissa Stewart

Visited on

Beth Colvin

Wait time

Ayana

Weekend

Andrew Johnson

Free

S W

Reservation recommended

Adam Chester

Beautiful holiday light displays. Well staffed and courteous service.

livvie kalinoski

A good zoo with a decent variety of animals including Kangaroos, Tigers, Koalas, Gorillas, Polar bears, Black and Brown bears, Red Pandas and few others. However I found that some of the star attractions such as Tigers were left in an enclosure which is right next to the highway which is quite noisy and polluting. The gift shop also did not have anything on the Kangaroos, which was a surprise here.

Heather Warden

Visited on

Amber Herrera

Had a wonderful time. The animals were active and well taken care of. Wasn't busy at all on veterans day which allowed him to handle going due to his ptsd crowd issues. He loved it and love seeing other veterans and little kids. One of the few social things he is comfortable with.

Muid Chowdhury

We planned our vacation around coming to Ohio and to this Zoo. It was fun, fun and more fun! Buy your tickets and your parking in advance and go to the front of the line. Get there early and you can park close so that when the day is over you are able to be right at your car. We spent eight hours and had a wonderful time. I strongly suggest buying the all-you-can-drink Pepsi cup with attached straw. It was a little over $10 but considering one drink is more than $3, it was well worth it and you have a souvenir 2021 cup. I also suggest buying a $14.99 band for your child if they like to ride rides in the amusement section of the zoo or if they like to ride the train and through the dinosaur portion. You can also ride a pony and a camel included in the fee. It is well well worth it. The workers were great this year. Be sure and arm yourself with plenty of sunscreen. There are some cool off spots with water sprays which are enjoyable by all. Jack Hanna's influence on this day has been amazing. We'll come back again.

Annie Cardell

10–30 min

Kolayah Martincic

Weekend

Steven H

Beautiful cool day to go to the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium. Parking was $10. Plenty of parking. I bought my tickets at window. I got a discount because I am a member of another zoo(Cincinnati). Just an FYI. This is a big zoo. I suggest a 2 day visit to see it all. My family only finishes half each time you go. First place we went was left to Adventure Cove. You can see sea lions and Harbor seals swimming around from above or go through the tubes. From there, went to Jack Hanna's Animal Encounters Village and saw many different animals you don't get to see. Next stop, Stingray Bay. This was a fun time because you can touch and feed the rays. We headed for Shores and Aquarium area next. Discovery Reef has a variety of fish and a few sharks in a large tank where you can sit and watch them. After that, headed to Manatee Coast. The area for the Manatees is big. There is a gift shop after seeing them. We did see a some of the Australia area but some was only open on the weekend. Kids wanted to go to Dinosaur Island but this late in the season it is only open on the weekends too. So, off to the Congo area. They have many primates here from Colobus monkeys, Mandrill, Bonobo, and gorillas. We spend alot of time there. Gorillas are very active and entertaining. Zoo was going to be closing soon so had a enough time to visit the Reptile house and hit the gift shop before leaving. Like I mentioned before, 2 days needed. It is definitely worth the trip there. Next trip back, we'll visit Asia, North America, Africa, and Yukon area. I can't wait!!

Shelley Price

Reservation recommended

Varun Palaniswamy

Love this place! It's been 10 years since our last visit and we made a spur of the moment decision to stop by on our way home from visiting with family for Thanksgiving. Zoo lights did not disappoint! So much time and precise effort went into all of the displays! The light displays are vivid and dance to the holiday music playing throughout the park. To our surprise several of the animals were able to be seen. So much fun and Frankie, the 4 mos old baby elephant was so cute! Our littlest one truly had a blast. We hope to be back in the summer!

lili sanchez

It has been years since I've been to zoo. I love all the changes that have took him place since the last time I've been there.. plenty of places to eat. Stage shows and then activity area for kids

LeAnndra Pettit

Free

Larry Hinkle

$21–30

Dr S.C

Reservation recommended

Shannon P

Visited on

Shannon Kurtz

Visited on

Vickie Willis

Weekend

seth kindred

I can see why people purchase two day tickets, we were there for hours and still didn't get to see all the exhibits. Another trip will be planned in the future to see the places we missed. Food is super expensive so next time we will bring our own snacks.

Neil H.

Weekend

Todd Cooper

Definitely a fun experience!! The sting ray petting pool was amazing!! Some animals weren't out but still good and not a bad price, paid $45 for 2 adults and 2 year old was free. Will definitely be going again. They also have a water park but was closed the day we went but it looked like a lot of fun.

Rachel Lloyd

Public holiday

Ashly Schuck

No

Michael Hagy

We went there for my youngest daughters birthday this year. I highly recommend buying a wristband for the carousel, Pony, camel boat, moose and train ride. Is you buy it it's much cheaper than paying individually. A few animals weren't available for viewing due to covid but its was still very fun.

Victoria Cavendish

Reservation recommended

Michelle Sturgill

I love Columbus Zoo so much that I barely took any photos because I was having too much fun. It had been a while since I'd been to the zoo, and a lot had changed. I had an awesome time, and I can't wait to go back!

Simi

Pricey, not really any animals out. But the lights were beautiful.

Terika Bledsoe Bailey

10–30 min

Edna Morton

Visited on

Timothy Parsons

Price for adult entry

Joshua Dingess

I always had a great experience at Columbus zoo. Been to various other zoos in Texas, Maine and few other places. Columbus zoo has been always our favorite. We do have a family member ship and that's always a bonus. I would highly recommend to get a membership. There is always various events that takes place there. Winter lights has always been our favorite. We don't miss it. African safari is the best.

Juan Perez

Wait time

Laura Slowinski

$11–15

Brion Davis

Love this Zoo!!! I'm from the Cincinnati area so I'm used to the Cincinnati Zoo which I love!! But the Columbus Zoo has a lot less hills to walk up and down. Also they have several rides! The Africa exhibit is amazing!!

Shari Nelson

The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium is always a wonderful place to visit! They spend a lot of time and effort on exhibits and enrichment for the animals, and provide a lot of information about each animal as well as conservation. The park is easily accessible for those with mobility challenges and has a number of play areas for children. The entire zoo is a large area, so plan on wearing comfortable shoes, and maybe making it a two-day trip. Seeing everything means you'll be walking about 5 miles! Masks are currently NOT REQUIRED for all areas of the zoo, indoor and out, but suggested for unvaccinated guests.

Stephanie Evans

Beautiful day, active animals. Happy to see lights up in the day. It was a perfect day enjoying the zoo with my daughter.

Aaron Kilby (The Kilby Life)

Amazing zoo! The animals were so well taken care of! Loved the atmosphere and the environments. We traveled to the area just to see the zoo, and would for sure recommend it to others!

