as a panda on a student visa I really enjoy the work life balance offered by my enclosure. between the ample number of tourists to study and the enriching toys and climbing activities, I rate this institution a 10/10, would study abroad again. - Bao Li read more

I was trying to relax and swim around with my tail, but everyone kept staring at me and taking pictures during my bath and it made me uncomfortable. read more

This zoo was definitely the highlight of all the free Smithsonian experiences we attended in DC. We arrived just after it opened, and it was already packed! There was so much to see, so many creative and wild-looking enclosures with beautiful plants and walkways. My kids loved the fishing cat. I loved seeing pandas. The aviary area was comprehensive (though part of it was closed). Seeing orangutans in the air-conditioned think tank exhibit was also very cool. The reptile exhibits were pretty awesome with so many types of interesting species with enclosure where we could actually see the animals! This is a large zoo with a lot of walking in between exhibits. In the end, we were too tired to visit the elephants. I'm giving it 5 stars, but I will say that I wish I had packed lunch. My kids were hungry after just an hour, but we were not near a food spot. The next food spot we landed at had a giant line- for a food truck, eating outside with little shade. More than one spot on the map listed food but was closed. We trucked on to the next indoor dining area, but there was a huge line there as well, and packed tables. Thus we were all hungry and now had passed by many exhibits without stopping. We also got lost multiple times. Signage was missing or hard to miss- and the map didn't seem to help us at all. We ended up staying all day but didn't see eveything! read more

See all

Amazing zoo! Parking is $30 for advanced reservation and $40 without advanced purchase. Entrance to the zoo is free. What I love is that each habitat or cluster is housed in an enclosure that's strictly climatized to their environment. Very walkable zoo with handicap access for each enclosure. We came with a person in our party using a non-motorized wheelchair. For the person pushing the wheelchair that task is cumbersome and tiresome (especially in the long inclines). If you stop at customer service, you can rent a motorized wheelchair at $40.00 for the day. We didn't get to use this service but I saw a couple of people on them and I asked (their wheelchairs had a sign: rent me) them. Shaded paths for the most part with parking lots not too far from the zoo entrance. Perfect experience for the first time visit to this zoo. read more

Smithsonian National Zoological Park - Zoos Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

See all

So accessible and free! What an amazing experience! Lovely active animals and very interactive thoughtful layout. Could have more hitters but overall what a gem of a spot read more

The zoo is well maintained and clean. It's on a hill so wear your best walking shoes for comfort. Admission tickets are at no cost but you need to request them online in advance along with parking. I was unable to get zoo parking so I had to look nearby. It was a bit tricky so expect to walk a little. Once on property it was all worthwhile and I spent a very pleasant 3ish hours just enjoying the zoo. Of course like most folks I was there to see the pandas which was at the other end of the park. No matter though as it's a really nice walk and you got to see most everything. Highly recommend and a must visit!! read more

See all

Big zoo and took about 3 hours to cover everything at a quick pace. They didn't have many gelato flavors, but $5 for a big slice of pizza seemed reasonable. Again, tickets are free but must be reserved ahead of time. The pandas were definitely my favorite. Unfortunately, the African exhibit was closed so no zebras or giraffes or the bison and the elephant house closed early. I liked some things better at my home zoo (penguins, bigger reptile house, the apes being in more of a social setting), but overall was a nice way to spend the afternoon 2026 #22 read more

See all

With the cutest baby elephant and the pandas this zoo is hard to beat - especially at the cost: zero. The Smithsonian zoo is maintained well and the animals have some room. The best time to go is during feeding time. In the middle of a hot day it is harder to find some animals. There are food and snacks available. This can be a very fun day. read more

Smithsonian National Zoological Park - Zoos Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Checking out zoos is one of my favorite traditions whenever I travel, no matter the state or country. It's pretty incredible that the Smithsonian National Zoological Park is free, but honestly, that may also be part of the problem. Compared to other zoos, this one falls short when it comes to the quality of some animal enclosures. I'd gladly pay a small admission fee if it meant better habitats and overall improvements. As the nation's zoo, I expected it to set a higher standard. That said, I do appreciate that it's free, but not if it comes at the expense of the animals. One frustrating issue was access to basic amenities, we had a tough time finding bottled water, with the first four vending machines we tried completely sold out. The grounds themselves are nice and mostly well maintained, though staff presence inside the zoo was minimal (possibly due to light rain). The giant pandas, the zoo's biggest draw, were definitely a highlight and fun to watch. At the end of the day, if you've got some time to spare, it's worth a visit, especially given the price, but there's room for improvement. read more

