Houston Zoo Reviews

Great city zoo, I'm not a huge fan of concrete but in a city zoo it's what you get. They do a great job with the gorillas!

My family loves the zoo. We just left the zoo and it was the first time we've seen the animals so active.

An excellent zoo. Our membership has more than paid for itself in repeat visits.

We had a dads and kids day. It was a good time. The kids were pretty excited to see the new Wetlands and Dinosaur exhibits

A must see destination when visiting Houston. This has been a long time favorite since I moved here years ago and in my opinion one of the best run zoo's in the nation.

I had an awesome time at the zoo. There is a wide variety of animals here. Recommend a visit. If you have the time.

Beautiful Zoo. This place is very green and clean. Good place for a family visit.

I really struggled between a 2 or 3 star. I went with 3 stars because if you have kids, this seems like it could be a nice little family spot due to the activities that were available.

TL;DR: The animals seemed stressed, the enclosures seemed sub par and some poorly maintained, overall poor experience, and parking is a nightmare.

Before we got there, I wondered how a zoo so close to the city could have the space for good enclosures. And I was right to have concerns. Honestly, I wasn't very happy with the enclosure size and quality of the enclosures themselves. The aquarium section had quite a few dead fish in various tanks and some of the tanks were poorly maintained to the point of not being able to see into them very well. Again enclosures seemed pretty small, and some of them even had trash in them (assuming this is due to patrons that lack the ability to throw their trash in the proper bin). Some of the animals were exhibiting behavior that was indicative of them being stressed or left in confined conditions for extended periods (pacing, labored breathing), although I admit it is possible these animals could have been rescued from worse conditions and perhaps that was driving the behavior. But it makes me wonder what their pens are like behind the enclosures. Instead of coming here and being filled with wonder, I was filled with sadness. I'm sure the caretakers do their best with what they are given, but I think I'm surprised that a zoo with the city's name on it isn't better maintained...then again, look at our infrastructure. Unfortunately, I will not be returning. I would rather drive a longer distance for something of better quality. Maybe my expectations were high from some reviews, but for me the visit just wasn't pleasant.

Oh, also, parking was an absolute nightmare. There are no parking attendants, so people just choose to park wherever they please, even if it means blocking people in, parking on the grass, or blocking driving areas. I would rather pay for parking and not have to worry about someone damaging my car or blocking me in just because they can't find a spot.

We came here today to see what there was to see. We found a very large zoo with lots to do and many events to see. Parking was pretty far away, though. We had to use public transportation to get to and from an external parking lot about a mile away. Definitely would recommend to anyone looking for something to learn or something interesting to see.

Zoo lights was absolutely awesome!! I would definitely recommend it, they did a beautiful job!

The Houston Zoo just gets better and better. The aminals are awesome and they keep it so clean.

We have always loved this zoo unfortunately if they had clearly stated that all of their indoor exhibits and the carousel are closed we would not have come today probably waited

We visited during Covid when there were limited exhibits available, but the zoo is laid out very well and is easy to navigate.

A lot of different animals, that I had not saw. It was very hot so most of the animals were trying to stay cool. But other than that I had food just walking and looking at what was new

Love it!!!, but parking lot is a night mare, but you can spend a whole day and have a great time

Went on a thursday so there wasnt as many people. Had a fun time over all! parking was tricky so be careful.

Two words...ZOO LIGHTS. There is literally no excuse for missing zoo lights!! Every year, they add something new that enhances the experience. This time it was snow and 4D bubbles.

Saw HOLIDAY ZOO LIGHTS. OVER 2 MILLION LIVES! WORTH IT. TAKE THE WHOLE FAMILY. WAS OPEN TILL 11 PM. DON'T MISS IT.

Had a good time with family. So much to see. We hadn't planned on spending the entire day there, but we did. There was really so much to do.

Absolutely fun, the have new areas and exhibitions. And there's a new baby elephant!!!

World class zoo. Several building are air conditioned. Many trees along the pathways. Fun train rides. Everyone's a kid when they board the train.

Wide variety of attractions and animals. Well worth a visit or membership if you're in the area.

Love the animals and their habitats. Near the medical center. And downtown. So when in the area. I visit the zoo.

