Santa Barbara Zoo Hours and Tickets
The Santa Barbara Zoo is open daily 9:30 AM – 5 PM, and closes early at 3:30 PM on Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas, and some special events like ZooLights. Reservations are highly recommended for both general admission tickets and SB Zoo Member visits. Save $7/ticket when you buy online!
The Australian Walkabout is open daily from 10 AM to 4 PM, last entry at 3:45 PM.
Overflow parking alert: Across the street from the Zoo, the Dwight Murphy Field Renovation Project is underway, and neighborhood overflow parking is limited. During summer months and weekends, the Zoo's parking lot tends to fill quickly, so please allow for additional travel time. More parking info can be found here.
Tickets
| ADULTS (13+) | $35 |
| CHILDREN (2-12) | $25 |
| CHILDREN UNDER 2 | FREE |
Buy tickets online, save $7/ticket! Zoo parking is $11 per vehicle (free with SB Zoo Membership).
Upcoming Events
ZooLights
See the Zoo in a whole new light! Walk through the Zoo’s beautiful grounds at night and enjoy illuminated lanterns showcasing animal and nature scenes representing wild places around the world. In...
Learn More
Winter Zoo Camp
The Zoo’s award-winning Zoo Camp features age-appropriate, themed programs that include behind-the-scenes visits, up-close animal introductions, hands-on science, animal-related crafts, songs, and skit...
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ZooLights
See the Zoo in a whole new light! Walk through the Zoo’s beautiful grounds at night and enjoy illuminated lanterns showcasing animal and nature scenes representing wild places around the world. In...
Learn MoreZoo Map
Ranger Station
The Ranger Station is a place where you can connect to nature by walking on mini trails, spotting local animals and plant life, and becoming immersed in the great outdoors. Open daily, hours may vary.
Barnyard
Get up close to some of the adorable mini goats with a free goat brushing experience (hours vary).
Rattlesnake Canyon
Slither into Rattlesnake Canyon to meet several scaly friends.
The Wave
Enjoy a rotating menu of special items along with sweeping ocean and mountain views at this hilltop cafe. Hours vary, check in with staff for more info.
Giraffe Deck
Hand feed Masai giraffes for the wildlife experience of a lifetime. Check at the giraffe deck for the day's feeding times.
Cabrillo Lawn
Home of Early Explorers preschool, the first licensed fully outdoor preschool in California. Only open to enrolled students.
Rolling Hill Stage
Catch a performance of Theater Gone Wild, featuring a cast of puppets teaching viewers of all ages about the natural world.
Kallman Family Play Area
Let the little ones run wild with climbing on a giant rope spider web, hiding in dinosaur eggs, or sliding down the ant hill, a guest favorite!
The Buzz
Get your wings buzzing with with coffee drinks, smoothies, and other beverages at the Buzz.
Zoo Train Station
Take a ride around the Zoo on the iconic Zoo Train or treat yourself to ice cream at the Sweet Station.
Australian Walkabout
Experience the thrill of seeing kangaroos, emus, and wallabies up close as you share the habitat with these iconic Australian species.
Tropical Aviary
Walk through this open aviary with exotic birds and other species.
Rainforest Passage
Visit a variety of amphibians and reptiles from warm and wet climates.
Discovery Pavilion
Watch our animal kitchen in action through a viewing window, check out the latest art gallery exhibit, or book an event in one of our large classrooms.
Ridley-Tree House Restaurant
Our main restaurant serves delicious grilled items, sandwiches, salads, beverages, and other tasty delights.
Courtyard
Rest your paws at picnic tables in our garden courtyard and grab something to eat at the Ridley-Tree House restaurant.
Gift Store
An exotic emporium of toys, books, and unique souvenirs. Stroller, wagon, and wheelchair rentals are available here.
Rainforest Passage
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Wings of Asia
Immerse yourself in birds from across the Asian continent in this lush walkthrough aviary.
Attractions
In addition to the beautiful animals and plants here at the Zoo, there are lots of other fun things to do, like feed the giraffes, ride the Zoo train, and so much more. Find out more about the Zoo’s attractions here.
Dining
The Ridley-Tree House Restaurant serves delicious grilled items, sandwiches, salads, and other tasty delights. Relax in our garden courtyard while you eat.
Enjoy sandwiches, kid-friendly meals, light snacks, or ice cream along with sweeping ocean and mountain views at our hilltop cafe, the Wave.
Beer and wine are available at both the Ridley-Tree House and The Wave. You can also enjoy coffee drinks, smoothies, and special drinks at The Buzz, located next to the Kallman Family Play Area. No outside alcohol is allowed.