Ashlynn Allen

Very large place. Multiple attractions to see. Must wear good shoes. Not all exhibits open on our trip due to weather. Must plan in advance due to covid. There is besides the zoo portion a water park and rides. Cannot do it all in one day.

Charmaine McGunia

$21–30

Lina Luv

Some of the animals were put up when it rained thank goodness but over all it was a great experience. I would recommend getting the souvenir cup because the day your there it's free refills. After that they are only .93 cents.

Rawnie Rune

Weekend

Jessica

I visited the Columbus Zoo on Presidents Day which made it free admission because of the public holiday. It just so happens that my birthday is on that day so that made it extra special to me ! :) There was plenty of animals to see and I was really impressed. What a wonderful experience that the Columbus Zoo offers ! Check it out.

Miki C Kulani

Glad to see most animals were out! Im glad it wasn’t over crowded. Definitely wear your walking shoes. I highly recommend bringing your own food and drink as well.

Robin Johnson

No wait

Kenneth Harris

Amazing place, well set out. Animals look healthy and very well looked after. Gorilla baby born in the Zoo is really cute. Lots of shade and ample parking

Mark D. Nolan

Reservation recommended

Donniell

10–30 min

Charris Champine

Reservation recommended

Zach Batdorff

Up to 10 min

Joseph Loftis

Such a fun day! The park is divided up into different continents/ areas. It was easy to navigate and once my husband and I got used to the flow, we weren't worried we were missing anything. My favorite parts were Africa and the polar bear exhibit. I also think it is important how the zoo focuses on conservation and what we as humans can do to save wildlife.

Thin Icetreader

$11–15

Thin Icetreader

Reservation recommended

Jasmine Walker

No wait

Jennifer Anguis

Lions, tigers, and bears and many more at the Columbus Zoo. We had a awesome time at Boo at the Columbus Zoo with our family that lives in Ohio. It always fun when we get to visit with my brother's family. The Boo at the zoo has plenty to do for young and old. This Zoo is massive and will take you all day to see everything. There is also a water park and amusement area that was closed when we went. Staff was very friendly everywhere we went. Only complaint was the bathrooms weren't that cleaned but it comes with Zoos and amusement parks.

Jeff McEndree

A little pricey but plenty to see and do for the little ones. My daughter loves the dinosaur theme ride but it is weather dependent. Interactive demonstrations where we got to feel the manta rays and feed giraffes. If the kids are too nervous, there is a petting zoo to ease them in. Very relaxed social distancing rules which was great for us.

Alexis Jones

We just love the Columbus Zoo. This last time that we went it was cool and had rained so the animals were all very active.

Brigid Cross

No wait

Jennifer

Wait time

Rebecca Yontz

We love this zoo! Over all worth the money. I highly recommend if you go you make it in all day thing. We didn't even get to see half of it since we arrived around noon, but with that being said our kids had a blast and a memorable experience. *It was $10 for parking *One tip I would suggest is that when they offer to take your photos do it keep all the cards and at the end visit the photo station, I wish I would have been told that we could have got all the photos for around $30 for the digital copy for everything that was taken that day. We only took about three photos so it just wasn't worth it to me, but I did buy our group family photo since there are nine of us and unfortunately we did not take any pictures together besides this one that day. *The zoo is clean, the animals all seem happy and well taken care of. *You can bring your own food and drinks with you. We did this and took a break in the shade it worked out well for our family.

Pam

Went to the Columbus Zoo today and had a wonderful time. The weather was perfect and the crowd was small. The animals were active and interesting to view. Will definitely be back soon and highly recommend a trip to see the Zoo.

ryan

The Christmas lights are just amazing, loved the exhibits and can't wait to go back

Ashton Harkleroad

Weekday

Jen B

Great zoo. Easy to get there. Displays are nice. Highly recommended.

Stacy A.

Wonderful zoo with a water park and carnival rides! All of the staff were very helpful. Several people asked if they could help us find anything. Even my 9yo step daughter said she really liked the workers because they were so nice! We were randomly picked to receive free wristbands (I believe they have a corporate sponsor), so all of the rides were available for free. It rained, but we still saw most of the animals. We loved how much room they have and how many animals have multiple habitats! The girls loved touching the stingrays too!

Angelita Rodriguez-Khanboubi

Beautiful zoo. It's always fun to see the animals, but even the exhibits they are in are beautifully made. Even at a zoo the animals look like they are in their natural habit. There is so much to do it takes every bit of the day to see it all. With the water park on the other side, I recommend 2 days to do everything. The baby elephant they have is a favorite of my daughters and is always cute to see.

Steve

Free

Uncle Arschloch

Visited on

draco4444

No wait

Bobby B

Weekend

Bobby B

It's a nice zoo. Kid friendly. Some of the animals look kind of sad or stressed. But most of them are pretty active even when it's hot out. The water park is massive and seems to be the main attraction. Good place for a date or to wander around. Parking is 10 dollars. Overall I had a good time and recommend it if you fancy a zoo visit.

Spencer Stover

We love this zoo. There are so many fun extra experiences you can do. Ride a camel. Feed a giraffe. Ride a train. How fun

Kelly Snow

Had a nice day walking around and seeing the many different animals located in this Zoo. Very nice rides as well, like riding a camel. And even getting to feed the giraffes.???? Nice Zoo park in all and great for a workout.☺️ Good amount of refreshment stands located throughout the Zoo as well, so that you won't get dehydrated. Entrance fee not too bad (around $20 if not from Franklin county) and you get nice close ups with some of the animals, make for great pics to change my phone's wallpaper to.????

Rhiannon Oliver

Public holiday

Marie

We were there six hours and could have used at least one more. Lots to see and all logically laid out. We bought tickets and parking on-line which was a time saver when we got there. A great time!

John Soder

Absolutely love this zoo it is a great way to spend a day. This is a great place to bring your kids of any age.

Scott Stoops

$16–20

Gene Emerick

I highly recommend coming to the Columbus Zoo, especially if you buy the VIP pass like my wife and I did. Got to get on rides, VIP seating at the shows, feed animals for free; and had a 25% discount on all food and drinks. Also bought the cup which made refills 98 cents or free if it was water. My only complaint is a lot of the animals were not in their enclosures. But the entire experience was delightful for my first time going. We plan on coming back in August or September. :)

Dawn Edwards

Weekend

Betty Flowers

Yes

Betty Flowers

Weekend

Jessica

Price for adult entry

Ken Davis

Reservation recommended

Colin Ross

Wait time

Chloe Haines

$21–30

luvmyqts

Visited on

Stephanie Libby

First time at the Zoo in the winter and it was Great! Hardly anyone was there so it was like we got the animals all to ourselves. Africa area is closed for winter so we couldn’t see gorillas, lions, or giraffes but plenty of other happy and active animals were around and able to be seen. Tickets are half price for the winter too so take advantage of that deal!