Very attentive staff and interactive with exhibits when prompted. Lots of stations to keep cool or cool down, which is nice with the Houston heat. Unfortunately a lot of the animals weren't out when we were there, but hey, it's luck of the draw sometimes

I've always love coming to the zoo. Although the only negative thing I can say is that I have an issue with two aquariums. The aquarium with the arowanas and the clown loaches which has a bad algae problem. Secondly the aquarium where the sea turtle use to be seems to have an Aiptasia breakout which looks unattractive. Other than those two the zoo is amazing.

Great zoo! Lots of animals to see in spacious cages but usually the animals are hiding. I would say bring umbrellas because the sun can be a killer.

We had a wonderful time here. Baby elephant Joy was a joy to behold. We appreciated knowledgeable docents located around the park who enhanced our visit with fun facts.

Took grandkids & they loved it. Really great lights & decorations.

Good time learning from many zoo keepers regularly available to answer any questions. The elephants were our favorite because the young ones played with each other so it was so much fun to watch.

Not a bad zoo. A few animals were off display, so that was disappointing. Food was a little pricey.

Only thing I would love more is a smoking section lol

Great when your in the area but did not have access with the wheelchair at parts of the zoo unfortunately.

It's fun veteran discount so makes for a quick escape from the everyday. Not overly crowded food is good staff is helpful courteous and kind great place to take pictures and enjoy your time.

Great zoo even when it's busy. Lots to do and see. If you haven't been in several years then you haven't seen some of the new exhibits.

First time going there for my birthday the other day. Absolutely no for warning that more than half the zoo was shut down. Still paid full price for tickets. Not posted on their website at all and was a waste of money and time. The gift shop was open, but not half exhibits?? Sqve your money.

A great zoo! It was super hot but there was lots of shade. There were many interesting animals and the animal enclosures were well done. Now the non-animal stuff: we rented motorized scooters with sun shades, which was pricey but fantastic! The restaurant (the cafe) was truly delicious food, not what I expected from a zoo, and it was cool and spacious inside. Zoo staff was extremely friendly and helpful. Paths all over were wide and smooth - perfect for wheelchairs, scooters, and strollers. The Dino exhibit was neat. We paid extra to see it. Not a must-see unless you re a kid or love dinosaurs, but we did enjoy it. Great experience.

We arrived for my son s birthday with all ticket offices open. We were turned around before we could get a ticket. sorry sir, we close at 3h00 . But it isn t 3 om yet it s 2h50. It is on my watch sir, sorry . They closed the ticket offices 5 minutes later

My daughter and I had such an amazing time. We got to see the tiger up close as they fed him/her goat milk. The children's area is great and there is so much to do. And they allow you to bring in drinks and snacks for the children which saved us a lot of money though we still bought lunch and ice cream. We will definitely be returning soon!

Amazing place to spend the day with the family and friends

If you're planning to go zoo lights, be prepared to see only lights, that is it. There won't be animals at all. To me it was not worth to pay $115 just to go see the zoo with lights and no animals. I could have gone down town and spend that money there. I am really disappointed. I think they should let people know before purchasing the tickets and we'll decide whether or not to go.

Its has so many animals with so many different looking exhibits .it is a wonderful place to bring family ,freinds ,or even a date.

Prepare for alot of walking. Not alot of shade. Bring a umbrella to block the heat from the sun. Finally put new attractions in recent years. Will come back on a very cloudy day.

It was a very good setup. Had lots of shade spots. The elephant exhibit was the best in my opinion. The two young elephants splashed and played in the water. It was very fun and exciting.

We visited during the Christmas lights exhibit at night and only spied three animals, but still enjoyed exploring the grounds. Great H-town date night!

Very clean and neat. Nice mini train ride just outside the park. Carousel an much more for kiddies.

Very crowded, which is fine but parking was overflowed so we had to park a mile away and wait for a bus to take us there. Ended up walking the mile to our car.(Attached is a picture of the line to go to the parking lot)

The Houston Zoo was a great place to reconnect with my Daughter and grandson. It is something all generations enjoy. Why not reconnect with the ones you love,in a place you all will love?

Clean and all animals were out. Nice upgrades have been added.

We went to the Zoo Lights event that they have for the Christmas season. It was a great chilly evening, with lots of lights, decoration, great music, and some of the best hot chocolate I have ever had.

Fantastic time at the zoo as always. I was lost here in a corporate sponsored event. Great venue for events as well as great food. Highly recommend.

