Reviews of Houston Zoo (Zoo)

Eduardo B. Pons

This zoo is worth the price of admission. There is a variety of animals and critters. This zoo is very family friendly. There’s a lot to see but unfortunately not a lot to interact with. This may be due to visiting after the holidays. Definitely worth the visit if you’re spending time in Houston.

william delauney

Wait time

Cristian Heghedus

$21–30

Cassidy Wise

Weekday

Miguel Castro

Weekday

Amber Anderson

We go to the Houston Zoo a couple of times a year for the last 6 years and we always have a great time! Nothing about our zoo trips are ever disappointing except maybe the money we spend but it’s all in good fun and worth the memories!

Dan Woodz

No wait

Misty Repassy

Reservation recommended

Danky Kang

Reservation recommended

Siam Imam

I loved it!! It's definitely a great place to spend a good family day. Very big, so I recommend going with time so you are able to enjoy all their exhibitions.

Linda Kovalick

Came for Brews at the Zoo and it was a blast! The staff was friendly and helpful. We loved seeing the nocturnal animals out and about. We even got to see the sloth move around and eat (which was a first!) The only complaint is it's super expensive and there's a bit of construction going on. The new Panama exhibit is really cool though so we're looking forward to the new additions!

Montimier

$21–30

Justus Durbin

Up to 10 min

Maribel Roman Santiago, Ph.D.

$21–30

Kim McClure

Visited on

Latosha Cox

Reservation recommended

Varman Dan

No wait

Flor

Wait time

Andreais Thompson

Was Amazing! Every single person who works there is so NICE, and HELPFUL!! Just FYI when we went, Splash pad, and goats petting zoo closed. Dbl check Lots of walking. Be prepared!! Lunch was good, but pricey there @ the Cafe. It was ok.w me, bc I want to help the Animals. Nice A/ c in there Wonderful time! Thanks Houston Zoo!! Oh, go see the Baby Elephants!

Mychael Jackson

Reservation recommended

Shabina Tauqueer

I'm guessing because of covid I didn't see as many animals as I wanted to but nonetheless I loved the zoo. Its quite huge and the animals I did see today I enjoyed see them. I'll come bk later????

Juan Gutierrez

An awfully long line turned out to be a little wait of just ten minutes. Great Lightshow with a mixture of Christmas motives and animals. Good atmosphere.

Tina Rodriguez

Houston Zoo Christmas lights. The experience was a lot nicer than I expected. There were so many like this place. Some were very unique. The Mary go round was up and running. Our favorite was roasting marshmallows over and open fire. The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars was because the kids were a little disappointed that we were at the zoo and not seeing any animals. Although we got a close up of a giraffe. The atmosphere was nice, everyone was there to have a good family experience.

Ellie Yeung

We had a good time with the kids. Unfortunately most of the animals were hiding from the sun,so we were not able to see those big animal like tiger ,lions.

Nathan Kirby

It's been a very long time since we have been to the Houston Zoo.... It really has changed alot.. but for the better ... we had a blast ... Sunday fun day... Get out and check out the new setup at the Zoo...Well until next time signing off Two Peas. P.S the zoo looks really nice and they are adding even more things... go vheck it out... support our local zoo

Yourmustachman

Came to see the Zoo Lights while visiting Houston for the weekend. Purchased tickets the same day on a Saturday night. The only tickets left were for the 9pm timeslot, but this worked out as the crowd thinned out as the zoo was closing at 10:30pm. It was very easy to take pictures of the different light scenes and decorations. The lights were well done and perfectly transitioned between each area. There was not one area of the zoo that was not lit up nicely. All the lights were very bright and creatively put together. There was also a nice use of reflective paint that lit up similar to the lights. Throughout the park, there were nice food and drink stations to purchase while walking around the zoo. There was not a set direction or path to walk, so you were able to see the different areas at your own pace and discretion. Walking at an average pace it took about an hour to walk throughout the zoo.

Veronica Correa

Always good they are working on opening some new awesome exhibits some are open some are on their way. Some areas closed but animals have simply been relocated so you can still see them. Prepare to pack a lunch and enjoy a family day. Unless your a member you need to buy tickets online in advance.

D.M. Corbett

Wait time

Tep Chantra

We had a great day here and my son keeps begging to go back! The $4.95 unlimited carousel rides are also well worth it! My son is 14 and rode at least 10 times!

Wendy Garfio

Weekday

Crystal

Up to 10 min

mituye fikir

Loved the zoo lights. It was our first time visiting during the holidays. It was a bit crowded and I think I got food poisoning from the hot chocolate but the lights were really pretty. Next time I'll skip the coco though.

Brian H

Always a pleasure visiting the Zoo with the lil one. The bushes and trees need maintenance though so the animals can be viewed better but overall experience was good. This time we started the day early at 10 AM and managed to cover the entire zoo by 4 PM. We carried a few snacks from home and had our lunch at the Cafe.

Jessica Galfas

Wait time

Leslie Bennett

I had a great time with my kids. They loved seeing the monkeys, elephants and reptiles. I would highly advice on getting to the zoo an hour or more from your admission time to insure you have enough time to find parking. If you get there early and find parking easily enough you can go to the park close by.

Maggust Bui

A lot of cool experiences in this zoo including Zebras, elephants, giraffes ???? etc. Great place to hangout especially if you have kids. Do plan to bring plenty of water and hydrate yourself and check local weather ahead. There's a gift/souvenir shop which has cool items.

Helen Rodriguez

This zoo was so much fun. This was our 2nd time going since 2013. It has definitely changed for the better. I think I enjoyed it more than my kids!! It just something about being outside and enjoying life for me. If my kids are happy I'm ecstatic!! We will be coming back because I missed some stuff. Thanks Houston!!

A R

Yes

Michele Stuhrenberg

Absolutely loved it! Not all the animals were out but regardless such a beautiful place! Didn't see any of the attractions because getting tickets was a bit difficult and didn't want to waste more time on that, it's been years since coming to the zoo but after about 30 minutes of trying we got help from the staff near the front entrance????! Water fountains throughout the park, didn't try any foods stopped in 2 shops, they were reasonably priced! Loved all the animals...all seem content except the chimpanzees, they seemed so bored and sad! ????????????????????????????????????️????????️????????????????????????

Nicholas Cole

The elephant exhibit is incredible! They have a lot of elephants and you get to be pretty close to them safely! …

Otylia Frempong

Visited on

Martha D. Taylor

We went early on a free Tuesday. It wasn't crowded and we could easily see the animals. A few exhibits were closed, but there was plenty to see for my daughter's attention span. When we first walked up it was the lion's feeding time, so he was roaring. All the kids I was with were fascinated. We were able to get pretty close too. The elephants, monkeys, giraffes, and reptiles were all fairly active and moving around. If you get there early enough parking is not bad. It does it kind of crazy later in the day so beware of that. It is also probably a lot more crowded in the summer.

Sue D

Reservation recommended

Thomas Sullivan

The zoo lights were incredibly beautiful...the ambiance was everywhere. Only the giraffes were out, animals need rest and good food.

Selene De la Rosa

Went for zoo lights! Great experience! Better lights than in previous years. Beautiful from the moment you enter the gates!

Kapre Carter

$21–30

Jesse Cushman

Weekday

Steph

Yes

Ty Shaw

Loved the prehistoric museum, but it has a separate entrance fee to it. There weren't animals in quite a few exhibits. We probably were at a wrong time. It was also a very hot day

April Flores-Tuazon

Nice little zoo. Plenty of shade. Lots of air conditioned exhibits for a break from the heat. The animals are social and play up for you. Lots of refreshment stands and cafe's. Parking is pretty bad but thats the only negative i can think of.

