Going to the zoo is fun! On any given day, you can see a multitude of kids and parents at the zoo, watching animals and having a good time. Zoos provide many benefits to families, as well as conservation efforts. However, sometimes a trip to the zoo can put too much stress on your wallet. For us, that has rarely been the case. We try our best to make our zoo trips efficient and low-cost. In some cases, we do this by searching for zoo discounts.
We’ve shared several ways in previous posts on how to save money during a zoo trip. Today we share further details on how to get discounted admission prices.
ZOO DISCOUNTS – Admission
AZA-Reciprocal Zoo Membership – This is the easiest way to save money on admission costs to zoos across the country. If you have a membership to an AZA-accredited zoo that participates in the AZA Reciprocal Zoo Program, you can get 50% off admission (or even free admission) to zoos across the country! For us, we belong to Cosley Zoo in Wheaton, Illinois. Our $59 annual family membership gets us discounted (or free) admission to over 170 zoos and aquariums across the country. In some cases, the membership costs less than admission to other zoos. For example, our membership provides us free admission to the Milwaukee Zoo. Without our membership, it would cost our family of five $71.50, which is about $12 more than our membership!
Check out the list for Cosley members here. Other zoos in the program provide the discounts as well, but some might slightly differ. The Potter Park Zoo membership page lays it out nicely – you can check that out here. You can also check out our Zoo Listings page to see a list of zoos that participate in this program.
Membership Guest Passes – If your zoo doesn’t participate in the AZA Reciprocal Zoo program, they might provide their members with guest passes. These passes can be used to help others get into the zoo for free! Brookfield Zoo falls into this category, as members receive either 6 or 8 free guest passes depending on their level of membership.
Zoo Discounts from Partners
Museum Adventure Pass from your local library – This one was brought to my attention by two of my amazing co-workers, Jen and Aly. Across Illinois, libraries will allow you to check out their Museum Adventure Pass for 7 days. It’s good for free admission for two people to the Brookfield Zoo (in most cases). Check out a complete list here to see if your library has a Brookfield Zoo pass available!
Kroger Free Days – The Kroger grocery chain offers free or discounted admission at many different zoos on select days. These zoos include Columbus Zoo (OH), Nashville Zoo (TN), Knoxville Zoo (TN), and Louisville Zoo (KY). The zoo will normally communicate these out.
Nature Valley Granola Bars Free Child Admission – Have you ever had a Nature Valley Granola Bar? They have yellow packaging with green labels. This summer, they are offering free child admission at select zoos by bringing a wrapper or unopened granola bar. Check out their complete list here.
Zoo Discounts Provided by the Zoo
Military Discounts – Most zoos will provide free or discounted admission to current or past members of the military. You can find that out on the zoo’s website.
Zoo Free Days – Every zoo has certain days throughout the year where they provide free admission. Check out your zoo’s admission page to find these. Brookfield Zoo, for example, provides free admission in January and February.
Looking for ways to save money in the zoo? Check out our Mom Tips page for details on being efficient at specific zoos!
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