The Prospect Park Zoo is an AZA-accredited zoo managed by the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), located on the eastern edge of Prospect Park at 450 Flatbush Avenue, Brooklyn. This guide covers opening hours, ticket prices, transport, accessibility, and practical visitor tips to help you plan your visit.
Updated May 2026. As of 3 March 2026, WCS members no longer need to make an advance reservation for regular daytime admission — a change not yet reflected in many other guides. Note also that tickets cannot be purchased at the gate: all visitors must book online in advance.
Quick facts: Prospect Park Zoo, Brooklyn
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Address | 450 Flatbush Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11225 |
| Phone | (718) 399-7339 |
| Opening hours (Apr–Oct, Mon–Fri) | 10am–5pm (last entry 4:30pm) |
| Opening hours (Apr–Oct, weekends & federal holidays) | 10am–5:30pm (last entry 5pm) |
| Opening hours (Nov–Mar) | 10am–4:30pm daily (last entry 4pm) |
| Closed | Never — open 365 days a year |
| Adult ticket (ages 13+) | $10.95 |
| Child ticket (ages 3–12) | $7.95 |
| Children aged 2 and under | Free |
| Nearest subway | Q or B to Prospect Park; or S (Franklin Ave Shuttle) |
| Parking | None on site; free street parking on Flatbush Avenue |
| Typical visit duration | 1–1.5 hours |
Prospect 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 4:30pm)
- Weekends and federal holidays: 10am–5:30pm (last entry 5pm)
1 November 2026 – March 2027:
- Daily: 10am–4:30pm (last entry 4pm)
Last entry is 30 minutes before the zoo grounds close. Individual exhibit availability may vary due to weather, capacity, or animal care.
Prospect Park Zoo ticket prices
All tickets require a date-specific online booking made in advance at prospectparkzoo.com. Tickets cannot be purchased at the gate. Do not visit without a confirmed online booking.
| Visitor type | Price |
|---|---|
| Adults (ages 13+) | $10.95 |
| Seniors (ages 65+) | $8.95 |
| Children (ages 3–12) | $7.95 |
| Children (aged 2 and under) | Free |
All sales are final. There are no refunds, cancellations, or rescheduling for any reason, including bad weather.
Discounts and passes:
- US Military and Veterans: Active military receive a complimentary ticket for themselves, plus 50% off for up to three guests. Use promo code MILITARYCITY (active) or VETERANCITY (veterans) at checkout. Military ID required on entry.
- Cool Culture cardholders: Up to five complimentary tickets with promo code COOLC at checkout.
- Museum Council passholders: Two complimentary tickets with promo code MUSEUM at checkout.
- WCS Membership: Covers free year-round admission to all five WCS parks in New York. As of 3 March 2026, members no longer need a reservation for regular daytime visits.
The Prospect Park Zoo is not currently part of the Go City New York pass or CityPass.
Opening hours and ticket prices were checked on the official website and last updated in May 2026.
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How to get to the Prospect Park Zoo
The zoo is located on the eastern boundary of Prospect Park, with its main entrance from within the park at the corner of Flatbush Avenue and Empire Boulevard. A secondary entrance on Flatbush Avenue is sometimes open in spring and summer.
By subway: Take the Q or B train to Prospect Park station, or the S (Franklin Avenue Shuttle) to the same station. The zoo entrance is a short walk through the park’s Children’s Corner.
By bus: The B41 bus runs along Flatbush Avenue and stops near the zoo entrance.
By car: There is no on-site car park. Free street parking is available on Flatbush Avenue; spaces fill early on weekends. Sunday street parking is free in Brooklyn under alternate-side regulations.
Parking at the Prospect Park Zoo
There is no parking at the zoo itself. Free street parking is available on Flatbush Avenue but fills quickly on weekends. Arriving early or using the subway is recommended.
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How long to spend at the Prospect Park Zoo
Most visitors spend one to one and a half hours at the zoo. The site covers 12 acres, with a layout centred on the Sea Lion Court that makes it straightforward to navigate all exhibits in one visit.
Accessibility at the Prospect Park Zoo
The zoo is largely accessible, with most exhibits on flat paved paths. A limited number of free wheelchairs are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Contact Guest Relations at [email protected] at least seven days before your visit for accessibility support, or call 718-220-5103. There are no lockers or stroller rentals on site; visitors may bring their own strollers.
Inside the Prospect Park Zoo: what to see
Sea Lion Court is the focal point of the zoo, visible from multiple paths. California sea lions are among the zoo’s most popular residents. Sea lion training sessions take place twice daily at 11:30am and 3:30pm, where visitors can watch the bond between keepers and animals on display.
Discovery Trail is a shaded outdoor path housing a range of animals in naturalistic settings. North American river otters and Australian dingoes are among the species here — both unique to Prospect Park Zoo within the New York City zoo system. Porcupines and other small mammals are also visible along the trail.
