The Audubon Zoo is one of those institutions that everyone needs to visit when in New Orleans. It's located in a beautiful park, just off Magazine Street, and one can ride the St. Charles Street Car to get there. It's an old institution, and is often working to improve their historic exhibits to better serve their animals as well as their visitors. When I recently visited, the sea lion exhibit was being improved. They still had a sea lion show, and I was there at just the right time to see one of their sea lions enjoying an enrichment event. The exhibits are designed to provide a spacious and natural environment for the animals, while allowing the visitors to observe them. In some cases, this allows several species to inhabit the same exhibit, which is a more natural setting. This is definitely a well planned and managed collection, and helps the visitors understand to need to conserve our natural environment. The zoo has a great Louisiana swamp exhibit, which also helps the visitors learn about the cultural history of Louisiana. There are native animals that few might see in nature, but which the visitors can learn about in this setting. These include Alligator Snapping Turtles, and Louisiana Black Bears. There's plenty of places for the visitors to eat, drink, and buy gifts. These are found in convenient locations throughout the park. It's a great experience and especially good for families. read more

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We visited the zoo on a Monday afternoon on April 20, 2026. We had a really nice time walking around and we have always wanted to visit the NOLA zoo. It was a relaxing evening for us. We didn't really encounter anyone that worked there that smiled to say hello or goodbye. It was so nice how the zoo is thoughtfully set up for families. Lots of places to sit down and view the animals. The day that we went, because it was now closer to closing (we were there for about three hours) the animals must have been brought inside before 5pm. It made it difficult to see some of the wildcats because they were inside. The park staff does end up doing some pop up discussions. We attended one with the gorillas and it was interesting to hear about them. The giraffe feeding station has been closed due to construction. *** unsure when it will reopen but would like to share this as it was disappointing to arrive and discover this. The Asian elephants were interesting to see and learn the difference between the African and Asian elephants. I felt like the animals at this zoo and the habitats looked like they could use a little more upkeep. With it being spring and all, the leaves were in all their water habitats. We enjoyed some salt water taffy while we were walking and this was a nice treat. read more

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The ladies performing the alligator exhibit did very well at public speaking, handled the crowd very well, polite, nice, and very informative In that environment, it's really tough to do that job They did great read more

Audubon Zoo - Aquariums Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

We loved this zoo! It was even fun in the rain. We put our ponchos on and braved the weather. The animals were out and about for the most part and the zoo wasn't crowded. It is easy to navigate and enjoy for a few hours. Definitely will go back! read more

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Spent a couple of hours here yesterday. Very walkable zoo as far a the terrain being pretty flat. Good variety of animals and quite a bit of green space to just hangout and relax. The fountain in the middle near the entrance is petty great and the mist coming off of it was a much welcomed reprieve from the heat! read more

Audubon Zoo - Aquariums Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

Lovely new year's party at the zoo for kids and families! Fun music, massive bubble making contraptions, face painting, etc. Audubon zoo in New Orleans is always a great place for kids. There's nothing like the monkey hill and water play area which kids go crazy over. Simple but so fun. Lion exhibit is one of the best to get up close and also feels spacious for everyone. Also love the swamp exhibit, feels realistic. read more

The zoo is not usually something tourists do while in New Orleans but here we are. We wanted to give Bourbon Street a break so we thought the zoo would be different. They do have a large variety of animals and everything is very spacious. My favorite had to be the Toucan and the gorilla. It's also a very clean zoo with a beautiful fountain at the front. The downside of this zoo is it is very expensive compared to other zoos I have been to. It's 30 dollars a person (which is insane) and they are not part of the zoo program where discounts are given if you have another zoo membership. The water bottles come in a can and they are 7 dollars per can. I feel like we spent a small fortune there. It was nice to do something different but I probably wouldn't be coming back to this zoo due to how expensive it is read more

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Went with my lover and family this past Saturday. It was a spontaneous trip and we arrived at 2:30. (Arriving later than normal) We had a great time. Minus the gift shop selling stuffed animals for $29.99. Tiger looked great, elephants looked great, the giraffes looked healthy, orangutans were active, the property was very clean, the gorillas looked a tad bit dingy, but that's typically how gorillas are. I do wish they would have more food options available throughout the zoo.. All in all, it was a perfect day for the zoo with great sunny & cool weather read more

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Very pretty grounds and lots of animals to see inside and out. I love that there are docents outside to help you get your ticket and get inside and can also direct you to where you want to go inside the zoo. I visited the dragons and mythical creatures exhibit, which is an extra $10. It was worth it. It would be worth it for kids to see. The reptile house was my favorite. Lots of visible reptiles and information about them all around. read more

