If you are a local or just visiting from out of town, the National zoo is a must go-to location. They have a wide array of animals to sight see and interactive learning activities throughout the park. Entrance is free for everyone, but you should note you do have to download tickets before entering. You can bring your own food in, no alcohol is allowed in from outside but is sold within the park. As a local, I come here for the experience and also to walk when it is warm outside. Parking is slightly a hassle as you have to find parallel parking on the narrow streets of DC, the zoo also has parking but it is $30 per car. The shows are now back, which i really enjoyed this interactive bird show hole I was there. My only suggestions are removing the lines for indoor exhibits. Masks are not required nor is social distancing within the park, but they limit the amount of people in some of the indoor exhibits causing extensive lines which took about 15-20 minutes to get inside. Also, the bathroom facilities were not clean and did not have paper towels. Additionally, there was hardly an security and no one checking bags at entrance. Just a heads up I also went on Memorial Day weekend, in the morning there wasn’t much of a crowd but after 12 there were so many people it was difficult to walk. I would recommend during the weekday or coming at opening if you want less crowd. Overall though I had a wonderful experience and will be back.

Give Mexiang panda family more food. If you keep mistreating the panda, send it back to China. This zoo doesn't deserve to exist...😡😡

Give Pandas more food and if cannot, return them back to China. Being humanality for all of animals in the zoo. # saveMeixiangfamily #saveMeixiang #saveTiantian #saveXaoQiJi

The zoo is great and we really enjoyed the experience. You have to request tickets ahead of your visit. You can print them or it can be scanned on your phone/tablet. Not overly crowded when we arrived around 11 am. Some of the vendors were closed but for the most part everything was open and easily accessible. You have to walk a lot so I advise parent to bring strollers and any buggy/cart for the smaller kids. I overheard some younger people complaining about the strollers but it’s a lifesaver during the visit. There are carts you can rent as well but bring your own to save money. Also, bring your own food, drinks, snacks etc. The prices for food and souvenirs isn’t crazy expensive but we managed with our own snacks. We only bought ice cream for the kids and a small toy. Definitely recommend for young kids and all the young at heart. The animals were delightful to see.

Smithsonian national zoo is so cruel, from long lines to overpriced stuff but the zoo is "free" to small exhibits, not to mention the thousand people here. Healthy, adult non extinct ravens in a small cage to pandas in a small room! Terribly disappointed

This is an amazing zoo with tons of wonderful exibits. Even though it was cold out and we only got to see about half of the animals every one we did see was super well cared for the zoo it's self is well maintained, clean and has friendly staff. Definitely going to come back to see again when it's warmer. Prepare to spend most of a day if you want to see everything!

My heart feeling hurt everytime see Meixiang family' s cam. I don't believe why people can do that with animal in a National Zoo? This place should be a place for people to take care animal not abuse them

First time visitor and it was a beautiful day for a nice walk through the Zoo. The zoo was not crowded. A lot of the animals were out and active. Great place for the family and it is Free. Do not pay for parking $30. Park on the streets $9 for two hours. But you do have to repay every 2 hours. Overall I loved my experience and definitely will be coming back!

Pretty decent zoo - the lions, tigers, and gibbons were vocal the day we went which was a treat! The snakes were also moving a lot more than usual which was a little creepy but cool! I really liked the ape house as well. The family of gorillas was cute and funny to watch. Hopefully they get the panda back.

Excellent zoo! Very clean, with friendly staff, and a great selection of animals on exhibit. They have places to eat, a carousel for the kids, a few gift shops. The animals look healthy and pretty happy. It is a bit of a trek though and pretty hilly. You will get a workout! The restrooms are spaced out pretty far from each other, but they do have good signage to point out how far the next one is. We did the parking pass which was a lifesaver and way better than parking on the street. We had a wonderful time and can't wait to go back!

I was only in Washington for 2 days and tried to cram so much things in. I wasn’t able to go to the zoo since they close earlier now for the winter months but I was able to attend the light show. You have to buy tickets in advance, which are $6. Not too bad. There’s light festivals in NY that are $30 so I think the price was good. It was nice walking around the zoo at night with all the colorful lights on display. It felt somewhat magical. My kids and I enjoyed ourselves and we’ll definitely be back to check out the zoo.

The staff don’t even have knowledges that panda is afraid of flash light from phones but bring those poor animals to front of them. Lack of caring and abuse animal.

Very nice zoo with a great selection of animals to see. It was free admission with reserves tickets. Parking was $30, which was a bit pricey, but it's DC. We went at the end of January, and there were still plenty of animals on exhibit to see and enjoy. There was only one food option open, but a few places to get drinks at the zoo. There were plenty of benches around the zoo to sit and relax. Bathrooms spread out, so you weren't ever too far from one. The parking lots were laid out a bit weird to the zoo. Parking lots A and B are literally at the zoo. And the rest of the parking lots are down the road with a short walk to the zoo. So arrive early to have a closer parking spot and a shorter walk.

Start off it's free....... but you couldn't tell definitely worth a visit if you're an animal or nature lover....lion ,tiger, bears oh and did I mention it's free

Loved it. I especially loved the exhibit and enclosure for each species. They have done a fantastic job with that. Also parking is $30 but admission is free. Overall the zoo was very informative.

Washington Zoo needs to cut their 🐃💩 and fix all the wrong doings they have done to those sweet baby pandas. No heartless, cruel country/people deserve to have the pandas or animals in general. My heart breaks to see how weak and messed up these babies get as they are waiting to be back to their home country once the contract between China and USA ends.

National Zoo Lights is a special event during the Christmas Holiday season. The cost is $6 per person & $30 for one vehicle to park in one of the Zoo’s parking lots. We arrived on a Friday evening around 5:30pm (it opened from 5-9, last entry is at 8:30pm). Plenty of staff to guide you where to park and they scan your parking pass and entry tickets because once you park- you’re “in” the Zoo - so have your tickets ready! Its been awhile since we came to Zoolights but its different than it used to be. Now they have animals lanterns that are lit up, instead of just strands of Christmas lights in the outline of an animal. These were super cool! Lots of places to stop and take a picture - make sure to practice taking pictures of yourself in front of very bright lights because you’ll be super dark while the lanterns are very bright :) Wasn’t super crowded at first but definitely got busier as the night progressed. Lots of places to grab a bite to eat or popcorn to grab and roam around. You won’t really see any animals at night and they close the indoor animal houses to let the animals rest- this is a major difference from years ago as they left those open previously. So if you think you’ll see animals when you- you may not. Even the animals that are usually outside may go inside to sleep as it’s warmer. Our family enjoyed walking in the Zoo at night and seeing the decorations so I would say its worth it and the money goes to animal conservation - so a win win!!

If I was able to see some Otters, I would rate this a 6/5 if I could, alas, the Otters were nowhere to be found on this trip. This place is excellent though. Parking isn't really that expensive and the zoo is free. Lots of animals and it's not so large of an area that you can't see it all in a few hours. Posting some photos to show some of the animals there, but this is nowhere near all we saw. I will definitely be going back with my kids.

It's not bad to be a free Zoo, mostly animals look in great shape and are well fed. In this place you have so many places to go and watch different types of animals. There are a bunch of restaurants too, a bit expensive, but they have good food. Live shows, explanations, tiny and huge animals, if you are lucky you could see the orangutans swinging on the ropes. I had a great time here, a very good spot for everyone to enjoy the day.

We always love visiting this zoo. It is free to get in, although parking is a little steep in my opinion at $30. But worth it to have close and safe parking available. There are so many different animals to see and very nice buildings such as the Great Apes and Small Reptiles. There is an Orangutans crossing above which is very cool. I've only seen them close overhead once but it was amazing. There are several different areas with food options, and ice cream / drink areas throughout. Restrooms are located throughout the park and are kept very clean and stocked.

Let the Meixiang panda family eat, stop starving, and get medical care. Why are you guys so cruel to the Panda family?

What an amazing gem of a zoo! Lots of information about the animals, where they come from in the wild, and their status of being endangered. I was sorry to have missed the pandas, and to go in the winter when many animals were too cold to be in the displays. I will definitely be back. Please make sure you purchase something from the gift shops, which have a variety of items from plush toys to clothing and key chains.

The Smithsonian National Zoo in DC offers an unforgettable experience for animal lovers of all ages. With its diverse range of species and well-maintained habitats, visitors can immerse themselves in the beauty of wildlife conservation. The educational programs and interactive exhibits provide valuable insights into animal behavior and conservation efforts. Whether you're strolling through the lush landscapes or attending one of their engaging events, the Smithsonian National Zoo never fails to impress. A must-visit destination for anyone visiting Washington, DC.

The fact that the pathways were clear from snow is a plus. No wait times and no crowds. I did get there early (9:30). The enclosures are huge for the animals. Disappointed that some of the inside exhibits weren't opened and wish the zoo had an app to see the layout. The signs are small and I felt like I was in a corn maze. Interesting that they're all about the environment but only had papertowels in the restrooms and didn't have the air hand dryer. They should also think about having an adults only day once or twice a month. Some of us want to see animals and not hear other people's kids screaming.

Went on a rainy day but it still e as very enjoyable. You could find most of the animals in their inside habitats. I would have loved to see them outside but it was great to have an alternative considering the circumstances. Really liked the idea of the food trucks and the snack/sweet treats they had. Just know that's if you drive there, there is a $30 parking fee. If you walk up its free

Give Mexiang panda family more food. If you keep mistreating the panda, send it back to China. This zoo doesn't deserve to exist...😡😡

Let the Meixiang panda family eat, stop starving, and get medical care #SaveMEIXIANGFAMILY #SaveXIAOQIJI #SaveTIANTIAN #Panda #GấuTrúcTrởVề #GấuTrúcTrởVề #xiaoqiji #vềnhà

I really loved it here. This is definitely a must do on your list if you are ever in the DC area. This place was really good the atmosphere was really nice to be outside and just see some very nice animals. The staff and everyone there is very nice. It is just a good place with really good food and different shops. This zoo also has every animal you could think of. I love this place but I did go on a weekday and so there were a lot of kids there for field trips so it was busy all day but otherwise it was really good I must recommend it.

I'm just here for the panda reviews. 5/5 stars keep the reviews coming.

Amazing zoo and it’s free. Make sure to book your ticket before you go. It’s close to the city, has convenient transit, and crazy amount of different animals. The zoo also have great nature aesthetic. It’s super cozy to walk around the path under the bamboo shade with chill autumn breeze and just right amount of sunshine! A lot of areas are divided into an outdoor zone and an indoor house, so you won’t miss a chance to see the adorable animals no matter they are outside playing or inside eating/sleeping. I really like the Amazonian rain forest house. It’s a two-story building with birds wandering around freely on the lower level and fish ponds. Second floor is a mini rain forest where you can see various types of plants. It also have the mist dispenser to create the warm humid forest feel.

