Houston Zoo Reviews

Great place to bring the kids to, the zoo have lots of cool activity and other fund animals and pet area for kids.
Make sure to check out the wildlife area!

Wonderful Zoo located in a Beautiful Park. One of the best Zoos I have ever visited

Expensive. Too crowded during spring break. Many animals were not out today. I wanted to see several that weren't in their habitats (at least 4). Overall, it's well maintained, clean, and educational for the kids without them realizing it. Convenient wagons and strollers available to rent from 10-15 dollars. Not enough parking. Had to pay $10 to park and be taken to a weird entrance by shuttle. I disliked that. The zoo should be entered from the front gate in my opinion. We were allowed to bring in our own food and ice chest with drinks. This helped offset the cost of entry @$20/adult and $16/2-17yr old. There are plenty of spaces to picnic and use the restroom facilities. We had a great time as a family and will likely return.

I loved it we had a great time with the kids and husband

I ve taken my kids to this zoo numerous times over the years and at different times of the years. We always have a great time!

So much shade! The exhibits have been modernized and they're building a wetland habitat to encourage visits from migrating birds. A quality zoo

The zoo was really nice we had a really great time a lot of attractions a lot of animals many of the animals were very active and out and about. there were a couple that were hidden or retired they have a bunch of construction going on there to bring some new attractions which I think that's a great idea. They have a lot of exhibits and a wide variety of animals you could spend half a day they're easily

Highly recommend getting a membership if you go often

loved it. it a great thing for a city the size of Houston, to house such a great and rare experience for people from all over.
its been a few years since we have been, and much of the zoo is new, with a lot of new things coming.

Great place to go to I can't say enough about it. Go you have to see this place really cool attractions enjoy!!!!!!

Good zoo! It was really crowded on weekends but the zoo was great! Best tiger I've ever seen! The monkeys are cool too!

Houston Zoo never seems to disappoint. Even now during quarantine it has found a way to keep adults and kids entertained.

a beautiful zoo nestled in between a great park , lots of activities and a great family environment. the zoo allows you outside food and beverage which is awseome.

This is a really well done Zoo, still could use updates for many of the exhibits, but they are working on it over time. The Gorilla, elephants, big cats, reptile, kids area, primates make it worth the visit. Go during the week to avoid the crowds. You can bring coolers with food and drinks inside.

I have been to many zoos but this is one of my top three. The whole area is designed lovely with a lot of plants and would be worth visiting even without the animals. The latter makes this however to a 5 star experience. Especially the primate area is great.

If you are in Houston, the zoo is a must on your itinerary! Do plan to be there all day and to walk a lot, unless you rent motor scooters or kid strollers which are available for a fee. There are cafeterias inside the zoo but you are allowed to bring in outside food (bring a roller cooler). Be sure to check out the zoo daily schedule because they have meet the keeper talks where they have encounters with their animals for the public.

So many great exhibits.

The flying foxes were beautiful. The red panda is super cute.

The elephants have a wonderful large enclosure. We got to see the young small elephant too.

The walk through the ape gallery was very cool. The gorillas also have a very large space! Then we made out to the rhinos and giraffes.

The entire zoo is a great place to walk. I really enjoyed the lush vegetation. I only had two hours but it was all very good.

Feed the Giraffes! For $7 (plus park entrance obviously) you can have a close encounter with these adorable animals.

Now to the rest of the zoo...I've been to a lot of Zoos and I'd say the Houston Zoo is what I would expect from a Zoo in a large city. They have a large cross section of different animals and good grounds. I do, however, feel the keeper presentations could be improved upon. They all consist of a keeper standing next to the enclosure and saying a couple pretty obvious things about the animals. It is also both hard to see and hear the keepers. I'd like them to be a little more educational in regards to the conservation work the zoo is doing or little known animal behavior details. They don't have enough fun facts for the kids or enough education for the adults.

Having said all that, overall, it is a good zoo for people of all ages.

Awesome so much to see and do. Only down side was the heat but the zoo cannot control the temperature.

My family and I visited for the first time and absolutely loved it! Wide variety of animals, great staff and clean bathrooms. Will visit again!

