The Central Park Zoo is an AZA-accredited zoo managed by the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS). It is located near the south-east corner of Central Park at 64th Street and 5th Avenue, Manhattan. This guide covers opening hours, ticket prices, transport, accessibility, and practical visitor tips to help you plan your visit.
To skip the details and secure your entry, book Central Park Zoo tickets online.
Updated May 2026. As of 3 March 2026, WCS members no longer need to make an advance reservation for regular daytime admission — a policy change not yet reflected in many other guides. Ticketing rules have also changed: the zoo now operates two distinct ticket types (Zoo Admission and Limited Admission) with meaningfully different prices and inclusions. See the ticket prices section for full details.
Quick facts: Central Park Zoo, New York City
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Address | 64th Street & 5th Avenue, New York, NY 10065 |
| Phone | (800) 433-4149 (Reservation Centre) |
| Opening hours (Apr–Oct, Mon–Fri) | 10am–5pm (last entry 4pm) |
| Opening hours (Apr–Oct, weekends & federal holidays) | 10am–5:30pm (last entry 4:30pm) |
| Opening hours (Nov–Mar) | 10am–4:30pm daily (last entry 3:30pm) |
| Closed | Never — open 365 days a year |
| Adult ticket (Zoo Admission) | $22.95 |
| Child ticket (ages 3–12, Zoo Admission) | $16.95 |
| Children aged 2 and under | Free |
| Nearest subway | N, R, W to Fifth Ave/59th St; or 6 to 68th St |
| Parking | None on site |
| Typical visit duration | 1–1.5 hours |
Central Park Zoo opening hours
The zoo is open every day of the year. Hours vary by season and by day of the week.
2 April – 31 October 2026:
- Monday to Friday: 10am–5pm (last entry 4pm; animal exhibits close 4:30pm)
- Weekends and federal holidays: 10am–5:30pm (last entry 4:30pm; animal exhibits close 5pm)
1 November 2026 – March 2027:
- Daily: 10am–4:30pm (last entry 3:30pm; animal exhibits close 4pm)
Last entry is one hour before the zoo grounds close. Individual exhibit availability may vary due to weather, capacity, or animal-related decisions.
5 great New York City experiences to book
- 🕊️ Make sure you get into the 9/11 Memorial Museum by booking tickets in advance.
- 🗽 Take a boat cruise out to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island.
- ⛴️ Learn about NYC’s top buildings on an architecture-themed 1920s-style yacht cruise around Manhattan.
- 🌳 Take a pedicab tour around Central Park – and spot the hidden secrets on the way.
- 🍜 Taste the local flavours of New York on a Chinatown and Little Italy food tour.
Central Park Zoo ticket prices
The zoo offers two distinct ticket types. Both require a date-specific booking. Every visitor needs a ticket for every visit.
Zoo Admission (includes 4-D Theater)
| Visitor type | Price |
|---|---|
| Adults (ages 13+) | $22.95 |
| Seniors (ages 65+) | $18.95 |
| Children (ages 3–12) | $16.95 |
| Children (aged 2 and under) | Free |
Zoo Admission can be purchased online, at the on-site self-serve kiosk, or at the admissions window, subject to availability.
Limited Admission (online only — does not include 4-D Theater)
| Visitor type | Price |
|---|---|
| Adults (ages 13+) | $15.95 |
| Seniors (ages 65+) | $12.95 |
| Children (ages 3–12) | $9.95 |
| Children (aged 2 and under) | Free |
Limited Admission tickets are only available online. They cannot be purchased at the gate. If you choose this option and wish to visit the 4-D Theater, an additional $7 per person applies.
All sales are final. There are no refunds, cancellations, or rescheduling for any reason, including bad weather.
Opening hours and ticket prices were checked on the official website and last updated in May 2026.
How to get to the Central Park Zoo
The zoo is located near the south-east corner of Central Park, a few yards from 5th Avenue. It is well served by public transport.
By subway:
- Take the N, R, or W train to Fifth Avenue/59th Street, then walk north four blocks to 64th Street.
- Take the 6 train to 68th Street/Hunter College, walk three blocks west to 5th Avenue, then four blocks south to 64th Street.
By bus: The following routes stop on 5th Avenue between 59th and 65th Streets: M1, M2, M3, M4, M5, M66, Q32.