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This is a fun little zoo full of lots of vegetation and plenty of shade. Going on a Friday we almost had the place to ourselves. We arrived at 10:00 and slow walked the entire zoo and left around 14:00. Most areas seem somewhat natural and not just a sad looking concrete cage or enclosure. The spider monkeys seemed to have the largest area for activity, as they had some ropes strung from their main enclosure that traversed over a pond that held a variety of water fowl. That was really neat. The swamp section was neat, tho several animals were either hiding or outright missing. Some had signs stating the animals were not home, tho the park doesn't hesitate to still charge full rate to only see 90% of the animals. The monkeys were cool and active. The orangutans were busy playing and swinging about, it was nice to see that. There is one large area that is nothing but grass, a rare sight for a large city zoo, usually every square inch is used up. It almost looks like the original entrance from the old zoo that I read about, tho this isn't confirmed. It's definitely worth going at least once to see animals that may not be at other zoos. read more

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While in New Orleans La vacationing we decided to visit to the zoo. The weather was nice not to hot. Once we arrive we got our tickets and started the adventure. The place wasn't to packed but had plenty of visitors. All the animals were out and visible. If you're ever in New Orleans visiting the zoo I'd a amazing experience. read more

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This is an awesome zoo that my family enjoyed very much during our visit to New Orleans. We went at the end of December on a 70 degree day and there were lots of animals to see. Some of my favorites were the Orangutangs, Elephant and Lions. The zoo is laid out nicely and easy to get around. We spent most of the day here. read more

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It was a super cold day when we went so not that many animals were out. But they had some nice exhibits and what looked like a fun splash pad for the kids. The animals that were out were very active (especially the bobcat and sloth). There is a nice area that talks about the history of the swamp and area that you don't normally see in a zoo. Would go back again if we ever travel back to New Orleans. read more

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This zoo was one of the best zoo ever. They have everything you want. From food to playgrounds to all the best animals. When the kids get tired of walking around you can take a break and play at the playgrounds. They have great food options. We really loved it. read more

Audubon Zoo - Giraffe - Aquariums Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

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We visited Audubon Zoo whilst we were visiting NOLA for the Eras Tour and let me tell you, they understood the assignment. They went out of their way to incorporate Taylor references into most of their exhibits. They had really thought it through as well using lyrics such as "Karma is a cat" for the tigers exhibit. Every single one brought a smile to my face. This zoo is the perfect size as well, just big enough to make it a fun activity but not too big that everyone gets grouchy afterwards. It's easily walkable. Very family oriented as well with play areas scattered throughout as well as fun, interactive displays to keep your kids engaged. They have a the tree with a little sign that says "look up" and indeed lo and behold there is a raccoon in a tree. They also have an actual swamp full of alligators which was a fun and unique way of showcasing Louisiana. Great selection of animals, exhibited in my favorite way which is per continent and with some cool fitting scenery along the way. All animals seemed really well taken care of. My one room for improvement is for the cafe that is near the swamp. It's self check out, but it's pretty much self everything. We were waiting on our order to be called and nothing ever did. We eventually went to the pick up order to check in and then they started putting it together. Not sure if that's what we were supposed to do, everything pointed to a "you order and we got you", oh well. read more

We had such a great time with our 8 year old here in April. I consider it a medium size zoo- not largest but certainly enough for 2-3 hours. It's fairly flat making it easy to travel with kids. Several different sections to explore with small play areas spread throughout to get the wiggles out. Some of the animals did look a bit sad (orangutans) . Gift shops were nice. Food was decent too. Several school groups there in April. Perfect weather. We were visiting and Uber Lyft and there were not a lot around this area but it was fine for us to wait. read more

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Was a lot of fun and the animals look well taken care of. Miss the team though from the back of the zoo lol read more

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Came here for the first time with my family. The zoo was slow because we came on a Tuesday so we were thinking we scored with not dealing with traffic. This zoo was a slight disappointment because there were a lot of exhibits that were closed for whatever reason. They had no chimps and a lot of the animals we wanted to see were just hiding. There were some cool animals that we don't have in Hawaii so it was nice to see such as the Louisiana Swamp exhibit or the owls. The reptile exhibit was ok. We got the trio combo admissions for the zoo, aquarium and the insectarium. The best ranked to us were the insectarium, aquarium, and the zoo in that order. The staff are very friendly. Lots of parking. read more