I love the zoo! All of the facilities are amazing but, I wish the food quality and prices were more on par with each other.

Best deals on quality food at any zoo I've ever visited! Wonderful programs. One of my favorites

I loved going to the zoo. Got the membership. That pays for it self if you have a large family I take everyone that comes to visit us to the zoo so they can enjoy the wonderful zoo we have.

Went for a field trip. Was fun. All the attractions we're super informative, kids had a blast. We'll be back :)

Zoo lights was a great place to visit to get away from the Christmas bustle.

We really loved this Zoo!! It was cold and rainy and ALL the animals were out! The zookeepers were all friendly and happy to answer questions. The animals all seemed well taken care of. I ve never been that close to big cats and I ve been to a lot of zoo! We came here on a whim and would definitely love to come again.

This is my happy place. The only thing I would change is more places to fill up your water bottles. Stay hydrated people! And more misting stations. In August and September even the animals are smart and head inside.

I love this zoo. I've been to many, and this is such a pretty zoo. So comfortable and beautiful shady areas. Up close to the animals, such a fun day.

Went with family, people of all ages, and all enjoyed it.

A great place for both children and adults. Free parking, convenient access, and many places to stop and rest along the way.

A fun zoo, elephants and tigers. Nice exhibits. A very scenic setting and great for families. Hard to park!

Zoo Lights are always beautiful but this year the weather held up too! Wonderful evening and their hot cocoa is second only to The Chocolate Bar! Kudos!

What an amazing place. So much to be seen. A year of membership wasn t enough. I m getting it again

We love the zoo. They have done so much in the past several years and continue to make improvements. The animals are usually out and about, too.

Pretty fun to go to with your partner or family. Not too hot and very cool evening during this time of year.

It's the zoo. Come on. There animals are happy and healthy, and obviously well cared for.

Love the zoo. Clean, friendly staff, and good prices. Love the changes they are making to improve the experience.

This is another establishment we're I try to not let my moral beliefs get in the way of my objective review. I believe this zoo is very well kept, clean and orderly and most of the enclosures all look very well maintained. They offer child senior and military discounts. There are often holiday Themed events and opportunities for business and corporate events as well. There are you in some interactive opportunities for children where you do work outside of the zoo bring it into the keepers and get points and progress awards based on that work.

Just when you think you've seen it all, there's more. Wide variety of animals with educational information posted in front of most. Definitely a good day trip paired with the park. I suggest bringing a cooler with plenty of water and food for a picnic at the park.

Nice zoo...First Tuesday of month 12 to 6pm. Free entry.

Fun family time and perfect weather today. The zoo is open and animals are ready to see you.

We love going to the Zoo. It's a great place to spent the day as a family. Lots to see and the new baby giraffe is so cute.

Great Staff, Great Service, Great food plus sitting sites everywhere, they help me since I get tired easily

It has really changed. Alot more interactive exhibits although parking is still a horror.

Love this zoo. Small enough to see most of it in a few hours, but not small.

Small zoo for such a HUGE city, yet somehow, the smallness gives it a much more intimate and accessible factor. Our family can do the entire zoo in 2-3 hrs depending on the crowd. Location is close in proximity to downtown, midtown, texas medical center and right in the middle of the gorgeous Hermann Park. Not the widest variety of animals, but they do the heavy hitters well. Kids can get up close and personal with many of the animals. This brings to light the actual hugeness to the elephants. My daughter's jaw drops every time. Feeding the giraffes is a MUST for any family visit to the park. The new gorilla exhibit is beautiful. The chimps are always fun and there's a ton of viewing space for kids to get right up to then on the glass. During the summer, a splash pad opens for kids to have fun on hot days. Very worth it. Head to the zoo early (900am) before it gets to hot and hit the splash pad on the way out around 11. Perfect day.

First time getting to see the lights and I love it!!!

Best zoo I have ever been to, they have everything. This is a great place to take the family. I personally think zoo's are boring and for kids but this zoo surprised me with all of what they have. I definitely will recommend this zoo to all my friends and family if they are visiting Houston. The employees were very nice too.

Well maintained place with lot of animals. Good one day visit. Also it has place to eat and get some rest after too much of roaming.