See all

2nd time visiting. Good sized zoo, some uphill and downhill walking but nothing too exhausting. Seeing the pandas was especially fun. Loved it both times. Both this zoo and St Louis zoo are free for the public. I find that such a nice added bonus when prices are so inflated these days. A fun day outdoors in lovely weather. read more

A good zoo, but middle of the pack in the zoos I've been to. I would rank them as: 1. Bronx Zoo 2. Southwicks 3. Smithsonian 4. RWZ 5. Buttonwoods A lot of the animals weren't out, be it because it was early morning or the early spring season. But the zoo flows nicely, and the main pathway is a different color so you can easily get back on track if you get a little lost. The pandas are the main attraction, and there are multiple viewing areas to see them. The zoo is on a hill, so there are parts you will have to walk uphill, nothing too steep, but those with limited mobility may struggle. Free admission, with a pre-arranged pass, so you can't go wrong even if you don't like it. The staff were friendly, and there were plenty of food options. read more

See all

- online ticket process was smooth and easy - good signage - everything was in a "house" except for the trails, and so there were lines which was kind of an interesting concept - u can bring in food so that's a plus! - the cups are really cute in the gift shop like not cliche actually lol - love the elephants exhibit - the line to panda house was 30 mins and they weren't out during the asia trail ;( - bird house is super cool and you're so close to them! read more

See all

I couldn't figure out how to get Google Maps to direct us to the entrance. One of the entrances is off of Connecticut Ave NW on the west side of the Zoo. It's less than a 10 minute walk from the Woodley Park-Zoo Metro Stop. Coming here in February with snow still on the ground meant that many outdoor exhibits had no inhabitants. That being said, there are plenty of things to see outside and a ton of creatures to see inside buildings. Sorry in advance for these elementary schooler descriptions- The memorable ones: A Snake Neck Turtle with very long necks A gigantic tortoise A large group of flamingos (a flamboyance) Incredibly cute small bearded monkeys - tamarins Otters, who were catching small fish and scavenging for food on land The obligatory clownfish and anemone which I've seen many times but still fascinates me An adorable guinea pig in a mini home I'm a bit surprised to see lower ratings on this zoo. Maybe it's due to a few feedings and no traditional shows where employees talk about animals and have them perform a little. That being said it is free and there are lots of more unique animals to be seen. I definitely think the National Zoo is worth a visit. read more

Smithsonian National Zoological Park - Giant Tortoise - Zoos Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

See all

The DC Zoo is always a good experience, especially when visiting with young families, however, it is important to temper your expectations. I've been visiting this zoo for decades; many times as a youth and parent, so I've seen the evolution of its exhibits and customer experience. And from free parking, to $30 parking. Even the seasonal entertainment like Boo At The Zoo and ZooLights have gone from free to expensive. Depending on the time of year you visit, some exhibits are closed. What keeps me from giving the DC Zoo a 5* is too often some of the better exhibits are closed or some of the animals are not available. This is often the case with the larger animals. The landscape itself is vast, however, many of the exhibits are situated along the main path, so plan and dress accordingly. If you plan to park on site, I recommend parking strategically based on the last exhibit you plan to see. Planning accordingly is not only wise, but necessary. The zoo is paved on a downgrade, making for a great cardiovascular workout. The main entrance to the zoo leads to Connecticut Avenue, which is at the top of the hill, and the back of the zoo is the bottom of the hill with access to Rock Creek Parkway and Beach Drive. Especially during the summer when it is hot, there's nothing more exhausting than having to climb the entire hill and back to parking near the main entrance. If this is also a concern of yours, consider central parking points. The food options have gotten better over the years. With focus on burgers and pizza, the quality has improved. You can also expect special menu items during holidays. Overall, a good experience with or without planning. read more