Wonderful place to be .. Enjoyed the nice view of the area animals were placed in

Love taking the kids to the zoo. I try to avoid the crowded days, especially spring break. Christmas eve is great.

They continue to make noticeable upgrades and add new exhibits. Love the new African village. Gorillas are awesome. The exhibit is spacious for the animals.

I have been going her for almost 20 years now. It was good then...better now.

We had a good time. I was impressed with the cafe. It was pretty good (hamburgers and fries) food instead of just hotdogs and chips.

I loved seeing the animals and feeding the giraffes.the employees are friendly as well

Today all the animals were very active, and it was 60 degrees all day! Also, the renovations and updates are great! I can't wait for the Texas wetlands area to be finished.

took the whole family on a trip to texas! we stopped here cause we love animals now we love this zoo! great place to go!

It was my 1st time going. The only issue I had is coming from Alaska the heat was rough, maybe they could offer a few more cooling or mist stations. Other than that, I really enjoyed myself and watching the animal's.

Love that they are constantly expanding, my kids loved the new kids area with the petting zoo. We get the yearly family memberships and enjoy every visit. Also a great way to get a long walk in and enjoy the scenery along the way.

I have visited this zoo as a child, 20 years ago with my children, and again yesterday with my grandchild. It is well organized, has clean restrooms, friendly staff, and nice exhibits. Notably most of the viewing areas are shady with the exhibits in full sun. This enhances viewing while keeping people out of the Houston sun. Also notable is the city (and all it's city sounds) seems to disappear once you enter the park.

Well maintained zoo. Many trees and areas to cool off on a hot day. Fun to feed the giraffes and ride the carousel. Clear signs identify the animals.

Absolutely positively recommend. Great for family. Great with friends. Old or young. Food isn t toooo fatty lol. I hate that I don t take better advantage is this being so close to me.

A lot of the animals could use habitat updates or modifications. We could barely see any of them as they were all hiding deep in their enclosures that seemed too small for them anyways. It s also a very strange location for a zoo, right near downtown/ city life

This is a sprawling zoo with many animals and exhibits. The heat and humidity can be exhausting, so avoid the zoo on hot days. Plastic straws are not dispensed with the drinks, and instead sippy-cup lids are used, which are made with thick plastic, and do not work well to contain ice.. Can't they use biodegradable straws instead? They could revert back to the thinner lids (using less plastic) and it would be a win-win for the customers and the environment.

We were there on 12/15/18 and zoo lights was not worth our money. It's more trees that are wrapped in lights. I think it should have more detail lighting. Won't return ever again. We thought we were going to see alot more but we didnt. Were very unsatisfied . We were total of a group of 17 and and everyone thought the same. Also too much construction and some parts were too dark. If I could write my review without a star I would but had to give them a star in order to write my review.

San Antonio Zoo has better lights. It may be smaller but it's way better.

Zoo lights is something I look forward to every year. Great fun. Brought my daughter for the first time and she loved it. Also the lights went through the new safari section. It was at night but it had an authentic feel to it. Gonna check it out during the day and I'll let you know...

It's really large!
You need to get the map when you enter!
It's going to take all day to enjoy

We love the zoo. It's the perfect size for small kids. Lots of nice animals. They have some fishes too.

Animals tired and cages not maintenance well. Not ENOUGH animals and food. It was a zoo nothing exciting at all. I WOULDN'T recommend ir. Nothing to do. I did a survey just to help them out. But it WAS NOT a good EXPERIENCE.

Crowds, of course on a weekend, but great fun to bring guests. Get there early or be prepared & patient to find parking.

An amazing place to visit with family. They have a lot of species. Beautiful and exotic animals. It s awesome going to the Houston s Zoo during Summer time. So y all can enjoy it better. Truly recommended! Have fun!

Lovely place. Bring water, there are refill stations. Bring snacks. Bring your family!

It use to be so much more inexpensive. Not so much anymore.

Great zoo, easy to get around with lots of animals in a well maintained environment. Bathrooms are clean and plenty of places to stop and get food. If it's hot in the summer spend time in the A/C comfort of the aquarium!

It's the zoo. Who doesn't like the zoo? Spacious and decorative and organized in a witty way. Better than John Ball Zoo and the Binder (?) Detroit Zoo.

Beautiful Christmas lights, but if you don t like crowds this is not a place to go.