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In all honesty, the zoo was a bit of a letdown. Doesn't seem like they upkeep the enclosures very well. The water is dirty, the viewing glasses have hard water stains on them, and there was even one enclosure (the Komodo dragon) with a big crack at the bottom. Additionally, some areas were closed off. The zoo is huge, and they have a lot of extra land that I feel as though could be used to expand some of the enclosures. The animals looked pretty miserable. It made me feel so sorry for them. It was also very hot so most of them were hiding in shaded areas. Another thing that shocked me was we did not see a single employee supervising the areas, not even in the free-flight aviary house, so there was never an opportunity to ask questions either. We only saw them driving around in golf carts. It was hard to find bathrooms because there were no signs for them. A water bottle was priced at a minimum of $6. There's just a long list of cons to this zoo. We came on a Friday afternoon, and it was pretty much dead. At one point, we barely ran into people. Such a shame because the place is gorgeous. We really tried to make the most out of our time there, but we couldn't walk out satisfied, no matter how long we stayed. They really need to do better for their animals and their visitors. We Ubered to the zoo, so I can't comment on parking. Maybe we just didn't come at a good time. read more

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Great zoo, with a lot of activities for kids. A little pricey compared to zoo's in DC area but had a great time. First time seeing a white alligator, and the staff was super friendly. read more

Audubon Zoo - White or leucitic alligator - Aquariums Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

Such a lovely zoo! The exhibits were nice with enrichment items in a variety of places, strollers and scooters available, and a water park! Great for the heat of our visit! Worth a trip! read more

Located in Audubon Park uptown New Orleans you would think it would be small and un interesting- Nope it is big, informative and has lots of animals and interactive activities. I went on a cloudy cooler day, At the entrance to the zoo we were greeted by a friendly enthusiastic man who gave us great information and how to download the map. All the animals were out. The design of the zoo was great-it had a center around a beautiful fountain- the different animal groups branded off from there (you could even take a tram which costs $) My favorite part was the bayou- lots of alligators in an open area (you walk across a walkway/dock) The employees put a LOT of effort in the decorations. Decorated for Mardi Gras (even all the enclosures) Walking through the zoo in at all the enclosures were lots of signs and information. There was even a playground/ picnic area. We finished our tour and stopped to eat and one of the restaurants. I got a salad I wanted the sauce on the side- it was on top and it was WAY to much- everything was drenched in dressing. I walked through the gift shop on the way out it was big, bright cheerful and designed very nicely. read more

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I'm a zoo aficionado, having been educated as a biologist and having served as the Chairman of the Board of Overseers at Zoo New England. Whenever I visit a major city, I'm sure to visit the zoo. I enjoyed the Audubon zoo more than the Brookfield zoo in Chicago, the Denver zoo, and the Minneapolis zoo (despite the last having the Komodo dragons on display and the Audubon having them off-exhibit). The grounds are well-laid out and lush with vegetation. I paid the $5 upcharge to take the train, which was great to get the "lay of the land." I then explored each of the areas, which are arranged somewhat confusingly by geography or species group. The collection is both broad and deep, with a mix of indoor and outdoor exhibits, including a nocturnal building, two open-air aviaries, and my favorite, the swamp exhibit, which describes the habitat, the flora and fauna found there, and human interaction/impact. It only gets four stars because of very poor signage (I ended up going through the Swamp trail "backwards" as a result) and the lack of paper maps. My phone had run out of charge (another demerit: no charging stations, so if you didn't bring a cord and plug and were able to hunt down a power outlet, you're SOL) and the "You Are Here" maps were few and far between. Also, it's a very long walk from the St Charles streetcar. A shuttle service, even for a nominal fee, would be nice. All in all, a wonderful zoo. read more

As far as zoos go this one is pretty mid. Very little has been changed or updated since i came here as a kid 30ish years ago. Still if the weather is nice its a good place for a stroll. Some of the exhibits really need a good cleaning. read more

Spent nearly half the day here, Half the animals not even here or active. Goats missing, turtles and tortoise area still under construction, black bear never comes out, min zebru absent, giant tortoises not moving, not worth 75$ for two people when you could visit other zoos and get a better experience. read more

This zoo was the highlight of our trip. Feeding the giraffes and the peacocks were the topic majority of the drive back home. They were so beautiful. My grandmother enjoyed watching her great grandchildren roll down the hill more than the animals. read more

What an amazing zoo! This zoo has it all; animals, great cafes, and even a water park inside! They have a variety of animals who are acclimated to different temperates but the water park was a big surprise! This is an additional charge (I believe $12 extra) but is a great option for families to visit the zoo and then go to the water park to cool off. We learned a lot about the elephants and how they even helped with hurricane Katrina. It was such a great visit and I can't wait to go back and do the water park! read more

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This was about the worst zoo I have visited. I paid online for the tickets. 1 adult and 1 child. When I got up to the booth they only scanned on ticket and let my child proceed so maybe I didn't have two purchase 2 tickets? That would have been nice to know before hand. The zoo was very over grown with weeds. It needs lots of maintenance. Due to the conditions it made it were taking the pictures of the animals impossible. A few of the animals were hidden behind the weeds. The beautiful fountain out front was not working. Numerous of the vendors offing snacks and beverages weren't open. It had plenty spots were I could bring my son to have a picnic that's the only plus. read more