Jessica Salazar

Price for adult entry

Cynthia Dillard

Weekend

Nollan Zevallos

Wait time

BalBoyss

Yes

Martin Contreras III

$11–15

Karina Garcia

Affordable price for entry, pleasant police officers present, wonderful and knowledgeable elephant keepers, well maintained areas, expectantly lazy cats, presumably active primates, and over priced dippin dots packs. What's not to like ????

revjvegas

$21–30

Mr. G

Visited on

Vanessa “NessaGoesPlaces” Stone

$21–30

Lucas Herrera

Houston Zoo lights are always a blast! The staff did a great job keeping everyone in line this year and even kept line jumpers at bay! I went on the first day so it was a bit crowded but still a great time! Definitely bring your own s’mores stuff if you have littles!

Amber Beall

Visited on

Monica Alvarez

Yes

Van N

It's a good zoo and all but nothing has really changed, for example some of the animals there have been there since I was 9 and that's long. The zoo doesn't really have anything new and every time I visit it's getting boring because I already know what's there. But if you are visiting it for the first time it will be fun, they have a lot of animals.

Dan Brown

Visited on

Brettt. exe

Nice Zoo. Much better than San Antonio. Glad we purchased our tickets online. Per their website they don’t sell tickets in person at this time, so get your tickets online before going.

Humair Imam

Yes

Jennifer Reynolds

Price for adult entry

Katie North

Price for adult entry

Vignesh Radhakrishnan

Weekday

Mitch Rogers

Yes

Johana C

Wait time

Rachel Hanley

No wait

alekx maloney

No wait

Mahmoud Almasri

Price for adult entry

Dexter Hutchens

$16–20

Gaurav Mittal

No wait

Brenda Dickerson

Wait time

April MayJune

No wait

Guadalupe Rivera

Had a wonderful experience at the zoo. The worst part is the parking. So, expect to duel for a parking spot, or walk rather far. My girlfriend and I celebrated our 2nd anniversary here. Had a lovely time learning about the animals, seeing the animals in person. This zoo has a lot of indoor exhibits as well, making for a decent experience in the Texas heat. As for the food, and refreshments: as expected it is expensive. Paid $7 for a souvenir cup though, and only had to pay $2 for refills, and I noticed they have water bottle refill stations. We went to the Cyprus something Cafe, and the food was regular cafeteria food. Good customer service. I don't understand how their order process works, but it does. Overall great experience, inside and outside the zoo at Herman Park. Definitely check out the paddle boats, especially on a hot day, only $12 per boat! Up to 4 people on a boat.

Zella

Weekday

Mr. No Tengo Dinero

Reservation recommended

Jisu D

Wait time

Grizzly OutDoors

Wait time

thereal mzkelly

Yes

Linda Brock

Wait time

Jefferson Eagley

Really enjoyed the day here. A wonderful zoo with much to see and do - more than a day's worth if you spend any time at all at each spot. My little hometown zoo has a reciprocal agreement that saved me 50% on entry. Fantastic deal!

Gustavo Baquero werty

The elephant exhibit is incredible! They have a lot of elephants and you get to be pretty close to them safely! The outdoor seating for the café at the far end of the park has a view either of the rhinos or the giraffes, which makes for a pretty great place to have lunch. We got some sort of pizza salad that was really good. They have a large variety of primates, which is pretty cool too see. There's a few places with lots of snakes, bugs, and lizards. Tortoises can be found all over the park both as exhibits and just hanging out in the gardens. Cats being cats, most of them were asleep when I visited. It was a great zoo trip!

Justin James

Wait time

Wendi Trevino

Yes

J.W. Parnell

Price for adult entry

D. S. Causey

$21–30

two_dimes

$21–30

texasblingmissy

Not much has changed, but the level of traffic was low, making it easy to maneuver throughout exhibits.

Gypsy Denisse

Our first year to go to the Zoo Lights. Highly recommended! A ton of work and planning went into this and it shows. Scenes/decor is custom made and there are areas where bubbles are released which the kids absolutely loved.

EVR Jamaica

Yes

Jennifer Poole

One of my favorite zoos that I have ever been to! It’s huge and get ready to have an amazing time. Pick a suitable day since you’ll be spending a lot of time under the sun outdoors. Lots of fun activities for all ages. My favorite was the giraffe feeding it’s so much fun! Also liked the petting zoo, great if you love a hands on experience at the zoo. Cafeteria food is affordable and delicious too!

Kamal Adusumilli

Zoo lights This review is for zoo lights over the holiday season. Zoo lights is when they close the zoo for animal viewing at night and have Christmas lights all over the place. It is a fantastic way to spend the evening with your family and friends. The tickets are tied to specific times so crowds are kept quite reasonable and you can walk at your own pace. Make sure you have a wagon or stroller for the kids because it is a pretty long walk. This also means you can bring in outside snacks and drinks but they also have food and drink available. Zoo lights is a top activity in Houston for the holidays. Recommended

Angela Nickelson

Visited on

Maritzabel C.V

I have not been inside the Houston zoo in a very long time. My 9 y/o daughter really enjoyed seeing all the animals. There is sooo much to see. I really really was shocked by the number of elephant ???? and giraffes ???? that are there. I'm not sure if 1-1:30 pm is right after lunch time but some of the animals were napping and not budging to entertain us. We grabbed a snack and I felt it was reasonably priced. In all I enjoyed it and plan to do so lights next year.

Lorri Allman

Wait time

Diane Moss

First time to the Houston Zoo. I figured it would be a cookie cutter experience from my visit to the Dallas zoo but I could be no further from the truth. The staff cares not just for the animals within their compound but the families and individuals who want to learn about them. They have copious care programs for these animals around the world that regular folks like you and me can partake in to ensure our children and our children's children can enjoy these creatures. The park was well staffed and all facilities around the zoo were well kept. The carousel was a fun option near center of the zoo. The upcoming Galapagos island exhibit looks to be like a welcome addition to the Houston Zoo as well. My kids and I had a great time walking and visiting these animals. If you're in the area visiting or live here and have not taken the time to stop in and see..... Please do not wait any longer.

Alicia Russo

Price for adult entry

Alicia Montez

Visited on

Mindy Hojo

Price for adult entry

Mudasser Zaheer (MAZ)

It was cool because my son was smiling but it was really packed and hardly any animals. Literally like 1 seal and 2 zebras. It was weird I'm used to there being way more idk.

Gena Saucier

Wait time

Mario Montero

Yes

Christmas Celestin

Went to ZOO holiday lights with my family Dec. 17th. It was wonderful! I hope to go one more time before the season is over.

Hamyra Robinson

Reservation recommended

Rachel Duncan

Houston zoo is great but it's very small has exaggerated exhibits very few animals I wasn't offered any shows or entertainment very expensive food and most of the animals were sleeping.. so if u just wanna see some animals look on the …

Felicia Carter

10–30 min

marlon merino

We arrived early and it was quiet and peaceful. We walked around, played in the kids play area, rode the carousel and ate some food. They are still working on some exhibits but it was a good visit.

Ea Monphen

Visited on

Susan Hill

Wait time

Evette Gonzalez

Reservation recommended

Yvette Rodriguez

Too hot! Summer with kids not recommended. The Houston Zoo provides a fun and unique experience that connects communities with animals to inspire action to save wildlife. Where else can you see African lions, Asian elephants, and California sea lions...all without leaving the city of Houston? Each year, 2.4 million guests take part in the wonder and magnificence of creatures big and small from all over the globe and learn ways in which they can help save animals in the wild.

Patrick Fischl

Price for adult entry

Charles Tyler

The Houston Zoo was a really good zoo experience for our family of 7. We I've been to the New Orleans Zoo in Baton Rouge Zoo and others in the South and this one is equal if not better than the rest. It has overpriced food but that almost goes without being said. There were elephants and all kinds of other exotic creatures. Overall it was a good time for us.

Kylo Ren

Visited on

Tracey Marvin

This is such a beautiful zoo! It's almost like a garden and a zoo with all the great trees for shade, water features, and natural scenes. Be prepared for a lot of walking! Favorite animals were the river otters playing. Take the kids, water, hats, and a wagon to roll your things if you have one. Enjoy!