By car: There is no parking at the zoo. The zoo recommends pre-booking a space at a nearby garage via SpotHero (spothero.com). Street parking in this part of Midtown Manhattan is extremely limited.
Parking at the Central Park Zoo
There is no parking at the zoo itself. Visitors arriving by car should book a private garage space in advance through SpotHero, which lists nearby garages with reservable spots. The zoo links directly to SpotHero from its Getting Here page. Public transport is strongly recommended for most visitors.
How long to spend at the Central Park Zoo
Most visitors spend one to one and a half hours at the zoo. The site covers 6.5 acres and is compact by zoo standards. Visitors attending multiple feeding sessions will naturally extend their stay. The zoo’s own guidance sets the average visit at 1–1.5 hours.
Accessibility at the Central Park Zoo
All buildings at the zoo are wheelchair accessible. A limited number of free wheelchairs are available on a first-come, first-served basis from the admissions window or any security member of staff.
Visitors with pushchairs (strollers) may bring their own; the zoo does not offer rentals. Some buildings and exhibits require pushchairs to be parked at a designated area before entering.
Note that several exhibits involve steep hills — including the Red Panda, Snow Monkey, Snow Leopard, Bears, and Tisch Children’s Zoo areas. The accessibility page at centralparkzoo.com/plan-your-visit/accessibility includes a full table of exhibit-by-exhibit terrain and accessibility features.
The zoo holds KultureCity Sensory Inclusive™ certification. Free sensory bags — containing noise-cancelling headphones and fidget tools — are available from the Admissions Building across from the main zoo entrance (leave an ID as a deposit). Quiet zones and headphone zones are marked with signage throughout the site.
Personal Care Assistants (PCAs): PCA tickets must be arranged in advance by emailing [email protected] with the reservation order number (subject line: PCA admission). PCA tickets cannot be issued or refunded retrospectively. Contact Guest Relations at least seven days before your visit.
Inside the Central Park Zoo: what to see
Central Garden and Sea Lion Pool is the open-air centrepiece of the zoo, directly visible on entry. California sea lions are fed three times daily (11:30am, 1:30pm, and 3:30pm). The pool has underwater viewing windows that allow visitors to watch the sea lions swim.
Tropic Zone is a large indoor rainforest exhibit. Birds — including Victoria Crowned Pigeons and a range of tropical species — fly freely inside the building and may land within reach of visitors. The exhibit also houses black-and-white ruffed lemurs, white-faced saki monkeys, cotton-topped tamarins, snakes, lizards, and frogs.
Polar Circle houses Gentoo, King, and Chinstrap penguins alongside Tufted Puffins in a low-light indoor environment. Penguins are fed at 10:40am and 2:30pm daily. The building has no steep terrain but is dim throughout.
Temperate Territory includes the snow leopard enclosure, Japanese macaques (snow monkeys), red pandas, and grizzly bears. Several paths in this section are hilly. The snow leopard exhibit includes a touch element at a low-level viewing point.
Tisch Children’s Zoo is included in standard admission and is located within the main zoo grounds. Children can interact with goats, sheep, and a cow, with feed pellets available for purchase from machines (generally open 10am–2pm, subject to change). Brushing and grooming activities are sometimes available, at the keeper’s discretion.
4-D Theater shows are included with Zoo Admission. If purchased separately, the 4-D Theater costs $7 per person ($4 for WCS members). Assistive listening is available in this building.
Delacorte Clock, located at the zoo entrance, features animated bronze animal sculptures that rotate and play nursery rhymes every half-hour. It is accessible to all visitors without a ticket.
