I have lived in Phoenix for 12 years and I had never been to the zoo here. My granddaughter was visiting and I thought this would be perfect time to visit. I'm a fan of zoo's and I was excited to go. First thought is this ... this place, for a zoo of this size is very pricey. $40 adults. $30 above 3. Sting ray attraction was fun. $5 +$3 if you would like to feed them. Approximately 4 shrimp. Enjoyed this and did not mind the extra charge. As for the rest of the zoo... it looked tired and boring. The cages seemed unkempt and lazy. Animals were just ok. Seems to me that there were enough to call it zoo but not enough to justify this price. Food cost what I expected $9 for a medium kettle corn. $9 pretzel with cheese. The petting zoo had only a bunch of goats and the horse attraction had no horses to show. All were penned up. This was the middle of the afternoon so I didn't understand why they weren't out in the corral. Last but not least the day was beautiful but I didn't appreciate the money grab of making us exit through the gift shop in a last attempt to have you spend more on super overpriced souvenirs. The money grabs take away from what should be an amazing adventure for anyone wanting to experience the glory and wonder of animals. Im glad I went to see what it was about but I would not ever go again. It's definitely a one time situation for me. Save your money and go to a great park. Kids would probably have just as much fun!
Rehan M.
Fine day until an angry old employee named Amy lost her mind on my crying child and wife. Unbelievable. Shame on this institution, rarely in my life have I encountered someone so rude? How do you hire someone who works near kids?!
Bianca L.
The Zoowalk for Autism Research at the Phoenix Zoo wasn't just an event; it was a testament to the power of collective compassion. It reminded us that, like the diverse species within the zoo, our strength lies in embracing differences and walking together towards a brighter, more inclusive future. Kudos to the organizers, volunteers, and participants for creating a day filled with laughter, awareness, and a profound sense of unity. The Zoowalk has left an indelible paw print on the hearts of all involved, proving that when we stride together, we stride towards hope.
Dolores Conley
Service is awesome.
Aubrey L.
First zoo trip as adults, the volunteers and staff were extremely friendly and knowledgeable. HUGE shoutout to park ranger Peter, he was so kind, knowledgeable, friendly, and just overall the best person!! He's the exact person you want as the face of your zoo. It felt like we were best friends and he was showing us around his favorite place! Definitely made the trip just that much better, and the heat worth it!
Miranda M.
I loved this zoo! We just moved here from New Mexico so we were excited to take our 3 children who love animals to the zoo. I love that there are splash areas for the kids to cool off and play, our favorite part was the petting zoo! The hydration areas are nice because the water is actually cold and that helps for the Phoenix heat. Unfortunately we weren't able to see the entire zoo because our small kids (2 years old) were tired and a little too hot. We will be back! It's a little pricey also but it was our first time so we splurged
Kimberly F.
This is a really great zoo. We saw tons of animals being super active. A really fun activity for kids. Make sure to bring a stroller and comfortable shoes. The 2 splash pads are great in the summer too
Kassie L.
The Phoenix Zoo is our favorite kid activity in Phoenix. We've been coming for about six years and I really appreciate how there are activities for kids of a variety of ages. Toddles may just want to look at the monkeys and apes, brush a goat at Harmony Farms, and play on the splash pads--still a great way for parents to get some exercise pushing a stroller. Older kids may enjoy learning about the animals and conservation, riding the camel, or feeding a giraffe. Mom's favorite is Fernando the sloth. The zoo also offers an equestrian education/riding program. We've also had and attended birthdays here. There are also grown-up events like Roars and Pours. If you're local, a membership pays for itself in less than two visits. There's an option of leaving an unnamed adult on the membership which is great for inviting friends to zoo play dates. Members can enter an hour early, which is great for beating the heat though often not all the animals aren't out for members hour. We generally only visit November through April to avoid the heat. While it is possible to spend a small fortune on extras--photos, rideables, carousel, food, feeding the giraffes or stingrays, or riding the camels, it's also possible to visit the zoo fairly cheaply. You can bring in food and drinks and there are lots of shaded tables and benches for lunch or a snack. I usually tell my kids we're only doing one "extra" per visit. There are a few opportunities for free close encounters with the animals--at the monkey village (currently closed) and with the birds.
Kelly B.
I absolutely love this zoo. It's really nice. We've been to states around the country and this one is up there with the best of them. I love the water structures they have for the summer time. The caverns are so much fun. Me and my son went and it was about 105 degrees out. We walked around for an hour and then played in the caverns water structure for an hour. Then we walked around for any hour and we're ready to go. We always have a fun time when we visit the Phoenix zoo.