Zoo is super nice and big. Definitely alot better than the DFW zoos. Animals are super close. So much to look at and go through. BUT the price to get in is RIDICULOUSLY HIGH. For me my boyfriend & our 2 kids to get in it was $110!!!!! Just because of the price we won't be returning. But the zoo is really nice!

The Houston Zoo has really stepped up their efforts to make this experience memorable. We went during my daughter's field trip. Want to go back when they are finished with refurbishing.

Crowded usually but still a fun experience with family. Kids always enjoy seeing all the different types of animals and look forward to going into the zoo's swap shop. Recommend coming early as parking is hard to come by.

We ran out of time to look at everything but my son had a blast. We look forward to visiting the splash pad this summer.

Love the zoo! Me and my son had a great time together also the park outside is beautiful!

I try and go here once a year. I love it so much! Great place for a date and a lot of time the place is empty so it like you have the park to your self! Except over the summer... But I've heard it's great for Pokemon go as well!

The Zoo is currently under construction in the bear area. Its good to go mid day because feedings start around 11. The animals move a whole lot more when there is food involved.

We loved our visit today to the Houston Zoo perfect weather everyone that works there is so courteous and nice and helpful. I've been going to the Houston Zoo all my life and it just gets better and better. Today I got to take my granddaughters he just turned one.

Fun for the whole family and very entertaining for the little kids

Awesome place I buy a season pass every year for me and my family!

Very well done zoo. Nice displays and informational boards. Clean.

It was a great experience since I visited on a Thursday. On weekends its simply too crowded to go and have any fun. Most of the animals had adequate space, but some were still overcrowded, primarily in the enclosure that held the flamingos as well as the sea lion, which had very little stimulation at all. The sea lion would just swim laps the entire time we observed him, it seemed harsh to not give him a place to hide from people or to feel safe like the other animals had. Anyway, it was still a nice experience overall, and I would recommend a visit on a weekday.

Fantastic for the kiddos and whole family! We loved it

Great place to take a family trip just make sure it's on a day the schools are not visiting the zoo with all the school buses parking was terrible

Great place to have fun parking is not good during peak times.

Spent the day with my brother, had a blast! Super clean and not crazy crowded. The guy at the ticket booth was super friendly and helpful

Love this zoo. Many animals, shaded, many cool places to go in to rest and see animals. You can bring in your own food and drinks. Lots of walking.

It's always a great day to visit The Houston Zoo. With or without the family I have a blast. Calming, beautiful, clean and accommodating.

The Houston Zoo is often very crowded. It started in the 1920s and the population of Houston has massively grown since then, while the zoo has a fixed size.

If you have a zoo pass, it's a great place to take the family. (Buying a one day ticket is ridiculously expensive) If you're an out of towner, you may want to consider a buying a City Pass.

Loved this zoo! It was a lot of fun, with great exhibits and enclosures. Very clean and well maintained, and logically set up. Great military discount too!

We went to the zoo during Covid..and they modified the route to take through the zoo so that there is enough social distance. I wish we could've experience more of the zoo especially since we came from out of town. The staff was friendly and the experience will take about 1 1/2 to maybe 2 hrs. Staff wear masks and most guest wore mask. Enjoy and check it out.

Loved this zoo. It is a little expensive to get in but if you have a membership to another zoo you'll receive 50% off which is nice. The animals look well taken care of compared to our zoo back home. Love how big the petting zoo part was also.

This is a good zoo. If you are looking for something to do with your kids it's a great place to go.

Nice. However some exhibits were super small and caged up. Otherwise, most of them were awesome. Really liked the elephants & flamingos

Really nice much improvements dragon exhibit was nice

Zoo lights are a total rip off. Way over priced and not enough attractions. Then to top it off alcohol is being sold at an event primarily for children. Needless I will never return again to another zoo light event and it is debatable if I return to just see the animals since the zoo thinks it s acceptable to serve alcohol where children will be present so disappointed one star is being generous

Half of the zoo is still closed. So the tickets should be half off. Waste of time and money since half the animals you can t see. Stay away and go some where else for a family vacation. Extremely disappointed.

My nephews loved it! Especially feeding the giraffes. Very clean facilities, as well.