Indianapolis Zoo
About Indianapolis Zoo
Since opening in 1964, the Indianapolis Zoo has given families a host of amazing animal-tastic memories, and now it's your turn to join in! This world-class zoo see a million visitors each year, and it also plays a major role in worldwide conservation and research, so kids can not only see some of their favorite animals up close and personal, but they can learn invaluable lessons about our planet too!
The Indianapolis Zoo is located in White River State Park downtown and is the only attraction accredited by the American Zoo and Aquarium Association (AZA) and the American Association of Museums as a zoo, an aquarium and a botanic garden. That also means there is a host of animals, gardens, and sea creatures to explore - so we better get started!
At Indianapolis Zoo, the animal world comes to you! You can connect with animals and plants in their "biome" - where deserts, forests, oceans and plains are filled with 1,400 creatures who can live in environments similar to their own. So if you can't visit a South American rainforest or an African desert, this is the next best thing!
You can visit penguins in Antarctica, and African lions in the savanna. The Oceans building lets you explore the amazing creatures of the deep without even getting wet - from the lionfish, to eels, to rays and sharks.
Kids can see cheetahs, rhinos, giraffes, birds, meerkats, reptiles, wildebeest, without leaving the grounds of the zoo. Pretty impressive!
Don't miss the 3 acre White River Gardens either, with hundreds of plants on display - and it's pretty spectacular!
Incredible animal experiences in one of the most popular zoos in the country - so c'mon kids, it's time to get WILD!
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Suggest editHow much does it cost?
Suggest editAdults $32.75
Children $28.75 (Ages 2-12)
Free Under 2 years
Last Update 2023
Discount Seniors over 62 - $30.75. Discounts if you purchase online ahead of time.
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Activity reviews
Indianapolis Zoo FAQ’s
Doing our bit
The Indianapolis Zoo is also committed to sustainability — the ability of humans to provide responsible stewardship of the Earth's limited and precious resources. The entire Zoo staff is involved with efforts to lead the way by making the Zoo itself as green as possible.
Do they have baby facilities?
The Nursing Moms Nest offers a quiet place for moms to care for and breastfeed their babies in privacy. Tucked away in Encounters, this beautifully designed space includes three comfortable nursing rooms, a changing station and wash area, and an activity area where older children can sit and play while mom is breastfeeding nearby.
I’m Hungry! Can I get food at Indianapolis Zoo?
They have a number of cafes throughout the zoo, from snack shops with hot dogs and gourmet treats, to pizzas at Westside Cafe, to amazing new flavors like Smoke Stack Tacos and BBQ Platters on at Pavilion Cafe (open weekends only)
Any top tips when visiting?
Their animals are generally more active when the temperatures are moderate. During warmer months, getting an early start and visiting in the mornings when it is cooler will give you the best chance of seeing animals when they're most active.
Does Indianapolis Zoo have a gift shop?
Bring that pocket money because plush toys, educational items, souvenirs and gifts are all waiting at the gift shop!
Do they have baby facilities?
The Nursing Moms Nest offers a quiet place for moms to care for and breastfeed their babies in privacy. Tucked away in Encounters, this beautifully designed space includes three comfortable nursing rooms, a changing station and wash area, and an activity area where older children can sit and play while mom is breastfeeding nearby.
Does Indianapolis Zoo have healthy eating or Vegan options?
They are BIG on healthy food and they offer menus that focus on farm-to-table, and they encourage kids to eat more healthy too! Cafe On The Commons is all about healthy and fresh!
Is Indianapolis Zoo fully accessible?
The Indianapolis Zoo and White River Gardens are handicap accessible with wheelchair ramps located at all of our exhibits. Wheelchair seating is also available in the St. Vincent Dolphin Pavilion. Check with an attendant if you need assistance. Handicap parking is also available for both cars and vans. Service animals are welcome.
Any additonal information?
Pick up a total adventure package for $10 instead of individual tickets, for all the great experiences like feeding a giraffe, or feeding a budgie, along with rides, tot area and more!
Rate & Write a Review
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Matt z
10 years ago
The zoo is fun for kids but when you think about all the baby dolphins that have died (24!!!!) at the zoo and you see how bummed out the orangutans are in their concrete jungle mmm... not so much. Seriously, I feel so bad for the orangutans. Whatever idiot came up with that as a great habitat for them is not an animal lover. Its actually quite narcissistic when you look at it. Its about structure not home for these intelligent creatures. Ummm.... where's the trees? So just realize everytime you visit your furthering the sadness of many animals who would much rather be in the wild than have you stare at them behind glass.