Animal Lifestyles is a series of indoor exhibits showing how different animals have adapted to survive. The building displays Hamadryas baboons, Pallas’s cats, red pandas, reptiles, amphibians, poison dart frogs, and fennec foxes in close-up enclosures.
Barn and Garden is a working farmyard with domestic animals including goats, sheep, and poultry, with grain available for purchase to feed the animals. The barn is heated in winter and open year-round. The garden setting is attractive in spring and summer.
Practical visitor tips for the Prospect Park Zoo
| Tip | Detail |
|---|---|
| Book before you arrive | There is no ticket sales at the gate. All visitors must book online at before visiting. Arriving without a confirmed booking means you will not be admitted. |
| Time your visit around sea lion training | Training sessions at 11:30am and 3:30pm are the zoo’s most popular moments. Arriving before 11am gives you time to see the trail and indoor exhibits before the first session. |
| Use the subway | Parking on Flatbush Avenue fills quickly on weekends. The Q and B trains to Prospect Park station are direct and reliable from most parts of Brooklyn and Manhattan. |
| Combine with Prospect Park | The zoo exit leads directly into Prospect Park, a free 585-acre green space with a lake, woodland trails, the Boathouse, and Prospect Park Audubon Center — all free to visit. |
| Tickets are non-refundable | No refunds or rescheduling are offered under any circumstances, including rain. The majority of exhibits at this zoo are indoors or covered, making it a reasonable wet-weather option. |
Frequently asked questions about the Prospect Park Zoo
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Is the Prospect Park Zoo suitable for young children? | Yes. The zoo is compact, largely flat, and contains a children’s barnyard with grain-feeding opportunities. Most indoor exhibits are fully accessible with pushchairs. Children under 2 enter free. |
| Do you need to book tickets in advance for the Prospect Park Zoo? | Yes — all tickets must be booked online before visiting. There is no gate purchase. Do not go without a confirmed booking. |
| Is the Prospect Park Zoo open on Sundays? | Yes. The zoo is open every day of the year, with extended hours on Sundays from April to October. |
| Is there parking at the Prospect Park Zoo? | There is no on-site car park. Free street parking is available on Flatbush Avenue, but spaces fill quickly. Public transport via the Q or B subway to Prospect Park station is recommended. |
Things to do near the Prospect Park Zoo
Prospect Park (surrounding the zoo, free) is a 585-acre park designed by Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux, the same team behind Central Park. It includes a lake, forest trails, a skating rink (seasonal), and the Prospect Park Audubon Center at the Boathouse.
Brooklyn Botanic Garden (150 Eastern Parkway, adjacent to the zoo and park, ticketed) is a 52-acre botanic garden most famous for its Japanese Hill-and-Pond Garden and its Cherry Esplanade, which draws large crowds during cherry blossom season in spring.
Brooklyn Museum (200 Eastern Parkway, ~10 minutes’ walk, ticketed) is one of the largest art museums in the United States. Its Egyptian collection, feminist art wing, and rotating contemporary exhibitions attract visitors from across the city.
Grand Army Plaza (at the north end of Prospect Park, free) is a formal plaza anchored by the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Memorial Arch, modelled on the Arc de Triomphe. A farmers’ market runs here on Saturday mornings.
Park Slope (the residential neighbourhood west of Prospect Park) contains a dense concentration of restaurants, cafés, bookshops, and independent food shops along 5th and 7th Avenues — well suited to lunch or dinner before or after a zoo visit.
What to visit tomorrow: other zoos and aquariums near Brooklyn
Central Park Zoo (Manhattan, ~45 minutes by subway) is a compact WCS zoo with sea lions, snow leopards, penguins, and a tropical rainforest building. Managed by the same organisation.
Bronx Zoo (Bronx, ~1 hour by subway) is North America’s largest urban zoo, covering 265 acres with over 4,000 animals. Also managed by WCS; a WCS membership covers both sites.
Queens Zoo (Corona, Queens, ~50 minutes by subway) is an 18-acre WCS zoo focused on species from the Americas, including Andean bears, bison, and sea lions.
New York Aquarium (Coney Island, ~30 minutes by subway) is New York City’s only public aquarium, also managed by WCS, with sharks, sea otters, penguins, and an outdoor Aquatheater. The F or Q train from Prospect Park station reaches it directly.
Staten Island Zoo (614 Broadway, Staten Island, ~1.5 hours via subway and ferry) is a smaller independently managed zoo specialising in reptiles and birds of prey, notable for its herpetology collection and more manageable admission cost.
More New York City travel
Other New York City travel guides on Planet Whitley include:
- How to pay less for Empire State Building tickets and get cheaper tickets for Summit One Vanderbilt.
- Plan your visit to the Top of the Rock observation deck and the Whitney Museum of American Art.
- Visit the Fraunces Tavern Museum and the Charging Bull Sculpture in Lower Manhattan.
- What to expect at the Intrepid Museum at Pier 86, Manhattan.
- Plan your visit to the National Museum of Mathematics in Manhattan.