Eon

First time visiting the Columbus Zoo and what a great experience. The animal collection is amazing, I got to see animals I have only seen on tv. Food was good to as cm well. Polar bear enclosure was the best one.

Amber B

Polar bears were super active on the day we went. I love bringing my kids here and they love going. Their little rides for the train, pony, carousel and other ride and activities are relatively cheap.

Morgan Porada

Price for adult entry

Kendyl Hull

I love this zoo! It has every part of the world represented. It's very clean and the staff are friendly. My only complaint was the area where the rainbow lorikeet in Australia was closed. I really like those pretty little birds. All in all, I had great day at the zoo.

Allison Cook

Great place to see the creatures and especially have a good time during the holidays. Definitely would suggest!

Annie Tasker

We had a great moments here, it was Sunday, 70 f cloudy and crowded! My kids enjoyed in all rides. I wouldn't recommend families to visit this zoo only one day! At least you need 2 days. Definitely, we'll visit it again.

Emily Cline

We come from Toledo and get half off with our Toledo Zoo membership which is pretty cool. We like Columbus Zoo because there is a lot more to do there vs other zoo's. We like the rides and variety of animals. Staff is nice and friendly as well. The ride bracelets are worth the extra money and will save some money instead of paying individually for rides.

kamron stanley

We love this zoo! Especially in the summer months when the rides are open for the kiddos. From petting and feeding stingrays to a dino-ride that has animatronic dinosaurs (the ride often changes annually) there is something for everyone. Notes worth mentioning, on some weekdays and in off seasons there aren't as many food/snack options open or gift carts. But during those less busy times we often have the best times. In the later season they often reduce the price of their zoo-it-all wristbands so they can be more affordable at those times (cheaper because they don't have the rides open that time of year). My only critique of this zoo is nothing is in a circuit for viewing the different areas (with the walk thru exhibits being the exception). So every area you walk down to the end and have to walk back through the way you came through the same exhibit area to get to a different section. So the areas end up being more like branches on a tree that lead you back to the trunk versus being able to walk to one area and wander through to the next. It isn't a problem for everyone but when you have littles that lose interest quickly dragging their reluctant little selves back through the same area just to get to Asia Quest or Africa, etc it can be a chore on everyone involved.

autumn rogers

$16–20

Abby D

I have a great time every time I visit the Columbus Zoo. There are a variety of animals both indoors and outdoor. The day I was there I got to see the cheetah race which was pretty entertaining. I’ve heard the zoo lights are amazing and I hope I have a chance to visit in the future!

cassie faturiyele

$21–30

Dana Koenig

No wait

Autum Dawn

The zoo itself is an awesome place to visit. The Christmas lights are extra-ordinary addition during holiday season. For those who want to see the Christmas lights, I would suggest to be there before 5 pm, especially on weekends, if you do not want to wait in traffic and wait in a long line at the entrance.

Kara Monroe

$16–20

Norm Bour -Travel Younger

Reservation recommended

Adam Santoro

Our family went last night where we were able to get in free if we brought canned goods. The lights were beautiful and we loved the elephants!

Matt Russell

Weekday

Rebecca

$16–20

Joshua Daily

$11–15

michelle cuschleg

10–30 min

Amanda Adkins

Wait time

Carmen Taimanglo

Wait time

Andrew Hamrick

What an amazing time this evening at Zoo Lights. Our little 2 year old was running around everywhere and having a great time. Bathrooms were super clean and when we were close to the s'mores experience, an employee named Felicity was super nice and offers some Graham crackers to our son. She and April were very polite and talkative as well as making sure we had a great family picture. Employees like them definitely make us happy to be Columbus area residents so we can come back again and again.

Haley Mahr

I really like this zoo. Not that I have been to many other (maybe 4) but it is pretty big. I have a small child so I cannot do the entire zoo in one big trip but in over 7 hours in 2 trips I still wasn't able to cover the whole zoo (to say nothing of the water park or adventure cove). Many of the observation points allow the animals to get rather close, but don't force them so. This translates to a few of the animals really sticking out in a trip. I liked it enough to get a zoo membership because it is a good way to spend a day off with the family without breaking the bank.

Heather Hayes

The Christmas lights are amazing and so fun to enjoy with a large family gathering. As a bonus it’s outside so it’s safer to see your family for the holidays this way with Covid still going strong. Stay safe out there everyone!

Patrica Holmes

Reservation recommended

Ashley Taylor

We just spent 2 days at the zoo with my grandson and absolutely loved it. One of our days was to be zoombezi bay but the storms hit late afternoon. This zoo is amazing! So much to see and learn. Loved how you had the people throughout the exhibits talking about the animals.

Joshua Sewsankar

We attended a wedding. We walked through the Zoo and took in the wild lights on our way in and out. Beautiful!

Alexander “Codie” West

Very nice zoo! Majority of exhibits were open and animals seem well cared for and happy. It’s a huge space so expect to spend at least a few hours on your feet. However for you convenience benches and respite stations are plentiful throughout. We went during weekday and found they were still moderately crowded.

Nina Dennis

We love this zoo. There are so many fun extra experiences you can do. Ride a camel. Feed a giraffe. Ride a train. How fun

Zach Eisenbraun

Price for adult entry

Will Hoo

We have been Zoo members for a while. This year's Boo at the Zoo was good! The Zoo looked nice, all dressed up for Halloween. The candy stations had obvious enter and exit signs, attended by zoo workers, who kept things moving in a (COVID) safe manner. We'll be back next year!

Chandra Prevost

Price for adult entry

Chad Glick

Yes

Megan Dye

Not sure

Stephen Lotthammer

The best zoo I have ever visited! They have EVERYTHING you could possibly want to see and the prices aren't bad for what you get.

Victor Santana Jr.

Reservation recommended

Crystal Silverveil

Some of the negative reviews on here are HILARIOUS! One person actually complained that they got stuck in traffic on their way there. Some people are so entitled (I'm looking your way, Dee J). Anyway, my husband and I had a wonderful time at the zoo. Yes it was hot and crowded but we knew what we were getting into going on a Saturday in July. We didn't get to see the baby elephant and that was a little disappointing but I'm not going to throw a hissy fit over it. We're from Cincinnati so our standard for zoos is very high and we thought the Columbus zoo was great! My favorite part was the African plain, they have SO many giraffes and they have a huge habitat. I would definitely recommend this zoo, just wear your walking shoes cause the place is huge. We walked 15,000 steps!