I visited this zoo last tuesday and I was really surprised to see that the zoo of this broad scale is free. I did have to pay $30 for parking but I am not complaining. I paid it online, you can do it online or pay it on the spot. The zoo is big, you'll need about 2 hr to just walk around the whole zoo. It was wheelchair accessible. And the Biggest thing, the bathroom was clean which I was very surprised because I was dreading to use the bathroom. Whoever is visiting DC, make sure you visit the zoo.

Terrific afternoon out, parking was cheap and convenient. Snack bars and shops were available throughout the zoo. I would recommend at least 4 hours to try and make it through all the attractions. You can bring your own food and drink if you are looking for a cheaper option.

I can't believe this zoo is free. One of the nicest facilities around, on par with some of the best zoos we've ever been to. Quite the hike to walk through everything, with the gradient/hills throughout, and not a lot of shade. Would be nice if they had some demonstrations or shows, but can't really complain with it being free... Can get a bit crowded though during peak season, which you probably want to avoid anyways because of the sweltering DC heat/humidity. The kids love it. Overall a really great zoo.

Free zoo that is fun for all groups, if you really want to see it all, plan to spend at least 3 hours. You do need to reserve tickets online at the zoo website though. They have tons of vending machines throughout as well God food options. Our favorite parts were the small mammal exhibit, the pandas and the large cats exhibit. Do note that some animals may be sleeping or some exhibits might be closed for renovations. Check ahead if you are coming for something specific. They also have a really nice gift shop, 4 parking lots and cycle parking as well.

Fantastic zoo with wonderful spaces to exhibit all the animals. The orangutan high wire that allows them to climb over the pedestrian pathways has to be a highlight. Admission is free but parking costs $30. Or you can metro there then walk in for totally free. We spent 5 hours here including the bird show. It is hot and sunny in the summer and the food is way overpriced so be prepared.

The zoo is too bad. Pandas are not properly cared for. They are hungry and must eat very old bamboo. If they can't take care of them, send them back to China. Don't torture them. The Meixang family must go home! 😡

Please return pandas to China if you can't take good care of them

The weather was hot. We arrived early and ran out of steam early as well. Food and drink were pricey. I recommend bringing a refillable water bottle. Red pandas were hiding, gorilla building was closed, and a few others but overall an amazing experience. Animals seem well taken care of with plenty of space.

Zoo and Coronavirus restrictions simply don't go together. Zoo is nice, but all (except of 3) pavilions are closed. All educational games are "Don't touch". Basically it was very nice walk in beautiful park with occasionally spotting some animal.

While many of the exhibits are closed due to remodeling and repairs, my family was not disappointed in the activities we were able to do. The Mane Cafe is still open and serving what I thought was a good lunch, and refilled our tanks. No indoor seating is available, but there is plenty of outdoor seating. Watching the kids interact with the California Sea Lions, Orangutans, and hearing the lion bellow was certainly the highlight of the trip. I would recommend the Zoo still. Make sure to wear comfortable shoes, bring water to drink, and plan on taking your time. There are only a certain amount of entry passes given each day, so make sure you plan ahead accordingly. There are plenty of hand sanitizing stations throughout the park.

One day is not enough! For those of us that like to look cute... wear comfy shoes!!! Many paths and distance to see the popular animals but it is def worth it! Many areas to rest and eat. If you get too hot, they have misters around the zoo to cool off. We come here always. Christmas is def a great time to visit as well!

Really wonderful experience. Great zoo. 6 year old niece had a blast. Pandas were playful and active. Other animals really diverse and beautiful. It’s a pleasant experience and the zoo is laid out really nicely and clean. Perfect day! Tickets free as well but book in advance.

Our first trip to the National Zoo with our grandkids was a great success. They loved it. The carousel was popular and fun. The Tiger looked regal and the Pandas a huge hit. Looks like this will be a regular hit. Oh yes, you Must Reserve a ticket in advance. The tickets are free.

Best FREE (entry) zoo. Must buy entry passes online in advance. Free street parking available if you go early. Food options available but take snacks too 😋. Clean, some exhibits closed when we went but there is still much to see. Kids fully enjoyed themselves. Bathroom near bottom end of zoo by the kids farm has great facilities and several changing stations if you have a kid in diapers. Hand dryers are installed right on the sinks... you'll look for paper and think there's nowhere to dry hands. Look on the sink. Some people don't realize this. Cooling stations throughout the park spray water mist if you push the button below. Lots of easy connected trails to meander and several shady areas.

Please take good care of the animals, especially the Meixiang & Tian Tian panda family

PLEASE STOP YOUR MISTREATING ACTION, TREAT KINDLY, FAIR, FEED ENOUGH, LET MEIXIANG PANDA AND HER FAMILY (TIANTIAN, XIAOQIJI) PLAY AND BE HEALTHY AT YOUR SMITHSONIAN NATIONAL ZOOLOGICAL PARK. Opposing artificial insemination on Meixiang. Protesting electric pulse on TianTian. Meixiang family needs to be well fed and medically cared for. THEY ARE SO WEAK BY YOU NOW 😭 LET THEM GO BACK TO CHINA TOGETHER ASAP BEFORE THIS DECEMBER.

Give mexiang panda family more food

Give Mexiang panda family more food. Please dont hurt panda.

The highlight of our DC trip! We dedicated the entire afternoon here, and it wasn't enough. It's worth spending the whole day here even if you are here just on the weekend. There are so many animals, and the park itself is very nicely done.

We had a 🐼 Pantastic 🐼 day!! We drove 6 hours from Connecticut just to see the panda family. The panda house was very clean and lots of fresh bamboos. Lady work inside was very knowledgeable and friendly. Will go again! Highly recommended!

I have loved going to this zoo ever since I was a kid. The animals are well taken care of with nice sized exhibits, and the zoo is always well maintained and clean. Prepare to be there for quite a few hours with the walking, but also for the number of animals to see and info to read. They also have water misters outside for hot days, and plenty of buildings to go into to cool down. My absolute favorite is always going to visit the pandas. 🐼💕

A must-visit for all animal enthusiasts! The pandas are fluffy zen masters, and the porcupines, prickly yet cute. Prairie dogs show us how community living is done right, while sloth bears embody the mantra of 'slow and steady'. 5 stars for this adorable and enlightening wildlife ensemble!

I was there three days ago and it was very enjoyable. First of all the tickets are free, so it is preferable to book in advance on their website. (Because it caught on quickly because in Washington, D.C. most museums are free). There is wheelchair and stroller accessibility without problems. There is an ice cream van (prices are quite cheap), drinks and sweets machines (reasonable prices) and restaurants (reasonable to medium prices). At every corner there will be an information booth whose name you can get a map of the zoo in order to know where to go or where it is shorter to get to the enclosure of the type of animals

The entry to the zoo was free but you will need to book it online on their website atleast 2 days in advance. We were lucky to find off street parking 15 minutes away from the zoo. The zoo was amazing and our 3 year old loved it. The park was widespread with so many attractions. Overall a great experience. It would be advisable to keep a light jacket handy as it is an open windy park.

Very easy to find. There were lots of one way paths, everybody for the most part was social distancing. There were a few attractions that were indoors , the staff did an excellent job of limiting the amount of people into the building. It could have been even better if a canopy or umbrellas were set up, so while waiting we could be out of the sun. We had a good time and would recommend.

I loved it here! Some places were closed though because of covid19 but still fun to see all the animals. Everyone was wearing masks and good effort by the zoo to keep people healthy by providing hand sanitizing dispensers all over.

We took our 3 kids here and were all left depressed. The primates looked like inmates. Sad and depressed. Enclosures were too small for most animals. The wolves tore up a turkey or another large bird. Deer missing fur with cuts on their skin. I feel awful supporting this business. It's like they lost funding and gave up. We just did not feel good about this.

Yay!!!!! Zoo time again! This is a HUGE and world renowned zoo, and like all Smithsonian's, it's free. I Love the think tank, and pandas!!! (They have giraffes, lions, tigers, and all the favorites also). They also have many others you haven't seen and the educational exhibits and information about the animals are second to none. With the huge hill and all the animals and exhibits, make a plan of attack to maximize your walking, check on line for special talks or sessions to hit, or just get a ticket to there, show up without a plan, and go wild!!!

Great day trip..Free parking on the side streets. Members get free parking but there seems to never be any free parking available. If your not a member parking is 30. Since covid you need to register online for tickets but the zoo is FREE. Take your time and enjoy the peaceful walk throughout the zoo. There is plenty of animals to see and some interaction activities you can do. kids will enjoy the snakes in the reptile house and weighing themselves in the elephant house. Pack a snack or lunch since food is allowed. Enjoy the free movie in the visitor center or talk to a caretaker. Either way it is an enjoyable trip and a great way to get your 10,000 steps in. Have fun.

Even though it was wintertime, and during the latest Covid surge, it was awesome. I heartily recommend buying the parking pass for $30 - especially if you have a wheelchair, elderly people, or small kids who can't walk very far. The viewpoints are great, so you won't be stuck seeing an empty space with a sleeping animal in the very back, or under a shelter. Also, the pandas are not to be missed!

You need to make reservations if you want to visit. I reserved my tickets a week in advance. I left my car parked in the parking garage and then took public transportation to the zoo. Street parking around the zoo is limited. Once in, I just took in the breathtaking environment. It was organized, clean and you can just walk around looking at the animals and the people. It was truly a lovely experience.

We very much enjoyed our time at the zoo. The main walkway is pretty much a continuous incline so needed to pace ourselves. Some animals were not on display due to time of year, but we saw the pandas so that was good. Food and services were good. The weather cooperated enough to see everything we could.

We had a great time. The zoo is awesome, the habitats are great and there is plenty to do and see. No lines anywhere was a big plus. We spent about three hours looking and exploring. Make sure you reserve free tickets online that aren’t timed and are good for the entire day.

To all the people taking bad care of MeiXiang’s family, I wish you and ur family all the worst.

If you go early in the morning you'll have most of the park to yourself but at the same time you'll find that you have to circle back to different parts of the park if you want to see the animals out and about. The morning has feeding time and cage cleaning times which can interfere with each stop. Still a great park and a wonderful experience. Unfortunately if you go later in the day you'll be in the crowded times and it can also be difficult to see certain things due to the quantity of people. If I had to do it again I think I'd show up at about 9:30 AM and try to be out of the park by around 1:00 PM. That should be plenty of time to see all the stops in the zoo without feeling like you need to rush. And if you go during these times the waiting to see things will be at a minimum.