Harish T

It’s been years since we’ve been to the zoo. And even though renovations were not complete, there were still a lot of animals to see and learn about. …

Brandy Carley Independent Scentsy Director

I grew up at this zoo. I have volunteered at this zoo and my 30+ yo sons have fond memories of this zoo. I understand that prices have risen and it is everywhere but WOW!!! The prices are high but the real issue is that many of the exhibits were closed or empty, even the aquarium is gone/off exhibit(?). Plus my heart is broken... They have demolished the Exotic Bird House which was my favorite. Lots of blank space between empty exhibits.

Ana Bernal

There was alot of construction, the seals and petting zoo was closed, and they closed down the icee stand around 4 after we paid 10$ for one with a promise of $2 refills. I didnt care, but my 3 yr old literally cried lol. He wanted an ice and to see the lions. Good note, it wasn't busy, alot of the animals were out , minus the sleepy lions lol, and my son seemed to have a good time on our Mommy/Camden day ♡

Daniel Ram

No wait

Gabriela Miranda

Love the zoo! Free tickets once a month is nice too.

Alexis Santiago

Reservation recommended

Travis Gutierrez (TravisG)

Nice layout and very clean. I got there right as they opened, so it wasn't too crowded. It still wasn't bad when I left a couple hours later. The animals all seemed well taken care of and there were a lot to see!

Susan Parker

We have not been there in years. It was the best day. The animals were out there is such a variety of animals and there are enough indoor exhibits you could take a cooling-off break. Food prices are a bit over-the-top but they are kind enough to let you bring your own as long as it's not glass. If you are on Lonestar be sure to find the amazing discount!

TS

Visited on

Mary J

It’s a beautiful zoo! The trees are amazing!! Plenty of shade for the hot days. $20 for three small dippin dots is too much $$$. There were a lot of animals off display for some reason…Will likely be back though. Stroller, motorized cart and wagon rentals. Free parking.

Kayla Jack

Visited to check out the zoo lights with my wife. It was a nice date night setting, although we didn't feel like waiting in line for the hot chocolate or s'mores we definitely enjoyed the display, and have already made plans for the Houston Zoo Lights to become an annual tradition. Family friendly, couple friendly, anybody friendly. It's the Zoo!! Parking can be tricky so figure that out before you go!!

savita c

Reservation recommended

Addy M

Weekday

Sparkling Chelle

Visited on

Chia Wei Chen

Price for adult entry

NAT BA

Price for adult entry

Manogna S

Yes

Mike H

I always have a good time at the events here. I went for the Brew at the Zoo event and it was cool. This event is perfect for a date night. I like that it is only open to 21+ so no kids running around. You pay $45 for six 4oz tastes of beers, you get a cute plastic mug and there are photo booths to take pictures all over the park and zookeeper talks at select animal exhibits. My favorite part of the zoo is the reptile house. We also ordered food. I got tacos, my friend got empanadas and my other friend got salad. It was all good.

Mya “Mia mya” White

Love the Houston zoo! All of the recent upgrades have been such a pleasure to witness and see the animals enrichment is so fun. We have been members for about 3 years and could not recommend it more, especially if you can come more than 2 times a year, it pays for it's self. Our favorite time to come is during the rain as it leads to less traffic and typically the animals are more active. Would recommend brining your own snacks and drinks cause the cafe can be a bit pricey but the food is good for when you start to get hangry. Recent highlights include the South American Pantanal which has my favorite Giant river otters! Could not recommend more.

Alex Ochoa

Reservation recommended

Sam A

Price for adult entry

Adam Burkey

Reservation recommended

Jalil Fierro

$21–30

Elizabeth Adame (refinedgluttony)

No wait

Matt and Kaz Page

My beloved and I were in H-town and had nothing to do until a wedding later that evening. We popped into the zoo at opening. We were entertained until 2pm. I will be returning to Houston just see the new exhibit they are building. The disabled VET 2 for one discounted ticket made it an easy choice. I recommend going in the morning b4 it gets hot.

Tiffany Scott

Wait time

Noshad Ali

We visited Houston Zoo with our daughter and grandkids. It's been 3 years since we had been here last but they have added more and they're still expanding! Had a great time with our grandkids and daughter.

Jason Wimberly

Beautiful place never been 1st time with our city passes this is where 1 of our stops is. The kids had so much fun but take u a map if u dont know where u are that map will guided you around the zoo. Love getting the pictures when we left super cute and for our memories wall. We love trying new thing on to the next stop

Jesse

Price for adult entry

Stacy H

I LOVE this Zoo! The membership price is so worth it if you live in Houston or the burbs. Two visits and you’ve already paid for the memberships- totally a steal! The exhibits are well done. The animals are in very beautiful habitats and that makes me happy. The staff really takes care of them. Their entire motto is “See Them. Save Them” and I love that they really work to protect and save all of these beautiful creatures. In December they do Houston Zoo Lights and it’s phenomenal! The weather is usually very enjoyable and the lights are spectacular. They even have photos with Santa which is super cute. My one piece of advice is GO EARLY. Parking gets insane on the weekends and you can spend 45 minutes trying to park. Also, bring a stroller! It’s a ton of walking! If you go in summer, bring lots of water, snacks and even a fan! You will love going here!

Skylar Spring

Yes

Skylar Spring

Price for adult entry

Jacqueline Zepeda

Visited on

Kiara Martinez

Price for adult entry

Tamara Scharck

Yes

Michelledesiree Lopez

Up to 10 min

Bailey Nichols

My family and me always go once a year to the Houston zoo on October for zooboo going 5 years now. We never had a bad experience going to the Houston Zoo, but I wouldn't recommend going on a weekend there's no parking and it's really overcrowded. Suggestion is to take the bus and not your car if you decide to go on a weekend and not weekday.

Juan Villarreal

$21–30

Melody Andrews

Visited on

Juan J Hernandez

Weekday

Melissa Mendez

$21–30

Dominique

Great experience and we arrived at 3pm. Ate for 30mins, then walked around for a few then it was time to go! I'll return again at 9am after I eat a big breakfast!

two_dimes

Stopped on our way out of Houston… and the zoo did not disappoint! The place is clean and spacious, and the food is great. There are many path options to take, so that you don’t have to follow the crowds. The zoo was all decorated for the Boo event and it looked fabulous. The animals received pumpkin treats and our kids thoroughly enjoyed checking out who got which carved design. There are animal talks, a petting zoo, giraffe feeding, and so many other things to do! Some of the animals are pretty “far back” from standing area, but others are close.. for safety reasons obviously. It was as good or better than any other zoo we have seen, and we have been to plenty! The staff members were also walking around, interacting with guests and providing cool information about the animals and their habitats.

Destiny Craft

Up to 10 min

Ancida McHenry

Wait time

Tracy Whatley

Reservation recommended

Josh Sims

Weekday

Kisha M-C

I love the Houston Zoo! I recommend purchasing a Zoo membership if you go often or with large groups! I got the one that allows me plus like 10 guest or something! It’s great! Plus you get an extra discount at the gift shops!

Aerten Navarathna

Weekend

Amanda Heidrick

$16–20

Jonathan Greenstein

Reservation recommended

Holly Kelly

We loved it here. Great zoo to visit for the whole family.My little one had a blast. So many animals to see. And the best part we got free tickets that are offered on their website, one Tuesday every month.

Ayman Husain

Wait time

Ayman Husain

First time to the Houston Zoo. I figured it would be a cookie cutter experience from my visit to the Dallas zoo but I could be no further from the truth. The staff cares not just for the animals within their compound but the families and individuals who want to learn about them. They have copious care programs for these animals around the world that regular folks like you and me can partake in to ensure our children and our children's children can enjoy these creatures. The park was well staffed and all facilities around the zoo were well kept. The carousel was a fun option near center of the zoo. The upcoming Galapagos island exhibit looks to be like a welcome addition to the Houston Zoo as well. My kids and I had a great time walking and visiting these animals. If you're in the area visiting or live here and have not taken the time to stop in and see..... Please do not wait any longer.