Vanessa Baldwin

Lots of fun animals and cool exhibits. Great place for all ages! Love that they are open all year. The idea of camel rides was super unique and neat. There wasn't many food options to choose from, and the indoor food court was at the far back on the left side. We had to skip a lot to get there to cool off for a moment and get away from bees. The size that you see when googled is including "the wilds safari" so the zoo itself isn't actually 580 acres of walking around and exploring exhibits. The aquarium was underwhelming, considering it being advertised we expected a lot more. But over all a wonderful experience.

Daniel Walter

I failed to take many photos from our trip here last Saturday, but had a truly exceptional experience. We came as a group for the second anniversary of our business opening, and the whole staff had a great time. We had an awards ceremony and food banquet at the private event space near the carousel, the space was breathtaking and very accommodating. I love this zoo and its various programs, conservation efforts, and generally the space itself. I could not recommend it enough. If you’re from out of town and looking for a great time with the family, the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium is word class.

Mark Fleis

Yes

Mamie Sheen

Wait time

Andrew Johnson

It's an amazing day filled with experience wort every penny, I would recommend this to families and groups that desire to have a day out from the regular out door places

Eliana Rauch

Love the zoo so much to see and so much walking to do. The new seal exhibit is cool. The Dinosaurs look so real.

Samantha Johnson

Price for adult entry

Matthew Dupler

Yes

Mrs Boggs

The Christmas lights are just amazing, loved the exhibits and can't wait to go back

Tammy Kocher

Wait time

Victoria Goodwin

Weekend

Mark McAfee

Visited on

Ferman Yoder

Absolutely wonderful. Went with friends and we all had an excellent time. The hot coco at the Cinnabon was excellent. Part of the zoo are open to see animals as well.

Random Man

This was a great experience for me and the family. We were able to walk around the zoo close to closing time get some pretty good stuff from the merchandise store and enjoy some time together walking around. The only downfall was the attitude of the gentleman working the gate to pay when going to the carousel. That guy has a major attitude problem and probably shouldn't work in a place where he has to be around people if that's how he's going to treat people. It was unfortunate that we didn't get to see many animals but it was neat to see the new exhibit at the front of the zoo. This was the first time that we've gone to the zoo since covid started and the girls that were at the sea lion exhibit or extremely nice and friendly and intelligent when it comes to animals that they were looking after.

Craig moore

Reservation recommended

Justin Sweet

It's an amazing day filled with experience wort every penny, I would recommend this to families and groups that desire to have a day out from the regular out door places

Adrienne Bowden

We attended a wedding. We walked through the Zoo and took in the wild lights on our way in and out. Beautiful!

Jason Jacobs

Weekday

Adriana Perez

Such a fun experience every time! The price to get in is pretty cheap, and the tickets for the extra curricular activities are cheap too. The food and drinks are the pricey part, but all in all, it's really fun!

Amber Lynn Smith

Wait time

Malik Brock

Wait time

Ashley Bottenfield

Visited on

tesla pete

Great Zoo: very knowledgeable and educational staff that CARES about the animals. Fantastic experience getting time to spend with the zookeepers with little crowds this trip!!

Frank Verney

Reservation recommended

Colonial Tinker

Probably the best zoo in the country that I’ve been to hands down. The animals are so happy and are in huge enclosures. The zoo is HUGE and has more animals than any zoo I’ve ever been to. Sooooo happy we decided to stop.

Dr.T G

We had such a great time here yesterday I would suggest to any family for a mini adventure! The ONLY negatives I could possibly say - I would have liked to have seen more zoo employees around to share info and maybe manage crowds. And … last but NOT least, the bees. I understand bees are important but I think we can all agree we don’t need them in restaurants! I watched TWO children be stung in the restaurant by the camels. And witnessed one sting by the camels land im honestly surprised there wasn’t more they were swarming that area!

kevin wasson

Wait time

T Fra

A little pricey but the Wild Lights display was fantastic. Best to go earlier in the season. After Christmas and it's very busy. Not a lot of animals but you're there for the lights, hot chocolate and funnel cakes, of course.

Jacob Reisinger

Visited on

Jim Manship

The San Diego zoo is considered one of the best in the United States and since I used to live an hour away I was there many times. But, I must say that the Columbus zoo out shines it. It has lots of space to walk around, and it flows very naturally. High praise for the people behind it.

Layne

Reservation recommended

Allison Bowman

We went while visiting family in Ohio. The zoo lights were so beautiful. The animals were adorable and we had a great time!

Jae Lucas

I always love coming to the zoo. The Columbus Zoo is one of the best places you can see some really exotic creatures up close.

Karli Szabados

Visited on

Jerry Wilkin

Visited on

Jennifer Boyce

Aside from a few exhibits being closed this zoo provides a great day out this time of year (October). The decorations are charming to see for Halloween. The animals were enjoying the nice weather and many were very frisky. The additions are super fun and the playful sea lions were a hit for everyone. It's a great way to see and learn about animals and the plaques are helpful for anyone who wants to know more about the rescue process as well as how to help. The grounds were clean and the staff is always friendly. I enjoy visiting multiple times a year.

Mike Pauley

Probably best to visit during the week. Gets crowded quickly on the weekends especially when the weather is nice. The new seal and sea lion exhibit is wonderful.l recommend buying a season pass if you plan on going more than once. This will save you money and time.l know their has been talk lately of some bad dealings committed by the owners and representatives of the zoo. Okay. File it and enjoy this place. I'm going to put some photos of the Christmas display on here.

Aria 01

Visited on

Chase Wheeler

Undoubtedly one of the best zoos out there. Amazing exhibits and enclosures that seem to simultaneously give the animals great spacious habitats and provide awesome viewing opportunities for guests. The manatee and ape exhibits are among the best there. The aquarium is somewhat small and less robust than many others. Don't miss the beautiful antique carousel or the awesome Sea Dragon wooden roller coaster, which is ideal for families with young kids. I visited on one of the busiest days of the year, and though there was a long line of traffic to get into the parking lot followed by an excesses long line of humans entering the park, once inside, there is ample room to disperse the crowd and so many exhibits and attractions, that the crowd size wasn't an issue. Only the food stands at peak lunch hours were overwhelmed, so we just ate a little later. The staff is very friendly and accommodating. I didn't experience the waterpark, but it's sizeable and looks very nice (and it looks like it gets very crowded on hot days). The food inside is acceptable, but nothing special. Having the amusement attractions is a real bonus.

Nick Kopp

Visited on

Diane Kerr

Price for adult entry

Bridget Lewis

Wonderful. Baby elephant cute. Cheesy train with animal characters but kids loved it. Dinosaur boat ride was peaceful and interesting. My favorite siting was the hawk floating overhead as we sat in the dino boat ride.

