A year-round membership is a terrific value and is also tax deductible*!
When you present your Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden membership card, you will receive 50% off admission to the following zoos and aquariums:
Alabama – Birmingham Zoo
Alaska - Alaska SeaLife Center
Arizona – Phoenix Zoo, Reid Park Zoo
Arkansas – Little Rock Zoo
California – Aquarium of the Bay, Cabrillo Marine Aquarium*, Charles Paddock Zoo, CuriOdyssey, Fresno Chaffee Zoo, Happy Hallow Zoo , Los Angeles Zoo, Oakland Zoo, Sacramento Zoo, San Francisco Zoo, Santa Ana Zoo, Santa Barbara Zoo, Sequoia Park Zoo, The Living Desert
CANADA – Granby Zoo
Colorado – Pueblo Zoo
Connecticut – Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo
Delaware – Brandywine Zoo
District of Columbia – Smithsonian National Zoological Park*
Florida – Brevard Zoo, Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens, Florida Aquarium, Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens, Lemur Conservation Foundation, Mote Marine Aquarium, Palm Beach Zoo, Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo, Zoo Miami
Georgia – Chehaw Wild Animal Park, Zoo Atlanta
Idaho - Tautphaus Park Zoo, Zoo Boise
Illinois – Cosley Zoo, Henson Robinson Zoo, Lincoln Park Zoo*, Miller Park Zoo, Peoria Zoo, Scovill Zoo
Indiana – Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo, Mesker Park Zoo & Botanic Garden, Potawatomi Zoo
Iowa – Blank Park Zoo, Nat’l Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium
Kansas – David Traylor Zoo of Emporia*, Hutchinson Zoo*, Lee Richardson Zoo*, Rolling Hills Wildlife Adventure, Sedgwick County Zoo, Sunset Zoo, Topeka Zoological Park
Kentucky – Louisville Zoological Garden
Louisiana – Alexandria Zoological Park, BREC’s Baton Rouge Zoo
Maryland – The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore, Salisbury Zoo*
Massachusetts – Boston Museum of Science, Buttonwood Park Zoo, Capron Park Zoo, Franklin Park Zoo, Stone Zoo
MEXICO – Parque Zoologico de Leon
Michigan – Binder Park Zoo, Detroit Zoological Society, John Ball Zoological Garden, Potter Park Zoo Society, The Children’s Zoo at Celebration Square
Minnesota - Como Zoo*, Lake Superior Zoo, Minnesota Zoo
Mississippi – Jackson Zoological Society
Missouri – Dickerson Park Zoo, Kansas City Zoo, Saint Louis Zoo*, Endangered Wolf Center
Nebraska – Lincoln Children’s Zoo, Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo, Riverside Zoo
New Hampshire - Squam Lakes Natural Science Center
New Jersey – Bergen County Zoo, Cape May County Zoological Society*, Turtle Back Zoo
New Mexico – Alameda Park Zoo, Albuquerque BioPark, Living Desert Zoo & Gardens State Park
New York – Binghamton Zoo at Ross Park, Buffalo Zoo, Rosamond Gifford Zoo at Burnet Park, Seneca Park Zoo, Staten Island Zoo, Trevor Zoo
North Carolina – Natural Science Center of Greensboro, North Carolina Aquarium at Roanoke Island, North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores, North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher, North Carolina Zoological Park, Western North Carolina Nature Center
North Dakota – Chahinkapa Zoo, Dakota Zoo, Red River Zoo, Roosevelt Park Zoo
Ohio – African Safari Wildlife Park, Akron Zoological Park, Boonshoft Museum of Discovery, Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, Columbus Zoo & Aquarium, Toledo Zoo, the Wilds
Oklahoma – Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden, Tulsa Zoo & Living Museum
Oregon - Oregon Zoo, Wildlife Safari
Pennsylvania – Elmwood Park Zoo, Erie Zoological Society, Lehigh Valley Zoo, National Aviary, Philadelphia Zoo, Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium, ZOOAMERICA North American Wildlife Park
Rhode Island – Roger Williams Park Zoo
South Carolina – Greenville Zoo, Riverbanks Zoo & Garden
South Dakota – Bramble Park Zoo, Great Plains Zoo & Delbridge Museum
Tennessee – Chattanooga Zoo at Warner Park, Knoxville Zoo, Memphis Zoo, Nashville Zoo
Texas – Abilene Zoo, Caldwell Zoo, Cameron Park Zoo, Dallas Zoo, Ellen Trout Zoo, El Paso Zoo, Gladys Porter Zoo, Houston Zoo, San Antonio Zoo and Aquarium, Texas State Aquarium
