Miami-Dade Zoological Park and Gardens, or more simply Miami Zoo, is Florida’s oldest and largest zoological park and the only subtropical zoo in the continental United States.
With over 3,000 animals of 500 different species and over 1,000 different plants, the zoo is divided into several areas that can be explored on foot along a 3-mile path or by monorail, which allows you not only to move quickly from one part to another but also to have a bird’s eye view of the zoo. In addition, there is the possibility of renting a rickshaw (useful even if there is a risk of rain thanks to the fact they have roofs) to visit the zoo autonomously.
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Where is it, how to get there and useful info
Unlike Jungle Island, which is located near South Beach and Downtown Miami, to get to Miami-Dade Zoological Park you’ll have to head south in the direction of the Keys. The zoo, in fact, is located at 12400 South West 152nd Street, about halfway between Miami and the Keys.
You can reach the zoo by car from South Beach or Downtown Miami by taking FL 874 S or US-1 S. In either case, the average time is about 40-45 minutes, traffic permitting. Parking is free for zoo visitors.
By public transportation, you will need to get to Government Center station and from there take the train to Dadeland South. The 252 bus from Dadeland South Metrorail Station will take you to the zoo entrance in about 20 minutes. From the Government Center station in Downtown Miami to the zoo, the average travel time is about 1 hour and 15 minutes. Please note that a bus service to the zoo is only provided on weekends and major holidays, while during the week the nearest bus stop is a 40-minute walk from the entrance.
Miami Zoo Hours
The zoo is open daily from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. The last admission is at 4:00 pm. Hours may vary on holidays such as Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Miami Zoo Ticket Prices
Admission is $22.95 for adults and $18.95 for children between the ages of 3 and 12. Children under the age of 2 get in for free. You’ll need to add 7% tax to these prices.
Admission to Miami Zoo is included in the Go Miami Card under the following conditions:
- with the All Inclusive you are entitled to participate in the shows, feed the animals, and visit the various areas of the zoo including the large house of birds from Asia.
- with the Explorer you can choose which animal to feed, you will have unlimited access to the park attractions and you can use the monorail all day to get around the zoo.
The cost of the ticket to use the monorail is $5 for the entire day.
Zoo areas
Miami Zoo covers about 304 hectares where animals live in relative freedom inside enclosures, in areas designed to reconstruct their natural habitat. Visiting it is truly a unique experience. There are several dining options and the zoo offers many activities for adults and children.
The five main areas the zoo is divided into are:
- Florida: Mission Everglades
- Asia
- Africa
- Amazon and beyond
- Australia.
There is also a large lake inside the zoo called Lake Iguana.
Since visiting the zoo is quite large, and given the size of each area, I suggest you go early in the morning and consider staying at least 4 hours (but for many 8 hours is not enough!).
Also keep in mind that Miami’s climate can be extremely hot in the early afternoon: due to the heat, many animals seek shade or places where you might not be able to see them. In addition, most of the zoo is clearly outdoors, so you may feel the need to take cover and miss the opportunity to see the zoo properly.
Miami Zoo Tours and Activities
If you want to see the zoo’s main attractions at your own and your family’s pace by moving faster from place to place than just walking, you may want to consider renting a rickshaw. The cost for a small rickshaw (3 adults and 2 small children) is $26 plus tax for 2 hours and $13 for the next few hours. For a large rickshaw (6 adults and 2 small children) the cost is $36 plus tax for the first 2 hours and $18 for the following hours.
If you love the water, don’t miss the opportunity to rent a paddleboat. The cost for a 3 person paddleboat is $15 plus tax, for 4 people $20 plus tax and for 5 people it is $25 plus tax. The paddleboat ride takes about 30 minutes.
Feeding the animals is one of the many activities offered at the zoo and is certainly one of the most fun and memorable for children. If you want to feed:
- giraffes the cost is $5 or $12 depending on the portion of food chosen
- rhinos, camels, and giant tortoises cost 5 dollars per person
- parrots: $3 for 1 food portion and $5 for 2
Inside the zoo, there are also several rides such as the Lostman’s River Ride, with logs that move on the water in the heart of the “Everglades” and the Wildlife Carousel, the carousel of horses and many exotic animals from which the little ones can choose.
The zoo also offers special tours to better appreciate the variety of animals in the zoo.
- The VIP Experience Tour costs $75 plus tax and offers the opportunity to tour the zoo in a golf cart with a private guide. The tour lasts 2 hours with departures at 10:30 am and 1:30 pm. With your guide, you won’t have to wait in line for the main attractions.
- The Behind-The-Scene Tour offers the chance to see some animals such as giraffes, hyenas, hippos, crocodiles, elephants, otters, koalas, and many more up close. All you have to do is choose the areas you prefer to see up close. The cost is $150 plus tax per person and lasts for 2 hours.
- The Expedition Wildlife: is a 5-hour tour that also includes lunch. With this tour, you can see elephants, gorillas and, if you prefer less imposing animals, sloths up close. The cost is $500 plus tax per person.
Where to stay in the area
If you want to have an overview of the main hotels in the area, click on this link. In most cases, however, you will be more comfortable sleeping in areas closer to Miami. To find out about the recommended accommodations in the city, I suggest you read our dedicated article by clicking on the link below.