Mrs. H.L. G-B

This was an excellent example of what a zoo should be! So many different animals, chances to pet the stingrays & a kiddie barn. Everyone working there was pleasant & helpful! There was so much, we weren't able to see it all in 8 hours. I highly recommend this place!

Jessica Lucero

LOVE our Columbus Zoo. Great for all ages. You can go when it’s cold during zoo lights or when it’s hott and all the animals are out. Elephants are by far my favorite to see, love when they are outside :)

Josh Cutlip

Weekday

Erin Hayes

Reservation recommended

Carla Carrico Canfield

Wait time

Marty Velez

Wow! One of my favorite zoo's by far. The new seal exhibit is amazing. You can walk through a see through tunnel and watch the seals swim all around you. Absolutley amazing and worth the experience. I like how the animals are in groups from where they come from. Lots of different kinds of experiences from riding camels, touching snakes and sting rays, feeding sting rays and giraffes. Several play areas for kids (however one is closed probably due covid). The zoo does not require masks right now but recommends them in and a few areas for those not vaccinated. Great place for anyone of any age. Bathrooms are located all throughout. Food and drinks are allowed to be brought in (although they do have lots of places to purchase food and drinks from inside the park) from home. No straws to protect the animals. Amazing zoo and great family experience.

Moiz Mansoor

Reservation recommended

Jim Orchard

Wait time

Jessica Holes

$21–30

Alissa Paolella

Price for adult entry

Abby D

Wait time

Amber J.

Perfect place to spend a day with kids and family. Enjoyed the Dino ride and few other rides. The aquarium was very small.We have a family pass and we go often during weekend and my kid really liked this place a lot. We went during weekend and enjoyed a lot and the place was little crowded. My kid always enjoys feeding giraffe and we just need to pay three dollars for single basket. We also went on the boo at the zoo day and kids were dressed in Halloween costumes. Kids enjoyed collecting candies

Kate and Hunter Goodwin

Weekday

Erin Thompson

Weekend

Mark Nixon

This was my first visit to this zoo. One of the biggest plus is that it’s a very walkable park. I would have brought my elderly parents. The biggest downside is during this time of year 60% of the attractions are closed during the week because students go back to school. The first day we went most of the animals were sleeping or nowhere to be found. The aquarium is very small. My son did enjoy the Dino boat ride. We ended up going back the next day thinking we could see more animals. We went during the end of the day thinking I could save some money since the zoo would be closing in a 45 mins. Not the case, parking and admission full price. My son is a huge zoo lover and we weren’t impressed. Cincinnati zoo is much better from what we saw.

Joey Thomas

It's definitely worth the money but make sure you have a full day to spend there as there is PLENTY to see. You can also bring coolers and your own strollers/wagons in or rent a side by side stroller for $14.

Abby D

$31+

JALLOWGIRL C

Love this Zoo. Beats the Pittsburgh Zoo by farrrr. Love the Gorillas and Manatees. All of the Exhibits are top notch.

Shay Shayy

Love going here and seeing all the animals! Thus place has so much to see and do! Highly recommend getting a zoo it all wristband for the rides for any little ones. Will definitely wear them out after a fun filled day.

Stephanie Young

Weekday

Heather Benton

Weekend

Matthew Mueller

Yes

s p

Reservation recommended

Marian Bryant

The membership is worth every penny. Pays for itself after a few visits and we go much more often now.

Amanda Dantzer

$21–30

Adam Cooley

Visited on

Jennifer White

Yes

Prasenjit Saha

This zoo is well laid out and a great place to take a walk. I've visited the zoo at all times of year and recently saw the holiday lights. It was a little too crowded for me, but the zoo crowd on regular days is usually fine. I recommend getting a membership if you have a larger family. It's a lot more affordable. I do wish some of the animals had larger habitats. I love wombats, but the one there is in a small dark room and looks lonely. I recently learned that the cheetahs have an additional running space in the back of their enclosure. It seems like the staff are trying to give most of the animals a good life.

kris krawczyk

Price for adult entry

Melinda Frazier

Price for adult entry

Montez Adame

Wait time

Misty Thomas

Reservation recommended

Nellie

Wait time

Samantha Tincher

This zoo has greatly improved since I visited as a kid a long time ago. It has so many new and exciting exhibits and features more animals than before. Staff are engaging and helpful and almost all exhibits are wheelchair/scooter accessible. Things are a bit pricey here (food, gift shop goodies, ect.) but most of the money goes to the upkeep of the zoo and it definitely shows. Will be back soon.

Citizen Train

Awesome experience. Love how most of the animals have decent areas to roam through they seem healthy. Definitely going back. Daughter loved it and talks about it almost everyday

Brandee Youngclaus

Price for adult entry

Chad Moore

No wait

Best Google Maps Reviewer

Absolutely love this zoo it is a great way to spend a day. This is a great place to bring your kids of any age.

Jason and Kari Boden-Charles

Yes

Kristopher Rager

Pretty legit place. Kids loved the carnival style ride area. Main zoo is huge!!! We barely scratched the surface. Tip they have very limited food options at this time (mid may 2021) bring your own food. The only places to eat were at the main entrance. And the lines stay super long:(

English By Vazquez

Wildlights at the zoo we feel this zoo is right up there with Disney's animal kingdom. Love this zoo so much.

Alexandria Woods

Went to the Columbus Zoo today and had a wonderful time. The weather was perfect and the crowd was small. The animals were active and interesting to view. Will definitely be back soon and highly recommend a trip to see the Zoo.

Malik Brock

One of the best Zoos I've been to. Lots of places to see, easy to navigate, train available, handicap trails available, and lots of little pop ups for treats, snacks, drinks, beer, gifts, and face painting. Wear some comfy shoes but pathways are very nice. I wished they had an octopus.

Brandee Youngclaus

$16–20

Jae Neal

Yes

Zack Tullis

Price for adult entry

Nicole Boguslawski

Visited on

Emil Antonio

Weekend

Kelly Lynn Hill

Visited on

Jeri Myers

The Columbus Zoo is absolutely top notch. I've been to several other zoos and this one is by far the best! The animals are well cared for, the grounds are well maintained, the staff is friendly, and there is always a good time to be had. The zoo is so large you really can't see it all in one day without rushing through all the exhibits and skipping at least a few.

Joe joe Hoover

No wait

Deborah Ashley

This zoo is spectacular! I arrived midday and waited about an hour to get into the parking lot. Highly recommend purchasing your entrance and parking tickets in advance to skip the line. Pace yourself and plan to spend a whole day here to see all the animals!