Sean Howe
10 years ago
First off, I do not work for the Zoo and a few things need to be noted about a trip to the Indianapolis Zoo. This Zoo has no tax payer support, it is a non for profit, all of the Zoo's funds come from donations or sales. My wife and I grabbed a membership just a week ago and have already used it twice. Plan ahead and buy tickets online or get a Zoo membership to manage the gate prices. We both had a great time. We attended the dolphin show, tiger training and the dog show as well as toured the zoo exhibits and found each to be fun. The zoo is clean (we even saw staff scrubbing the backs of trash cans),all the staff we met were nice, animals were healthy and we have zero complaints. We are planning more visits to make the most of this membership and plan to renew it next year.I would not recommend an "on a whim" trip, plan ahead, buy tickets online or grab a membership.
Mark locke
10 years ago
i went to the zoo on the weekend of 8-9-14, paid $78.00 for 2 adults and one child (7yrs old). the weather was nice not to hot.. when i got in the zoo, photos were taken for you to purchase at end of your visit (huge rip off more later) all of the animals were asleep or the only part you could see of them was their back sides, ohhhh big new arogantan building to view,,ha one small one asleep and the larger one never came out from the back. and we sat thier a good 20 mins, went to the 2:30 dolphin show, no seats 2 rows blocked of for jr trainers... yeah 4 kids and you needed 2 rows. no place to sit, my wife sat in one spot my 7yr old in another and i had no seat so i was standing by steps and got ran rudely from that spot then moved by the doors and again same lady rudely runs me away from their so i end up sitting on the steps OUTSIDE the show, NO I DID NOT GET TO SEE IT. and my wife could not enjoy the show because she had to keep an eye on our 7yr old who was not sitting with her.. now back to the pics hahahaha $20 bucks for 4 mini wallets come on now who are you kidding. oh wait or you could have gotten a small keychain with one of the mini wallet photos for the same 20 bucks.. needless to say we drove 5 hrs just to go to the zoo and were very disapointed with it. and do not recommend going to this zoo, until they can get better organized. oh and last but not least 3 bucks for a 20 oz bottle of water... really, ...
C Mainten
10 years ago
I would give it ZERO STARS IF I COULD. First, the annoying photographer at the gate who won't let you leave the gate without taking a picture. He actually put his hands on me to prevent my entrance! The zoo is incredibly small and WAYYYY overpriced for what they give you. Very small habitats for the animals they have. The bears even have their defecating spot right in front of the place where the people watch them. I mean many huge stinky piles right in front of everyone as if its a statement of what the bears think of the humans. The Orangutans exhibit was by far the worst. A giant building of steel concrete and ropes for animals that live in trees. They were bored and did nothing but hide in the corners. If you cant make the proper habitat then then don't have them. The rhinos were kept in an area that looked like a vacant lot. Must be their idea of a Savanna. Way overpriced food. AND ABSOLUTELY TERRIBLE FOOD!!!!! IT LITERALLY WAS VENDING MACHINE FOOD FOR 38$ FOR TWO ADULTS AND A 6 YEAR OLD. AND IT WAS ALL CRAP!!!. Roller coaster is a waste of time and you can see almost nothing from the train. This zoo needs to close. People just trying to make some money off a city that wouldn't have one otherwise. Go to St. Louis, Cincinnati, or Chicago. A zoo should be worth a 4 hour trip to get to. This zoo doesn't deserve to walk across the street to unless you already have low expectations and do not mind mediocrity in for your entertainment dollar. Never going again!
Steve Aldrich
10 years ago
Look, this is an expensive place to go if you're going for the day, and if you go at 2pm you won't see too many of the animals. BUT animals aren't typically at their most active at mid afternoon and running a zoo with no taxpayer support is costly!If you live anywhere near Indy, get a membership and get to the zoo at 9am when the animals are more active! And if you're visiting, get there at 9am and just realize it won't be super cheap and it's not exactly a gastronomic hotspot.For what it is worth, we visit as a family monthly and it's tons of fun. And early in the day you WILL see animals in most exhibits (the lions seem to like to roar in the morning, no joke).