Plan Your Adventure

The Cincinnati Zoo has a Zero Tolerance Bullying Policy. Guests must be kind to Zoo staff, no foul/hurtful/discriminatory language, and no violence against our staff or fellow guests, plants, and animals allowed.

NO SMOKING or VAPING! The Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden is a SMOKE-FREE ENVIRONMENT Call 1-866-559-OHIO for questions or to report violations.

The Zoo does not allow any firearm to be brought on grounds, regardless if the individual has a conceal/carry permit.

Do not feed the animals or disturb any plants. Bicycles, skates, Heelys, hoverboards, skateboards, roller blades, scooters and portable radios are not permitted on Zoo grounds. Please stay on paths. Pets are not permitted on Zoo grounds even if left inside vehicles. Shirts and shoes must be worn at all times. Because the park remains open during inclement weather, the Zoo offers no refunds or rainchecks. Because of the varying needs of the animals, some buildings or exhibits may close early. All visitors grant the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden permission to use their image, or that of their children, in advertising, publicity and other promotions without payment or compensation to the visitor.

Photo & Video Policies

Commercial use of photographs, video and film taken at the Cincinnati Zoo is strictly prohibited without the Zoo’s full written consent.  Feel free to share photos with family and friends using #CincyZooPic!

Location Filming Guidelines: Film crews must contact [email protected] in advance to set up their video shoot and pay a fee to shoot on location.

For the safety of our visitors and animals, drones are not permitted on or above the Cincinnati Zoo.

The Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden is committed to providing a safe, secure, and supportive environment for all visitors, wildlife, and staff. To achieve this, the Zoo has established policies that prohibit inappropriate behavior in the park.  

Please note these prohibited behaviors: 

1. Any conduct that disrupts or adversely affects the well-being of any Zoo animal or plant, such as crossing into any enclosed animal areas, feeding the animals, throwing objects at the animals, sticking items through barriers, verbally harassing animals with words or sounds, striking any glass/barriers in any way, displaying objects, “props”, stuffed animals, or any other behavior to illicit an animal reaction, etc.
2. Any conduct that disrupts or adversely affects Zoo staff, such as any deliberate and/or repeated behavior that is intimidating, hostile, offensive, or adversely impacts staff work performance. Examples of this behavior include: aggressive and unwelcome conduct and/or unwelcome comments of a romantic or sexual nature, requests for personal information, photographing or video recording without consent the staff, and repeated contact with staff upon their direction to cease.

Additional Visitor Expectations 

• NO smoking/vaping inside the park. 

• NO climbing on any rocks or destroying any plants or Zoo property. 

• NO possessing/carrying of weapons (including toy), dangerous ordnance, explosive devices, regardless of the possession of any concealed carry permits on the premises – unless the possessor is a properly credentialed and identified member of law enforcement. 

• NO trespassing on the premises or in any area under Zoo control. 

• NO utilizing personally owned bicycles, skates, “Heelys,” hoverboards, skateboards, roller blades, scooters and portable radios on Zoo grounds. 

• NO personal pets on Zoo grounds, even if left inside vehicles. The Zoo abides by federal and state law pertaining to service animals. Information can be found on the Zoo’s website. 

• All clothing, including shirts and shoes, must be worn at all times to maintain decorum and to ensure safety. Offensive or provocative clothing and language are prohibited. Costume face masks are also prohibited. 

• Other prohibited items include: glass, outside alcohol, laser pointers and balloons. 

• Parking lots are for visitors to the Zoo and only for the duration of the visit. Parking for other purposes may result in the vehicle being towed. 

• Visitors must comply with applicable health and safety regulations as mandated or recommended by federal, state, or local health officials and/or those in effect per the Zoo. 

If these guidelines and expectations are not followed, consequences include removal from premises, suspension/revocation of membership, permanent ban, and/or calling for assistance from authorities. 

Yes. Re-entry is allowed for the date of ticket purchase. Please stop by turnstiles for a stamp that will allow re-entry.

The Zoo does not have lockers.  Guests are encouraged to secure items that are not needed during their visit at home or in the trunk of their vehicles.

We do allow coolers, backpacks, umbrellas, strollers, wagons, outside food and drink (with the exception of alcohol). All guests of all ages must wear a shirt and shoes at all times.

We do NOT allow outside alcohol, glass containers, bikes, rollerblades/skates/heelies, Segways, balloons, balls, weapons of any kind (even toy weapons), or offensive clothing.

Yes! The Zoo has two dedicated nursing nests.

Nursing Nests sponsored by Trihealth.

Click here and use Option 1 to look up your member ID and to find your membership expiration date.

If your pass is currently expired, please email [email protected]

While our goal is to provide opportunities for our visitors to see all the animals in our care, there are times when an animal may be off view or given access to their indoor space in order for our team to provide the best care possible.

It must be 40 degrees or higher and sunny for Fritz to be outside. This could change at any time due to the keeper’s discretion.

