Experience the best of Houston Zoo

Set in Hermann Park, this 55-acre zoo houses elephants, gorillas, big cats, and aquatic habitats close to central Houston museums. Find entry tickets, combo ticket options, and seasonal event ticket options.

Loved by over 57 million guests worldwide

Slide 1 of 9, Ring-tailed lemur on a branch at Houston Zoo, part of the general admission experience.

Houston Zoo General Admission Tickets

Flexible

Explore Houston Zoo's immersive habitats, meeting giraffes, elephants, big cats, and primates for a close look at wildlife from across the globe.
Use your general admission ticket at the entrance to head straight into the zoo, then set your own pace as you explore winding paths and exhibits.
Roam outdoor trails to see wildlife from around the world, then catch wildlife presentations that reveal animal behaviors, skills, and daily routines.
Pause at educational exhibits that explain species, habitats, and threats, then capture memorable photos as animals play, feed, and interact nearby.

More details

Explore Houston Zoo's immersive habitats, meeting giraffes, elephants, big cats, and primates for a close look at wildlife from across the globe.
Use your general admission ticket at the entrance to head straight into the zoo, then set your own pace as you explore winding paths and exhibits.
Roam outdoor trails to see wildlife from around the world, then catch wildlife presentations that reveal animal behaviors, skills, and daily routines.
Pause at educational exhibits that explain species, habitats, and threats, then capture memorable photos as animals play, feed, and interact nearby.

from

$30

Pro tips to help you make a pick

Timed daytime admission is the standard self-guided product; non-members normally need an online timed reservation because tickets are not routinely sold onsite.

The printed arrival time is the earliest entry time: entry is allowed after that slot, not before it.

Houston CityPASS makes sense when several included attractions are already part of the trip; it covers one zoo visit without a separate zoo reservation.

Standard daytime admission covers general habitats and keeper chats but excludes giraffe feeding, carousel rides, animal encounters, and Zoo Lights.

Animal encounters are better for species-specific keeper access than general sightseeing; current principal encounters include all-day zoo admission and usually run 30–45 minutes.

Membership is the repeat-visit option, with twelve months of reservation-free daytime entry and a dedicated member lane within the main entrance operation.

Zoo Lights is a separately ticketed holiday event centered on illuminated displays, so it is not the right substitute for daytime animal viewing.

Free Zoo Day visits on the first Tuesday of the month still require an online reservation, and inventory is limited.

Similar things to do in Houston

Astronauts and lunar rover exhibit at Houston Space Center.

Space Center Houstonfrom $32.79

Large aquarium tank with coral and fish at Downtown Aquarium Houston.

Downtown Aquarium Houston Ticketsfrom $30.74

About Houston Zoo

Houston Zoo organizes much of its recent expansion around geographic ecosystems instead of only isolated animal houses. Galápagos Islands combines penguins, sharks, rays, sea turtles, tortoises, iguanas, sea lions, and the One Ocean aquarium, while South America’s Pantanal and Texas Wetlands extend that approach through Brazilian wetland species and Texas conservation habitats.

Address6200 Hermann Park Dr, Houston, TX 77030, United States

Also known asThe Houston Zoo

Year opened1922

Founded byCity of Houston

Expected wait time - Standard0-30 mins (Peak), 0-30 mins (Off Peak)

Did you know?

The zoo opened in April 1922 after the City of Houston fenced a Hermann Park tract for Earl the bison and other animals.

The former public West Gate is permanently closed, so general visitors now enter through the McGovern/Main Entrance.

Members represented 32% of Houston Zoo attendance in 2024.

Galápagos Islands opened in April 2023, and Birds of the World opened in August 2024.

The historic 1951 colonnade was restored in 2025.

Why visit Houston Zoo?

See Galápagos wildlife and a major aquarium in one zone

Galápagos Islands brings sharks, rays, sea turtles, penguins, tortoises, iguanas, and an underwater sea-lion view into a single included area. The zone also contains the 270,000-gallon One Ocean aquarium, giving the zoo a substantial aquarium component within general admission.

Walk through South America’s Pantanal

This immersive Brazilian wetland route groups jaguars, giant river otters, capybaras, tapirs, anaconda, and other species into one coherent habitat sequence. It is one of the zoo’s flagship modern zones and rewards visitors who want more than a series of separate animal enclosures.

Connect the visit to Texas conservation

Texas Wetlands links the collection to local conservation through alligators, bald eagles, and whooping cranes. The area adds regional context to a zoo otherwise centered on global habitats and makes the visit more specific to Texas than a standard big-animal circuit alone.

Use the live keeper-chat schedule to shape the day

Keeper chats are included with standard admission and change daily. The live schedule may feature elephant bathing, sea lions, penguins, reptiles, and carnivores, so the day can be planned around animal activity rather than only walking from zone to zone.

Add giraffe feeding for direct interaction

Giraffe feeding offers a short paid add-on with a clear animal interaction element. It runs at scheduled times and remains subject to weather and animal participation, making it a useful upgrade for visitors who want one focused hands-on moment without booking a full premium encounter.

Plan your visit

McGovern/Main Entrance

This is the zoo's current public entrance on Hermann Park Drive. Staff scan electronic or printed tickets here, and Guest Services and rentals are immediately inside.