Complete Guide to Smithsonian National Zoo in DC

About the National Zoo

The National Zoological Park (or simply National Zoo) is one of the best places families can visit in Washington DC. 

This 163-acre zoo is one of the largest in the US. It’s situated on the slopes of Rock Creek Park.

The zoo boasts a wide selection of animals, a wealth of educational information about different species, souvenir shops, cafes, food stands, a butterfly garden, a merry-go-round, and a children’s playground. It’s a wonderful place where your family can spend a whole day, have a ton of fun, and also learn a lot.

Among the animals, you can expect to see pandas (a magnet for all the visitors), elephants, zebras, cheetahs, lions and tigers, bears, an ostrich, bison, eagles, lemurs, seals and sea lions, farm animals, various amphibians and reptiles, and other animals. Please note the zoo does not currently have any hippos, giraffes, or camels. 

While I would certainly prefer wild animals to roam freely, I do appreciate the opportunity the zoos like the Smithsonian provide to kids (and adults) to learn about animals. This is a wonderful experience for families to explore animals from around the world and understand the importance of conservation. The enclosures are very spacious and designed to mirror the experience the animals would have in the wild. I’ve been to many zoos in different countries, and the National Zoo is my favorite one so far.

Brief history of the National Zoo

The National Zoological Park was established in 1889.

It’s not the oldest in the world (or in the US), but it’s still quite ancient, I would say. In the US, many zoos were opened in the late 1880’s, so it’s right up there with them. The oldest zoo in the US is the Central Park Zoo in NYC. Globally, the first place goes to Tiergarten Schönbrunn in Vienna, Austria, which was opened back in 1752. And the second oldest zoo is the Ménagerie du Jardin des Plantes in Paris, which was opened in 1794.

National Zoo in DC was established by an act of Congress back in 1889 for “the advancement of science and the instruction and recreation of the people”. The main goal was to conserve North American species on the brink of extinction, such as the bison and the beaver. This is the only federally funded zoo in the United States. In 1890, the zoo became part of the renowned Smithsonian Institution, which aims to increase and share knowledge among people.

It’s hard to believe, but in its early days, the zoo hosted only 185 animals. These included bison, Asian elephants, alligators, and Smokey the Bear. This bear was rescued from a forest fire and later became a symbol of resistance against the disaster.

Important visitor information 

Tickets 

A big advantage is that admission to the Smithsonian National Zoo is free. 

However, keep in mind that you still need to get tickets online (even if they are free). The zoo used to require no tickets in the past, but during COVID times, they introduced strict limits on admission. At that time, getting a ticket was not easy. Later on, limits were removed, so you can always get in, but the ticket policy stayed. 

If you want to drive and park at the zoo, you will have to pay a parking fee ($30) as part of your admission ticket. 

Tickets will be delivered to your email. When you come to the zoo, simply open the PDF on your phone and scan it at the entrance. 

How to get there

Driving is not required. The zoo is centrally located and easily accessible by public transportation (L2 bus line and the red metro line). 

Opening hours and length of visit 

The National Zoo is open daily from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm in winter and 6:00 pm in summer (last admission to the grounds 1 hour before closing and to the exhibits- 30 minutes before closing). Zookeepers are very serious about enforcing the closing times. Nobody will be allowed to stay past the closing time (we have tried a few times!)

Expect a lot of visitors both on weekdays and weekends. To avoid crowds, arriving in the morning is a good strategy. In the afternoon, there will be lines to attend most of the exhibits. There are usually fewer people before closing.

You can plan to spend 3-4 hours at the zoo. Or you can come for the whole day- there is plenty to see and do!

If you get hungry, there are many excellent food options. You will find ice cream, pretzels, pizza, burgers, and many other things to buy for lunch or a snack. Sadly, prices are not low. Even though admission is free, you will end up spending a lot, unless you bring your own lunch or snack.

Keep in mind that the zoo is large. Getting around might be a bit challenging with young kids (or older relatives) as the zoo is situated on the hill. Going down is relatively easy, but walking back up can be difficult. Luckily, the zoo operates a small shuttle, which can be quite useful.

Be sure to stop at one of the souvenir shops to buy some toys for the kids and other gifts (T-shirts, hats, umbrellas, etc.) There are several shops throughout the zoo, but my favorite one is located near the food court/close to the bison exhibit. It has a wide variety of items.

Can you feed animals?

Unlike some other zoos, the National Zoo does not offer opportunities to feed or closely interact with animals. If you want to have such an experience in the DC area, you might want to visit NOVA Wild, which lets kids feed goats, horses, birds, and other animals.