Mungara Mahathi

Wait time

Jason Volbeda

Had a fun filled day at the zoo! Walked till your legs fell off and we saw every animal. Not a very easy zoo to navigate not enough signs out telling you were to go. Not a fan of everything online as your phone does pretty quickly. Enjoyed getting our photo taken as soon as we got in. It was nice having everyone in the photos. Such pretty trees all over. We all enjoyed the life sized dens of all the different animals. We also got to enjoy seeing all the lights set up.

Robbie Jansky

Price for adult entry

Elizabeth Velazquez

Yes

Downhome With Kori Jo

Wait time

Tyler Martian

Visited on

Zeus Diaz

Weekday

David Pollack

10–30 min

Daniel Gamboa

Reservation recommended

Moubachir Silicon Valley

Price for adult entry

Topaz San Felipe

Between the cute animals and activities snuck between exhibits this ace was pretty neat. Loved the indoor bug rooms but hardly ever seen anyone was disinfectant or sanitized anything. I understand certain disinfectants are harmful to animals but nothing? There has been rain for a while in Houston but the mud and mud puddles in areas was disappointing. We a good time we might check it out again in a year or 2 after this pandemic has settled more. Kids enjoyed the Houston and children's museums more this year.

Gavin Williams

No wait

Gretchen Kunzler

Yes

Jason Russell

Price for adult entry

Van Caldona

Great location for a zoo, the heart of the city. We were there with 2 children, the little one is 5 years old 110 cm hight who had hard time seeing animals behind the fence. The height of many display and signs are too high for them to view …

Omar Tabbara

Reservation recommended

Bob Christy

The lights were beautiful. The most crowded areas were the children's area, and at the entrance to the chimpanzee area. Our entry time was 8:30 and we had about a 2 minute wait to get thru the line. I had the map from my email, and did not see any paper maps. So be sure to you have access to that, if you want a map. Following the route arrows is another plus. The parking lot was full and we parked in the Natural Science garage. Be aware of that. It is quite a walk if that might be an issue for you. It was fun. I'm glad we went. For me I think once is enough. But that being said, it was very beautiful. I enjoyed it.

Binky Milligan

Yes

Fe

Wait time

Kristina Looney

Love all the animals they have to see. I also love how well they are kept & how their habitats give them lots of space & things they love in them. Highly recommend visiting this zoo.

Yan Ros

Yes

Monica Lara

Had an excellent time at Brew lights. We went to the very first brew lights a couple years ago, and it has gotten so much better. That's to everyone who made it a great event.

Nico Kinner

Visited on

Jessica Wood

$21–30

Aziza Maria

Houston Zoo Christmas lights. The experience was a lot nicer than I expected. There were so many like this place. Some were very unique. The Mary go round was up and running. Our favorite was roasting marshmallows over and open fire. The …

Aminu Gidado

No wait

Stefanie Wedde

Reservation recommended

Ethan Lindstrom

Visited on

R.E. Irwin

Reservation recommended

Patricia Wood

I Loved the elephants you could get real close and they are very playful. You forget that you in the middle of the city. Not enough bathrooms but otherwise great time. Quick pro thay don't let you bring in raw meat to feed the animals but you are aloud to bring children.

Zalla Otten

Soooo many cool animals in a beautiful setting.

Meredith Guarino

Visited on

Meredith Guarino

Visited on

Cindy Malota

Visited on

Jessie Sasser

My kid loves the zoo. There’s always something to see and spend hours entertained. I suggest becoming a member since it’s the best experience and value. It pays itself off in one or two trips. Giraffe feeding times are so fun too.

Rachel Interiano

Wait time

Ronin Kenway

Reservation recommended

Durand Sentinus

Wait time

Elizabeth Bieler

Price for adult entry

Oliver Stewardson

Price for adult entry

Laurie Loveslife

Weekday

Vallerie A Thomas King

Yes

David William

Beautiful walking paths within the trees. Perfect November day to stroll around and spy on the animals. Not crowded at all on this Wednesday morning when the zoo opened. I would have given it 5stars but the lady at the ticket counter would not sell me a ticket. Said i had to do it on my phone.

Candidly Constance

Price for adult entry

Pravin Muchintaya

Haven't been here since I was little (20 years ago). The animals are beautiful and seemed well kept. The giraffes are amazing, lions are lazy but majestic and monkeys, well, they just monkey around. Don't forget to see the American bald eagle, just amazing!

Jarred Eagley

Reservation recommended

Mitchell Lott

Born and raised in Houston. Went to the zoo many times as a child here and remember what it looked like then but it is greatly improved! Looks so different now. It's so nice, the landscaping is really lush and pretty and everything is so clean and tidy and well set up. Lots of great animal exhibits.

Brandon Bryant

$21–30

vaporholic houston

Visited on

MYH HRNDZ

Price for adult entry

Rekha Shetty

Visited on

Marlon Abreu

One of the best zoos we have visited. My kid loves it and it's a must-see for us every time we are in Houston.

Alma Ramirez

Yes

Dylan Trevino

Yes

Lena Smith

Price for adult entry

Esther Hackleman

This is a fantastic zoo, but like so much else these days, come prepared to spend a good deal of quid. We spent the day here, arriving early and leaving in the mid-afternoon, and in the midst of it ate at one of the various diners in the …

Divya

I have 3 boys 10, 7, and 5 years of age and they absolutely loved it! There were so many animals and most were so active. I wish there would have been more food options. Oh and the popcorn in bags was incredibly stale we bought 4 bags in two different locations and they were all bad. Aside from that one bad point our family had an amazing time and are looking forward to the exbit opening next year I believe! The boys are so excited to go back again!

Nareman Darwish

Price for adult entry

Candace Shaidaee

Price for adult entry

Mark Cocson

Reservation recommended

Luis Pina

$21–30

Samantha Cearley

$16–20

J. Badger

My husband and I brought our niece and nephew here a couple of weekends ago. They loved seeing all the animals. The zoo is humongous. So if you are going I'd suggest planning on it being a good portion of the day. We got there around 10:30 and it was almost 3p by the time we got back to the car. If you go earlier in the morning you can get good parking in the free lots surrounding the zoo. We packed sandwiches and snacks for us and that worked great. We were able to bring in a wagon without issue. They have plenty of benches spread throughout for breaks. It's hot and it's quite a bit of area to cover. While there is a good bit of shade throughout, dress cool and wear comfy shoes. The only air conditioned spaces are the bathrooms and gift shops for the most part. We plan to go again! We bought our tickets online and they had timed entry. They have different discounts on ticket prices too like military and lone star. I believe they also have free afternoons in the off months.

Laine Sandefur (Vivian)

Yes

Steph Apie

Reservation recommended

Tiffany Fletcher

Up to 10 min

Juana Rodriguez

$6–10

Sydney Santiago

Visited on

DiscoDynamiteTNT

Visited on

L.Michele Banks

Weekend

Isabella Kondracki

Wait time

LaTaunya Davis

Price for adult entry

Michael Pavlov

No wait

Elizabeth Bagwell

Visited on

Chelsea Saldana

Nice Place.We walked around, played in the kids Around the area, rode the carousel and ate some food. Animals arrived that time and kids are enjoy well.

Nanna

No wait

Houstonow Support Local

Weekday

Becky Mitchell

This is a great place to visit for anyone, especially kids. It's huge and it's easy to wander around for hours exploring new things. The exhibits are nicely kept, many animals to be seen. The dinosaur exhibit is extremely life like and its shown that they put a lot of effort into creating it. Definitely check that out, it's an amazing experience. There are facts about each animal listed next to its exhibit and many places to cool off, eat, drink water, take a restroom break etc. The parking isn't too great but it's possible after a bit of searching, and luck, to find a spot. Other than that, they do a pretty good job of giving information with talks with the keeper or during feedings. It's a great place to go and if you do go, be prepared to have a lot of fun!