See all

Entry is free and parking costs $30 pre-pay online and $40 day-of. I recommend pre-paying and getting there early. You can easily pre-pay on their website. Parking lot B is an ideal lot as it is kind of in between the exhibits. We chose to pack a lunch and come back to the car halfway through the day to eat and rest. There is a lot of walking and exhibits under construction, but we were pleased with what we were able to see. On 2-21-2026, the Africa Exhibits was closed and the red panda did not make an appearance. The crowds come later in the morning. Photographers: I got away using a 200-500mm lens the entire time without needing to shorten my range. My wife used a 70-200mm lens and hers turned out awesome also. Your preference. The Amazonia Exhibit will cause your lens to fog over due to the humidity in there. I attempted to wait it out to no avail. The entry parking lot employees are not helpful to answer any questions. I can't expect them to either though standing in the cold. Recommend management provide a heat source (ie. propane heaters) to your employees. The park offers drinks and food on the grounds. $2.75 for a can soda out of the machine and $8 for a small cup of gelato. This kinda gives you an idea on prices. We observed no security while walking the entire day, which raises questions on safety and security. We support helping animals survive and rehabilitation. We don't know much about what's best but some of the animals appeared to be sad, showed lack of interest, injured, lack of outdoor time, concrete instead of dirt enclosures. The injured to name a few were two sea birds dragging their wings in the sea area of the bird house. Another injured was an under weight prairie dog that appeared twisted at the waist. It struggled to walk from one hole to the other and didn't even attempt to make it to the food. Our photographs turned out pretty amazing I have to say. If management likes them, feel free to reach out. We love helping a cause or can work something out if you need something on a regular basis. Photographs provided by us. Instagram: @3spade7star_photography or Facebook: threespade sevenstar. read more

See all

Going here was a highlight of my DC trip! I have always loved pandas and have never seen any, so seeing them in person was amazing :) They also had a baby elephant out that turned 3 months today (05/02/2026), which was so cute. Definitely recommend going, especially because admission is free! read more

Smithsonian National Zoological Park - Panda - Zoos Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

See all

The rotating hoomans here are very friendly. But not giving me enough treats! More bamboo pls. And cuddles

I've been to DC several times but this was my first time visiting the National Zoo! Its not very big and would probably take 3-4 hours to see everything depending on your interests and timing. Exhibits were informative. Maps are all online; directions/road signs were generally helpful. The stores have cute and fun memorabilia in a wide range of price options. Entrance tickets are free, but be sure to get your passes online ahead of time. Parking lots fill up quick so be sure to also get your parking passes ahead of time! They sell out online and in-person. We ended up finding street parking but it wasn't easy. read more

Always love a visit to the zoo! The pandas are always a joy. Love the various cocktail(alc/nonalc) spots throughout to keep yourself hydrated. It should be known that you need passes to enter, so grab the day before minimum. I usually spend around 60-90 minutes. There are often 1-2 exhibits closed, so not always consistent viewing experiences. read more

See all

Most of the zoo is under construction. Most of the enclosures were missing animals . We only got to see one panda. The parkimg lot sold out so we had to park far. The tickets were also sold out so make sure to get your tickets ahead of time . read more

Smithsonian National Zoological Park - One of the enclosures being worked on. - Zoos Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Family trip, we had an amazing time. Got to see the baby elephant and panda which was so cool. Grandkids ages 17-2 all enjoyed the trip. read more

See all

The zoo is fantastic! We came at the 10 am opening time and on a drizzly day which reduced the crowds. We ended up purchasing some panchos which was helpful. I brought a stroller for my 6 yr old because I knew the walking would get to him. If you take the metro get off at Cleveland to avoid the uphill walk. We loved seeing the giant pandas and red pandas. The various indoor spaces are nice as well. Lots of options for food sprinkles throughout and we had fun at the kids play area as well. read more

See all

Such a fun spot with tons of different exhibits, learning opportunities, and photo opps! We definitely got our steps in exploring the zoo. Admission is free, but you do have to register online. Very easily accessible- about a 10 minute walk away from the Woodley Park metro station. 10/10 would recommend. read more