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Perhaps coming to the zoo on a hot August morning has its advantages. I felt like my husband and I had the zoo to ourselves yesterday. I pursued to my hearts content. While all the areas are wonderful, my favorite portion was the bayou portion of the zoo. read more

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At first I thought it was gonna be a small zoo. Heck I was wrong. It's big The animals are well taken care of. They have great variety. It was a Great Experience! I definitely recommend the zoo as a get away choice to do something different when visiting New Orleans. You'll Love it as much as I did. read more

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Family vacation large group so we split up and 1/2 of us ended up at the Zoo for the day. It was 3 generations of family and there was something for everyone to enjoy and see. What a treat! I haven't enjoyed a zoo for decades. This place was fantastic from entering to departing. It was large! Clean and so many beautiful animals to see. The zoo is so large you feel like you're in a nature park. So be prepared to walk and walk around some more. It was worth every penny and I tell everyone who's visiting NOLA don't miss this! read more

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The Audubon Zoo in New Orleans has a variety of displays from Flamingos at the entrance, Elephants, Lions, jaguar, Birds, Seals, Swamp Area. There is a historical fountain and other building in the zoo. A newer elephant fountain is in the center of the Zoo. The train was not running when I went in Feb. But maybe during the Summer, it might be running again. There is a sit down restaurant, snack bar and gift shop. The Cajun Hall is used for events in the Swamp Area. So bring your kids and take a break from the French Qtrs. read more

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We had an incredible visit to the Audubon zoo in New Orleans over spring break. The entire park was up and moving around. It wasn't overly crowded which was amazing. So many exhibits to see and such amazing creatures. My son loves monkeys and other primates. We enjoyed such good weather as well. I love that this treasure is in uptown. read more

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We purchased the combo for the zoo, aquarium and insectium (sp?) for 60 per person. Great weekend for all three. The zoo has expanded it seems since I was there 30 years ago in grade school. They have done well keeping it up and it was very clean. read more

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We went to the zoo on a Thursday afternoon. It was not crowded. The zoo was actually larger than we thought. Most of the animals were out on exhibit. Since it was late afternoon most were lying down, but you could still see them. The zoo was clean and the animals exhibits looked in good shape. I would recommend to others read more

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TLDR: Reasonably priced medium sized zoo in New Orleans. Located at the south end of Audubon park near the Mississippi River. Lovely zoo in New Orleans that is larger than you'd think. Moving relatively quickly, we made it through in about 2.5 hours. You can certainly take your time, read all the education materials, and engage in the interactive activities to use up more time. On weekdays the zoo was fairly empty with a few school friend trips. Outside of when the schoolchildren were nearby, the zoo was quiet and peaceful. The animals seemed well fed and cared for. Ample employees were present to keep the zoo clean and answer questions. We walked here through Audubon park, however, you can drive and park for free at the zoo or take public transportation. Adult tickets were $30 each. They increase to $35 each on busier days. The zoo has a wide variety of animals from multiple continents. The exhibits are organized, immersive, interactive, and easy to locate. Ample bathrooms, water fountains, and trash cans are located through the park. Two cafes are available for full meals, snacks, or beverages near the entrance. My favorite area was surprisingly the Louisiana swamp. The alligators were incredible to watch. Plus the creativity of the staff is remarkable. They did a magnificent job decorating the exhibits for Mardi Gras and to add humor. Other favorite areas include the bats (love the added wind and sound effects) and the otters. We did not take the train or partake in the VR experience since they cost more and we have time constraints. Shout out to Alton who was incredibly welcoming and helpful at the entrance. Overall, we had an excellent time and recommend this zoo to others! Note: they have a bin near the entrance where you can recycle Mardi Gras beads. read more

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Still live the zoo and it has even more exhibits now than in years past. My kids love it and there's always something different to do the next time you go. Well worth getting the membership for the year. I will say though, they still have a lot of vendors closed so make sure you bring your own food and also your own hand sanitizer! None of the sanitizing dispensers had any in it. And I went straight first thing in the morning. read more

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One of the best zoos I've ever been to! I have done the giant zoos such as San Diego, Omaha, and Miami. This is highly rated for a good reason I know that it's not possible to have African elephants and all the animals consistent that you find in every single zoo that would be my one wish to improve the park, but it is absolutely worth the price. I've been twice now since I've lived on the gulf coast, and neither time has disappointed if you're in New Orleans, make sure to check it out. read more

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Wonderful animal exhibits, zoo staff friendly and experts on different animals and ecosystems. Was a great experience walking and exploring.

Excellent zoo. Well taken care of. Kristin who runs the train inside is super helpful. A wonderful way to spend the day read more

Audubon Zoo - Aquariums Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana