Virginia Safari Park is a drive-through and walk-through wildlife park located at 229 Safari Lane, Natural Bridge, Virginia, in Rockbridge County. This guide covers opening dates, hours, ticket prices, vehicle rules, and practical visitor tips.
Updated May 2026. Prices listed on the official website are labelled as 2026 season prices and confirmed current. A 6% county admissions tax applies to all tickets. The park is closed from 30 November 2026 until the 2027 season opens.
Quick facts: Virginia Safari Park
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Address | 229 Safari Lane, Natural Bridge, VA 24578 |
| Season | 7 March – 29 November 2026 |
| Closed | Thanksgiving Day and all winter (from 30 Nov) |
| Weekday hours (May 4–Sep 27) | 9:00am–4:00pm (last vehicle out 5:30pm) |
| Weekend hours (May 4–Sep 27) | 9:00am–5:00pm (last vehicle out 6:30pm) |
| Adult ticket (13–64) | $29.95 + 6% tax |
| Senior ticket (65+) | $27.95 + 6% tax |
| Children (2–12) | $22.95 + 6% tax |
| Under 1 | Free |
| Parking | Free, on site |
| Typical visit duration | 2–4 hours |
Virginia Safari Park opening hours
The park is open 7 March to 29 November 2026 and is closed in winter. Hours vary by season.
| Period | Hours | Last vehicle out |
|---|---|---|
| 7–29 March* | 9am–4pm | 5:00pm |
| 30 March – 3 May | 9am–4pm | 5:30pm |
| 4 May – 27 Sep (weekdays) | 9am–4pm | 5:30pm |
| 4 May – 27 Sep (weekends) | 9am–5pm | 6:30pm |
| 28 Sep – 25 Oct | 9am–4pm | 5:30pm |
| 26 Oct – 29 Nov | 9am–4pm | 5:00pm |
*Weather dependent. The park is closed on Thanksgiving Day (27 November 2026).
Virginia Safari Park ticket prices
All prices are subject to 6% Rockbridge County admissions tax. Tickets are purchased at the entrance gate or online in advance at virginiasafaripark.com.
| Visitor | 2026 price (before tax) |
|---|---|
| Adult (13–64) | $29.95 |
| Senior (65+) | $27.95 |
| Children (2–12) | $22.95 |
| Under 1 | Free |
| Law enforcement, active duty, and retired military | $4 discount per paid admission (valid ID required) |
Admission covers the Safari Drive-Thru and Safari Village Walk-Thru for the entire day. A full-colour guidebook is included — one per car. Re-entry is permitted; present your receipt at the gate.
Animal feed (purchased separately):
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Safari Animal Feed Bucket | $6 each, or 4 for $20 |
| Village Goat Feed Cup | $4 |
| Budgie Feed Stick | $2 each, or 4 for $7 |
| Romaine Lettuce for Giraffes (with souvenir cup) | $5 |
| Village Feed Bundle (1 Romaine Cup, 2 Budgie Sticks, 1 Goat Cup) | $12 |
Ticket prices were checked on the official website and last updated in May 2026.
How to get to Virginia Safari Park
The park is located in Natural Bridge, Virginia, in the Shenandoah Valley, approximately 25 miles north of Roanoke and 50 miles south of Lexington.
By car from the north: Take I-81 south to exit 180A (Natural Bridge/US-11 south). Follow US-11 south for approximately 3 miles, then turn left onto Safari Lane.
By car from the south (Roanoke): Take I-81 north to exit 175 (Natural Bridge). Follow signs towards Natural Bridge and then to Safari Lane.
There is no public transport to the park. A car is required.
Parking at Virginia Safari Park
Parking is free on site. The car park is at the main entrance. As the park closes at a fixed time, no overnight parking is available.
How long to spend at Virginia Safari Park
Most visitors spend two to four hours. The drive-through portion takes 45–90 minutes depending on animal activity and how often you stop. Adding the Village Walk-Thru, animal feeding, and a wagon ride extends a visit to a full afternoon.
Accessibility at Virginia Safari Park
The Safari Drive-Thru is fully accessible — visitors remain in their own vehicles. The Safari Village Walk-Thru involves paved and gravel paths. Contact the park in advance at (540) 291-3205 to discuss specific accessibility needs.
Safari Drive-Thru vehicle rules
The following vehicles are not permitted on the Safari Drive-Thru:
- Motorcycles
- Convertibles
- Open-top jeeps or vehicles without doors
- Vehicles with tow-behind trailers
- Pick-up trucks with passengers in the bed (USDA regulation)
Minivan sliding doors must remain closed during the drive-through section. Windows must be fully lowered to feed animals. Feed buckets must be extended outside the vehicle — do not feed from the hand. No outside animal feed is permitted.
No animals are allowed in the park. No drones or balloons are permitted on the property.
Inside Virginia Safari Park: what to see and do
Safari Drive-Thru is the main experience. Visitors drive their own vehicle through approximately 3 miles of open habitat where animals roam freely and approach cars. Animals include giraffes, bison, elk, zebra, deer, ostriches, camels, llamas, and many others. Feed buckets ($6 each or 4 for $20) are sold at the entrance and make animals approach more readily.