The Zoo is generally busiest on weekends and holidays (holiday weekends, Spring Break, etc.), but may have higher attendance than normal on beautiful weather days.

To avoid most traffic and parking delays- we suggest arriving before 10:30am or after 2:30pm during the Spring/Summer/Fall on those busy days. During PNC Festival of Lights, we suggest visiting before 4:30pm or after 7:30pm on nice weather days, weekends, and the week of Christmas.

Should you plan to arrive during those times on a weekend or beautiful weather day, there may be lines and delays for entry. Please know that our staff is doing everything possible to facilitate entry for all of our visitors!

Yes! Please visit the Welcome Center to rent a stroller, wheelchair, or ECV.

Rental Prices: Members/Nonmembers

Single Strollers–$12/$13

Double Strollers–$15/$16

Wheelchairs–$12/$13

ECVs–$38

You can also rent ECVs online, in advance of your visit. Limited quantities are available online. Must be at least 18 years of age to rent/operate the ECV

Zoo Bucks (Gift Certificates) are available for purchase here and can be spent anywhere at the Zoo, including admission! Zoo Bucks may not be used on the Zoo Website.

Gift Memberships are also available by clicking here.

We offer military and first responder discounts. Valid military, fire or police ID is required to obtain the discount. Military and First Responder discounted tickets can be purchased online here. Valid military or first responder credentials and matching photo ID must be shown upon entry.

All members of the military (both active military and veterans) receive a 10% discount on all Zoo membership levels. Please bring your military or veteran ID to a Ticketing Window to redeem. This offer cannot be combined with any other offer/deal/discount.

A full list of our discounts can be viewed here. 

If your current membership is held with a Zoo that participates in the reciprocal program with the Cincinnati Zoo, you are entitled to a discount on admission. You can check our list of participating reciprocal institutions here.

Reciprocal Zoo discounted tickets are available online here. Valid proof of membership and matching photo ID must be shown upon entry.

Yes. If you’re still at the Zoo, please check at the ticketing windows or Welcome Center. If you are not still at the zoo, please submit a Lost Item Form or call the Visitor Experience help line at 513-487-3414.

A Child must be 13 years or older in order to visit the zoo without a parent or guardian present. School groups have separate age requirements (see field trip materials for more information). If the child is coming into the zoo on a membership (and they are one of the children on the membership), they will need a note from one of the named adults on the membership stating they give their permission and knowledge for the child to enter the zoo without them present. They will also need one of the membership cards for entry.

The Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden is committed to welcoming all visitors, and complies with the ADA Title III regulations regarding service animals. Therapy or emotional support animals are not permitted in the Zoo.

Upon entry, service animal users will be greeted by a Visitor Experience Supervisor to be checked in with the two legal ADA questions regarding service animals. Members are encouraged to get a notation on their membership card to expedite entry during future visits.

Check out the Zoo Access for All program for additional resources, policies, and tips to make your Zoo visit as fun and comfortable as possible.

Per the ADA, service animals may be excluded if their presence alters the nature of the Zoo’s services or if the animal is out of the owner’s control. If a service animal is excluded, the owner will be able to visit without the service animal. For more information or assistance, please call or stop in to see a Visitor Experience Supervisor.

Yes, parking is $10 and can be paid at any parking kiosk or by using the Scan to Pay QR codes posted around the lots. Cash is not accepted for parking. Parking lot is for visitors to the Zoo and only for the duration of the visit.  Parking for other purposes is explicitly prohibited and may result in your vehicle being towed.

Electric Vehicle charging stations and Red Bike stations are also available.

In an effort to make sure our keepers have enough time with their animals, we, unfortunately, cannot accept calls regarding questions about animals outside of the Zoo. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (1-800-WILDLIFE) is a great resource!

The Zoo offers a Courtesy Cart service for those with mobility concerns who need assistance returning to the front of the Zoo and is on a first-come first-served basis. This cart has a predetermined path starting from the Grove food truck area back to Vine Street Village. To request the Courtesy Cart, please contact Public Safety at (513)475-6112, or visit the Guest Services Podium across from Mai Thai’s Marketplace.

This service is not a constantly running shuttle, and you may experience a brief wait time. The Courtesy Cart can accommodate 1 mobility device at a time. Please note that due to manufacturer safety regulations, some mobility devices may not fit on the cart.

The Courtesy Cart is made possible by the Heidt Family Foundation:

To prevent misuse of our memberships and to protect our members should their membership card or account access be lost or stolen, we will be requiring account pictures for entry for all members (adults and children/grandchildren) beginning May 1^st, 2025.

We are encouraging members to get their photos added on their next visit or as soon as possible before the busy summer season in order to make this transition as smooth as possible. Pictures can be taken and added at any ticket window, any time the Zoo is open.

Government issued photo IDs (or school IDs for children) will still be accepted in lieu of photos for those who do not wish to have their photo added. For more information and a complete list of our membership policies, visit Member FAQs.