Nicole F.
As other reviewers have said, if you go during the summer months when it's above 103, you're going to be paying $30 a person to watch animals lying in the shade trying to stay cool. There is a cute carousel, but you have to pay extra for it. We did since it was our sons first time on a carousel and it was worth it to us. It wasn't a short ride, so that was nice. The zoo itself is clean. There wasn't any litter anywhere and the facilities are nicely kept. We would go back again, but only if it was cooler.
I also wish I would've read reviews before I visited on a 107 degree day.. Clean park, staff is extremely friendly, even gave us bottled waters for free .. Since it was so hot hardly any of the animals were out .. that's disappointing as if we would've known this I don't think we would've spent the money .. maybe suggest half price on days over 103? We did enjoy michael, bess rayma and wgasa were probably the best attraction along with the hilarious owl pic I took
Paul H.
You have to be practical and use common sense on this one. (Which we didn't do). If you go during the summer months the animals will be hiding wherever it's coolest in their enclosure. Therefore you will have spent $30 per person to go to the zoo but won't actually see any animals. (Except for giraffes and the rhino which are too big to hide) If you want to get your steps in and work on your tan and don't mind spending the $30 per person (since it's going to a good cause) then this is the perfect place to go in the summer. Otherwise, wait until November-February to visit the zoo.
William W.
I would like to give a better review but I just cannot justify the value for the money. A ticket for an adult is $30 and the only thing you really do is walk a lot. There are not many exhibits to view. The animals they do have are nice to watch and take photos of. I just don't think the value for that price is as good as other zoos we have visited.
Michelle L.
I was pleasantly surprised at how well kept the grounds were and the zoo was much larger than I expected it to be. I will definitely be back next time I'm in town!
Chelsea G.
What a wonderful zoo! We ended our vacation with a zoo visit and we are really happy we made the trip. We were worried about the heat having a newborn and a toddler with us but we made sure to be there right when they opened before the afternoon heat. However we were pleasantly surprised to see tons of shaded areas for sitting and escaping the heat so it was never an issue for us. We appreciated the stroller rental, because our toddler can only walk for so long before she gets tired. The grounds were well kept, and had beautiful flowers throughout that we really enjoyed looking at.
I have lived in Phoenix for 12 years and I had never been to the zoo here. My granddaughter was visiting and I thought this would be perfect time to visit. I'm a fan of zoo's and I was excited to go. First thought is this ... this place, for a zoo of this size is very pricey. $40 adults. $30 above 3. Sting ray attraction was fun. $5 +$3 if you would like to feed them. Approximately 4 shrimp. Enjoyed this and did not mind the extra charge. As for the rest of the zoo... it looked tired and boring. The cages seemed unkempt and lazy. Animals were just ok. Seems to me that there were enough to call it zoo but not enough to justify this price. Food cost what I expected $9 for a medium kettle corn. $9 pretzel with cheese. The petting zoo had only a bunch of goats and the horse attraction had no horses to show. All were penned up. This was the middle of the afternoon so I didn't understand why they weren't out in the corral. Last but not least the day was beautiful but I didn't appreciate the money grab of making us exit through the gift shop in a last attempt to have you spend more on super overpriced souvenirs. The money grabs take away from what should be an amazing adventure for anyone wanting to experience the glory and wonder of animals. Im glad I went to see what it was about but I would not ever go again. It's definitely a one time situation for me. Save your money and go to a great park. Kids would probably have just as much fun!
Fine day until an angry old employee named Amy lost her mind on my crying child and wife. Unbelievable. Shame on this institution, rarely in my life have I encountered someone so rude? How do you hire someone who works near kids?!
The Zoowalk for Autism Research at the Phoenix Zoo wasn't just an event; it was a testament to the power of collective compassion. It reminded us that, like the diverse species within the zoo, our strength lies in embracing differences and walking together towards a brighter, more inclusive future. Kudos to the organizers, volunteers, and participants for creating a day filled with laughter, awareness, and a profound sense of unity. The Zoowalk has left an indelible paw print on the hearts of all involved, proving that when we stride together, we stride towards hope.
Service is awesome.
First zoo trip as adults, the volunteers and staff were extremely friendly and knowledgeable. HUGE shoutout to park ranger Peter, he was so kind, knowledgeable, friendly, and just overall the best person!! He's the exact person you want as the face of your zoo. It felt like we were best friends and he was showing us around his favorite place! Definitely made the trip just that much better, and the heat worth it!
