Updated in September 2026, this Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo guide covers ticket prices, opening hours, parking, accessibility and what to see.
The Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo is a 25-acre zoo in Gulf Shores, Alabama, known locally as “The Little Zoo That Could.” Adult admission currently costs $23.95, with the zoo open daily and last guests admitted at 3:30pm. This guide was updated in September 2026 and reflects those current prices, along with the zoo’s daily keeper presentation schedule. The zoo is a private, nonprofit organisation built around education, conservation and community programming.
Quick facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Opening hours | Daily 9am–4pm; last guests admitted 3:30pm |
| Ticket prices | Adult (13–61) $23.95; Military/Senior (62+) $20.95; Child (3–12) $15.95; under 3 free |
| Address | 20499 Oak Road East, Gulf Shores, AL 36542 |
| Nearest transport/parking | North of the Intracoastal Waterway on County Road 6; on-site parking |
| Typical time needed | 1.5 to 2 hours |
Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo opening hours
The zoo is open daily from 9am to 4pm, with the last guests admitted at 3:30pm.
- Closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day, but resumes regular hours the very next day.
- Keeper presentations and chats run on a set weekly schedule, including a daily Bird Chat at 9:15am at South American Adventure.
Checking the zoo’s calendar before you visit helps you plan your day around specific chats, since the schedule varies from Monday through Saturday.
5 top experiences to book in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach
- 🐬 See Atlantic bottlenose dolphins in their natural habitat on a wildlife cruise.
- 🌅 Combine dolphin-watching with a sunset cruise from Orange Beach.
- 🍹 Go tropical on a sunset cruise aboard a floating tiki bar.
- 🏝️ On a three hour boat tour, head out to the Gulf islands for some beach time.
- ⛵ See the sunset under sail on an evening sailing cruise.
Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo ticket prices
Adult admission (ages 13–61) costs $23.95.
| Ticket type | Price |
|---|---|
| Adult (13–61) | $23.95 |
| Military & Senior (62+) | $20.95 |
| Children (3–12) | $15.95 |
| Children (2 & under) | Free |
Military visitors with valid ID receive a discount. Groups of 15 or more receive 15% off regular admission, and school or educational groups pay a discounted rate of $8 per person with a reservation made at least 48 hours in advance. Paid animal adventures, including the Sloth Adventure and Lemur Adventure, cost $24.95 on top of admission.
Opening hours and ticket prices were checked on the official website and last updated in September 2026. You can check current details on the official Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo site.
The zoo is not part of a commercial city pass scheme such as Go City or CityPASS. It’s accredited by the Zoological Association of America (ZAA) rather than AZA, so AZA reciprocal zoo membership discounts do not apply here.
How to get to the Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo
The zoo sits north of the Intracoastal Waterway, on County Road 6/Oak Road East in Gulf Shores.
The current site opened in March 2020, about 4 miles inland from the zoo’s original beachfront location, on higher ground designed to withstand hurricanes.
Parking at the Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo
On-site parking is available at the zoo entrance.
How long to spend at the Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo
Most visitors spend 1.5 to 2 hours at the Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo.
Add extra time if you book a Sloth Adventure, Lemur Adventure, or one of the zoo’s other paid animal encounters, or if you plan to catch several keeper chats throughout the day.
Accessibility at the Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo
Contact the zoo in advance at 251-256-7008 to arrange for specific accessibility needs.
- The zoo’s paths are largely level, having been purpose-built in 2020 as part of a modern, master-planned facility.
- Service animals are welcome; other pets are not permitted on the grounds.
What to see at the Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo
The zoo earned its nickname, “The Little Zoo That Could,” after evacuating hundreds of animals ahead of Hurricane Ivan in 2004, an effort later documented in a 13-episode Animal Planet series of the same name.
Originally opened in 1989 as Zooland Animal Park near the beach, the zoo relocated in March 2020 to its current 25-acre site, designed with concrete shelters throughout to protect animals during hurricanes.
