The Santa Barbara Zoo is an AZA-accredited zoological park in Santa Barbara, California, set on 30 acres of coastal grounds overlooking the Pacific Ocean. This guide covers opening hours, ticket prices, parking and public transport, accessibility, and practical visitor tips.
Last updated: June 2026. A key change not reflected in older guides: from 29 May 2026, zoo visitors can ride the MTD Downtown-Waterfront Shuttle to and from the zoo for free by showing a valid admission ticket or membership card to the driver.
Quick facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Address | 500 Niños Drive, Santa Barbara, CA 93103 |
| Opening hours (spring/summer) | Daily, 9:30 AM – 7:00 PM (last entry 6:00 PM) |
| Opening hours (autumn/winter) | Daily, 9:30 AM – 5:00 PM (last entry 4:00 PM) |
| Adult ticket (13+) | $39.95 (or $37.95 online) |
| Child ticket (2–12) | $29.95 (or $27.95 online) |
| Children under 2 | Free |
| Parking | $11 per vehicle (on-site) |
| Nearest public transport | MTD Downtown-Waterfront Shuttle (free for zoo ticket holders, summer weekends); MTD Bus Route 20 |
| Typical visit duration | 2–3 hours; allow half a day with extras |
Santa Barbara Zoo opening hours
The zoo is open every day of the year. Spring/summer hours run 9:30 AM to 7:00 PM, with last entry at 6:00 PM. Autumn/winter hours are 9:30 AM to 5:00 PM, with last entry at 4:00 PM.
The zoo closes early (3:30 PM) on Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day. It also closes early for some ticketed evening events such as ZooLights. The Australian Walkabout area has its own hours: open daily 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM, last entry 5:45 PM. Note that gorillas are not visible after 4:30 PM.
Santa Barbara Zoo ticket prices
General admission costs $39.95 for adults (13+) and $29.95 for children aged 2–12. Children under 2 enter free. Buying tickets online saves $2 per ticket.
Discounts are available for groups of 20 or more (book online in advance). SNAP/EBT cardholders pay $3 per person for up to four people; this discount must be purchased at the admissions window, not online. Members of more than 150 AZA-accredited zoos receive a 50% discount (also window-only; check the reciprocal list before visiting). The zoo does not currently appear in Go City or CityPass multi-attraction pass schemes for Santa Barbara.
Opening hours and ticket prices were checked on the official website and last updated in June 2026.
5 great Santa Barbara experiences to book
- 🦭 Look out for harbour seals and sea lions on a wildlife kayaking tour around Santa Barbara Harbor.
- 🌮 On a taco tour, explore Santa Barbara’s food scene.
- 🚡 Fly over the Santa Ynez Valley on a huge zipline adventure.
- 🍷 Take a Santa Barbara wine country tour to some of the area’s best wineries.
- ⛵ Explore the Californian coastline on a yacht cruise.
How to get to Santa Barbara Zoo
The zoo’s address is 500 Niños Drive, Santa Barbara, CA 93103. By car from downtown Santa Barbara, head south on US-101 and exit at Milpas Street, then follow East Cabrillo Boulevard to the zoo entrance.
By public transport, the MTD Downtown-Waterfront Shuttle runs every 20 minutes, Friday to Sunday, 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM, from 29 May to 7 September 2026. Zoo visitors ride free by showing their ticket or membership card. Outside summer weekends, MTD Bus Route 20 stops at Cabrillo & Niños, a short walk from the entrance. Amtrak’s Pacific Surfliner and Coast Starlight serve Santa Barbara station; Amtrak ticket holders also ride the shuttle free. The zoo is approximately a 35-minute walk from the station along the beachfront.
Parking at Santa Barbara Zoo
On-site parking costs $11 per vehicle. Accessible parking is free with a valid disabled placard or licence plate; if accessible spaces are full, any space in the lot is free for blue-badge holders. Bicycle racks are available free of charge.
The zoo’s parking lot fills quickly on summer days, weekends, and event days. Overflow options include street parking on Niños Drive, Cabrillo East Waterfront Lot, and Cabrillo West Waterfront Lot. Note: the Dwight Murphy Field Renovation Project is currently under way directly across the street, which has reduced neighbourhood overflow parking. Allow extra travel time on busy days.
How long to spend at Santa Barbara Zoo
Most visitors spend around 2–3 hours at the zoo. Allow a full half day if you plan to add paid extras such as giraffe feeding, the Zoo Train, wildlife experiences, or lunch at one of the on-site restaurants.
The zoo covers 30 acres on a gently sloping coastal hillside. The layout is compact and walkable, making it easy to cover most exhibits in a single visit. A zoo map is available at the entrance and on the official website.
Accessibility at Santa Barbara Zoo
The entire zoo is paved and wheelchair-accessible throughout, though some paths have a slight incline given the hillside location. Wheelchair rental is $7 per day ($6 for members), available at the main gift store near the entrance on a first-come, first-served basis. Electric convenience vehicles (ECVs) cost $40 per day ($35 for members) plus a $10 deposit; ECV supply is limited, so pre-book online when making your reservation.
Sensory backpacks are available free of charge from the admissions window (leave ID as deposit; call 805-962-5339 to reserve). A downloadable social narrative with visual landmarks and quiet spaces is available on the accessibility page of the zoo’s website. Qualifying schools and nonprofits can apply for reduced field trip admission via the ZOO4U programme.