One of the best zoos I've ever been to. The orientation in the zoo is friendly. There are many animals and great pavilions. If you like pandas as much as I do, you'll be in heaven. They have large inner and outside enclosure and it's really funny to watch them. The activities like feeding animals or chat with caregiver are nice and I can recommend seeing some of them. I forget to mention that everything of that is for free!

Would have 5 stars if we could have finished the tour. It was far too hot and by the time we finally made it to the elephant area, we were spent and unable to keep going. Had a blast though. Got to see a lot of cool animals and really enjoyed the day. Parking is the only cost for admission and traffic in DC is literally worse than NY and Chicago combined (I have driven all 3 places and yes, DC is the worst). Totally worth the visit but plan ahead. This is not a small zoo and it has a lot of hills. Wear good shoes and bring water. Lastly, have your camera ready, you never know what you will see.

This large zoo is maintained fairly well and there is great decor throughout the park. There are numerous exhibits including several that are indoors which allow for a break from the outside. The spaces for the animals appear larger than most zoos I have visited which I appreciate. As with all zoos, some animals may be out of view, but that is a need for the animals. It’s a large zoo; we spent over 4 hours. There are ample food choices throughout the park.

Well spaced zoo with a great variety of animals. Recommend getting there when it opens to not only see more animals but to avoid the crowds. We arrived at 8:15AM on a Saturday and didn't have to really deal with crowds or lines until about 11:30AM. Also, be aware that this zoo covers a large area on a bit of a grade so you'll be doing a lot of walking and about half will be uphill. Wear comfortable shoes.

Very nice zoo !! There are tons of animals , reptiles to see .. they have indoor exibits which can make it very refreshing on hot days along with outdoor shower mists. There are also nice walking trails & lots of little food stands , gift shop on site. . Admission is free!! But the parking pass is $30.00 which id recommended to pay ahead of time to make sure you have a parking spot. To view all the animals , reptiles , to walk the trails id say a good 3 to 4 hours is roundabout how much time you would need :)

I've been to several zoo's. This one blew me away. We arrived shortly after noon on a Thursday, which was the gradual feeding time. We got to witness so many animals up close and take so many awesome pictures. The zoo wasn't too crowded so it was easy to stand in place for a minute without bothering others. There were workers everywhere and some very knowledgeable willing to give information. Even though we live 6 hours away, we will definitely return again as soon as possible.

Yet another wonderful visit to our treasured zoo. We wanted to come again before our beloved pandas leave, so we have planned a few visits over the coming month. Not too crowded, no lines to the restrooms, stores, or food outlets. my favorite time of year to casually stroll through the zoo. It is lovely to see all the animals and people of all ages enjoying the wonderful array of creatures of all shapes and sizes. The pandas are my favorites, whether it's the black and white super cute panda beauties from China or the equally cute red pandas. The staff at the zoo are really helpful, giving time and knowledge, and it's clear they have a passion to care for and preserve their house guest. Our National Zoo is an absolute must to visit ant rime of year to appreciate the animals and learn about their lives and the risks if we don't protect them

You absolutely must go see the giant pandas one last time before they depart for China later this year. We were very lucky that they were very visible and very active during our visit today. We hadn’t been to the national zoo for probably over a decade, and I must admit, we were pleasantly surprised. They’ve definitely upgraded a number of their facilities, and had both elevated and ground level viewing areas for most of the key animals. The extensive mature tree canopies make for a very park like and shaded setting. And the price can’t be beat. Free is good.

The zoo is free to go in. The weather felt great. We were able to see the pandas before they were transferred to another zoo. There are many sitting/rest areas. The bathrooms are clean. A lot of foot traffic. The animals were shy, so we didn't see them out. It was still a wonderful day, and the area is very beautiful.

The National Zoo is super fun! We went to see the giant pandas before they leave and ended up spending most of the day at the zoo. I would say it takes more than 3 hours, we (two adults) were there for 5 hours walking around. We had a great time seeing the different animals. As for the zoo grounds: The exhibits were really nice and well kept. There was a lot of staff about cleaning enclosures, feeding animals, and talking about them. The zoo layout maps weren’t the easiest to follow and the zoo is built on a hill so be prepared to walk up hill both ways to see every thing. I only wish I had been able to find a nice magnet with the Smithsonian Zoo name and a fun animal on it. Paying for the parking was worth it.

Took Amtrak into DC and then the Metro to get to the zoo which was way better then trying to drive and find parking. The zoo is amazing, although the lines to get into certain exhibits did take 10-20 min to get through. Bathrooms could use a bit more attention, but with the volume of users they weren't too bad. Very impressed that there was a food truck on premise with gluten free options which was a lifesaver. Starbucks is right across the street from the entrance which is super convenient. Admission is free but does require ordering tickets online before you go.

If you want to be outdoors most of the day and walk up lots of hills this is the zoo for you. There are many animals to see but younger children especially will need strollers as the exhibits are spaced out around the whole zoo. There was a heavy smell of marijuana in the entrance of the small mammals exhibit. $30 for parking. $26 for lunch for a family of three. $4 per person for the carousel. Overall based on the drive into DC, parking and all the walking around the zoo this is not a zoo you will want to visit even annually. But if you are in town from out of state it would be worth your time.

If you're going to the zoo, try going on warmer weather days. We visited on a day that had expected 2-4 inches of snow. Although there was mostly rain that morning, many of the exhibits were closed. However, the zoo was clean and the walkways were clear. The zoo is free, but you still must reserve your tickets in advance.

It's our educational tour with the family to learn about many different kinds of animals around the world. We love the place!

It's a great place to visit. I go each summer with my class on field trips, but this yr, wasn't feasible. My favorite animals to see are the lions. I love to hear them roar...they sound funny, not intimidating.😊

I think its a good thing that they are making people set up a time to visit the zoo so that way they can control the number of visitors per day/hour. It wasn't that crowded and we got to see pretty much everything. Although there are food concessions, prices are pretty steep. Luckily they let you bring in outside food. I'd def pack lunch and bring plenty of beverages. It can get pretty hot.

A nice zoo, enough free public parking nearby, good variety of exhibits and animals even during COVID reduced displays. Timed ticketed entry does a good job of cutting down on crowds during COVID. I witnessed employees enforcing mask requirements of visitors. Confessions where reduced appropriately to offer services but reduce crowding. Good one way path modifications and shutdowns to reduce two way path travel with closer contact.

We had a fantastic visit. We've been to several attractions during the pandemic and this Zoo is handling the restrictions best. People are respectful of social distancing and there are restrictions on how many people can be inside buildings at one time. It's completely acceptable to wait for a bit as long as everyone is staying safe. Well done.

Fun times!

(Translated by Google) Incredible that admission is free. (Original) Unfassbar, dass der Eintritt frei ist.

I am going there and I know it's going to be cool

Beautiful zoo here in DC. it's totally free all you have to do is go online and pay for parking. Lots of shade and many different animals to check out. Just make sure you bring your walking shoes and heres a small suggestion. Freeze some bottles of water to take with you inside the park. The bottles of water can get a tad bit expensive. But we had a good time here. The kids loved it. Its a must see when looking for a family activity to kill a few hours

Beautiful walkways but, if you're looking for animals, there were like 7 on display. We saw wild squirrels and wild deer in the parking lot. That was the most animals we saw all day. Lots of pathways closed. Lots of animal exhibits closed. The zoo is free but, they charge $30 to park.

Overall a great zoo that is free and open to the public. A decent amount of exhibits and animals aren't available during covid times and the layout of how they want to direct traffic is frustrating at times. A great place to visit and see some cool things for sure. Hopefully they fill exhibits and fix the routing issues.

My mom and I love, love, love Indian Creek Zoo. It's such a personable experience. We've done the giraffe, sloth, and lemur encounters... and loved them all. The trainer we had for our recent giraffe and lemur encounter was amazing, very knowledgeable, personable, and 😎. They have a lot of animals. We'll definitely be back🤗!!!

This is an awesome little zoo right in our own back yard! No need to drive miles and park a ways from the zoo. It's a hidden jewel right here in Bedford.

You guys should put some enrichments in for monkeys and lemurs a ball of treats or something Great zoo 👍

Right off the bat I noticed that the wolves are by the deer which is sad and the alligators are by the capybaras. All the animals were distressed and pacing.

The zoo is always a great place to visit. This zoo happens to be a 2 for 1 special! You get to see amazing animals & workout on incline level 6! It is all Hill folks so, wear super comfortable shoes! I would also bring my own personal hand sanitizer. Masks are required at all of the inside facilities like the reptile house and the ape house. The lines for the carousel can get pretty long because 1single person sanitizes after every turn. We went in the morning and all the animals seemed to be still sleeping but all in all its a good experience.

Took the family here this past Sunday and we enjoyed it. Several of the animals that we wanted to see weren’t in their areas or hiding, but that is to be expected. The animals that we DID see looked happy and healthy 💕

Loved the experience. Gift shops are limited and the food is pricey. Animals come out 10am or later. Keepers were actively cleaning the shelters.

We had a great time its a lot of walking up and down hills. So put on a good pair of walking shoes and get a hat and some water and your off.

If you want good and from views of all the big animals, then arrive right at opening! We had an amazing view of the elephants and the lack of crowd made it feel very safe. Masks are required when indoors.

We love the zoo. You can't beat the wide stay off animals and exhibits at the National Zoo. We have fun every time we go, and we always seem to find something new to see. It is free to get in, but you pay to park... Still way cheaper than San Diego Zoo. Then you just pay for food and souvenirs. The location is pretty amazing in Rock Creek Park, and it makes for a lovely place to see the animal exhibits. Really can't say enough good things about this zoo. Absolute must for families in the DC area!

I visited the National Zoo several times over the past couple decades. It's great fun for people of all ages. I'm addition to animal exhibits the interactive areas build on knowledge to inspire curiosity. A recommended addition to anyone's itinerary.

Zoo seemed small at first, but went on forever. We spent a good 4 hours here. The Amazon part was incredible and we were able to be surrounded by birds mostly. The orangutan area was so cool to see.

Absolutely LOVED this zoo. Came from out of town and got there when it first opened, it was nice because it was quiet and the animals were more awake. They walked around more and it was easier to get pictures of them feeding and their morning “play”. Bathrooms were all clean and kept up. The kids play area was also a nice touch and it was nice to have a break while the little one ran around. Will definitely return

We enjoyed it and was surprised there was no charge thank you. We really love visiting Zoos and live animals. We appreciate it.

