On your next trip to Jacksonville, Florida, make sure to visit the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens. This award-winning zoo sits on 117 acres at the mouth of the Trout River, with over 2,000 animals and 1,000 plants. The exhibits are organized by continent and an entire area is dedicated to local animals in “Wild Florida.” Because the zoo incorporates a botanical garden into its grounds, exotic flowers line the pathways and themed gardens are scattered across the zoo.
Must-See Exhibits
- Giraffe Overlook- feed the giraffes from a special platform
- Range of the Jaguar- is a two-time national award winning South American exhibit
- Australia Walkabout- features wallabies, emu, and cassowaries
- Land of the Tiger- the tigers have a unique enclosed bridge that extends over the walkway
- Wild Florida- see local animals, including American alligators, Florida panthers, bald eagles, and manatees
Family Activities
- This month enjoy Kids Free November, for each paying adult 5 children enjoy free admission to the zoo.
- Purchase an all-day wristband for the zoo train, choose your stop, and then explore on your own.
- The Play Park and Splash Ground is great for smaller children. The 2.5-acre playground has two mazes, a rock wall, and a petting zoo.
- The 20-minute Campground Critters show stars dogs and cats, ducks, and macaws and features a meet-and-greet after the show!
Tours & Experiences
The Zoo gives you many opportunities to get closer and interact with the animals with their tours and experiences:
- Behind-the-Scenes Tours give an up-close and personal walking tour of some of the favorite animal exhibits. You visit their night dens and learn about their care and feeding. Choose from the African Plains Tour or the Range of the Jaguar & Emerald Forest Aviary.
- Be a Zookeeper for the Day! On this half-day experience, you’ll meet some of the animals up close and find out what it takes to care for them. You’ll go inside animal enclosures and get the animals point of view! Choose from a variety of mammals, birds, and reptiles.
- Saturday Garden Tours take place on select Saturdays throughout the year. The horticulture staff will introduce you to unique and exciting plants and teach you about maintain their beauty.
Note: The tours and experiences are in addition to general admission and must be purchased in advance.
Dining
The Jacksonville Zoo has two full-size restaurants and snacks throughout the grounds, so you’ll always be able to find a bite to eat. Palm Plaza Café has a southwestern menu with nachos, burritos, and tacos. The Trout River Grill located at the back of the zoo offers sandwiches, hot dogs, and hamburgers.
Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens
370 Zoo Parkway
Jacksonville, FL 32218