Inside the Santa Barbara Zoo: what to see
The zoo is home to more than 160 species across a range of habitat areas. Key areas include:
Australian Walkabout – A walk-through habitat where visitors share the space with kangaroos, wallabies, and emus. Open daily; last entry 5:45 PM.
Giraffe Deck – Hand-feeding of Masai giraffes is available for an additional charge. Check at the deck for daily feeding times.
California Trails – Exhibits focused on native Californian wildlife, including California condors, island foxes, bald eagles, and desert tortoises. The condor aviary is viewable from two levels.
Crawford Family Penguin House – Indoor and outdoor exhibit housing Humboldt penguins.
Wings of Asia and Tropical Aviary – Two walk-through aviaries. Wings of Asia features birds from across the Asian continent; the Tropical Aviary houses exotic species alongside reptiles and small mammals.
Western Lowland Gorillas – Glass-walled viewing area plus an overlook from a replica ranger station. Gorillas are visible until approximately 4:30 PM.
The Zoo Train circles the grounds and is included in general admission. The Barnyard area offers free goat-brushing experiences (hours vary). The Discovery Pavilion has a viewing window into the animal kitchen, where staff prepare meals for zoo residents.
Practical visitor tips
| Tip | Detail |
|---|---|
| Arrive at opening | The zoo opens at 9:30 AM. Arriving early gives the best chance of on-site parking and cooler temperatures for viewing active animals. |
| Buy tickets online | Purchasing tickets on the official website saves $2 per ticket and allows you to confirm your visit time in advance; reservations are recommended. |
| Summer weekends: plan transport early | The on-site car park fills quickly on summer weekends. Use the free MTD shuttle (with zoo ticket, Fri–Sun, from 29 May) or check overflow parking options before arrival. |
| Check the visitor kiosk on entry | A kiosk just inside the entrance lists keeper talks and daily feeding times; these vary day to day and are not published online in advance. |
| No lockers on site | The zoo does not offer lockers. Leave any items you do not need for the visit in your vehicle. |
Frequently asked questions about Santa Barbara Zoo
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Is Santa Barbara Zoo suitable for children? | Yes. The zoo is family-oriented, with a children’s play area (Kallman Family Play Area), a barnyard with free goat-brushing, the Zoo Train, and interactive wildlife experiences. Children under 2 enter free. |
| Do you need to book tickets in advance for Santa Barbara Zoo? | Reservations are recommended for both general admission and member visits. Booking online also saves $2 per ticket. Walk-up tickets may be available but are not guaranteed. |
| Is Santa Barbara Zoo open on Sundays? | Yes, the zoo is open every day of the year, including Sundays, public holidays, and school holidays. It closes early (3:30 PM) only on Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day. |
| What is the parking fee at Santa Barbara Zoo? | On-site parking costs $11 per vehicle. Parking is free with an SB Zoo Membership or a valid disabled parking placard. |
| Are service animals allowed at Santa Barbara Zoo? | Yes. ADA-defined service animals (trained dogs) are permitted. Pets, emotional support animals, and therapy dogs are not allowed inside the zoo. |
Things to do near Santa Barbara Zoo
East Beach – The beach immediately in front of the zoo. A flat, sandy stretch suitable for swimming, volleyball, and cycling, with bike hire available nearby.
Stearns Wharf – A historic timber pier about 1.5 miles west of the zoo, with restaurants, a small aquarium, and views of the harbour and mountains. Around 20 minutes on foot along the beachfront.
Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History Sea Center – An aquarium and marine education centre on Stearns Wharf, focusing on Pacific Ocean ecosystems. Small admission charge; can be combined with a wharf visit.
Andree Clark Bird Refuge – A freshwater lagoon directly adjacent to the zoo, with walking and cycling paths and year-round bird life. Free to visit.
Santa Barbara Botanic Garden – Around three miles north of the zoo, this 78-acre garden focuses exclusively on California native plants, with over five miles of walking trails. Separate admission required.
What to visit tomorrow: zoos within two hours of Santa Barbara
Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens – A large, 133-acre zoo in Griffith Park, home to over 1,400 animals and 270+ species. Approximately 1.5 hours from Santa Barbara via US-101.
Living Desert Zoo and Gardens, Palm Desert – A desert-focused zoo and garden in the Coachella Valley, specialising in arid-climate species from Africa and North America. Around two hours’ drive from Santa Barbara.
Moorpark College Teaching Zoo, Moorpark – A working zoo operated as a training facility for exotic animal care students, with a variety of species open to the public. Around one hour from Santa Barbara.
Santa Ana Zoo, Santa Ana – A smaller AZA-accredited zoo with a focus on Amazon rainforest species and native North American wildlife. Around two hours from Santa Barbara via US-101.
San Diego Zoo, San Diego – One of the largest and most visited zoos in the United States, with 650+ species across 99 acres in Balboa Park. Around three hours from Santa Barbara; a longer day trip or overnight stay.
More California travel guides
Other California travel guides on Planet Whitley include:
- Guides to San Diego’s Balboa Park attractions: The California Tower, the San Diego Air and Space Museum, the San Diego Museum of Art and the San Diego Natural History Museum,
- Plan your visit to the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Petersen Automotive Museum, La Brea Tar Pits and Museum of Tolerance.
- How to get the best out of the Asian Art Museum, Legion of Honor Museum and de Young Museum in San Francisco.
- Guides to the top spots in Yosemite National Park: Tunnel View, Tuolumne Grove, Bridalveil Fall, Yosemite Falls, Mariposa Grove, Sentinel Beach and El Capitan Meadow.
- The best places to see sea lions in California.