Devan Macke

I've been going to the Columbus Zoo my entire life. I even attended Zoo Camp every year available. It made some of my most cherished childhood memories. I have long run traditions with my best friend every year to go see the wild lights and I usually get a membership plus so I can bring a friend to just peruse. I can not say how much I honestly love this zoo, it has brought me so much happiness and wonderful memories in my life. You truly are missing out if you do not get a chance to go.

Ramya SG

Yes

Keith Boggs

Yes

Kate and Hunter Goodwin

Visited on

Mary Ellen Lowe

Wait time

brenda fleming

Visited on

Brittany Crider

Large Zoo! You will need all day. Could be a staffing issue, but cleanliness of the grounds a facilities could have been better.

Rachel Watts

Visited on

Harry Flaskos

Price for adult entry

Caitlin Pessolano

Wait time

ERICA Baker

We went for the holiday lights and it was worth the 2 and a half hour drive for us. We also arrive close to opening time before it got flooded with people at sun set so that was a smart move. It felt like the entire zoo was ours. The downside was that half of the animals were gone but that’s completely understandable as no decent person would want animals to freeze for our entertainment. Regardless, we had a beautiful walk through the entire place twice. Once for animals and second time around for the lights. The huge LED Christmas tree is the star of the night as it is just a technology marvel to view. SO MUCH EYE CANDY! Follow me on maps for great photos and detailed reviews ????

Drew Traugh

Wait time

Shan G

Columbus Zoo was wonderful. It had been years since i had gone. Was so happy to afford a year membership for my kids. Columbus Zoo offers a discount for families. Who recieve assistance. Finally allowing us to join in what other kids get to do as often as they do!!!! Feeling super blessed. I live close to Zoo. So they will be seeing ao much more of us. Thank you COLUMBUS ZOO & AQUARIUM !!!! The Gorillas, Wolfs, penguins & Cheetah were def my FAVORITES TO INTERACT WITH.

C Adams

Price for adult entry

gwen guzman

We always have an amazing time at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium! On this visit we had the pleasure of watching the sea lion show, it was spectacular! The bond that the trainers have with these animals is heart warming! The level of dedication these ladies have should be applauded! Truly awe inspiring! Please add more shows like this so we can see the bonds the other animals have with their trainers! This is why I love the zoo so much❤

Bertha Gabriel

Reservation recommended

Tracy Gibbs

Great Zoo: very knowledgeable and educational staff that CARES about the animals. Fantastic experience getting time to spend with the zookeepers with little crowds this trip!!

James Anzaldi

Great place to take the family or even yourself. Literally something for everyone. If you don't want to spend a ton of money on food I suggest getting your belly full before hand! ???? We went recently to boo at the zoo!

Ramisha Sykes

Wait time

Gary Yurco

Reservation recommended

Christian H.

Yes

katie b

Not sure

Cortney Mack

I enjoy to visit Colombus ZOO each time even in winter or summer there is too much animals to discover many place to see aquarium to swim many games and play ..stores , lot of food to buy ????.... just amazing I highly recommend this place ...clean ,organized ,safe ❤

shay terry

Visited on

Mel Cronin

Wait time

Solaris Moonset

We drive down from Cleveland multiple times a year. Columbus is truly an amazing Zoo. We have gone for the Christmas lights and have seen Jack Hannah live. Just incredible shows.

Lisa McCoy

We went mainly to see the lights a few days before New Years with family. We did arrive early and got to enjoy many of the exhibits. It was a nice big zoo with a variety of animals. Sadly we didn't get to see the baby elephant. However, the lights and display around the central pond were spectacular and synchronized to music!

Tim Akers

Wait time

Kaustubh Sharma

Wait time

Jon Killias

30–60 min

Robert Wolf

Price for adult entry

writer1rex and the open mind

No wait

Andrew Lutz

Price for adult entry

Dean Moore

Reservation recommended

Matt Hogue

Wait time

Carrie Wolford

Came here as a date, it was one of the most fun experiences I've had. I've been to a lot of zoos but this is hands down probably my new favorite. There is so much enrichment for the animals and they all look so happy and playful. A real joy to be at. I was happy to feel like a kid again for a day ????

Mike

No wait

Mike

I always love coming to the zoo. The Columbus Zoo is one of the best places you can see some really exotic creatures up close.

Bill L

It's a nice zoo. Kid friendly. Some of the animals look kind of sad or stressed. But most of them are pretty active even when it's hot out. The water park is massive and seems to be the main attraction. Good place for a date or to wander around. Parking is 10 dollars. Overall I had a good time and recommend it if you fancy a zoo visit.

Jacob Ondrus

Great place to see the creatures and especially have a good time during the holidays. Definitely would suggest!

Jessica Dennis

Price for adult entry

Jessica Dennis

Price for adult entry

Scott L

Yes

Thomas Miller

No wait

Tiffany Jehl

Not sure

Mandy Dudte

Visited on

Mandy Dudte

Up to 10 min

Shannon M

Weekend

Larry Marks

Wait time

holli Verhovec

No wait

Greg _

No wait

Kahina hina

Reservation recommended

Holly Hudson

Weekday

Tommy Morgan

Very good setup with lots of animals and easy to navigate. Arrive early to see everything and avoid the crowds, after 11 am is to late to find a parking spot let alone enjoy time there with very large crowds.

tom fuller

Yes

Sara Lieb

Reservation recommended

Ilona Remenicky

Wait time

Palestrina Marino

Wait time

Jason PRAZER

Yes

Daniel Baizel

10–30 min

imakethemap

No wait

Que Sra

Reservation recommended

Hey You

Price for adult entry

David Mays

We love the zoo and the new seal and sea lion exhibit. Our trip was great, as it has always been.

Natalie T

$16–20

Sand Storm

I would love to give this zoo a 5 star but there were a few things. First the good things. Love the animals and animal exhibits. Alot of animals that are not in other zoos. There is alot to see and can fill an entire day. Some things not so good that prevented leaving a 5 star review. First item, was paying for parking online. The website said to buy things online to save time. So we did. So when we showed us and no one was there at the parking booth, everyone parked for free. They would not give refunds for what was bought online. I could not give it to anyone since it was in my name. Second, we got there early at 9 am when they opened, but nothing inside the park was open. We were going to buy souviner cups to drink from but apparently didn't open up till 1030 or 11 am. Hardly any signs telling this. When they finally opened across the park, none had the cups in the African or tundra area. By then, we went to the car for drinks instead. Apparently the rides opened later too but no signs or information on website made it easy to determine. Will say it did fill the day. We were there from 9am to 430 pm.

Christy Cade

Price for adult entry

Sg

It has been years since I've been to zoo. I love all the changes that have took him place since the last time I've been there.. plenty of places to eat. Stage shows and then activity area for kids

Travis Graham

The dinosaur exhibit was fantastic, a fun little boat ride to see the dinosaurs that had movement and sound is a must see this summer. Petting sting rays was also a highlight for everyone. There's much to see, we actually made it a mini vacation and spent two days so we got to see everything.