I loved this zoo! We just moved here from New Mexico so we were excited to take our 3 children who love animals to the zoo. I love that there are splash areas for the kids to cool off and play, our favorite part was the petting zoo! The hydration areas are nice because the water is actually cold and that helps for the Phoenix heat. Unfortunately we weren't able to see the entire zoo because our small kids (2 years old) were tired and a little too hot. We will be back! It's a little pricey also but it was our first time so we splurged
This is a really great zoo. We saw tons of animals being super active. A really fun activity for kids. Make sure to bring a stroller and comfortable shoes. The 2 splash pads are great in the summer too
The Phoenix Zoo is our favorite kid activity in Phoenix. We've been coming for about six years and I really appreciate how there are activities for kids of a variety of ages. Toddles may just want to look at the monkeys and apes, brush a goat at Harmony Farms, and play on the splash pads--still a great way for parents to get some exercise pushing a stroller. Older kids may enjoy learning about the animals and conservation, riding the camel, or feeding a giraffe. Mom's favorite is Fernando the sloth. The zoo also offers an equestrian education/riding program. We've also had and attended birthdays here. There are also grown-up events like Roars and Pours. If you're local, a membership pays for itself in less than two visits. There's an option of leaving an unnamed adult on the membership which is great for inviting friends to zoo play dates. Members can enter an hour early, which is great for beating the heat though often not all the animals aren't out for members hour. We generally only visit November through April to avoid the heat. While it is possible to spend a small fortune on extras--photos, rideables, carousel, food, feeding the giraffes or stingrays, or riding the camels, it's also possible to visit the zoo fairly cheaply. You can bring in food and drinks and there are lots of shaded tables and benches for lunch or a snack. I usually tell my kids we're only doing one "extra" per visit. There are a few opportunities for free close encounters with the animals--at the monkey village (currently closed) and with the birds.
I absolutely love this zoo. It's really nice. We've been to states around the country and this one is up there with the best of them. I love the water structures they have for the summer time. The caverns are so much fun. Me and my son went and it was about 105 degrees out. We walked around for an hour and then played in the caverns water structure for an hour. Then we walked around for any hour and we're ready to go. We always have a fun time when we visit the Phoenix zoo.
As other reviewers have said, if you go during the summer months when it's above 103, you're going to be paying $30 a person to watch animals lying in the shade trying to stay cool. There is a cute carousel, but you have to pay extra for it. We did since it was our sons first time on a carousel and it was worth it to us. It wasn't a short ride, so that was nice. The zoo itself is clean. There wasn't any litter anywhere and the facilities are nicely kept. We would go back again, but only if it was cooler.
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I also wish I would've read reviews before I visited on a 107 degree day.. Clean park, staff is extremely friendly, even gave us bottled waters for free .. Since it was so hot hardly any of the animals were out .. that's disappointing as if we would've known this I don't think we would've spent the money .. maybe suggest half price on days over 103? We did enjoy michael, bess rayma and wgasa were probably the best attraction along with the hilarious owl pic I took
You have to be practical and use common sense on this one. (Which we didn't do). If you go during the summer months the animals will be hiding wherever it's coolest in their enclosure. Therefore you will have spent $30 per person to go to the zoo but won't actually see any animals. (Except for giraffes and the rhino which are too big to hide) If you want to get your steps in and work on your tan and don't mind spending the $30 per person (since it's going to a good cause) then this is the perfect place to go in the summer. Otherwise, wait until November-February to visit the zoo.
I would like to give a better review but I just cannot justify the value for the money. A ticket for an adult is $30 and the only thing you really do is walk a lot. There are not many exhibits to view. The animals they do have are nice to watch and take photos of. I just don't think the value for that price is as good as other zoos we have visited.
I was pleasantly surprised at how well kept the grounds were and the zoo was much larger than I expected it to be. I will definitely be back next time I'm in town!
What a wonderful zoo! We ended our vacation with a zoo visit and we are really happy we made the trip. We were worried about the heat having a newborn and a toddler with us but we made sure to be there right when they opened before the afternoon heat. However we were pleasantly surprised to see tons of shaded areas for sitting and escaping the heat so it was never an issue for us. We appreciated the stroller rental, because our toddler can only walk for so long before she gets tired. The grounds were well kept, and had beautiful flowers throughout that we really enjoyed looking at.