Absolutely a must for anyone in the area. My family and I visited on Thanksgiving day and were happy to find the crowds to be incredibly thin. We were able to walk at our pace, linger at animals we enjoyed, and never feel rushed. That I am all but certain would not be the case during a busier time of the year but that would just mean additional planning in preparation to going. We opted to pay the $30 parking, which is kind of steep but not when you remember the rest of the zoo is free and driving there was a choice we made. Parking in lot E was great as it put us at the bottom of the hill and allowed us to make an easy loop of the park without fear of missing things. The exhibits I feel were all well maintained and adequately sized for the type and number of animals houses in it. The amazonian house was wonderfully designed and immersive with the animals. The zoos obvious pride and joy are the pandas which can only be seen at two other zoo's in the country. They were super cute and entertaining but good luck find merchandise that is not panda driven. The only food we had available was Sapporo pizza and that wasn't a bad thing. We enjoyed it very much and did not feel overly ripped off by the concession price. There is also a fun bar trailer with an assortment of drinks that will hit the spot. This is a zoo that is proud of it title and one to be proud of. Please go and support.

Had a great day with my family here at DC Zoo. Parking was $30, but free admission!! Visited Panda, elephants, bison, small mammals, lions, apes, black bear, orchid, turtle. All of them are energetic and very active. Quite disappointed that Red Panda is sleeping. But funnel cake is the solution to disappointment! Coming back soon, highly recommend it!! The weather was great by the way.

Wonderful zoo! We visited Tuesday April 12th and it was super busy for a spring weekday but it’s spring break so be aware. Lots of crowds. But so many animals to see! Pandas, elephants,tigers,….the only thing that was closed was the bird house for renovations. Lots of places to sit to rest or eat. Bathrooms were decently clean. We reserved tickets online but no one checked them at the gate. Highly recommend!

Unfortunately, I have been to better zoos than this one. It needs quite a bit of attention from the grounds to the exhibits themselves. And several areas of the zoo are closed off and hard to navigate. Many of the animals are hard to see because of the way they have constructed the exhibits and the lack of cleaning the glass to look through. Hopefully things will improve in the coming days.

These little buggys are very helpful for two little kids. Costs only $12 for the whole day. The Park is clean and a very good exercise for the whole family. And then there is the dark side. In every house all the animals are looked like they been in year long depression. Way to less space for all the animals. Sad to look at.

Highly inclusive Zoo with animals of all sorts! Atmosphere: The Zoo is wonderfully designed and laid out, with appropriate signage and helpful information displayed. Animals: Our trip consistented of mostly the Asia trail due to our limited time there. Unfortunately we did not see many animals, as half the exhibits were empty, but I'm not docking stars because it is not the zoo's fault. However, the variety of animals presented is very impressive, most notably the Panda which is rarely found in other zoos. Reason for five stars: This zoo feels like your typical Zoo, but thanks to the special attention by the Smithsonian team, free admission (not including parking fee), inclusiveness, this park earns a solid five because it checks all the boxes. It's not absolutely shocking but it's definitely impressive.

Nice zoo. Lots of animals to see. Especially for free (only $30 for parking). We went on a Sat afternoon so it was busy, as expected. Most of the indoor exhibits had lines. The panda line was very long so we didn't wait. As many reviews mention, it is hilly. Definitely bring a stroller, even for 4-5 year olds as they might tire out. Only thing we bought was Ben &Jerry's ice cream, which I did find to be kind of insane ($17.50 for 2 kids cones... Said $5.75 per kids scoop, I guess they charge $3 each to put it in a cone). Read several reviews about rude staff-- was not my experience at all. Everyone was friendly. Will go back sometime when we can go first thing in the morning when I hear animals are more active. Overall, I recommend.

Great experience! Beautiful zoo with lots of exhibits and educational areas. We parked onsite. The process was easy. We arrived around 9:30am and it didn't start getting crowded until around 11:30-12. The best part was the Pandas. There are so many different areas to view them.

So much fun at the zoo!!! We spent a lot of time talking to the Elephant techs learning about them and how they are taken care of!! We saw the pandas and lions and tigers and chimpanzees and orangutans and gorillas!!! And bison and gibbons and so many more animals!!! It was a great day at the zoo.... definitely going back again!!! It was so much fun!!!!

A wonderful national institution - and it’s free! We paid for parking for the day ($30), which is a pretty nominal fee for four adults. Our favorite part was the apes exhibit - there are some fascinating orangutans and gorillas.

We enjoyed this stop. Free admission, plenty of parking for a fee if you arrive early in the day. Must reserve passes online for admission and parking prior to arrival. The Zoo was a relatively small geographical area with a wide variety of animals and indoor exhibits. We spent 2 hours and did not see everything. A little hot today, but plenty of shade and seating to rest. The crowds picked up significantly after 11am.

Great place and it's free. Kids will love it. Ample vending machines n places to relax. Parking could be a challenge but you can find street parking meters around the zoo. Overall best place for the entire family and a good amount of walking. Must visit !

Parking is well organized by the employees. I bought my ticket online the night before for the parking access. It was scanned and I was directed to Parking Lot B. We were very close to the panda exhibit, but all of them were sleeping. We stopped by before we were leaving hoping to catch a view on a panda, and we did! I liked how pandas could be visible outdoors and indoors as well. We walked throughout the whole sections, I wasn't too tired but the rest of my group were. Restrooms are spacious and easily accessible. Definitely recommend bringing walking shoes, no sandals! We saw all types of big mammals, such as elephants, monkeys, ostrich, cheetahs, zebras etc. But there was times where, the animals weren't even available. They were either not home, or they were cleaning their area. There are food trucks inside, but it WILL get expensive...!

We really love the National Zoo, and hadn’t been in several years. You get your passes online, and they are free, but entrance was really quick. The animals are fantastic especially the panda. We also saw the cute little gorilla baby. I do recommend that if you take the metro, you plan for extra time if you are doing the Vienna station because they are shuttling again. There are plenty of places to stop and rest in the shade and a lot of places to eat. Food is a bit pricey, but it’s free to go to the zoo so it evens out.

This zoo has really earned it's place as the national zoo, it's amazing. There are tons of animals and exhibits about them. Also despite what others say all the animals (Panda's included) look happy and healthy and I feel the staff is taking care of the animals the best they can.

The Good: This zoo was a fun experience that my family and I thoroughly enjoyed. We got to see wildlife, take memorable pictures, learn some interesting facts about the various animals in the park, and even had some delicious Ben and Jerry's ice cream. What made this perfect was the cloud cover and the eventual rain that cooled everything off. We went early in the morning. We got there at about 9:40am and stayed for about two hours and there was not a huge crowd. The employees that we interacted acted with were pleasant and professional. The Bad: The ice cream was a bit expensive and, for some reason, restrooms seemed hard to come by. Judgment: 4 Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Great epxerince with a couple gripes! Highly Recommend!

BOYCOTT Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute. 🆘 SAVE MEIXIANG FAMILY 🐼🐼🐼 🆘 The zoo give very few bamboo shoots and eat old bamboo. They put food in Xiao Qi Ji toys, but it was very difficult to get the food each time. They put honey on the paper box so that father Tian Tian bear lick it... They feed the pandas sugarcane 🆘 but the panda body is not suitable for eating sugarcane. Because sugarcane will harm the digestive system of pandas, as in the case of Le Le. Also passed away earlier this year. Please help Mei Xiang Family 🐼🐼🐼, let the zoo give them more food... Use them to make money 💰 but don't feed the panda? Innocent animals 🐼🐼🐼 #SaveMEIXIANGFAMILY #SaveTIANTIAN #SaveXIAOQIJI

Let the Meixiang panda family eat, stop starving, and get medical care #SaveMEIXIANGFAMILY #SaveXIAOQIJI #SaveTIANTIAN #Panda

We went to the Smithsonian National Zoo and had the best time. It was hot, but there was access to canned water or refillable water stations. Also, there were ice cream , other drinks, and adult frozen drinks available. There were many summer programs (class type field trips), and that was nice to see. Each group was led by a zoo staffer. Misters attracted many children to play and cool off. Not many of the exhibit areas were closed. A baby gorilla was recently born, and that was exciting to see. VERY IMPORTANT: Free entry tickets are required and should be requested at least one month in advance. Zoo members can also get same day entry passes. The zoo should be another must-see attraction in the Washington DC area.

I cannot even comprehend the cruelty that is happening. The amount of suffering that Meixiang, Tiantian and their babies have been going through for over two decades. How can you feed baby panda soap water, tricking him into believing that it’s milk? Electric shocking Tiantian for sperms, leaving him with numerous scars and inflammations. Forcing Meixiang to bear more babies even though she’s in such terrible condition, physically and mentally. All pandas are not well taken care of, and only got fed when there’s visitors around. Call yourself a conservation institute then carry on abusing these harmless animals. Such hypocrisy makes me sick to my stomach.

Get ready to walk and have some incline exercise. Amazing zoo, big and great! Free just have to reserve

Well the park itself is decent I do not recommend getting there before 9 am. We arrived when they opened at 8 thinking we would be able to get in and out so we can continue on our visit to Washington DC. What we found is almost none of the main animals were out until after 9. We had already walked the entire zoo to see the pandas, elephants, bison, and others. Grounds are kept okay but not as meticulous as I would expect our national zoo.

Great zoo but make sure to bring a pair of comfortable shoes. The zoo is on a hill so you will be heading down the hill one way, and back up the other. Bring your own drinks as the vendors/carts are about 3x more expensive than what you can get outside the zoo. Depending on the day you go many animals may be hiding in the shadows or indoors. So don't come in expecting to see all of them.

Wonderful zoo. We went to see the pandas before they leave for China. They weren't out in the morning so we went by back in the afternoon and got to see all three inside eating. Animals seemed healthy and well tended to. Wear good shoes and prepare to walk a lot! Also, get there early so you can see everything and pack a lunch! Reserve your tickets online beforehand. There's no charge but they are required during Panda Palooza.

Great Day at the Zoo! Weather was great! Best to get your free tickets online. Beware the zoo is on a hill so be ready to walk up a hill (both ways🤣). Panda are here for a couple more months and back to China🥲. Great exhibits - specially the panda house and the bird house.

This is great for a free zoo, but it's honestly carried by the pandas. Once the pandas leave, I doubt it'll be as popular. The problem with the zoo is not the animals but rather the layout. The purpose of a zoo is for people to view the animals but this is really hard to do here. The habitats for popular animals are at eye level or higher than the places people are allowed to stand. The animals are really far away too. As a result the zoo feels either really empty or really congested. Rather they should be more like pits with viewing areas all around (like an amphitheater). The Omaha Zoo in Nebraska and Berlin Zoo in Germany are much better at this. The staff I interacted with were friendly though. The zoo was clean and educational too. I would still recommend coming here if visiting Washington DC.