Gifts and Souvenirs
There are plenty of places for you to get a little bit of the Santa Barbara Zoo to take home with you. SB Zoo’s main gift store is located near the entrance and is an exotic emporium of toys, books, and unique souvenirs. Stroller, wagon, and wheelchair rentals are available here.
We also offer themed merchandise at the train station or you can find something special at gift carts located around SB Zoo.
Strollers
The Santa Barbara Zoo welcomes strollers throughout the Zoo, but please be considerate to others when navigating in crowded viewing areas. Strollers and wagons are available to rent at the Gift Store:
- Single stroller $7/$6 for SB Zoo Members
- Double stroller $9/$8 for SB Zoo Members
- Wagon $8/$7 for SB Zoo Members
Wheelchair/ECV
Wheelchairs are available for rental on a first-come, first-served basis for $7/each, $6/each for SB Zoo Members at the main gift store near the Zoo’s entrance.
Electric convenience vehicles (ECV) are available to rent for $30/each, $25/each for SB Zoo Members, plus a $10 deposit. Supplies are limited, so please rent your ECV online when you make your reservation to visit the Zoo.
GETTING HERE
Zoo Parking
- $11 per vehicle (one free vehicle with SB Zoo Membership)
- Accessible parking is free with a current placard or license plate
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Bicycle parking is free; racks are available on a first-come, first-served basis
On event days, summer days, and weekends, the lot fills early. Auxiliary parking may be found outside the Zoo on Niños Drive, the Cabrillo East waterfront parking lot, or the Cabrillo West waterfront parking lot. Get more parking info here as the Dwight Murphy Field Renovation Project is underway across the street from the Zoo and neighborhood parking is limited.
Preferred Lodging
Stay nearby at the Hilton Beachfront Resort, located just a half mile from the Zoo.
Alternative Transportation
Whether you take a train, plane, car, or bus, transportation in Santa Barbara is incredibly accessible. Check out transportation options here.
Electric Vehicle Charging Stations
There are many electric vehicle charging stations available in Santa Barbara County. You can find their locations on the County of Santa Barbara website, or on apps like PlugShare, ChargeFinder, ChargeHub, Felt, or the U.S. Department of Energy.
Discounts
EBT Card Discount
The Santa Barbara Zoo is a proud participant in the Museums for All program, offering discounted pricing on general daytime admission tickets ($3 per admission for up to four people) for guests receiving SNAP benefits.
To receive the EBT discount, guests must present their EBT card and a valid form of photo ID. Zoo parking is not included.
Group Ticket Discount
Tickets are available for purchases of 20 or more General Admission tickets. Buy group rate tickets online here.
Members of Other AZA Zoos and Aquariums
More than 150 AZA-accredited zoos and aquariums partner with the Santa Barbara Zoo to offer discounted admission to their members. Members of reciprocal zoos and aquariums receive a 50% discount; proof of eligibility is required at the time of purchase. Check out the Reciprocal List to see if your home zoo or aquarium is on the list. Tickets using the reciprocal discount must be purchased at the Zoo’s admissions window and are not available online.
Zoo Policy and Conduct Rules
Sports equipment, balloons, barbeques, skateboards, roller skates, bicycles, and pets are not permitted in the Zoo, so please leave these items at home. Barbeques, RVs, and pets are not allowed in the Zoo parking lot.
At the Santa Barbara Zoo, everyone is welcome, and we strive to make every guest’s visit as fun and educational as possible. Please use the information on the Accessibility page to help make your Zoo visit a safe, enjoyable, and memorable one.
Proper attire, including shoes, bottoms, and shirts, must be worn at all times. Providing a casual, child-friendly environment is an important part of the Santa Barbara Zoo experience. In that spirit, we ask you to use your discretion and common sense when it comes to attire while visiting the Zoo.
While visiting Santa Barbara Zoo, we encourage you to take photos and video for your own personal use. Commercial photography is allowed, but only with prior written permission. Please contact the marketing department for more information, or review our location filming policy. We may photograph visitors from time to time for promotional and educational purposes: entry to SB Zoo grants permission for us to use these images.
The Zoo is open rain or shine! Depending on the severity of the weather, some animals may need to come inside for their safety and some attractions may need to temporarily close for your safety. In very rare cases, severe weather may force us to close the Zoo.
Questions? Contact us by email.
No smoking or vaping is permitted.
Firearms and other weapons are not permitted. Off-duty police carrying a weapon must notify Guest Services upon entering the Zoo.