Ahmed Khamas

Wait time

J B

Great zoo with lots of ground to cover. We were only able to come for about 3 hours so we saw all that we could in that time. Place is very clean and animals look well. My only concern was their tiger who was clearly hot. He had a great enclosure with a pool but he started pacing and it was clear he was in distress. Employees are sweet and helpful in directing people around the zoo.

Julio Ramirez-Li

Reservation recommended

Nishek Kumar

Public holiday

RE Rosa

No wait

Janice Harmon

Wait time

Hector R Orlandi

Yes

Dorian Primes

No wait

Jessica Palmer

Reservation recommended

gerald paraday

Yes

srihari Upputuri

Yes

Kerry Jo Robertson

One of my favorite zoos that I have ever been to! It’s huge and get ready to have an amazing time. Pick a suitable day since you’ll be spending a lot of time under the sun outdoors. Lots of fun activities for all ages. My favorite was the giraffe feeding it’s so much fun! Also liked the petting zoo, great if you love a hands on experience at the zoo. Cafeteria food is affordable and delicious too!

Patrick Howell

Yes

Megan James

Yes

Julie Duncan

I suggest going on a FREE TUESDAY! It's the best bang for your buck. They limit the amount of tickets so make sure you log on the Wednesday before the 1st Tuesday of the month! You can bring your own wagon, food & drink. The zoo itself is awesome. Plenty of engaging animals. The unlimited carousel ticket ($5/ea) is a must for toddlers! The train outside the zoo is also a great hit. Tickets are $4 ea and the ride is smooth and lasts for 15-18 mins. Plenty of opportunities to wave at passers-by! Sports comparison: Seabiscuit

Roberto Octavio Casas

Weekend

thc productions

No wait

Justin Tobias

Visited on

Amanda Murdock

Visited on

Benny Castro

No wait

Ezekiel Reissig

Wait time

Joana Sarango

Reservation recommended

Mr. Green

Always a fun outing for dates or family. Reasonably priced with great exhibits though we definitely recommend you go in fall or early spring to beat the heat. Food is typical of a zoo. Neat park next door and Miller Outdoor Theater is across from this and worth rounding out your evening!

Daniel Younker

Visited on

Carol Young

Price for adult entry

Amynah Merchant

We had a lot of fun at the Zoo! Between me and my husband we walked the whole Zoo in 4hrs. Our favorite part was the Reptiles. It was hard to believe that such a beautiful Zoo exists in the middle of the city. Many of the animals were sleeping or off sight, but I don't blame them it was hot!!

anthony villarreal

Zoo is very clean. Animals look healthy and well taken care. Incredible experience watching elephants taking a bath in the swimming pool. On a hot day not easy to see some animals but chimpanzees are funny to see lazing around. You can bring your own food and drinks for your kids. Ramps all over the place for the strollers. Get ready to walk and enjoy a family day here!!

Sue Laprise

Wait time

Boyce McElveen

Public holiday

Kori Jo

30–60 min

Cara Bussa Weaver

Visited on

Derek Vizena

We had an incredible time at the Houston Zoo! This was my first ever zoo experience and I will say I was completely happy with it! Got to see almost all of the animals except for a small few, but that could've been because I just couldn't see them ???? Definitely will be back to check out the Christmas ???? ⛄ decorations!

Abdel-Hameed Badawy

Yes

Chrislord Templonuevo

I have not been inside the Houston zoo in a very long time. My 9 y/o daughter really enjoyed seeing all the animals. There is sooo much to see. I really really was shocked by the number of elephant ???? and giraffes ???? that are there. I'm not sure if 1-1:30 pm is right after lunch time but some of the animals were napping and not budging to entertain us. We grabbed a snack and I felt it was reasonably priced. In all I enjoyed it and plan to do so lights next year.

Jonas Moses (Jonas Moses, PhD PA)

Reservation recommended

Prathibha Murdough

Visited on

Matthew Caputo

Free

Kerry Jo Robertson

Visited on

Robert Johnson

Reservation recommended

Mike Young

Great place to go with my grandaughters,the combo paddle boat and trainride was pretty resonable as well,and it wasnt too crowded,we had a great time.!! Cant wait to go again ! Parking on the other hand ...could use improvements...just not enough .

Brian Lyster

No wait

Sarah McKinley

Up to 10 min

cece Jimenez

Had an amazing time this year at the Houston Zoo. It's great if your looking for a place to take the kids or just a nice night out. You have to reserve a time before you go, and I would get there a little early for parking, other then take it's pretty easy.

Krystal Bentley-Moore

Weekday

heather kostrna

Visited on

Heidi Lynn '

Visited on

Lorie Cherry

Weekend

Hector Espinoza

Visited on

Two Peas

Reservation recommended

Akilah Nisa

Reservation recommended

shelby rives

Weekday

Gina Marroquín

Weekday

Alexis L

Reservation recommended

Bhagyashree Ksheersagar

Reservation recommended

Angela lucas

$21–30

Deena Sanchez

Yes

J List

Price for adult entry

Yurien Laria

Visited on

Joe Zoller

Weekday

J.R. Cohen

Weekday

Jimmy Zaid

Amazing place for the family! The area around the Zoo is magnificent!

Jerry Morgan

So excited to take the kids back to the Houston zoo, post mask mandate. The zoo was absolutely beautiful, and all of the upgrades they are making are wonderful. The park was clean and well kept. The zoo staff was so friendly and there were multiple staff at each display to interact with the kids. The elephants were getting there baths, the bears were being fed, the bug house was incredible and the reptile house was open again. We even got to see the anacondas being fed…. What a great experience. I also enjoyed the new labels that included Spanish and English descriptions. My family and I will be back soon. I recommend going before the Prehistoric Beast display is gone. The exhibit was 14 dollars for me and two kids under 12. I give the zoo 5 out of 5 mustaches. Ps they are building the Galapagos exhibit……

Jim Hoff

The place looks great with the new updates. I'm excited to see what's coming up next. The jaguar exhibit where you can walk under it was awesome

Jeremy Yeakey

We went at 9, as soon as they opened. There was plenty of parking and it was not crowded at all. Absolutely loved walking the grounds and seeing all the exhibits and beautiful animals. The gift shop was also very clean and had tons of items available.

Nbetzy Guzman

Houston Zoo was awesome. Well laid out, great exhibits and related interpretive signs explaining each of the animals and their current status. Lots to see and experience at the zoo, from keeper talks to just watching the animals in their habitats. From lions to elephants, giraffe to reptiles and so much more- it’s a great place. Several timed programs from the aforementioned keeper talks to feedings and more. The zoo is well laid out and affords the opportunity to pace yourself with plenty of shaded rest areas. A big plus is the numerous water fountains and bottle filling stations throughout the zoo. Several beverage and snack stands throughout the zoo, and while gluten free options are somewhat limited, there are snacks that can be found that are safe. Ample restrooms that are family friendly and handicap accessible. Zoo staff is friendly and will take time to explain the exhibits and nuances about the animals, reptiles, insects and other occupants. We enjoyed it so much we got the annual pass so we can visit again. Handicap accessible parking as is the majority of the zoo. Ample restrooms throughout the zoo along with multiple water fountains. Once you leave the zoo there is a spacious park that offers lots of open spaces for a relaxing break, a picnic or maybe time in the paddle boats on the lake. Great views of the city. Please note that the attached photos are Copyright ©Jonathan Greenstein, please contact me before using my photos. Thanks.

Nairovi guadarrama

Yes

Nick Hewitt

It’s been years since we’ve been to the zoo. And even though renovations were not complete, there were still a lot of animals to see and learn about. Can’t wait to visit again once the Galapagos area opens.