Featured species with dedicated viewing on the drive-thru include the park’s resident King Cheetahs — a rare colour variant of the African cheetah — white rhinos, giant anteaters, and two-toed sloths. The King Cheetahs in particular are a genuine rarity; few parks outside Africa maintain them.
Safari Village Walk-Thru is the walk-through section after the drive-thru. It includes a petting and feeding area with goats and a Budgie Aviary (budgerigar walk-through), where budgies land on visitors holding feed sticks. Romaine lettuce is sold separately for hand-feeding the giraffes from an elevated platform.
Wagon Rides are available seasonally. These are pulled wagon tours through parts of the park for an additional fee.
Animal Encounters are a separately bookable, close-up experience with specific animals.
Practical visitor tips for Virginia Safari Park
| Tip | Detail |
|---|---|
| Check your vehicle type before booking | Motorcycles, convertibles, and open-top vehicles cannot enter the drive-thru. If your vehicle is not suitable, you will not be able to complete the main experience. |
| Buy feed buckets at the entrance | Feed is not sold inside the drive-thru. If you want animals to approach your car, buy feed at the entrance before entering. Four buckets for $20 is the best-value option for a family. |
| Lower your windows before you enter | Windows must be fully down to feed; animals may approach regardless. Check for loose items, sunglasses, and anything that could fall out. |
| Weekends are busier | Summer weekends see higher numbers and longer times in the drive-thru queue. Weekday mornings in May or September offer the quietest experience. |
| The park closes for the season on 29 November | Virginia Safari Park does not operate in winter. Plan visits before the seasonal closure. |
Frequently asked questions about Virginia Safari Park
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Can I visit in a convertible? | No. Convertibles, motorcycles, open-top jeeps, and vehicles without doors are not permitted on the Safari Drive-Thru. |
| Is outside animal food allowed? | No. Only feed purchased at the park entrance may be used in the drive-thru or Village. |
| Is the park open on weekends? | Yes, from 9am–5pm (last vehicle out 6:30pm) during the main summer season (4 May–27 September). |
| Can you visit without a car? | The Safari Drive-Thru requires a vehicle. The Safari Village Walk-Thru can be visited independently, but the drive-thru is the main attraction. There is no public transport to the park. |
| Are pets allowed? | No. No animals are allowed in the park. |
Things to do near Virginia Safari Park
Natural Bridge State Park (15 Appledore Lane, Natural Bridge, ~1 mile) is immediately adjacent to the safari park and centres on the Natural Bridge — a 215-foot natural limestone arch that was once owned by Thomas Jefferson. Hiking trails and a visitor centre.
Luray Caverns (101 Cave Hill Road, Luray, ~45 miles north, ~1 hour) is one of the largest and most visited cavern systems in the eastern US, with massive stalactite and stalagmite formations and the world’s only Stalacpipe Organ.
Lexington, VA (~20 miles north) is a historic college town (home to Washington and Lee University and VMI) with the Stonewall Jackson House and the George C. Marshall Museum.
Blue Ridge Parkway (access near Rockfish Gap, ~30 miles east) is a 469-mile National Parkway running along the Blue Ridge Mountains with scenic overlooks, hiking, and cycling.
Roanoke (~25 miles south) has the Taubman Museum of Art, the Virginia Museum of Transportation, and the city’s historic market district — good for a meal before or after the park.
What to visit tomorrow: wildlife parks and zoos within two hours
Mill Mountain Zoo (Roanoke, ~1.5 hours south-west) is a small AZA-accredited zoo on the Blue Ridge slope above Roanoke, with red pandas, snow leopards, and the illuminated Mill Mountain Star visible from across the city.
Metro Richmond Zoo (Moseley, VA, ~2 hours north-east) is a large privately owned zoo with drive-through giraffe feeding, a large primate collection, white rhinos, and a zip line. One of the more expansive wildlife parks in the mid-Atlantic region.
Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch — the safari park itself is the main drive-through wildlife attraction in this part of Virginia. The nearest equivalents require a longer drive.
Shenandoah Valley wildlife: The national park (Shenandoah National Park, Skyline Drive, ~1.5 hours north) offers a different kind of wildlife experience — white-tailed deer, black bears, and wild turkey observed from vehicles or on foot on the 105-mile Skyline Drive.
Catoctin Wildlife Preserve and Zoo (Thurmont, MD, ~3 hours north) is a small zoo near Camp David with big cats, primates, and reptiles. Beyond the two-hour range but the closest drive-through-style wildlife facility to the north of the park.
More Virginia travel
Other Virginia travel guides on Planet Whitley include:
- The small-scale Virginia cider makers driving the cider renaissance.
- What’s so special about the Taubman Museum of Art in Roanoke?
- Guide to visiting Booker T Washington National Monument near Roanoke.
- What you should know before visiting the Science Museum of Virginia in Richmond.
- What to know before visiting the White House of the Confederacy in Richmond.