Amazing zoo, I can't believe it's free to enter (though you need to book a free ticket online in advance). A lot of different animals to see, paths are pretty straightforward and not confusing, plenty of food stands, water fountains, and restrooms throughout. Also very clean. You can spend all day there, I'd highly recommend arriving early so you can see everything, as the zoo closes at 4.

My wife & I loved this zoo! Able to see three of the pandas prior to leaving. Nice exhibits & everything seemed affordable. Covered the whole zoo in two days, with extra time @ the pandas exhibit. Pretty easy to blow thru in one day, without spending too much time with one group of animals. But you are there, take your time & enjoy! Easy walk from the metro.

This was my first time here. It was a lovely place with large habitats. The gorilla house and small animal house were the highlights for me. My only complaint is there was so much glare on the windows, you literally couldn't see the gorillas unless you were right up at it and shading your eyes. The zoo is free, but we paid for a parking pass because we wanted to drive in. The parking is close to the entrances and was well worth the $.

Fourth time coming to the zoo and it's always fun with family and friends. Definitely recommend coming here when you are in DC. If you park in parking lot a expect to go down hill a lot and a nice long way back up at the end of the day. Bring whatever food and drinks you'd like and plenty of space to sit down and take a break. A lot of different animals to see. Just be sure to go when it's down time so there's a lot less people.

The most important thing to know about going to the national zoo now is that you must procure your parking pass in advance. The entry passes do not cost anything however parking has gotten very expensive. We went on an unusually mild December day and because of the cooler weather, all of the animals were out. It was absolutely amazing! If you've never been, be aware that the entire zoo is on an enormous hill. At some point, either entering or leaving you will be walking either up or down a very long gradual hill. There are plenty of benches for resting but just know, this is not a zoo you are going to just zip right through if you want to see everything!

The best thing about the zoo is the entry ticket to the zoo is free, but you would have to book online in advance.howeverbthe parking fee apply. Outside parking is available for 2 hours but finding a spot is tough. A beautiful zoo to walk about and see various animals.Parents with children on stroller must be aware it's a steep climb back up .It was definitely a work out.

Nice abs clean. Very organized as far as paths go. Everything is beautiful!

National zoo visit during heavy rain. While many of the exhibits were closed due to COVID or the season, we were dressed appropriately using rain gear and rain boots. Coffee, ice cream, funnel cake, and other vendors were open. Suggest getting coffee or hot chocolate. Pandas/Asia trail were closed. Bears, elephants, sea lions, cows, donkeys, antelope, deer, leopard's, bison, apes, gators/crocs were all visible. Think tank exhibit was supposed to be open, however no one was available to open the door and the door was locked. We tried at 11am and 1pm and neither time was the building manned. Would not recommend coming during the heavy rain. Read the map that is available today and in the photos below that shows all the closed exhibits and weigh if you want to visit. It took us with a group of 10 about 3 hours to run through all the open exhibits with very few breaks.

A nice zoo, enough free public parking nearby, good variety of exhibits and animals

Pandas. Pandas. Pandas. Did I mention Pandas. Do not be tempted to Pandanap them.

I went here a while ago and I loved going here. You can spend a whole day at this zoo and have fun. We saw all sorts of animals, and it was really cool seeing the pandas when they were eating.

This zoo is so big that you can hardly imagine it, and of course, it cannot be compared with the wild zoo. As the entrance ticket to the zoo in the US capital is free, but parking outside requires a certain fee, but it is much cheaper than the entrance ticket to the North Carolina Zoo because the admission ticket to the North Carolina Zoo is charged by headcounts, while the Smithsonian National Zoological Park is only parking fees, so I highly recommend carpool to save unnecessary expenses. The layout inside is so organized that you don't have to rely on imagination to walk through a maze. It is more convenient to have a guide map.

A 110.45 kg (243.5 lb) giant panda has a 3D canine teeth bite force of 2603.47 newtons and bite force quotient of 292. Giant Pandas rely primarily on spatial memory rather than visual memory. Though the panda is often assumed to be docile, it has been known to attack humans, presumably out of irritation rather than aggression. Feeding Alligator Snapping turtle Dino Dogs, Tiger Salamanders bait salamanders.

the love see

When I Was In Middle School I Went On A Field Trip To The National Zoo And My Sister Went With Me On The Field Trip

Zoo lights was so cool! Wish we could go during the day!

(Translated by Google) The world's best zoo, spacious and comfortable. (Original) 넓고 쾌적한 세계 최고의 동물원.

So much space and so many animals! Unfortunately some of the enclosures are closed due to the pandemic, but I look forward to coming back once everything is back open.

Always a fun trip! We rarely pay for parking, since you can usually find parking on a side street if you’re willing to walk. However if you’re going on a crowded day, don’t want to walk extra, and need to save time, the $30 for parking is worth it. It’s easy, gets you pretty close to the park, and you know you’re money is going to a good cause. If you get lucky, you’ll catch a day where the orangutans are out on the o-line! I’ve only seen this once in the last 4 or 5 trips I’ve made to the zoo but glad I finally got to see it!

Nice animals

Absolutely lovely zoo! The best part is that it is free. Must do if you are visiting or if you live in the area and have never been. Currently all Smithsonian properties are closed due to COVID-19. Be sure to visit once it re-opens!

Amazing experience. Love this zoo, it’s small but they have a nice variety. The zoo was very clean. Great tour!!!

It's a very good zoo. Probably among the best in the country which is to be expected since Smithsonian is quite good at making these things

Great experience for the family

We had a great time visiting with two five year-olds. Timed entry tickets (free, but need to get online ahead of time) and face masks required for those six and older. Most kids three and older, including ours, wore masks. Some exhibits were closed (pandas, reptile house, small mammal house, etc.), but with so few people there we actually saw more and at closer distances than in years past. Our favorites were the gorillas, elephants, and seals. Due to social distancing requirements there were lines to get into see the gorillas and elephants, but the lines move quickly and the zoo workers make the wait as fun as possible. Snack foods, beverages, and souvenirs available for sale.

Love it. Kids friendly

Great time was has by all.

One of my favorite spots to tour.

(Translated by Google) Fantastic. (Original) Fantástico.

The big cats were amazing!

We had a nice time despite the restrictions

Temporarily closed

I'm sure pre-covid, this was a great place to visit. It was still nice, but not very many animals to look at.

Although it is a small zoo, it is a nice walk or place to visit that is free to the public when you walk/take public transportation. Some features of the zoo are close due to renovations or preventions, so if you are interested in a particular exposition, you should check if it will be open in their website

November 2020 not the best time to visit zoo, almost everything is closed

Great covid place since it was outdoors. Since it was so cold and I assume covid.... Only about half the animals were out and about. Just the standard animals that you'd think of a zoo. Great for free!

(Translated by Google) It is an oasis in the city of Washington DC (Original) Es un oasis en la ciudad de Washington DC

The National zoo is the best. My families fav spot to go and enjoy the day

Very interesting, good social distance, and helpful staff, but way too many attractions closed!

Covid ruins everything

Was pleasantly surprised to find the zoo open during the pandemic. While it's necessary to buy tickets ahead of time and wear masks at all times, it's awesome to walk around the zoo with reduced visitor capacity.

Very cool zoo! Def go during the week tho, pretty crowded on weekends.

Great experience !

Perfectly safe to walk around during the pandemic but they're shutting it down anyway..

Love the zoo, although many exhibits were closed; reptile house, American Trail, Panda House, Rainforest, aviary. We did not see giraffes, hippos or rhinos and only saw one Asian bear (no Grizzlies, black bears, brown bears or polar bears.) Not sure if this is due to COVID or a limited animal population. Actually, as I think about it, I am able to name more animals we did NOT see than the ones we did. This would not be as much of an issue had we not paid $30 per car for parking and we had 2 cars. I love this zoo, but I am extremely disappointed.

Maybe it's because we went in November, but a lot of exhibits were closed. It was nice but, kinda meh.

The National Zoo is fantastic, but with the pandemic a lots of good attractions remain closed.

Hermoso lugar bueno para relajarse.

Loved the part of the zoo we could see, since so much was closed due to covid

I was so excited togo to the National Zoo and It is small, badly designed, expensive. The Omaha Zoo is 3 times bigger and so much better. Come on D.C. do better.

It’s free, but if you want to park in the actual zoo area it’s a bit pricey. But for a whole day of fun, and the price of what it would cost at a regular zoo the price isn’t bad. It was a beautiful place and the kids had a great time and experience!

Can't beat the price... Free

Easy to navigate

When I was alot younger the Zoo was the place to go however this last journey was kinda sad actually.... just watching and paying closer attention to the animals .

It was very busy!

Nice zoo, circumstance is also good. We spent quality time with animals.

Nice zoo with good informational displays, exhibits, and animals. Generally friendly staff. Being in DC, the food sold on the premesis generally costs you part of your liver or your left kidney. That said, if you're a smoker there's no smoking area anywhere near the zoo, and they'll ticket you even if you go all the way out in the back of the parking lot and smoke.

We signed up for the Sloth Experience, which enables you to touch and feed the sloths. Our guide Jill was very knowledgeable and gracious. She told us a great deal about sloths. The experience was a great time. I can't think of a time when I had laughed so much. Overall a great experience. Even though the zoo is closed for the winter, sloth experiences are still available. I highly recommend!

Awesome and unique hidden gem!! My friends surprised me with the Giraffe Experience for my birthday and it was totally a bucket list experience! Shout out to Amanda who was SO knowledgeable and friendly and definitely made our time that much better! She was great! Puzzles and Sudoku are my new best friends! The zoo itself was so interesting and an awesome mix of different animals!

Moved from Michigan to AZ 4 yrs ago; however I try to visit Indian Creek Zoo every time i return. Always fun to go with family and see the new additions. This past time i saw a bird species i've never known about while walking through the parakeet path. Every time it's a new experience, and I love how it's in a wooded area. Feels like a more natural experience than many other zoo's I been too. Highly recommend for both kids and the young at heart!

Wonderful small zoo. Great way to spend a few hours on a beautiful day. 🐖 🐫 🐐 🐆

Lots of varieties of animals. I loved being able to pet the giraffe and feed the deer. Very interactive. So much better than the Ft. Wayne zoo.

We did the sloth experience, it was great. We go to up close to three different sloths and fed them. We were also able to pet one of the sloylths on the head. It was limited to 4 people as the enclosure you go in is small, this was nice and we had ample time to spend petty and feeding them. Note: This is sadly not recommend to someone that is in a wheelchair.