Rajasekar Murugesan

Visited on

Thomas Spry

My whole family loves this Zoo!! It's our family favorite!!! My son and I went today.

Doug Satterthwaite

Reservation recommended

Jon Jonson

My daughter loves the zoo. Its great for kids with lots to do and see. Prices aren't too bad, especially if you get a souvenir cup for drinks with free refills day of purchase. The Asia and Arctic exhibit rooms are very cool.

Sally Riggs

Such a great zoo! Pro tip: arrive before 9am and get in right when they open. You’ll have the whole zoo to yourself for a good hour. The BEST time to visit! The aquarium is small but still worth checking out.

Kellie Turner

Yes

Melissa Coleman

No

Kathy Hedrick

Went to Zoo Lights with my daughters and it was great. The light displays are so vivid and bright, some of them are synced with the music being played. There are a few animal exhibits open but don't be surprised if the animals are sleeping. Dress warm and buy hot chocolate at one of the many vendors. Most of all have fun!

No Name

No

Tina Darby

First time there. Beautiful exhibits! Don't miss the seals. Easy to get around without getting lost.

Manoj Maduri

Great zoo! Tons of different and unique exhibits. Highly informative, but also lots of fun for the whole family. The facilities are well kept and plenty of bathrooms and signage everywhere. Food at the restaurant in the Africa section was surprisingly good, and you got to sit with an excellent view of the enclosure and watch the animals while you ate. They offer military discount as well and overall price was reasonable for the extensive park.

dimple chestnut

Experience was fantastic, just prices on food and drinks has gotten way out of hand. But you are stuck paying them while you are in the park.

Peter Biernesser

Wait time

Michelle Humphreys

Great place to bring the family, bring comfortable shoes, if you have multiple children bring a stroller that supports multiple children. There are plenty of places to park your stroller so that you can interact with the animals or eat without the need to bring a stroller inside. Whether you like large land mammals like elephants, giraffes, rhino’s, or prefer noctournal reptiles or even aquatic animals, this place has it all, it’s a great place to learn about the animals as well, each exhibit has general facts about some of the animals. There are plenty of rest stops, there are motorized carts for the handicapped, there are also strollers and wagons available in case you forgot to bring yours along. My only other bit of advice is bring your own drinks because bottled beverages in the vending machines are expensive. If you purchase a cup from the zoo with the bendy straw, be sure to bring the cup back with you to get refills as well.

Bridgette Hayes

Up to 10 min

Erin Keller

Weekend

michelle naida

$11–15

ken smith

1 hr+

Heather Ryan

Visited on

Deb R

Price for adult entry

Becky Radabaugh

Reservation recommended

Kenny C (KC1)

Visited on

Annie Nanamura

A fun night for the whole family! Decorated very well for the Boo at the Zoo! And its not too scary so it's perfect for younger kids. They could have been a bit more generous with the candy for the kids (kids stood in a ridiculously long line for one piece of candy, at all 13 stations), but the animals were wonderful! The carved pumpkins were amazing too! We had a great time all in all. (We let the kids hit the candy stations a second time too!) Would recommend!

John Anderson

Up to 10 min

Nik Staron

Went to the water park within the zoo. I recommend going early and going to the zoo first which is free with a water park ticket purchase and then going to the water park. The zoo closed today (Saturday 8/28) at 3pm. And the water park closed at 7pm. The lines weren't long so don't get a fast pass. Get tickets ahead of time because the water park was filled booked the day before i went ( i got tickets from my job) . Parking is $10 which isn't bad. I love the Columbus zoo it's honestly one of the biggest zoos I've been too. Bring cash so you can feed the animals like the giraffe and sting rays. Wear comfortable shoes. Would i recommend ? Yes. Worth the money? Yes

B MOORE

Free

Melanie MacRae

First time visiting the Columbus Zoo and what a great experience. The animal collection is amazing, I got to see animals I have only seen on tv. Food was good to as cm well. Polar bear enclosure was the best one.

Ally H.

Wait time

Andrew Needham

Came here to see the wildlights and was not disappointed. The lights are very pretty and they have a bunch of stuff to do.

Robert Gearhart II

Reservation recommended

Dean T.

Yes

Mallik REDdy

Reservation recommended

TAC

Yes

Thomas Hilliard

Wait time

Matthew Crawford

Weekend

Mike

Wait time

H M

Visited on

kelly yochum

No wait

Scott Jason

Wait time

Lisa Oberly

We love visiting the Columbus Zoo there are so many beautiful animals reptiles and all kinds of creatures there. One of the best things about it is they give the animals enough room to freely move about and live comfortably in a good environment many others use don't do this. The African plains and Cheetah run have to be my favorites. Although if you go into see the stingrays and pet them it's quite an amazing experience They love being pet.

Ricky Bobby

No wait

Ricky Bobby

Reservation recommended

Marisa Coburn

Be prepared for a lot of walking. Very spread out. Animals have plenty of room in their inclosures. Good selection of animals. Clean and great staff. I see why it is rated one of the best zoos in the country.

Matthew Crooker

Very clean park. The animals welfare comes first so if you can't see it is because they choose not to be seen. Staff is knowledgeable and friendly. Definitely worth looking into a season pass

Kate Foulke

The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium is enormous! Be prepared to spend the better part of the day there. The animal habitats are modern with space for the animals and a lot of enrichment. The zoo is organized by region. Admixed are themed rides and activities as well as dining options The African savanna is large with grazing animals (giraffes, ostriches, zebras, wildebeests, etc) in an open environment. Binoculars would be helpful to bring if you have. Be sure to visit Frankie, the baby Asian elephant, and his family. The zoo also houses manatees undergoing rehabilitation and is only one of a few zoos that has manatees. Signage is excellent and many exhibits tell you about their individual animals. Volunteers on hand were quite knowledgeable, as well Unlike other zoos we recently visited, this zoo had adequately staffed food services and had most items available. The vegetarian black bean burgers are good and a safe vegetarian option (the were cooked separately from meat).

Theresa Cooke

It's a fantastic zoo in every possible way. It's so big that it's really hard to see everything in a day. We spent 4 hours there moving pretty fast and, due to how hot the day was getting, to skip all of Africa. So it's definitely worth a trip but just be aware that it isn't a quick half a day thing.

cohn3777

Amazing zoo! This place is huge and there’s so much to see. Loved the zoomore bands that allowed us to ride all the rides as much as we wanted!