Practical visitor tips for the Central Park Zoo
| Tip | Detail |
|---|---|
| Book tickets before you visit | All visitors need a date-specific ticket. Limited Admission tickets (the cheaper option) are only available online and cannot be purchased at the gate. Zoo Admission tickets can be bought at the gate on site but may sell out, particularly at weekends. |
| Time your visit around feedings | Sea lion feedings at 11:30am, 1:30pm, and 3:30pm, and penguin feedings at 10:40am and 2:30pm, are the busiest and most popular moments of the day. Arriving at opening gives you the first penguin feeding and a quieter sea lion pool. |
| Arrive on a weekday | The zoo is in the heart of Midtown Manhattan. Weekends are significantly busier, particularly in summer. Weekday mornings offer shorter queues at exhibits and more space at the sea lion pool. |
| No strollers in some buildings | Designated areas outside certain buildings require you to park your pushchair before entering. Take all valuables with you; there are no lockers on site. |
| Tickets are non-refundable | The zoo does not offer refunds, rescheduling, or rain checks under any circumstances. Book only when confident of your plans and check the weather before choosing your date. |
Frequently asked questions about the Central Park Zoo
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Is the Central Park Zoo suitable for young children? | Yes. The Tisch Children’s Zoo offers hands-on animal interaction with goats and sheep. Pushchairs are permitted, children under 2 enter free, and the zoo is compact enough to complete comfortably with young children in under two hours. |
| Do you need to book tickets in advance for the Central Park Zoo? | Yes. All visitors require a date-specific ticket. Limited Admission (the lower-priced option) is only available online and cannot be bought at the gate. Zoo Admission can be purchased on site but may sell out. |
| Is the Central Park Zoo open on Sundays? | Yes. The zoo is open every day of the year, including Sundays, public holidays, and bank holidays. Weekend hours extend 30 minutes later than weekday hours from April to October. |
| Is the 4-D Theater included in the ticket price? | Only with the standard Zoo Admission ticket ($22.95 adults). The cheaper Limited Admission ticket ($15.95 adults) does not include the 4-D Theater; an additional $7 per person applies if you want to attend. |
| Can you bring food into the Central Park Zoo? | Outside food is not specifically prohibited, but the zoo does not have dedicated picnic areas inside. The Dancing Crane Café on site provides meals and snacks. Benches outside the zoo or elsewhere in Central Park are available for picnics. |
Things to do near the Central Park Zoo
Central Park (surrounding the zoo, free to enter) is a 843-acre public park with walking paths, the Reservoir, Belvedere Castle, Strawberry Fields, the Delacorte Theater, and the Conservatory Garden. The park is directly accessible from the zoo exit.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art (1000 5th Ave, ~1.5 miles north) is one of the largest art museums in the world, covering everything from ancient Egypt to contemporary art across 17 curatorial departments.
American Museum of Natural History (Central Park West & 79th St, ~1.5 miles north-west) has permanent halls covering dinosaurs, ocean life, and the universe, alongside the Hayden Planetarium.
The Frick Collection (1 E 70th St, ~0.5 miles north) is a fine art museum in a Gilded Age mansion with European paintings, sculpture, and decorative arts from the 13th to 19th centuries.
Rockefeller Center and Top of the Rock (45 Rockefeller Plaza, ~1.5 miles south) is a city-centre landmark with observation deck views across Manhattan, free public plazas, and the NBC Studios building. Observation deck is ticketed.
What to visit tomorrow: other zoos and aquariums near New York City
Bronx Zoo (Fordham Road & Southern Boulevard, Bronx, ~45 minutes by subway) is North America’s largest urban zoo, covering 265 acres with over 4,000 animals. It is managed by WCS, the same organisation as the Central Park Zoo. A WCS membership covers both sites.
New York Aquarium (Surf Avenue, Coney Island, Brooklyn, ~1 hour by subway) is the only major public aquarium in New York City, also managed by WCS. It features sharks, sea otters, walruses, and a large ocean wonders section.
Queens Zoo (53-51 111th Street, Flushing Meadows, Queens, ~45 minutes by subway or car) is a smaller WCS-managed zoo with a focus on North American species, including bison, puma, and bald eagles, set across 11 acres.
Prospect Park Zoo (450 Flatbush Avenue, Brooklyn, ~45 minutes by subway) is a compact WCS-managed zoo with around 200 animals across three habitats. Well-suited to visits with young children.
Staten Island Zoo (614 Broadway, Staten Island, ~1.5 hours from Midtown) is an independently managed zoo with reptiles, birds of prey, and African mammals, and is notably one of the most accessible zoos in the region by cost.
More New York City travel
Other New York City travel guides on Planet Whitley include:
- Seeing the Balto Statue, Central Park Carousel and USS Maine Memorial on a Central Park scavenger hunt.
- A first time visitor’s guide to Manhattan’s Upper East Side – including the Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum, the Frick Collection and the Museum of the City of New York.
- 5 niche New York City museums worth visiting – including the New York Transit Museum, the Morgan Library and the Skyscraper Museum.
- What to expect at the Intrepid Museum at Pier 86, Manhattan.
- Plan your visit to the National Museum of Mathematics in Manhattan.