Continuous improvement - bears and bison, paved walkways and pavilions, Bonkers is grown and Puzzles is getting tall. We suggest naming one of the zebras "Zippers." It keeps getting better.

Very very "COOL ZOO"....., very well laid out and very easy to navigate. Very kid friendly. We loved that you could feed most of the animals and you could get a lot closer to the animals than any other zoo weve visited. Well worth the admission to enter and well worth the time to visit all the exhibits. We will definitely be back to visit this secret gem !!!!

Such a fun day. We decided on an impromptu visit to take advantage if the gorgeous November day!! Will definitely be back!!

Wonderful staff and taking excellent care over animals who otherwise would not have had this second chance! Will visit again!

Nice little zoo!!

Nice little spot for toddlers to feed the animals.

Loved this place

nice family zoo. easy walking for the young ones.

Love this place!!!

Excellent interaction for kids and family friendly prices! Staff are welcoming and informative. Sloths, camels, giraffes, gators, bears, wolves, monkeys, beautiful birds......

This is a great place to take young kids. Not to much walking, and plenty of animals to feed.

The perfect social distanced fun time for families!

Great time!!

Overpriced Not impressed Many many exhibits were unoccupied Run down ... paper signs outside

This place is great!! It was a awsome way to spend a saturday with the family. So much interaction with the animals the kids loved it.

Great place to take your children. Lots of animal petting to do.

It's a quaint little zoo. I'm sure they could use a little funding or reinvestment. Maps at the entry would be awesome. They drew a huge crowd for Halloween craft weekend on Saturday, but Sunday got rained out.

Lots of expansion going! Cost is about the same as the Toledo Zoo so a little on the high side for me.

Lots of animals and not so crowded we had a great time

Cute little zoo, my kiddos loved it and they got to feed some animals.

Very nice not busy great for kids

It was just awesome.

Small but very nice.Would definitely go again

We had a fabulous time. The interaction with the animals made it a memorable experience.

Great place to take the family

Amazing zoo! Lots of fun and awesome animals!

Loved this zoo, they take in the animals that are either without there mother or someone that thought they could have a wild animal then couldn't take care of it or an animal that was hurt by someone. This place is beautiful.

I fell in love with a camel and a giraffe!❤

They updated ost of their displays and added much needed sidewalks great place for the whole family

Very kid friendly! Lovely staff.

(Translated by Google) Nice place, but you have to spend time to see everything. Recommended for any age. (Original) Lindo lugar, pero hay que dedicarle tiempo para verlo todo. Recomendable para cualquier edad.

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Simple AMAZING

Its been at least 5 years since I've been here but I remember it being really fun!!

(Translated by Google) I really liked this Zoo. Organized, clean, pleasant to walk. It was apparent that the animals were very well looked after. Admission is free and they have specimens from all continents of the globe, separated by thematic areas. I can say that I spent a very incredible afternoon. Even though I don't really like the idea behind a zoo. (Original) Eu gostei muito deste Zoológico. Organizado, limpo, agradável para caminhar. Era visível que os animais eram muito bem cuidados. Sua entrada é gratuita e têm espécimes de todos os continentes do Globo Terrestre, separados por áreas temáticas. Posso dizer que passei uma tarde muito incrível. Mesmo não gostando muito da ideia por trás de um Zoológico.

Love this zoo

Excellent zoo free to the public. Entry passes must be obtained online first. One of the few zoos in the US to have giant pandas including a 1-year old juvenile. The zoo also has a wonderful Asian elephant habitat and a large habitat for western lowland gorillas and Sumatran-Bornean hybrid orangutans. The zoo is on a hill so expect some walking. Some concessions were closed during the week. Signage could be improved in a few areas. Close to Metro stop and easy busy ride up Connecticut Ave if you choose not to walk

The zoo was a great experience as usual. We picked a great day to go. It will just be nice when everything is completely open again. We did see great sights. Differences every time we go.

The zoo is always a fun time with family and friends. I went solo and really enjoyed myself. Indulged a little but why not, it’s a free exhibit so buying stuff helps them out. The more intelligent animals seem a little sad and bored. They are usually in solitude so that makes me a little depressed when I see it. The staff is friendly and helpful. Lots of walking and don’t go when they first open because the animals are not out of their cages until an hour after opening.

Super fun zoo! Free unless you need to park (which is super limited so plan ahead)! Loved the pandas! There are lots of great animals and exhibits! There are misting stations to help stay cool and several vendors for treats and food. They do allow you to bring in outside food and drink so that’s awesome for parents of kiddos.

Great zoo, and was free to get in. We loved the large cat, great ape, and panda exhibits. A lot of great exhibits to see. There were misting machines scattered around the walkways, which was a nice feature on a warm day. Worth the visit.

This zoo is a wonderful place to visit beautiful animals. I recommend taking a trip to the zoo especially if you have kids that love animals. We didn't get the parking ticket for the zoo's parking so finding parking was a bit of a nightmare but other than that it was pretty great.

The zoo was awesome to visit but I just didn’t have enough time to see it all. Parking lot C though was not exactly my funnest area to park, especially with a stroller and granddaughter. You have to be go upstairs to the zoo entrance. So next time will not park in lot C. But I loved the cheetahs and pandas.

The zoo is huge with lots to see. You’ll probably spend more time than you think. Went around 1030 and a lot of the animals were sleeping, but still fun to see animals I’ve never seen before! I would definitely go back. Prepare for lots of walking as well.

First let me say I love the zoo! We went and of course we are in the times of Covid so we had to have passes. When we got there I was overwhelmed by the actual number of people there. It was still too many people regardless of the fact we were outside. People didn’t stay 6 feet away as they should have. The number of passes needs to be reduced to like half!! I think it will make for a more enjoyable experience.

A nice Zoo with free admission. You have to get admission tickets online at no cost. Parking on side roads - free on weekends. Parking at the zoo costs $30 - a little steep. You will have a nice time - Lions, Tigers, Panda, Elephants and all. Enjoy.

Highly recommend this place weather your a local or visiting from out of state, with or with out kids. This zoo is very well kept and all the animals look happy and healthy. Saw a few of the zoo handlers and they really seem to love their job.

It's an OK zoo. They have a decent size of different types of animals. Although the cooler animals like the lions, tigers, cheetahs were all nowhere to be found. Hopefully one day they bring some in.

There was not too much to, but just enough that you were not exhausted. A good amount to see for the kids without overdoing it. Good advice is to follow the trail stopping and things on the way down and if you miss anything, do that on the way up so not to cure yourself tired.

We really enjoyed our trips to the National Zoo. The baby panda is the single cutest thing I have ever seen in a zoo in my 47 years. I really appreciated the way the exhibits are set up to give you multiple angles and perspectives on the animals while also giving the animals plenty of room to move around.

This is a well maintained zoo with a wide-variety of animals. 🐅 The greenery and flora is mature and provides ample shade on a sunny day. 🌳 It was difficult to find the Amazonian exhibit. However, once we asked an employee, we were pointed in the right direction. 🧭 This zoo is 125 years old, and during our visit many areas were under refurbishment. 🛠️ We splurged on a pretzel which was moderately priced. 🥨 The bird feather attached was free of charge. It is a zoo so I wasn't too surprised 🪶

This zoo is very extensive. I really enjoyed how many different animals they have. They also had a petting zoo, a mary-go-round, a playground and tons of places to eat. We barely got through half. We will go again. Definitely get the parking pass.

WOW! This is the best word I can use to describe this amazing Zoo! First things first Pay for the Parking in Advance, save yourself the headache of trying to find parking and just fork over the 30.00 for your entire car full of people online. If you pre-buy you are guaranteed a spot and its a short walk from the lot to the entrance. Once you arrive Immediately scan any of the pandas located around the zoo and book a time to see the Pandas. This was one of the highlights of our entire trip they are absolutely adorable. The amazing part is the huge enclosures they have and the fact you can go behind the scenes and see them up close and personal. We happened to arrive just as they were bringing the young pandas and the mother into the back enclosure. We got to see them both eat treats and interact right in front of the small plexiglass wall. The rest of the zoo just gets better from the amazing Elephant exhibits to the HUGE reptile house and the unique mole exhibit this zoo has everything. All the animals were alert and seemed happy. My one and only critique was the lack of zookeepers/docents if you had any questions regarding any of the animals, with a free zoo I can see how it might be a challenge to have them available. Overall we really enjoyed the zoo and all it had to offer, its a must see while in Washington DC Area.

Great way to spend some free time. Free access if you're walking. Kinda costly to park BUT majority of parkers are subscribed to Friends Of The National Zoo so if you go a couple of times a year, it's worth it. Maybe I wasn't looking hard enough but there's not enough food choices.... unless you leave the zoo and patronize the restaurants along Connecticut. I haven't been to the zoo for several years.... so it was nice to see the Asia Trail all done and 'established'. Check their website for 'tickets' before you go! You can print or download onto your phone. Easy peasy! Majority of patrons masked up 👍🏻

It was wonderful. We have a lovely time spend here in zoo and the staff were friendly and helpful, masked. Masks indoors, but most of the zoo is outdoors, and they weren't too crowded. There were food places open, and it was a pretty and cool shaded walk during the day we went, except for the savanna portion, which was of course, hot. We had a first rate experience with plenty of nice encounters with the animals who looked healthy and in nice facsimile habitats. I had forgotten the magic of the zoo and the wonderful creatures.

Decent size zoo. Be prepared to walk up hills. They have a large open area where some people were having picnics and playing catch. Little food options with little seating. You can bring your own food and drink in. Gift shop prices are about average with any zoo/museum/theme park (pricey). Bathrooms are spread out, and they do not offer a breastfeeding room like some places do. Parking is $30 and you have to do a reservation before you get to the zoo. If you have a stroller or wheel chair DO NOT park on parking lot C. The entrance from this parking lot is not stroller/ADA friendly. Definitely expected a little more out of the Smithsonian.

Really nice Zoo! The pandas are the main attraction of course. Food and drinks are rather expensive, so better come prepared. But otherwise this Zoo is a very nice way to spend some time. If you have the time, and the other Smithsonian seem not to be very attractive to you, the Zoo is the way to go.

Visited on a rainy day. Make sure to pack rainboots if rain is in the forecast. If not sneakers/walking shoes are a must. The entire park is on a hill, so leave time to walk between enclosures. No wait at any of the indoor houses because of the rain. If you are driving, parking does cost $30 and is limited. Great exhibits, staff was knowledge about the animals. Many places for photos. Panda enclosure is next level.