Key exhibits at the National Zoo

Some of the most popular exhibits at the Smithsonian zoo include pandas, bison, the Elephant Community Center, the Great American Trail, Amazonia, the Kids Farm, the Great Cats, the Reptile Discovery Center, the Great Apes, and the Small Mammals.

This is a lot to see. You don’t need to see them all on the same day; it’s better to come a few times.

American Bison 

These animals are very important to the National Zoo. Essentially, this whole zoo started with bison!

Many years ago, the Smithsonian sent its chief taxidermist, William Hornaday, to Montana to bring bison for a display. He was extremely shocked by the small number of bison remaining in the wild. Well, his observation was spot on. While 30 million bison used to roam the Great Plains, by 1883, they went virtually extinct due to hunting, slaughter, and diseases brought by domestic cattle.

Hornaday brought some live animals back and placed them behind the Smithsonian Castle. They generated a lot of interest from the public, and the idea was born to create a zoo that would house endangered species for conservation purposes.

The bison at the National Zoo have been changing over the years, but there are always some on display. They live about 25 years in captivity (20 in the wild). When I just moved to DC, Wilma and Zora were the two bison on display. Today, the zoo has Lucy and Gally. 

Elephant community center

The zoo has several Asian elephants. You will find them either walking outside or in the elephant community center. There are plenty of opportunities for viewing these magnificent creatures, and you will also find a lot of useful resources to learn about elephants. The information is available both in the community center and also at the elephant trails, which are located a little bit further down from the center.

Great American Trail

The trail includes such exhibits as otters, beavers, bald eagles, owls, seals, sea lions, and other animals. It’s an excellent collection, and we always try to see the animals on display there.

Amazonia exhibit

This is another gem of the zoo. It’s located at the bottom of the hill and, presumably, not everyone makes it there. So, it’s usually not very crowded. It’s definitely worth the visit!

You will find a lot of interesting animals such as sting rays, an electric eel, a wide variety of fish, lizards, and snakes. You will also have a chance to walk inside a rainforest and see some interesting birds, like the spoonbill. This pink bird flies all around the pavilion, and it’s a lot of fun to watch it.

Kids farm

This farm features various farm animals, including goats, cows, llamas, donkeys, pigs, and chickens. These animals are always very interesting to kids. All these animals are located not in cages but in enclosures behind the fence, so kids can look at them up close.

Unfortunately, as I already mentioned above, there is no opportunity to feed or interact with the animals. In case this is what you are looking for, I recommend visiting NOVA Wild, an interactive zoo in Reston, VA. It’s only a short ride from DC (about 40 minutes). Keep in mind, however, that the interactive zoo is not free like the National Zoo. It’s also not cheap. Check out the prices and sights on my blog.

Great cats

The zoo has several tigers and lions whose roars are frequently heard far beyond the exhibit.

Reptile Discovery Center

The center has a vast collection of reptiles. Be ready to see crocodiles, various species of turtles, including the Aldabra tortoise, iguanas, King cobras, and many other species. 

Great apes

This is another popular exhibit you would not want to miss. Some of the animals you will find here include Western lowland gorillas and orangutans. 

Small mammals pavilion

This pavilion is one of my all-time favorites. What I like about it is that it has a very wide display of animals, and you can see them relatively quickly, as the pavilion is not very large. Some of the animals you will find there include armadillo, fennec fox, porcupine, opossum, chinchilla, two-toed sloth, mongoose, meerkat, and others.

Zoo lights

If you visit the Smithsonian National Zoo in winter, you are in for an interesting experience. In the evening, they switch on the lights to create a beautiful, festive atmosphere for visitors. This is a rare opportunity to visit the zoo at night (normally it shuts down very early) and learn something new about the animals. The only downside is that it often gets quite cold in the evening, so make sure to wear warm jackets. Also, you need to keep in mind that admission to Zoo Lights in DC is no longer free. It used to be free for many years, but it now costs $9 to enter for adults and children older than 2.

The final word

If this is your first visit to the National Zoo, I bet you won’t be disappointed. I imagine that you will be visiting it again and again. 

I’ve been going to this zoo for years, ever since I moved to DC back in 2005. Now, I go there with my daughter, who absolutely adores all the animals and knows all the exhibits by heart. 

In the past, I also volunteered at this zoo. My previous company, Deloitte, used to organize something called an Impact Day every year, when each employee would pick an organization to volunteer at for a day. Many people, including myself, selected the National Zoo. There were various jobs to do, including helping to clean and organize exhibits. I always remember those days fondly, as it was a great opportunity to get involved at the National Zoo and support its animals.

Hope you enjoy your visit!