Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens

370 Zoo Parkway Jacksonville, FL 32218

Hours

Open daily 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. (last ticket sold at 4 p.m.)

Closed Thanksgiving and Christmas Day

Cost

Here are some costs associated with visiting Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens:

Adult General Admission (13-64): from $30 - $35
Children General Admission (3-12): from $0 - $30
Senior General Admission (65+): from $28 - $33
Adult Total Experience (13-64): from $40 - $45
Children Total Experience (3-12): from $15 - $38
Senior Total Experience (65+): from $38 - $43

Prices are subject to change; check their website for updates.

(904) 757-4463

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About

The Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens offers vacationers a beautiful and inspiring break from the surf and sun. The facility covers over 120 acres and is one of the top 20 zoos nationwide, winning awards for its exhibits and landscaping. For these reasons, it is on most vacationer's to-do list.

The Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens was established downtown in 1914 and featured only one animal: a rescued red-tail deer. Citizens flocked to see the fawn, which inspired local authorities to add regional animals like a black bear, American alligator, and foxes.

A primate exhibit was added in 1915, along with a lion and prairie bison in 1916, but as the zoo's size grew, surrounding neighborhoods began complaining. Citizens filed complaints with the city about the animals' odors, and in 1924, the zoo moved to its current location.

The zoo is home to over 2,000 animals worldwide whose homes are award-winning exhibits reflecting their natural habitats. Additionally, the gardens will appeal to those with a green thumb or who appreciate landscapes featuring over 1,500 plant species.

The zoo's location north of downtown makes combining a visit with other attractions and restaurants easy. After a family trip to see the animals, head to Tommy Bahama Marlin Bar & Store to discuss your adventure and discoveries.

Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens offers various animals and stunning landscapes, making it a top choice for vacationers.

Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens: Fun Facts & Cool Features

Before we check out the animals and gardens, we wanted to highlight the art that makes the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens unique. When you arrive at the gate, a 20-foot, 300-pound steel giraffe welcomes all to the zoo. Children will enjoy sitting on the tusks of the lifesize bronze elephants, whose combined weight is 15,000 pounds!

A cool section of the zoo is the African Loop trail, which features lions, elephants, and white rhinos, to name a few. The exhibits mirror the African plains these majestic creatures call home.

Make sure you plan time to visit the Land of the Tiger with an innovative trail system. You'll see tigers roam above and around you, making for an exhilarating yet safe experience.

Future herpetologists will make a beeline for the reptile and amphibian area. Here, guests will see local snakes like the Coral and Indigo and colorful constrictors from South America. Turtles and frogs are also part of this exhibit, making it educational yet entertaining.

The outstanding features are the Themed Pocket Gardens throughout the area. Savanna Blooms features a landscape rich with plants and flowers from Africa, which you'll discover beneath the Giraffe Overlook.

The Gardens of Range of the Jaguar is a village featuring big-leaved plants, palms, and ferns. It's the perfect spot to relax in a shaded tropical setting.

For the ultimate day of exploration, schedule time at the Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens or MOSH (Museum of Science and History) with a visit to the zoo and gardens. The proximity of both landmarks makes scheduling and logistics easy.

And those are only a handful of things to see and do at the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens! Toss in the penguins, monkeys, and birds, and it's easy to see why it's a popular First Coast destination.

Getting There

Here are step-by-step driving directions to Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens from Downtown:

Head north on FL-115 North for approximately 8 miles.
Merge onto I-95 North via the ramp on the left toward Savannah.
Take exit 358B for Zoo Parkway/Heckscher Drive.
Turn right onto Zoo Parkway/Heckscher Drive and continue for about 0.5 miles.
Address: 370 Zoo Parkway, Jacksonville, FL 32218

Local Tips

Visit early in the morning for cooler temperatures and smaller crowds.
Pack food and drinks to enjoy at the Picnic Grove.
Wear comfortable walking shoes to explore the zoo.
You need Total Experience tickets for the train, carousel, 4-D Theater, and animal feedings.

Location

370 Zoo Parkway Jacksonville, FL 32218

Frequently Asked Questions

What's a recommended one-day itinerary in Jacksonville Beaches?

Start the day off along 3rd St. at Jax Beach Brunch Haus for everything from basic breakfast favorites to hearty brunch options and tasty brunch-tails that go way beyond mere mimosas. From JBBH it’s a short hop over to the Jacksonville Beach Golf Course for those looking to spend a day on the greens.

On the north side of 3rd St., step into Maple Street Biscuit Co. for coffee and their self-proclaimed biscuits that wow. After breakfast, walk to Jacksonville Beach’s extended pier. Enjoy a stroll out over the Atlantic Ocean, or watch anglers casting their fishing lines. This is a great way to enjoy fishing in the area, especially if you don’t have enough time to go out on a boat. If surfing is more your style, be sure to hit the waves. Atlantic Beach to the north is more apt for novice surfers, while swells near the Jacksonville Beach Pier can be more challenging as this is the area’s high-tide break.

For lunch, savor the region’s fresh seafood as restaurants in Jacksonville and across the First Coast proudly serve fresh Mayport shrimp. Take in the view at Dockside Seafood restaurant to satisfy your shrimp cravings. Or, try Palm Valley Fish Camp in Ponte Vedra south of Jacksonville Beach after visiting the famed TPC Sawgrass golf course.

Many people who visit Jacksonville Beach are simply asking, where can I go to relax? Consider Neptune Beach to the north, a less crowded beach with calmer waves and plenty of space to spread out. A stroll through Kathryn Abbey Hanna Park is also a calm way to spend the day. If visiting downtown Jacksonville, the Riverwalk along St. John’s River provides ample walking space and benches to relax on while enjoying the view.

Wrap up the evening in Jacksonville Beach with the warm and elegant setting of Eleven South. This award-winning restaurant provides an exquisite fine dining experience to top off your day. For more casual fare, stop by TacoLu for fresh baja tacos and tequila with the essence of Florida.

Why is Jacksonville known as the First Coast?

People often refer to this part of northern Florida hugging the Atlantic Ocean as the “First Coast” (sometimes called the “Historic Coast”). Today, the First Coast moniker has come to represent it as the first coast in Florida that tourists visit when traveling southbound along the Atlantic seaboard. The name initially represented this area as the first part of Florida colonized by Europeans in the 16th century. Both the French and the Spanish settled into this part of northern Florida on lands of the Mocama and the Timucua. Further down the coast, St. Augustine was Florida’s first European settlement.

What are the biggest main events around Jacksonville Beach?

Jacksonville Beach welcomes visitors throughout the year to enjoy its wonderful weather and prime events. Each March, The Players Championship attracts golf aficionados from across the globe to our beckoning beaches.TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra has been home to The Players Championship of the PGA Tour since 1982.

If pigskin is more your style, Jacksonville is home to the NFL’s Jacksonville Jaguars, so it’s easy to catch a game in season. Another highlight, though up in the sky over Jacksonville’s Naval Air Station, is the NAS Jax Air Show. Birthplace of the Blue Angels, the NAS Jax Air Show generally takes place mid-October each year (check the event site for upcoming dates and program changes).

Back on land, or rather in the waves, the Super Girl Surf Pro also hits Jacksonville Beach in the fall. Held at the Jacksonville Beach Pier, this is the world’s largest women’s surf, lifestyle, and music festival.

When your vacation plans include an adventure to Jacksonville Beach, you can be certain there’ll be plenty to see and do!