Love the zoo! New trails. Covid safe. Get tickets to enter

Seems like a lot of animal vacancy. But I'm sure all zoos hv been struggling due to the pandemic. I did get to see the pandas. They look wonderful.

This is the best zoo I've ever visited. The animals had larger enclosures than I usually see, and I was impressed with the amount of enrichment activities they have for their animals. It was great to see such well-cared-for animals.

The zoo is great and free. They have pandas, which is rare in zoos. You can just walk in just need a free e ticket. They have tons of exhibits and its a fun time

Visited the Smithsonian Zoo for the very first time last week. It was a gorgeous day. I had been planning to visit the Giant Pandas for a long time. They did not disappoint! Beautiful bears with personality!

Free zoo. We went on a weekday around 10am, a little calmer. Ape house is close likely due to covid prevention. More of a park than zoo but overall a nice area to spend an hour or two.

I wish this zoo was more organized telling visitors when animals will be on display, unfortunately they do not and the one animal you came to visit may not be available for viewing. The place is huge and it is easy to miss what ever it is that you are here to see. There could be more organization here but there isn't. At this time entry needs to be reserved and parking is $30. all in all, I would still visit this place as they have a wide array of animals and free entry.

Great day trip for the whole family! I spend the day walking around the zoo as one does. There is lots to do and lots to see here. Give yourself about 2.5 hours to soak in everything the park has to offer while you're here.

Part of the Smithsonian Institute system, the zoo offers free entry to patrons. The only requirement is to reserve your free entry pass online and bring the printout with you. This zoo has a lot to offer. If visiting in the winter months, you may find that some (quite a few) animals are removed from display until the weather warms up. Still, there is a lot to do and see the. I've been to many zoos, and still found a few creatures here that I haven't seen anywhere else. Plan at least 4-5 hours plus any breaks to briefly see everything. Also, several food places inside are closed, making food selection a bit limited.

Amazing zoo, plan to spend 3-4 hours there to see all the exhibits. An excellent mix of indoor and outdoor exhibits with great interactive trivia facts. My highlights were the clouded leopards and the panda bear cub, but all of it was awesome. The fact that the zoo is free is an extra plus as well. I also appreciated the mask requirements and how safe everything felt during covid. Fun place to visit with family and friends, no matter the age group. Everyone can learn something new!

Always a wonderful experience visiting the zoo. I've been coming since I was a young child and this place has never lost its magic. It's clear that the employees truly care for the animals.

We went during the week first thing in the morning, and there was barely anyone there. We got to see so many animals since they were all awake. As of Dec 2021, tickets are required to enter, can be reserved on their website. However, they’re free and not timed entry. We came by bus, easy to get to. Nice variety of animals, loved seeing the red pandas. Clean bathrooms. Great for families. Wheelchair accessible. We saw everything in about 2 hours. Really enjoyed the Amazon exhibit and the small animals exhibit.

Nice & clean habitat for all the critters. Wish they had a giraffe. Will return. It was fun watching the seals! Entry to the Zoo is Free. U just pay for parking which was extremely reasonable & close to tge entrances.

It was not a very big Zoo. But it’s a good one for half a day outing with kids. Open space and a good time to spend with kids. Many of the enclosure were closed.

For more travel blogging and adventures, check out my website at: lindseyoneal.com - The Smithsonian Zoo was fantastic! We went on a weekday during Thanksgiving holiday and unfortunately the weather was cold. We still got to see a lot of animals though! The trees were lovely and it wasn't busy. We got coffee at the Zoo restaurant/cafe and at first it was cold, but the staff politely made another pot of coffee for a few people. I would highly recommend going in the spring when the elephants and Asian animals are out. Lovely time for the kids and for romantic walks (or both!) Would highly recommend. Also you can get to the Zoo via metro. It was not a bad walk. You do need tickets to enter, but they are free and easy to get from their website.

We made reservations the first week of March but were not asked to provide any name or confirmation upon entering. Parking is flat rate for the day in adjoining lots. The zoo itself is pretty large and walking friendly. There are kiosks selling typical zoo food like pizza. The animals include elephants, a farm animal area, aquatic animals, bears, felines, primates, the beloved pandas and more. We really enjoyed the reptile building that houses everything from snakes and lizards to a giant dinosaur looking turtle. This is a great zoo for tourists and locals and of course it is Free to the public. Note there are lots of gradients/inclines along the zoo property. A total of 4 hours reccomended to enjoy every room and exhibits.

The zoo is beautifully maintained and the animals were happy and healthy, it’s such a beautiful place to go and the work they are doing to preserve and protect these animals is admirable. Only downside is it’s difficult to navigate. If you struggle with any mobility issues definitely rent a motorized wheelchair.

Great experience, had lots of restrooms and resting places so you don't have to worry about finding one. All bathrooms were all really clean. Saw variety pf animals and not too crowded and the habitats expanded pretty big and some had upper and lower level. It's also free entrance if you do not need to park in their garage. Recommend for people of all ages.

What an amazing visit! The animals were engaging and beautiful! Staff was polite and helpful. Would absolutely recommend and we'll be back for sure!

Very well maintained and upgraded. Recently reopened so animals are still adjusting to increased human presence. Please be considerate. Reserved parking is pricey ($30/per vehicle)! Consider options.

I love love love this zoo. I had the greatest experience being here. Get there early and wear your most comfortable shoes. Lots of walking. It cost 30 dollars to park your car inside. Make sure you reserve your ticket. Don’t forget to do that. I drove all the way to this zoo because this is the only place close to me that have PANDAS!!!! Yes pandas. Any panda lovers I recommend taking the drive to go see them in person. Everything is section out nicely. We ate the bbq food at the food center and it was really good. Try to get food at a decent time because their food runs out. Highly recommend this zoo. Take your family and kids !!!!

THE BEST!!! Simply the BEST zoo we've ever seen. With so many people there everyday it is still well maintained and super clean. We went there during our visit to DC and would love to go back. My daughter even saif that this is the zoo she wants to work in in the future. (11 year old animal lover) Plenty of stuff to see in an organized and clean environment. Make sure you get the tickets in advance.Amazing experience for sure. 5 stars do it iljustice.

Its nice to finally see where my tax dollars are going! Its a beautiful zoo with a wonderful walking layout that will keep you busy for a few hours. The enclosures are big and spacious for the cute fluffs and non-fluffy animals, though if I compared it to other zoozs, it wouldn't beat Taiwan Zoo for enclosure space and quality. All the staff seemed attentive and hard working. The place is very clean and the food is well, junk food as always, so nothing gourmet about it. It is easy to get around thr zoo and there enough maps to look at. Its a good walk for sure and great exercise. I was able to get many shots of the animals, but it seems like they all rather show me their rear then pose... I think goat in a bucket on a bridge was the highlighy of the visit Beautiful zoo~

Very nice zoo with a variety of local and exotic animals! Highly recommend to reserve your passes in advance. Plenty of food options within the park. Be prepared to spend an entire day if you plan to visit all the exhibits and attractions.

It's a free zoo! They're doing great conservation work, and there's always something cool to see there. The educational signs make this an easy-to-justify educational field trip. I enjoyed checking out all the info on their Panda breeding program, their Asian elephants, and their variety of antelope species. Right now there's baby lesser kudu and a 1yr old baby panda, but the cool things when you go might be different.

I could not come to DC and not go to the zoo! I was so excited to see PANDAS 🐼 in real life! And the other animals too. :D It's a big zoo so be prepared to walk a lot! Go early when there is less people!

Excellent zoo and the best part its free! Wide pathways and the best animals to see. The pandas were the best. If you go early it is not crowded at all. Many restrooms and snacks throughout entire zoo. Our favorite were the pandas and the bears. We will definitely be back! The maps are posted but not handed out so print a copy if you want before you go.

There are many animals living in this zoo. Panda is one of the many highlights. Most of the walking path is covered by trees to avoid direct sunshine. There are many chairs and tables to allow visitors to rest or catch a bite. It's clean and orderly. The animals all look healthy and happy. We were lucky to run into some feeding times. It's amazing to see animals' food and how they eat. Due to advance, online ticket reservations, it's not crowded and parking is not a problem. It's a family friendly place to visit. I highly recommend it for any ages.😃

This Zoo post was added to bash the zoo. The real listing has over 30,000 reviews and 4+ ratings. Take your panda comments back home haters.

Give Pandas more food and if cannot, return them back to China. Being humanality for all of animals in the zoo. # saveMeixiangfamily #saveMeixiang #saveTiantian #saveXaoQiJi

Superb experience. Well maintained zoo in the middle of the city. Can be completed in 4 hours. Will definitely visit again. Book paid parking in advance if you plan to visit. Visitor tickets are free but need to be booked.

Great zoo with ample parking. Entry tickets and parking is free if you book the tickets beforehand. Seeing panda for the first time was a nice experience. Reptile and mammal center was good too. I liked the Think Tank the best. Recommended!!

The Smithsonian National Zoological Park is a fantastic destination for families seeking an educational and enjoyable outing. The park offers a plethora of learning opportunities, allowing visitors to discover fascinating facts about a wide array of animals. As you explore the park on foot, you'll be immersed in a rich tapestry of history and nature, creating a truly unique and enriching experience. The park's pleasant environment provides a refreshing escape from the bustling city, with well-maintained grounds and lush greenery. The sprawling location of the Smithsonian National Zoological Park adds to its allure, offering ample space for both animals and visitors to roam freely. Whether you're seeking to entertain children or indulge in your own curiosity, this zoo has something for everyone. The blend of educational exhibits and interactive displays ensures that learning becomes an engaging and memorable adventure. From observing exotic species up close to attending informative presentations, there's no shortage of captivating experiences to be had. In summary, the Smithsonian National Zoological Park is a family-friendly destination that seamlessly combines learning, walking, history, and a nice environment. Its great location and diverse range of exhibits make it a must-visit for both locals and tourists, promising a day filled with exploration, discovery, and appreciation for the natural world.

Lovely Zoo but dint underestimate the size. Takes about 6hrs and around 15-20K steps to complete. The pandas are top attraction so try and get it done with quick. You may ask how, start early. Be there by 9am and you’ll go thru a breeze before the sun starts hurting you and people start slowing you. pro tip: allow kids to enjoy the mist and pack snacks for them. Try and carry a pram if they’re not used to walking.

Not the best zoo out there, but its great activity if you are in DC with kids. It's free, but they require prior online registration. Needs atleast 4 hours. Pros - Free Entry - Lots of animals - Good live exhibits - Stroller available for rent Cons - Expensive parking - Need to return rented stroller to visitor center at entrance, so you have to walk all the way back. - Built in a line instead of circle. If you need to come back for a live exhibit, you have to walk all the way back - not enough water fountains I liked NC Zoo and Atlanta zoo more than this one.

