Saint Louis Zoo

The Saint Louis Zoo is the pride of the city and one of the best reasons to spend a day in Forest Park. It is also one of very few major zoos in the United States where general admission is completely free, thanks to a regional cultural tax district that also keeps the art museum and the history museum free. Over the course of a century the zoo has grown into one of the most respected in the country, known for its conservation and breeding work as much as for its exhibits. Highlights include Penguin and Puffin Coast, where you walk through a chilled habitat as the birds dive beside you; Polar Bear Point; Sea Lion Sound, with an underwater viewing tunnel; the great apes and big cats; the hippos and other African animals of River’s Edge; and the Herpetarium with its reptiles. The walk-through Flight Cage was built for the 1904 World’s Fair and is still in use, a link to the same fair that gave Forest Park the art museum on Art Hill. A few attractions, such as the Zooline Railroad, the Conservation Carousel and the 4D Theater, carry a small charge or are bundled in an Adventure Pass. This page links to the zoo’s official hours and prices page.

How to visit: the zoo is in the southern part of Forest Park, a short drive from downtown and the Central West End. In November 2026 it opens daily from 9:00 to 16:00, with last entry 15 minutes before closing, and on Thanksgiving Day (26 November) it closes early, at 14:00. It also closes early on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve, and it is closed on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. Entry is free with no ticket needed for general admission. The paid attractions are sold individually or in a discounted Adventure Pass online, and some seasonal extras, including the sea lion show and the stingray touch pool at Caribbean Cove, are closed for the season. Zoo lots charge a parking fee except for members, and there is also free street parking in the park when you can find it.

What to expect: the grounds are large and spread across several themed zones, with paved paths that suit strollers and wheelchairs. In late autumn many animals are most active in the cooler mornings, and indoor buildings such as the penguin habitat, the Herpetarium and the primate house make good warm-ups on a cold day.

Making the most of it: arrive at opening, head for the penguins and the sea lion tunnel first, then work around to the big cats and apes. Over the holidays, look out for the zoo’s seasonal light event in the evenings, which is separately ticketed. Pair a morning at the zoo with the free Saint Louis Art Museum across the park.