Sloth Adventure and Lemur Adventure give visitors an up-close, guided encounter with the zoo’s sloths and lemurs, available daily for an additional fee on top of admission.
Giraffe Feedings run twice daily, from 10 to 11am and 2 to 3pm, letting visitors feed the zoo’s giraffes for a small additional fee.
Throughout the week, keeper chats and presentations cover animals including bobcats, baboons, goats, big cats, porcupines, bears, and capybaras, with the schedule varying by day.
The Sulcata Tortoise Feeding and daily Bird Chat at South American Adventure round out the zoo’s regular animal encounters.
The zoo’s current site was built to withstand a Category 5 hurricane, and survived Hurricane Sally just months after opening in 2020 with only minor wind damage, a marked contrast to the flooding that repeatedly hit its original beachfront home.
Practical visitor tips
| Focus | Tip |
|---|---|
| Timing | Arrive by 3:30pm, since that’s the last time guests are admitted. |
| Entry process | Book animal adventures like the Sloth or Lemur Adventure in advance by calling the zoo, since they’re weather-permitting. |
| On-site logistics | Bring cash or a card for Giraffe Feedings (10–11am and 2–3pm), sold separately from admission. |
| Crowds | Check the keeper presentation schedule before visiting, since chats vary by day of the week. |
| Layout | Groups of 15 or more should call ahead for the 15% group discount. |
Frequently asked questions about the Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Is the Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo open every day? | Yes, it’s open daily except Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day. |
| Do you need to book tickets in advance? | No for general admission, though animal adventures are best booked ahead by phone. |
| Is there a military discount at the zoo? | Yes, military visitors with valid ID receive the discounted senior rate. |
| Can you feed the animals at the Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo? | Yes, giraffe and sulcata tortoise feedings are available daily for an extra fee. |
| Why is it called “The Little Zoo That Could”? | The nickname stems from its dramatic 2004 hurricane evacuation, later featured in an Animal Planet series. |
Things to do near the Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo
- Fort Morgan – a 19th-century masonry fort at the mouth of Mobile Bay, roughly 25 to 30 minutes’ drive.
- Gulf State Park – beaches, trails and a fishing pier, roughly 15 to 20 minutes’ drive.
- The Track, Gulf Shores, AL – a family entertainment park with go-karts and mini golf, a short drive away.
- Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge – a coastal wildlife refuge, roughly 25 to 30 minutes’ drive.
- Gulf Shores and Orange Beach – restaurants, shops and beaches, a short drive away.
Alternative attractions
- The Gulf Breeze Zoo, Gulf Breeze, FL – another ZAA-accredited zoo and safari park, roughly 1 hour’s drive.
- Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park, Fort Walton Beach, FL – a marine park with dolphins, sea lions and penguins, roughly 1.5 to 1.75 hours’ drive.
- Gulf Coast Gator Ranch and Airboat Swamp Tours, Moss Point, MS – guided alligator and swamp tours, roughly 1 to 1.25 hours’ drive.
- Mississippi Sandhill Crane National Wildlife Refuge, Gautier, MS – a refuge protecting the endangered Mississippi sandhill crane, roughly 1 to 1.25 hours’ drive.
- Institute for Marine Mammal Studies, Gulfport, MS – a marine mammal rescue and education centre with dolphin encounters, roughly 1.5 hours’ drive.
More Alabama travel
Other Alabama travel guides on Planet Whitley include:
- What to expect at the USS Battleship Alabama Memorial Park in Mobile, Alabama.
- How to get the best out of Bellingrath Gardens near Mobile, Alabama.
- Push buttons at the Exploreum Science Center in Mobile.
- What to know before visiting Colonial Fort Conde in Mobile.
- Getting to Mobile: Where to stop on the New Orleans to Mobile drive, Atlanta to Mobile drive, Tallahassee to Mobile drive, Houston to Mobile drive and Birmingham to Mobile drive.