Derrick Visanio

Price for adult entry

Joe R

No wait

Tyler Fuller

Weekday

Hank Tate

The Houston Zoo is the best attraction in the city. If you can, try to make a full-day trip so you can take in all the sights, sounds, and animals in the park. The African Forest is simply amazing, and was one of the best additions the zoo ever made. Two of my personal favorite sections are the Reptile House and the World of Primates. Although I've been coming to this zoo my whole life, every time I come, something memorable takes place that keeps bringing me and my family back. If you haven't gone or are just visiting the city, you have to go. You won't regret it!

Abby IW

Haven't ben to the zoo in about 10 years. Lots of new stuff. The price has increased considerably, but there is definitely more to see. You must currently buy tickets online. It was a hot day, and several of the big animals were in hiding. It's nice to have the buildings to go into to cool down. My grandson had fun. The dinosaur exhibit was cool. Overall a good time.

Vikki Elmore

No wait

Brittney Whitney

Visited on

Mikaela Meyer

Great location for a zoo, the heart of the city. We were there with 2 children, the little one is 5 years old 110 cm hight who had hard time seeing animals behind the fence. The height of many display and signs are too high for them to view by their own. Especially in bugs sections, some are even too high for an adult like myself (164 cm). Animals seemed to be very treated with plenty of space for them.

John Marsh Class Piano II

Price for adult entry

J A

Weekend

Oliver Zauner

Stopped on our way out of Houston… and the zoo did not disappoint! The place is clean and spacious, and the food is great. There are many path options to take, so that you don’t have to follow the crowds. The zoo was all decorated for the …

Andrew Capen

Wait time

Lux Vivimus

Price for adult entry

Jennifer Romero

Reservation recommended

Robert Jensen

Visited on

Arham’s World

Yes

Jose G Jasso

Visited on

trinamarie480

Took my girlfriend on a date here, the food stands were a bit overpriced but I understand why. The ranger stations found near restrooms are reassuring for health and safety. Overall I am excited to see the new animals they plan to add next. I would recommend checking out their Cafe.

Jessica Plumley

Yes

Niah Green

No wait

Naomi Teague

Reservation recommended

luis alejandro martinez pineda

Price for adult entry

Eric Guthrie

Weekday

Traci Hester

Wait time

Evelyn Avina

Wait time

Cat Garcia

Weekday

Sarah Rickert

Best zoo I been in years yet alone here in TX. Great restaurants, snack bars, and very nice touch with local brews if you are a beer lover. Right next to the zoo they have a train tour you can take around the park or rent a boat to take to the nearby lake.

Hitomi Gantt

Visited on

How Cool!

An awfully long line turned out to be a little wait of just ten minutes. Great Lightshow with a mixture of Christmas motives and animals. Good atmosphere.

Jeremiah Johnson

Excellent day at the zoo today. The majority of the animals/etc were present and out. I wish there had been more concessions open. Most of them were closed. We rushed our last hour through the exhibits due to hunger. We would have loved to stay. Feeding the giraffe was the highlight of my daughter's day. $7 for 3 pieces of romaine lettuce was well worth it. The most disappointing part was the petting zoo being closed. I asked several staffers and they didn't know why it was closed. The park was clean and I did not see any trash or debris flying around. I saw cleaning crews all over the place. For the most part, it was an enjoyable experience and one my daughter will remember. We will he going back soon (with a backpack of food) to spend another great day with the animals. (Hopefully the petting zoo will be open.)

michael lopez

Weekday

Evanjelyn Tram

$21–30

Stephanie

Price for adult entry

Sylvia

No wait

Phillip Jessie

We brought our twins here to celebrate their second birthday. It was very clean and family friendly. Due to COVID, you have to pre-order your tickets online, which I wanted to do anyway to avoid lines. You pick the time you want to arrive at the time of purchase. There were plenty of people who were at the park, but we didn't feel it was too crowded. A lot of the food booths (maybe all I didn't pay attention fully) were non operational right now. The petting zoo was also closed, which sucked but we half expected that anyway. Feeding the giraffes was open and fun. Gift shops were also open.

Jessica Buteaux

Great Zoo, my kids and I enjoyed our visit and loved the unlimited Carousel ride option. Can't wait to go back next year 2023, to see the finished construction. The train ride outside the Zoo was also nice around Herman Park.

Dustin “Tye” Ellsworth

Came to see the Zoo Lights while visiting Houston for the weekend. Purchased tickets the same day on a Saturday night. The only tickets left were for the 9pm timeslot, but this worked out as the crowd thinned out as the zoo was closing at 10:30pm. It was very easy to take pictures of the different light scenes and decorations. The lights were well done and perfectly transitioned between each area. There was not one area of the zoo that was not lit up nicely. All the lights were very bright and creatively put together. There was also a nice use of reflective paint that lit up similar to the lights. Throughout the park, there were nice food and drink stations to purchase while walking around the zoo. There was not a set direction or path to walk, so you were able to see the different areas at your own pace and discretion. Walking at an average pace it took about an hour to walk throughout the zoo.

Johanna Guilbeaux

Christmas light show was so AWESOME!!! Grandkids absolutely loved it! Was about a 2 hour walk through, I suggest if you have little ones , you take a stroller or wagon.

Ryan Mesler

Wait time

Dustin Hornsby

Amazing day at the zoo with the family. Free parking, affordable entrance and lots of staff working all day keeping the zoo very clean and beautiful. Gardens are very well kept and animals have plenty of well maintained spaces. The Cypress Cafe has good food and drinks and is clean and organized. Some spaces are under renovation but still we could enjoy the day to the fullest. Highly recommended.

Scottie Nash

Wait time

Angelica F.

No wait

Savannah Salinas

First time to the Houston Zoo. They still had it decorated for the Holidays. Really should check the schedule for next year and go to the Zoo Holiday Lights nights ( not sure what they are called but I could tell they put some effort into it). Guest's were respectful. A blend of mask and non-masks. Felt safe from a cleanliness aspect. Also need to plan to take grandson on the train.

Harish Gangasani

$21–30

Polican 93

Wait time

Stacey Tew

Great layout, great animals, good food at the halfway point. Never did spot any of the geckos. Finally got to see a cheetah in person, which is something I've always wanted to do. Definitely feel like evening hours would be nice though, especially to view some of the nocturnal animals like the bats. Be prepared to walk. A lot.

Cole Campbell

Wait time

Glory Castillo

Visited on

Mary Dickmann

10–30 min

Martha Vera

One of the best places to spend time with family in Houston. Who doesn't want to make memories while learning about animals? The kids always enjoy the animal encounters. The goat experience is always fun. The little ones love petting the goats. Another favorite is the sea lion training. We spend the whole day always learning new things and observing the animals. There are many exhibits , reptile and amphibian house, elephant habitat area,giraffe feeding, bug house, African forest and many more. If you live in the Houston area or visit for a longer time I recommend getting a membership.

Sarah Muniz

Weekday

Karthick S S

Wait time

ShaRell Banks

Weekday

Jaeden Silva

Visited on

Jaeden Silva

Wait time

Michael Bella

$21–30

john hirst

Weekday

megan wilson

Wait time

Rylee Gonzales

Very nice place and be prepared to walk a lot, we finished exhausted but very glad! Enjoy the prehistoric exhibition and the meals & refreshers (good prices)Tickets only available on line not in the Zoo. ???? The store with very nice and good quality souvenirs, better than Natural museum souvenirs. I love all the store! ????

shikha joshi

We visited Houston Zoo with our daughter and grandkids. It's been 3 years since we had been here last but they have added more and they're still expanding! Had a great time with our grandkids and daughter.