Utah – Tracy Aviary, Utah’s Hogle Zoo
Virginia – Mill Mountain Zoo, Virginia Zoo
Washington - Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium, Woodland Park Zoo
West Virginia – Oglebay’s Good Zoo
Wisconsin – Henry Vilas Zoo*, International Crane Foundation, Milwaukee County Zoological Gardens, NEW Zoo, Racine Zoological Gardens
*Denotes FREE admission – some restrictions may apply
This list is subject to change without notice. The Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden is not responsible for admission fees paid at reciprocal zoos as a result of unexpected changes in reciprocity agreements or other restrictions. Some organizations offer reciprocity to a limited number of individuals per visit, regardless of how many are covered by your Cincinnati Zoo membership. Parking and guest privileges generally do not reciprocate. We recommend you contact the zoos on this list prior to your visit to confirm the current reciprocity status and any restrictions.
Updated March 10, 2014
Q: Is my membership tax deductible?
A: According to IRS Document 526, the deductible amount of your membership is the amount of payment greater than $75. If you paid less than $75, the entire amount is considered deductible. Please consult a tax advisor for additional information.
Q: How can I contact the membership department?
A: The membership office is open daily, 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. and you may call (513) 559-7713 or e-mail us at membership@cincinnatizoo.org. Please allow up to 48 hours for a response.
Q: How do I join the Zoo?
A: There are four basic ways to join:
Q: After I buy my membership, when will it expire?
A: All memberships expire the last day of the month they are purchased in, the following year – so you and your family will have at least 12 months to enjoy the Zoo year-round.
Q: If I have FREE parking included in my membership, where do I park?
A: Parking is limited to one vehicle per membership, per day. If you have a Premium or Gold membership, you may park in any open Zoo parking lot free of charge. Due to limited availability, parking is first-come, first-served and is not guaranteed on high volume days.
Q: Does my membership include guest passes?
A: All membership categories include three half-price guest passes good for one visit each. Guest passes are delivered with your membership cards and are not replaceable if lost or stolen.
Q: How many children can I include on my membership?
A: Family and Single Parent Family memberships allow up to eight children/grandchildren age 18 and under. Please consider a Keeper Circle membership if you would like to cover more than eight children/grandchildren.
Q: Can I include my grandchildren on my membership?
A: A Single Parent or Family level membership may include all grandchildren age 18 and under (some restrictions apply).
Q: Can I use my membership for Festival of Lights?
A: Zoo memberships are valid for all seasonal events, such as Zoo Blooms, Zoo Babies, HallZOOween, and PNC Festival of Lights.
Q: When do I receive my membership card and will you take my picture?
A: If you join the Zoo on-line, through the mail, or over the phone, you will receive your membership cards through the mail in 7-10 days (depending on volume). All on-line orders receive a temporary pass that can be used right away. If you join during your visit to the Zoo, you will receive your cards that day. You will not have to have your picture taken for your membership, but all named adult members must present a photo ID each visit with your membership card.
Q: What if I don’t have my cards yet but want to visit the Zoo anyway?
A: No problem! Just stop in Member Services and we can issue you a one-day pass. You may then take your one-day pass and photo ID to the turnstiles for entry. If you enter the Zoo on Dury Ave., the admissions staff can access and validate your membership status if you present your photo ID.
Q: How do I replace a lost or damaged card?
A: There is a $7.00 fee for lost or damaged membership cards. Please contact the membership office to pay by phone or visit Member Services on your next visit to replace your cards.