Meghan Weaver

Amazing place, well set out. Animals look healthy and very well looked after. Gorilla baby born in the Zoo is really cute. Lots of shade and ample parking

Norman Fouts

$6–10

Candy Soucek

What an amazing zoo. First time to Columbus and definitely had to visit Jack Hanna's zoo. Unfortunately we went mothers day and it was dumping rain all day so most of the animals in the outside exhibits were hiding from the rain but we made the most of it and enjoyed all the indoor exhibits. We all signed up for the 'Chatting w/ the Cheetahs' tour. It was awesome to see all the Cheetahs up close and personal and to learn about each one. As part of the tour, you also get to see, pet, and feed an aardvark, and meet some warthogs.

Shawna Hodges

Yes

J Miller

Visited on

Timothy Prouse

Yes

Adele Arias Cruz

Price for adult entry

Carlos Garcia

Price for adult entry

Stacey Ann

Reservation recommended

Christine Lewis

Outstanding! Friendly attendees whether tending to an enclosure or picking up refuse and bagging it up. Each individual we needed to check directions with, smiled and helped us out perfectly. The exhibits all breathtaking the large aquarium was so enjoyable. A great place to enjoy a family outing. I do suggest either; target first the exhibits you definitely want to see or or give yourselves a good 4 or 5 hours to do the whole experience. A definite place to explore and enjoy.

Nate Henderson

$16–20

Jeffrey Kincaid

Love the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium! Bathrooms are everywhere, great food and convenient accommodations! Great for kids and adults of all ages!

Craig Bower

Price for adult entry

Kevin Tripp

Weekday

Mia A.

I would like to see more lights. It was hard to see where you was going and seemed as tho you was going in a big circle. Was a nice family night out, and helped the less needy so beneficial to 2 families (probably more). The food drive is an amazing idea

Susan Kinter

$11–15

Jennifer Urbanek

No wait

N K (Gruvyrissa)

Public holiday

Barri Thompson

Love this Zoo!!! I'm from the Cincinnati area so I'm used to the Cincinnati Zoo which I love!! But the Columbus Zoo has a lot less hills to walk up and down. Also they have several rides! The Africa exhibit is amazing!!

Mary Gatrell

Reservation recommended

Ryan Langhans

Not sure

Randall Jenkins jr

Price for adult entry

Wendy Kilbreath

Weekday

Tayler Deal

Wait time

Jeanell

I love taking the family here. It's awesome and we definitely make time at least once a year to come to this zoo. A huge selection of food and drinks at a fair price. You gotta stop by the aquarium!!!

Sarah Beresford

$16–20

Dropping Dimes

I enjoy to visit Colombus ZOO each time even in winter or summer there is too much animals to discover many place to see aquarium to swim many games and play ..stores , lot of food to buy ????.... just amazing I highly recommend this place ...clean ,organized ,safe ❤

Tia Daniels

Weekday

karol Lopez

We visited on a weekend. It was very crowded with tons of double strollers. Everyone was going in all directions. Parents weren't watching their kids. Almost knocked over by kids playing kick the bottle cap. Mom joined in the game with her kids. If you're taking a child under 2, leave them at home. They will be tired and miserable confined to a stroller. I feel zoo should offer a set time for families with small children, just as some places offer senior hours. The staff was friendly and helpful. I did see security escort a group of kids I think out of the park. Zoo volunteers were watchful, but there were too many people to keep an eye on unless visitors reported an incident. As we were there for only 1 day did not visit the water or amusement park. Definitely would need 2 days to do both.

Indi Jones

Visited on

Sharon Bollinger

Yes

B.F. Maine

Reservation recommended

Harry Humphries

Really nice zoo very clean and the animals are quite active. The only downside I would say is they have lots of areas where you have to go back and turn around after you've got to a dead end

A Sheeley

Gosh, do not underestimate this place lol. This zoo is pretty big, and can definitely take up your entire day if you allow it to. There are plenty of rest stops, ledges, an indoor food court, outdoor foot carts, multiple gifts shops and a huge store. The animals, lets get to the animals. The animals look clean and healthy, there's plenty of space for them to thrive and move around. Such a great experience. There were tickets to feed and take photos with the friendly giraffe in the enclosure. Alot of info posted beside the animals, their history, origin etc. There were staff hosting in certain areas to talk about the animals if kids had any questions. Bro, there's a mini farm petting zoo. I relieved my childhood in there lol. Wonderful lighting to take photos of the animals. I saw about two separate places for professional family photos. Face painting of course, funnel cake, there's a mini aquarium inside. Stroller friendly, wheel chair friendly. There's a water park right beside the zoo. Like I said, this can be an all day event lol. Me and my friends had an awesome time. I'm not from Ohio but would definitely come back. It's easy to lose your car in this huge parking lot though, definitely mark it on your Google maps. I completely recommend this zoo!

Ganesh Parajuli

Reservation recommended

Travis Baker

Wait time

Jacob Harness

This was amazing! A huge Zoo with a great variety, a lot of walking so bring good shoes. And bring water for hot days! The zoo was very clean and the staff were very helpful and kind. 10/10 trip! Will definitely come again!

Riley17 Bob

Wait time

Terry Burke

Great zoo; below average aquarium. You can feed the giraffes at a high rise platform they have setup for a few bucks. My wife loved it. The leopards were out and about, very interested in a service dog that was nearby. Bring your walking shoes though. It takes a long time to clear all the exhibits while dodging the crowds. The aquarium portion of the zoo is really small and really not that impressive.

Ben Welton

Wait time

Brian Neufeld

No wait

W T

Yes

Cynthia Fleming

No

Katherine Benjamin

Wait time

Dawn Barcus

Price for adult entry

Debbie Smith

Visited on

Mary Vrabel

Weekend

Dj's utube world

Weekday

Michael Miron

No wait

Laura Melvin

Up to 10 min

Semmler Horky

Loved the Christmas lights at the Columbus Zoo... beware its crowded alot... but it was nice to see alot of people wearing masks... Good hot chocolate, dancing Christmas lights to music, friendly staff.. just made the experience worth it... Must try it out...

Tay Adduci

We thought this zoo was one of the prettiest ones we've been to. The grounds were clean and the employees were kind. We didn't give 5 stars though because there were so many employees and guests walking around without masks and without wearing the masks properly. When we signed up for tickets, we saw there were time slots to ensure social distancing and there really wasn't. Although they have stickers on the ground and in exhibits, there wasn't anyone making sure the rules were being followed. We were outside and just kept far away from those without masks, but we were just disappointed.

Barry Wade

I can't ever say that I've had a bad day at the Columbus zoo. There's always something new to see every time you go. They host many events throughout the year seasonally and reasonable prices! If you go early the lines are much quicker to get through in the areas that you have to get in line for. And it's absolutely humongous and will take you an entire day to get through the entire park.