Stephine Nava

Visited on

Cheesy Breadstick

Reservation recommended

Alitza Contreras

Went there for the Holiday Lights. This was done nicely and it was put together well. The crowds were well managed with the scheduled entry times and it wasn't overly packed. The night I went was chilly but added to the intent of the holiday lights. It was good fun. No animals are viewable so not sure how the zoo is doing during the winter months but I have been there in the summer time and the zoo is nice and well managed as well.

Page Allen

Weekday

T TI

Always a good spot to take the kids. We went there last month and it was hot as hell. Definitely cover up or wear plenty of sunblock. The process was to go online and buy the tockets at the designated time. You cannot buy the tickets at the zoo.

Punitha Mukundan

Visited on

Ben The Builder

Nice layout and very clean. I got there right as they opened, so it wasn't too crowded. It still wasn't bad when I left a couple hours later. The animals all seemed well taken care of and there were a lot to see!

Richard Smith

Yes

J Physo

Yes

Chelsie Cooksey

THE BEST OF THE BEST! We're so fortunate to have such an incredible Zoo in this city. You can tell how much effort goes into to keep this place a spectacular place to go multiple times a year. Great events throughout the year. Amazed on …

Taylor Huang

Visited on

Randal Carrera

Reservation recommended

Mehrwash Faruqi

No wait

Ruby Alexander

Price for adult entry

Iris Morgan

One of the best places to spend time with family in Houston. Who doesn't want to make memories while learning about animals? The kids always enjoy the animal encounters. The goat experience is always fun. The little ones love petting the …

April Smith

Weekend

Amanda T. Haugen

No wait

Toni Rougeau

Visited on

Tyler P

$11–15

Mike Sara

Visited on

Teresa Hirose

Wait time

Shasta Watson

No wait

ranjith gv

$21–30

Miguel Diaz

Visited on

S.I

Wait time

Ryan Wilkins

Even though it started to pur down raining halfway through the visit, my 4 yo and twin 2 yo loved it... We even got to see them feed and give water to the elephants... We also saw the Prehistoric Exhibit. It was cool that everything moves and/or makes sounds

Alice Redd

It's perfect weather..very friendly environment..it took us like 5hrs to see all the animals..my kids injoyed it..

Khadijah

Weekday

Elizabeth G

Weekend

Jason Bassett

Wait time

Sean Conley

The Houston Zoo never disappoints. We got to see two American Bald Eagles, beautiful! They are constantly adding new things and exhibits. We were very lucky the weather was amazing!

Dahlia De La Cruz

Absolutely fabulous zoo. Elephant habitates is amazing. Moms and babies. Could watch all day

Shequaia Harris

Yes

Janice Selders

I loved the Houston Zoo Christmas light presentation. My 2 year old grandson had himself a blast. I highly recommend that if one plan to see a Christmas light display, this should be the one.

Angela Northern

The zoo is very clean and animals are well feed. They had a lot of space to go. But unfortunately I saw many of them are just alone in thier cages. A partner will make a lot of difference. The view spots are ok... but they can much better for some animals since they can hide and technically you will miss them.

Katie James

Been coming here for years. They recently opened up the swamp area. They’re currently working on a Galapagos island. It’s fun to go to once in a while, but not too often because it is just the same animals. Don’t get your hopes up to see …

Priyanka

We had a wonderful day at the Houston Zoo. We loved seeing all the animals especially the elephants and giraffes.

alyssa gonzalez

This was definitely on our bucket list! The zoo is about 3 hours away from us and it was worth worth the drive. We had a lot of fun. They had all different types of animals, but my favorite was the elephants! So cute!

Kathryn Riordan

While it is obvious that the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has made caring for both visitor and animal more complicated the Houston Zoo has done a fantastic job. Exhibits are clean, friendly and visually centered around the customer. Animal habitats have been maticulusly recreated allowing the animals to both feel safe, secure and at home. As well as comfortable enough to interact with visitors. Staff are friendly, knowledgeable and eager to help.

Jada Vella

Where do I start? This zoo is terrible! The grounds are terrible, the grass isn't kept, the flowers and bushes are dead. They have these stone animals in the grass which would have a beautiful effect if the grounds were kept neat and clean. The animals were mostly sleep which leaves me to believe they aren't being stimulated, entertained, or played with (Safely, of course). With the world living in COVID status, the enclosed areas (monkeys, bugs, reptiles) didn't have any employees consistently disinfecting or cleaning. The Zoo needs a total transformation, they should get some tips from the Fort Worth Zoo. Herman Park, which consist of ducks and walking trails is more interesting than this zoo. Only good thing about this zoo, is parking is free, which should be reconsidered. Paying for parking will help with the upkeep of the zoo. Even walking up to the zoo, the grass is full of trash, dead plants, and bushes. If I could give negative stars, I would.

a traveling Mom

SO CUTE. All the animals were sleeping when I went but regardless, I loved them all. The elephants were playful and adorable and the primates/ monkeys were all so chill. A super cute date idea or somewhere to bring your family and friends ❤️

Maverick

No wait

Amna Ali

Wait time

Brenda Rigdon

$21–30

Pato Gordis

Weekday

VALERIE VALVERDE

Reservation recommended

Khristina Mari Ancheta

Visited on

Mary Lyon

Price for adult entry

Christi Freshour

Collection is Stunning!! It will take you all day to see every animal (7+ hrs) Come early in the morning because it takes 20mins to find parking! Dont forget to check out the train and paddleboat to end your day.

courtney bell

$21–30

ashly Guerrero

Reservation recommended

Kimberly Foraker

Visited on

Lindsey Swonke

The day was nice enough to be out and I hadn't been here in so long. A lot has changed. There is some construction being done walking in from the entrance but it's not too bad. Elephants were getting ready to go for a swim and most of the time other animals were probably eating. It started getting hot and then the rain came. Still had a good time. They are getting things ready for holloween so bring the kids for the boo in the zoo.

Harout A

Reservation recommended

Jim Byerly

$21–30

Michelle Williams

$21–30

nathan villalobos

Price for adult entry

Alex Chaney

$21–30

Sun Flower

Reservation recommended

JuanDaniel Rodriguez

Zoo need more improvement and should be more lively during the weekend days because families are coming to spend some good time. It was dead time, all the animals were pretty much sleeping.

Caleb Carter

Houston zoo is really a nice place for families. The problem is the parking. The parking lot shares with the park and that makes it hard to look for a parking spot

Dwight Underwood

No wait

Carin Spreitzer

Wait time

Jackie Cruz

Reservation recommended

Kira Hooker

Weekend

Blake Edmonson

Visited on

M E

Visited on

Leslie Perkins

$21–30

Katie Shepherd

Reservation recommended

Phillip Durbin

Weekday

N. Nassif

The amount and selection of animals is quite great. My kids are always fascinated by the elephants and there is always something new to see and learn. We are eagerly expecting the new Galapagos area. We are always amazed by the bald eagle and love feeding the giraffes. We always spend more than 4 hrs in each visit even though we are members and could go anytime (3 times in the past 5 months). We love it

Deborah Burdick

Wait time

Amanda Long

No wait

Mr. P

We really loved going to the Houston Zoo!!! It’s kept really clean and the animals look so happy!!! It’s really big and love the activities they have there???? my kids were so happy to see the Animals so up close. They have Gorillas there that’s one of our sons favorite animals! We had a great experience!

Derek & Courtney DeFee

We went during the week and our reservation time was for 9:00 am so it was easy to park and get in the zoo. The later you go, parking becomes a nightmare, so keep that in mind. We had a great visit. I love that it opens at 9 because it gives the kids and I time to enjoy the zoo before it’s lunch and nap time. We were lucky and the animals were out and about that day. The other guests there were respectful or space and taking turns. Some people wore masks, some did not. The only place I was nervous about the closeness was in the reptile house, so we hurried through and continued seeing the animals that are outside. I do wish there were more bathrooms along the way. Seeing the zoo with 2 little ones, someone always has to use the bathroom, ALWAYS. It was a great trip to the zoo. I know we could have easily spent more time there.