Q: Can I use my membership for admission to other zoos?
A: You can use your Cincinnati Zoo membership to receive FREE or discounted admission to over 100 other zoos and aquariums nationwide. Some popular organizations that are NOT on that list, however, include San Diego Zoo, Bronx Zoo, Indianapolis Zoo, and Newport Aquarium. You can view the most current list here. We strongly recommend you contact the zoo or aquarium you want to visit prior to your trip as the reciprocal list is subject to change without notice.
Q: Can I lend my membership card to a friend or family member to use?
A: No. Memberships are non-transferable and non-refundable. All sales are final.
Q: Why do I have to show a photo ID each time I visit?
A: As a non-profit organization that relies heavily on membership and attendance for support, we must prevent misuse of our membership cards. We also want to protect our members should their cards be lost or stolen. We try hard to keep our membership prices affordable for as many families as possible. If families and neighbors shared memberships, our revenue would be severely reduced and we would have little choice but to raise our prices.
Q: I’ve already renewed my membership but I continue to get renewal notices in the mail. Should I be concerned that you did not receive my renewal?
A: If you have recently renewed your membership, please disregard any renewal notices that follow. Although we work to process renewals as quickly as possible, there is a chance that you may receive another notice before your payment and renewal is processed and entered into our system. If you have any additional questions about your renewal or if it has been over a month since you renewed, please call our membership office for more information.
Q: If I want to join the Zoo on the day of my visit, can I use my admission toward the cost of the membership?
A: Yes, a portion or all of your admission and parking fees may be deducted from the cost of your membership on the day of your visit only. We cannot accept receipts for previous visits. Please note, the following are not applicable toward the purchase of a membership at any level: Individual ride tickets, 4D Theater tickets, All-Day Ride Passes, Total Experience, Rides Package, or Zoo Value Pass tickets (admission portion is applicable), Group Sales events and consignment tickets. Additional restrictions may apply.
If you do not see your question here, please call the membership office or e-mail us at memberships@cincinnatizoo.org.
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Purchase Options: New MembershipRenewalGift
Give a Gift
No need to wait for your certificate – print now (pdf) and present any time!
Join the KEEPER CIRCLE! Explore the Keeper Circle, a unique opportunity to support your Zoo with a charitable gift and enjoy exclusive benefits! Maintain all the benefits of a Gold level membership plus special programming throughout the year before and after Zoo hours for adults, families, children or grandchildren.
You’re invited to join the Zoo or renew your membership as a member of our Keeper Circle – an exclusive opportunity allowing you to make a charitable gift to your Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden while enjoying unique membership benefits that connect you to the Zoo in brand new ways. Your tax-deductible contributions help keep us one of the top-rated Zoos in the country and support the Zoo’s vision “to inspire every visitor with wildlife every day.”
Keeper Circle memberships begin with gifts of $275. Join or upgrade your membership today!
All Keeper Circle Donor levels include the benefits of a Gold Membership (year-round membership, parking, unlimited rides, six 4D Theater passes), plus special events and added benefits scaled by level.
Guidelines for all Keeper Circle Donor Card Holders:
All Keeper Circle donor levels include:
Join/Renew
*Keeper circle silver & gold donors receive additional benefits scaled by level.
Learn more about supporting your Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden, including information on our Andrew Erkenbrecher Society for distinguished donors, Leaving a Legacy through a planned gift, Corporate Sponsorship and our A.D.O.P.T. an Animal Program.
In honor of our founder, the Andrew Erkenbrecher Society was created to recognize our dedicated and visionary donors who give $1,000 or more annually to support the mission of the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden. This distinguished membership includes a Family Gold Membership and exclusive benefits (PDF). We invite you to join the Andrew Erkenbrecher Society by making a donation today!
Please contact the Development Department, 513-559-7759 or supportthezoo@cincinnatizoo.org, with questions or to make a donation.
* Your membership is a partially tax-deductible contribution that provides much-needed support that helps the Zoo maintain its standing as one of the top zoos in the country.
For any additional questions, please e-mail membership@cincinnatizoo.org or call (513) 559-7713.