We absolutely loved the zoo! You could spend a whole day here going through all of the exhibits. The only thing that could have been better was if the birdhouse was open. This is the second time this year we have visited that the birdhouse was closed to visitors.

Let the Meixiang panda family eat, stop starving, and get medical care #SaveMEIXIANGFAMILY #SaveXIAOQIJI #SaveTIANTIAN #Panda #GấuTrúcTrởVề #GấuTrúcTrởVề #xiaoqiji #vềnhà

Went to the zoo today to spend the day with family. We had hoped to see the special panda celebration, which was scheduled to be between 9-10. We got there at 930 and it was over. Despite that we still enjoyed the day. I would recommend bringing your own food and drinks as the prices were outrageous. I’m assuming it’s the way they recoup the cost of the zoo being free, but I can’t justify spending 2.75 on a soda can or 9.50 on a slice of pizza.

Black-hearted Zoo, did not treat the panda ” Mei Xiang Family“ well

One of the greatest zoo's I've been to. Nice and clean. A lot to see. Very informative and helpful staff. There knowledge about the animals is above and beyond. Totally worth a visit when in the D.C. area. Be there early, because it gets crowded.

Why you guys treat the Panda family so bad?? Why you let little miracle kneel to beg for food??? Give them more food and toys please! It’s so sad to see these videos of little miracle begging for more care. Such a disappointment !

Wonderful zoo! Yes, things are more pricey here, but admission is free, so if you walked and brought your own food, it's completely free. Expect to pay more for the convenience of eating and parking at the zoo. Of course the pandas are cute! We were told they are going back to China in December, so if you're debating going, now is the time! The bird shows the zoo has are very entertaining and educational as well. Clean facilities. Plenty of places to sit.

This zoo is a great place to have a beautiful walk and see some animals. It may not be a world class facility but it’s fun and free so overall I’d highly recommend. The new bird facility is a good addition and the panda area and big cat areas are fun. Their ticketing and parking system is abysmally bad - the parking especially has always been problematic. But the landscapes are beautiful and it’s a nice way to spend an afternoon.

Great zoo Free- only pay $30 to park Great environment for kids and family This was the first time I had seen a panda, great habitat. Lots of walking, the exhibits are well spread out around a very scenic setting Snack and food options everywhere Small water areas for the kiddos that need to cool down Great experience

brilliant zoo and a must-see (especially if you have kids)! easy to walk around, well signed, lots of indoor exhibits too with air con which was much appreciated on a hot day. we managed to catch the bird meet and greet as well which was v informative (check the website for events) and we were allowed to stroke one of the owls. overall highlights were the pandas and elephants!

This was pretty good. We wanted to see the Panda 🐼 before it goes back to China in December, and we got real lucky! GO AS EARLY AS YOU CAN. Most of the animals will be livelier then, and you'll get a much better experience. We got to see the 🐼 eat right in front of us! Sooo cute. Also the Elephants and monkeys were great too. Food is $$$ so if you can avoid it, do so. Also, it was HOT 🥵, we had to buy multiple waters and ice cream just to keep going, so if you can bring water and be prepared, also do so. There is a lot of walking, and not much cover from the sun. But still a great zoo! Would go back in future. I had great moments with multiple animals that will live long in the memory

We were very impressed with the zoo. Every animal enclosure was extremely clean, and there were very little signs of wear from the animals pacing. The online entry was easy to get. We ubered here and drop off, AND pickup is best from the front of the zoo.

Be sure to buy parking in advance via the zoo website and don't bother showing up until 8AM. No area to queue up. Great mix of animals. It is super hilly so just remember what goes down must come back up!

It’s a pretty good zoo! Some things to note are that you need to reserve free passes online ahead of time. You can purchase a parking pass but they sell out quickly. Street parking is free in the neighborhood but can be hard to find on weekends. The zoo also has longer summer hours so be sure to check. The fall/winter hours means the zoo closes at 4 pm.

This is a very beautiful setting which is well landscaped. We enjoyed seeing a lot of animals, but unfortunately did not get to see the pandas and many others. It then started raining so our visit was cut short. I used to live nearby 40 years ago and have seen the pandas in the past. They are so darn cute.

LOVE, love this Zoo. Really amazing 'Free' day out. Of course there are many fun purchases to be made there to support it. Great Layout and even on busy days we haven't felt crowded. We go as often as we can and have a different awesome experience each time. If you haven't ever been or it's been a while -- GO!! See the Pandas before they are sent back to China. That alone is worth a trip. You might catch the Orangutans up high on the o-line which is a real treat. So much information about the animals and conservation efforts - Really incredible place.

Absolutely UNBELIEVABLE that this place is free. Truly incredible, I've gone back twice. A MUST SEE in Washington. Possibly my favourite thing I did in a whole month in the city! Advice: -Bring a refillable water bottle, there are lots of fill stations -Pack snacks. There are lots of places to eat, some with moderate prices, but you'll want to spend a whole day there. -Arrive early. Lots of animals take little breaks after lunch, taking naps or going inside where you can't see them. -Go on a weekday, if you possibly can. Weekends are bananas busy. -The elephants (Pachyderm plaza) and the orangutans (Great Ape House) are not to be missed. Definitely try and stop at those buildings! -The Small Mammal House is also surprisingly great, with a huge amount of creatures and lots of variety. -There are some benches, but not huge amounts, so if accessibility is a concern, just be aware of that. It's all very accessible, but if you need lots of rest stops, make sure you take advantage of them when they come along. -There are no hippos, no giraffes, no rhinos, and no pandas (as of Dec 7, 2023). If those are your dream animals, make sure to manage expectations!

Great visit! The exhibits are very well laid out so you can see everything without too much back and forth. My suggestion is to start at the bottom and move up. Then when you are tired you just have to walk downhill to your car instead of up. I suggest at least 4 hours to see everything.

Always a treat to see so many amazing animals in one place. Zoo is easy to get to via metro or parking ($30 per car) and typically not very crowded during the week. If you are visiting over a weekend or around a holiday, make sure you reserve your passes and parking well in advance. Knowledgable staff and clean habitats.

Great zoo to visit with kids or without. Lots of animals to see. There are plenty of places to get snacks, restrooms, and gift shops all around the zoo. Also had a carousel and a train for rides, but both closed early due to us going during the Boo at the Zoo event. Will bring the kids back another time when it's not an event night. In between two metro stops and a short walk to get to the zoo entrance. There is no need to drive, but plenty of lots are available if you want to reserve a parking spot.

This was my first visit and I was very impressed. Had a free day in DC and the weather was gorgeous and it's free so why not visit the zoo?? I was able to see the pandas before they return to China. Zoo was very clean. I had walked to zoo from my hotel and I had a little difficulty finding the exit to Connecticut Ave after several loops around the zoo during the day. Other than that, no complaints.

We parked down the street, we knew we were only spending two hours, there is also parking on site and metered parking. Iconic residents are the giant pandas, but the zoo also has birds, great apes, big cats, Asian elephants, insects, amphibians, reptiles, aquatic animals, small mammals and many more. We loved seeing the big cats, pandas, bears, elephants and otters. They were closing a bit early due to Halloween (they close a few nights early for Halloween parties) and they are closed on Christmas. It is free admission but you need to make a reservation. They do have a few places to eat/drink/get a snack but we had breakfast before we went. The line at one snack bar looked a bit long so perhaps bring a snack if you have cranky kids. It was a lovely time, we have been before, if you have not plan to spend most of the day. Have fun!!!!

Loved the zoo... It's very big and has a lot of animals along the vast landscape. It has pandas, rwd pandas, elephants, squirrels, ostriches, zebras, and all kinds of birds. The reservation is quite simple and free of charge. The place is very very very, well maintained and clean. The signs are also super informative explaining each animal and their species and where they live ...etc

It's free to enter, there's food and gift stands available in lots of areas. A lot of walking is included and some of it is on an incline so just be aware of that. It took a while to go through it and if you look at everything it takes about 2-4 hours depending on how fast you walk.

I'm from San Diego and we have the best zoo. So when I say this Zoo is amazing it truly is. It's a pretty decent size and it will take you around 2-4hrs to see everything. They have so much to offer plus it's free!!!!! You only have to PAY for parking. Which I think it's $30. But still worth it as the park is free. They have a few pandas that were really active which was so amazing to see!

Great zoo! Free to enter, not too busy on a Saturday in November. If you do go, make sure to reserve parking in the parking lot. We didn’t and got stuck trying to find street parking for 30-45 mins. Closest parking garage is a hike. Once there, had a great time.

LOVE IT!!! One of the highlights of my Washington DC trip was this zoo! The Amazonia area was very cool, so was the reptile area, the statues are VERY cool and this is a large spacious place, with animals ranging from snakes and poison dart frogs to lions and tigers and porcupines! Tons of photos below, plus a VERY pretty green boa!

Beautiful place. I saw a lot of new species new for me. Clean and organized. Kids love it. It is big, you should go early to see all, they close at 4pm. Free entrance, just scan code in entrance and check ✔️. You can enter food and drink, always save for animals.

My January visit to the Smithsonian National Zoological Park revealed a limited presence of large animals, likely influenced by the cold winter conditions. The park's overall maintenance left room for improvement, but the standout was undeniably the captivating reptile section. Despite some seasonal challenges and maintenance considerations, the Smithsonian National Zoological Park remains a compelling destination, particularly for those intrigued by the diverse world of reptiles.

Had a great time. The animals are spread not so far out from each other so you're almost always seeing something while you walk. Unfortunately the pandas are gone so do be aware of that. General admission is free but you should pay for a parking pass before coming in if you're going here by car. Great weekend trip to waste a solid 3 hours.

Great experience reliving a memory from my childhood! My family and I had a great time and created beautiful memories that'll last a lifetime. Lots and lots of ground to cover; so dress comfortably. The Zoo was very clean and organized too! Nice options for food and snacks are available as well. The staff was very friendly & helpful throughout the entire park and we wouldn't trade this experience for anything. Well done Smithsonian 🩷

They have well managed trails to walk. Collection of species and you can see panda as well. Mostly crowded in weekend but not much during weekdays. You are allowed to take your own food and have a small family picnic. Entry is free however you have to register at their official website.

We visited the Zoo Light for the first time and it's was so beautiful! So many beautiful displays. The carousel was available and so much fun with the employee hyping up the kids to scream. Lol plenty of food options and gift shops were open. They sold Xmas light up necklaces for $2.00.