Smithsonian National Zoological Park - Turtle! - Zoos Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

See all

*Photography by @3spade7star_photography There were many highlights and concerns in my first experience at this zoo. Highlights and Negatives of the Zoo: Highlights: -Free Admission to the Zoo -Easy to get admission & parking passes online. - Zoo and parking were easy to locate. - Well maintained and clean zoo area and buildings. - The zoo was quiet, very few people around, clean,and easy to walk through in the early morning. - Open 8 AM to 4 PM. 8 hours to explore the zoo. We stayed 7 hours and left a little after 3 PM. - Many outside areas and exhibits in buildings to explore. - Traffic flowed easily in most places. - Easy access to good spots to view and photograph animals in the zoo. - Easy wheelchair accessibility in zoo. Paved routes and walking trails for wheelchairs. Free wheelchairs provided at visitor center. Motorized wheelchairs are $40 a day. Elevators in buildings to access the floors. - Many seating and restroom areas in the - Easy navigation in zoo. Maps and signs everywhere. - Many attractions & exhibits of animals and creatures to see in the zoo. - Many food and drink areas to buy and dine on food & drinks throughout the zoo. - Cocktails and Beer as well as non alcoholic mocktails were available to purchase in booths all over the zoo. - I recommend bringing your own food and drinks to save money in the zoo. You are allowed to do that in this zoo. The Negatives & Concerns: - Not a good place to visit if you are very introverted and find crowds & noise difficult. Try going on a school day and when the zoo opens for a more ideal and peaceful experience. - No security was seen throughout our whole day there. Very concerning especially when the crowds blew up in early noon time and when we saw & heard sirens of ambulance, police car, and fire trucks inside the zoo. - We were informed 400 Parking passes were purchased by 8:45 AM by the gift shop staff despite very few people in the zoo during early morning. Parking availability goes by fast and is $10 more if you purchase it at entrance. - Expensive Food and Drinks available in Zoo - Most of the animals went into hiding and were avoidant of the crowds. Despite good maintenance and care of the animals by the zoo, most of the animals seemed depressed and scared by people. - Observed unacceptable etiquette of people & their children throughout the zoo. ------------------------ Strongly recommend getting the free admission passes and parking pass ($30 ) ahead of time days in advance to ensure you get parking instead of paying for parking at the entrance ($40). One of the best highlights of the zoo is the free admission and the ease in getting admission & parking passes online. We both went to the zoo early in the morning around 8 AM. The zoo was quiet, very few people around, clean, well maintained, and easy to walk through. The peaceful and quiet environment quickly changed dramatically in a few hours to a crowded and sometimes uncomfortable environment. The Attractions & Exhibits: The zoo is clean, well maintained, and easy to navigate. Bring comfortable walking shoes. I wore gym shoes with good support & memory foam. We spent over 7 hours there and walked about 4.5 miles. There are many exhibits and attractions to see. We went through every attraction in the zoo except for the Ape building, Think Tank, and closed exhibit. Be prepared to see attractions & places with no sightings of the animals in them. Some of them ran away into hiding immediately upon hearing the sounds of people coming to see them. I missed seeing the red panda, the main attraction of the zoo to me, and was told by staff the red panda was very shy and hardly seen. The animals in the zoo were easy to capture in photographs and were very genuine & soulful and at times heartbreaking in how sad they appeared. Overall, we had an above satisfactory experience, yet we had mixed feelings & concerns at this zoo. read more

See all

This is my review of the Zoo Lights experience this year. I did this for the first time and I am glad that I did this even though it was freezing and my ears almost dropped. This is a pretty cute date night idea or something that you can do while being the cool uncle or aunt with nieces and nephews. Kudos to the people who work in this weather to make this happen for the public. I didn't ride the choo choo train but the light maze was fun. All the lightings were really cool. I enjoyed them a lot. There were vendors throughout the course in case people needed drinks, food or warm beverages. Kudos to them for woking this weather as well. I definitely recommend this experience. 5/5 read more