K Graham

Weekday

Jen

$21–30

Donna Cruise

No wait

Bruce Valdez

We love taking the grandchildren to three Houston Zoo we have an annual membership that is very convenient We are also going back for the Christmas lights this year.

Elaine Aiton

Weekday

Melinda Stout

Price for adult entry

Jeremy Hayden

Yes

Bella CM

Weekend

Razvan Titu

Up to 10 min

Ewendolyn Gayden

Up to 10 min

Michelle Smith

Been coming here for years. They recently opened up the swamp area. They’re currently working on a Galapagos island. It’s fun to go to once in a while, but not too often because it is just the same animals. Don’t get your hopes up to see every animal, sometimes they’re hiding or just asleep. Your best bet to get good parking and to avoid crowds is the go right when they open.

R Granger

It's always pleasant to visit zoos and learn about our world through them. However, in this particular zoo were many empty cages and few animals to see or watch. The place would certainly look better if the common areas were trimmed and we could also ejoy gardens within it. Some of the areas you need to pay extra to see them. Overall its nice but it has room for many improvements.

Cindy Powell

Yes

Kevin Horning

The Zoo lights is an amazing date night or just a night to bring the family and let the kiddos see the amazing lights. I 10/10 recommend going, it’s a great place to catch some great pics and make memories. Only downside is the gift shop is a bit pricy but in the bright side the hot coco is amaze!

Angel Simms

Very fun experience! It's been a very long time since I've been, but a first time for my daughter. Some of the animals were not out for viewing, a majority of the gift shops were closed, all of the booths were card only, and everything was very overpriced. All in all the staff was very friendly, the zoo was very clean, there were sanitation stations set up all around the zoo, bottle refill stations and water fountains all around. We had a great time! I'd suggest bringing your own food and drinks with you, and don't forget to purchase your tickets online. (The zoo is online purchase only right now)

Lawton Regan

No wait

Lisa Thornton

No wait

C Stan

My kids and I always enjoy our trip to the zoo. There is some construction going on and some exhibits are closed, but the overall experience was awesome!

Gbemisola Monica

Weekend

jacky C (Itsjackyc)

Weekday

Philip Cardaci

Yes

Luis Robledo

No wait

Jen Johnson

Yes

James Lagerman

$21–30

Giovinho Marquez

Not sure

Bess

This is a fantastic zoo, but like so much else these days, come prepared to spend a good deal of quid. We spent the day here, arriving early and leaving in the mid-afternoon, and in the midst of it ate at one of the various diners in the park. For a family of five it was $87 for a few burgers and drinks! Even so, it was a great little adventure with much fun to be had :)

Emily Knapp

The Houston Zoo is one of the best. Parking is a Nightmare! ruin the experience.

Donald Barber

$21–30

El Desmañanado

No wait

Amy Cline

Wait time

Suji

$16–20

LeWayne Ballard

$21–30

Tiffany Ortez

Visited on

Andrea Mayhew

Visited on

Bryan Reynolds

No wait

M, Cariaso

$11–15

Colleen Winterbauer

No wait

Tiffany T

We had a membership few years back and we decided not to renew it just because of the crazy rush you find in the zoo and at the parking. We been to zoo over the weekend after 5 years. Parking problem has become absolutely worst. When we booked the tickets , they were assigned a slot and you have to admit in that time window. So we thought we will get the parking in few attempts if not easily. Boy was I wrong! We drove for 25 mins in and around the zoo parking to find one. Finally we found one which was 1.5 miles away. But because our admission window was nearing we parked and literally ran to the zoo. Overall zoo experience was okay. Food and drinks are sooo expensive. In the afternoon animals are sleeping or gone somewhere. The zoo was so crowded, everywhere we go there was a big line. Even in closed spaces like reptile habitat it was jam packed. I just wish and hope Houston zoo do something about this.

Jared Riley

The animals seemed well taken care of. I was very pleased to see that the frogs and lizards had adequate sized tanks and plenty of room to move around. The cages were clean and all the animals appeared to be in good health and well fed. I would also like to point out how cool the jellyfish exhibit was. My only real complaints are as follows. Zoo parking is less than satisfactory and it's very inconvenient to have to purchase your zoo tickets online in advance. It's also inconvenient that a lot of the little penny pressing machines take cash only in the age of credit cards when most people aren't carrying cash anymore. The gift shops were also lacking. I was hoping you could purchase pre-pressed pennies there since I didn't have cash on me, but no luck. Really wanted the one with the frog on it. Other than that, it was a pleasant experience. Enjoyed the zoo and the carousel ride. Though half of the carousel animals were roped off due to excuse of covid, yet it made no sense as there seemed to be no rhyme or reason for which carousel animals you weren't allowed to ride, just random ones roped off with signs that said not to ride them. Overall, the price for zoo tickets isn't too bad considering all there is to see, but I do recommend bringing your own food and drinks, as consession foods are very outrageously priced.

r chinni

We were amazed at how big the zoo was compared to where we live! It was so awesome the many animals. The monkeys were our favorite because they weigh better and put on a show.

Hasnat Chaudhary

We brought our toddler and she had an awesome time! I bought the tickets on their website, went to the zoo on our scheduled time. It was a breeze from parking to entering the zoo. There's a lot of christmas decor already when we went which made my LO more excited and made our visit more enjoyable.

Justin Thompson

Price for adult entry

Jonathan Batista

Wait time

Luzmaria Martinez

I went in afternoon and i had seen lot of animals sleeping because of a sunny day better try going in mornings or evenings. By the way the zoo is pretty large.

Christapher Martin

Reservation recommended

Michael Doyle

Yes

Sean Holt

fantastic place, we absolutely love it, if you have little ones I highly recommend a stroller or a wagon because it's a big place, also bring snacks and water, it can get expensive so be prepared to shell out if you want to do all the extra stuff nut I can attest it is worth it just to see your family have a blast!

Dorothy Quezergue

Wait time

B B

Wait time

Porsche Harper

Yes

Tom Brimer

Yes

Janis Bushart

Weekday

Mandy Murphy

No wait

Yagaira Godina

No wait

Jess Leal

Visited on

Colleen Casady

Weekend

Ron Gould

Yes

A Gator

$16–20

Elisa Bella

$16–20

Maribel Zepeda

Price for adult entry

Val Millien

ZooLights was truly enjoyable experience that I did not expect to have it was wonderful bright well-thought-out well-planned. Quite honestly some of the best fun that I've had since the pandemic started. For anyone reading this and thinks to themselves whether or not they should go you should absolutely enjoy this experience for yourself before it's gone.

Lucy Aparicio

Weekday

Philip Kenyon

I visited earlier this month and had a fantastic time! The animals' homes are very well-kept and clean and the animals are well-cared for. I met two staff members, Charlotte and Billy, who were very friendly and knowledgeable. I learned quite a bit from them. The Christmas decorations were still up and made the zoo look magical. I thoroughly enjoyed my visit!

Laura Sam

We love taking our little man to the zoo. He get so excited seeing all the animals from tv up close and personal. The elephant and giraffe exhibits are out favorite.

Boston M

Yes

Brittany Richard

I enjoy it but the only thing I hate is that u can't buy tickets when you arrive there u have to buy them online it's just inconvenient.

eric diaz1984

$21–30

Lacie Sherwood

Wait time

Alisa Brown

Fun Zoo lights experience for the whole family, it's been a couple years since we've been and it did not disappoint! Big tip, buy your Zoo lights tickets as far in advance as you can because the price increases daily. We went on a Friday and the price went up a couple dollars from the Monday prior when I'd checked to Wednesday when I actually bought the tickets.

Kevin Moten

The animals looked sad and the exhibits looked really small. Also it was Sooooooooo hot and not one cooling station in site. One zoo keeper was spraying the elephants with water and I almost asked her to hose me down.

Josué Estrada

Price for adult entry

Margaret Hux

Reservation recommended