See all

How do you zoo? A visit to the Smithsonian National Zoo was based on one goal. To see the Giant Pandas! Get a free ticket on the Smithsonian Website. Take the metro to the Woodley Park-Zoo stop. Walk a few blocks (or take the bus) and then you are at the zoo. Follow the guided signs to visit the pandas. On a hot summer morning, there was not a lot of activity, but we saw a few big cats, some sleepy otters, and a couple of elephants on the way to see the pandas. A red panda also was playing until he had go back into the A/C because it was so hot at 10 AM. When finally we reached the Giant Panda house, we saw the pandas doing their two favorite activities, sleeping and eating. Giant Pandas are bamboo eaters. In fact, about 99% of their diet comes from bamboo. An adult Giant Panda may eat almost 90 pounds of bamboo a day with their powerful teeth and jaws. That's a lot of bamboo! Mission Accomplished, we headed back to the National Mall to visit other Smithsonian Museums, with air conditioning, but still loved our couple of hours at the zoo. The Giant Pandas were so cute. A definite highlight. Tip: Make a reservation. The zoo is free, however they do check tickets. Bring water and sunscreen! It gets quite hot and humid in the summer in Washington, DC. read more

See all

I will visit a zoo when I travel if I am close. I reserved my free ticket online and it was easy to scan and enter. I went late in the afternoon but I was able to see many animals in their habitats. It's a linear zoo outline which is cool and it's laid out that you can see each of the exhibits and take different trails without having to double back. A few enclosures are under construction. I bought some pretzels from auntie Anne's to hold me over while I was walking around. This zoo is known for it's panda research. I loved seeing the pandas inside and outside and seeing the observation room where zoo keepers do their research. Overall a good zoo, make sure to stop in the visitors center for a map and the giftshop. read more

See all

So I don't wanna be THAT person, but I was disappointed with my recent visit to this zoo. Most of the exhibits were closed & under construction (hopefully that means cool things are coming). I just wish the website made a note that some exhibits (like 6 of them) are under construction. I knocked off a star due to so many exhibits being closed. It's also worth noting that you're not allowed to bike in the zoo. If you want to park, it's $30 dollars. read more

See all

Smithsonian Zoo, free for visitors, but parking has gone up to $30. There are a limited number of spots in lots A - E, but you can get some tickets during the day by driving up unless the lots are full. You can walk the length of the zoo as a slope... it goes from low areas down by parking D to highest areas by the top entry near Connecticut Avenue. You can do some street parking. Some construction right now on the orangutan ropes, and the Asia area, so you may have to walk around a bit to circle to all the exhibits. It was hot so definitely a lot of animals hiding in the middle of the day for the heat, so you may want to come out when it's feeding time, ice packs out or the morning stretch for the animals. read more

See all

While visiting Washington D.C. we visited the world famous zoo. We were terrified that due to the government shutdown, we weren't going to get to go, but we made it by a couple days. The zoo was decorated with some very creative Halloween decorations. Some tied into the enclosures. There are many different animals at the zoo, but none more famous than the pandas. The enclosure is very sizable and gives them space to roam. Additionally, there are elephants, lions, and tigers. They have a cool monkey house with gorillas and orangutans. They had several bar carts around the park with some different cocktails for sale. If you are in Washington, definitely try to make it out to the zoo. Hopefully the government is open for business soon. read more

See all

This zoo is great! I truly think the adults were enjoying it way more than the children! Ha! We were watching in awe at these creatures that we would never see in our city or on our free time otherwise. The PANDAS ARE BACK! This was so fun to see them napping and rolling around. They're adorable! My other favorite exhibit was the O-line. We kept looking for the orangutans and found one near the o-line! He woke up and literally climbed and swung himself over our heads!! Parking: $30 & street parking is very limited. Food: weren't many good options. Eat prior to, or pack your lunch. Drinks/snacks: ice cream! Water ice! I loved the flavored lemonade as well! No lids for your cup, which was inconvenient, especially with kids! read more

See all

One of the best zoo's on the east coast for sure. Admission is free ( make sure you get your tickets in advance online for date of your choice ) and if you plan to Drive there, reserve a parking pass in advance or pay at entrance $30. The zoo is very clean , animals are well Taken care of and really cool exhibits ! I used to come during summer camp when I was a kid, it brought back so many memories. read more

See all

The Zoo was beautiful. We loved all the animals and the staff gave us a lot of educational information. The food was horrible at a little stop near the small mammals. We threw it away after tasting it. read more

See all

I definitely enjoyed the different exhibits and tour around this nice amazing place seeing all kinds of exotic animals. Definitely a great place to bring your kids and family to enjoy themselves. They have plenty of activities for the kids and souvenirs. Keep in mind that parking was $30. read more

See all

Great day for the zoo. Cool in the morning and nice and sunny in the afternoon. Plenty of parking surrounding the perimeter of the zoo. Be AWARE: the parking is on a steep incline, wear comfortable walking shoes and those with mobility concerns should plan accordingly. Most all exhibits were open (only 2 were closed). Pandas, turtles, elephants, birds, reptiles and so much more. A nice children's petty zoo also. read more

See all

I was visiting my family in Nova and decided last minute that my husband and I were taking the kids to see the zoo. Free admission but $30 parking fee. (Much cheaper than other zoos we've taken the kids to.) We went first thing in the morning so we didn't have to deal with too much traffic and could afford some time to get lost if we did. Haha. Plenty of available parking, especially for the handicapped spot in the front, and plenty of room to get my son's wheelchair out. The place was big, I don't think we were able to hit all the spots, but def enough. Some of the buildings like the bird house or reptile house was a little tough for the wheelchair but we managed. (I think also going early in the morning had less of a crowd.) my boys really enjoyed it and it was so great to see something new- especially getting close to the elephants! My oldest son's favorite is the aquarium and the seals (under ground to see them swim around in their tanks). With plenty of snacks, lunch, and water packed we were able to go through it in about 2 hours. It was great to get my kids exhausted haha. Def saw the traffic on our way out and was super glad we went first thing in the AM. read more

Smithsonian National Zoological Park - Getting our kiddo close to the elephants - Zoos Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

See all

Great for a free zoo. It was awesome to see the animals although a lot of the park was very empty. The pandas are very cool. I couldn't even enter the elephant room because of how bad it smelled, and there was another room where I felt the same, but I cannot remember what it was if you're not good with smells, I would avoid the rooms read more

Smithsonian National Zoological Park - Zoos Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Mission: the Giant Pandas, Bao Li and Qing Bao. Location: SMITHSONIAN NATIONAL ZOOLOGICAL PARK in Washington D.C. Entrance Fee: FREE!!! You just need to reserve passes in advance. Our Uber conveniently dropped us off at 8am at the pedestrian entrance off of Connecticut Ave. From there, we followed the signs to the Giant Pandas off of the Asia Trail! We were not disappointed! The pandas were very hungry, munching on bamboo for a long time. One of them played with a blue barrel, tumbling it with its feet. It was so intriguing to watch them!! In the Panda House Habitat, there were information boards and various play areas/sleeping quarters. The National Zoo celebrated its 50th year of caring for giant pandas in April 2022. And in 2023, after three renewals, the agreement with China expired. Mei Xiang, Tian Tian, and Xiao Qi Ji moved to the Wolong Panda base that November. A new agreement was signed in 2024, so the story continues with Bao Li and Qing Bao. Although the entrance fee was free; I gave back by purchasing a few items at the gift shop. My favorite is the Hello Kitty Panda plushie! Wish we had more time to explore, but seeing the giant pandas made our day! Would definitely return when we're back in D.C. read more

See all

This zoological part is huge and very hilly. The animals look very happy and well taken care of. Which is wonderful. I was exhausted after only seeing a fraction of the place. Maybe budget more than one day for this zoo. read more

See all

No hippo or penguin But freee. You can get tickets online ahead of time. Cute pandas. They are excellent Saw panda booty of Bao li. He is my favorite as he does not embody the characteristics of his name with his pudge and the sploot. He is very impressive. He has a lot of security. I waited a bit around 11am but if you come early there's no wait. They take you in waves. It gets hot outside but inside has ac for the pandas read more

See all