San Francisco Zoo

Arts & Entertainment · San Francisco, CA

This zoo is a top pick for families with young children in the Bay Area, with many reviewers highlighting the spacious animal enclosures and well-maintained grounds. Consider arriving earlier in the day to fully experience all the attractions, as some visitors noted that closing time can sneak up quickly.

Family-friendly
Over 2,000 animals
Kids' zoo
Steam train

Happening nearby

Events around San Francisco Zoo

Westlake Family StorytimeThursday, September 24 · 10:15 AM PDTWestlake Branch - Daly City Public Library
Old Crow Medicine Show: Hardly Strictly Bluegrass 2026Saturday, October 3 · 7:00 PM PDTGolden Gate Park

About

Families come for the more than 2,000 animals, kids' zoo, steam train, carousel & special exhibits.

Ratings & Reviews

★ 4.414,369 Google reviews

amamou achraf★★★★★
My experience at the San Francisco Zoo was excellent from start to finish. One of the standout features was the mobile app, which made navigating the zoo incredibly easy. The interactive map and journey-planning tools were well designed, user-friendly, and helped us make the most of our visit without missing any of the major attractions. The zoo itself is impressively organized, with animals grouped into themed regions that create a more immersive experience. I particularly enjoyed how areas such as Africa, Australia, South America, and the exotic animal exhibits were clearly separated and thoughtfully designed. Even insects and smaller creatures have their own dedicated area, which shows the attention to detail and educational value that the zoo offers. There is a great diversity of animals, making it easy to spend an entire day exploring. The habitats appeared well maintained, and the layout encouraged a natural flow from one exhibit to another. During our visit, one cafeteria was open and serving guests, while the pizza restaurant was temporarily closed. Hopefully it reopens soon, as having both food venues operating would help distribute visitors more evenly and improve the overall dining experience during busy periods. Overall, this is a fantastic destination for families, couples, tourists, and animal lovers of all ages. The combination of excellent organization, a wide variety of animals, educational exhibits, and a very helpful mobile app made for a memorable day out. I would definitely recommend a visit and look forward to returning in the future.
2 months ago

Irene “MJ” Kim★★★★★
One of the best zoos in the Bay Area for families with young children! Compared with Happy Hollow, Palo Alto Junior Museum & Zoo, and Oakland Zoo, this was my favorite. The entire zoo is mostly flat, making it very easy to explore with a stroller! 🍼 We were also impressed by how close we could get to many of the animals compared to other local zoos. We skipped the dinosaur attraction because our 2-year-old found it a little scary, but we still spent a wonderful day here and never felt like we missed out. Parking was $15, which was reasonable for a full day visit. We’d definitely come back, especially in a different season.
a month ago

Javaneh Fennell★★★★★
This has got to be one of the best zoos I’ve ever visited! The animals have so much space, all seem very well taken care of, and the employees were all very nice and helpful. Wandering through the Africa section alone was jaw dropping! My kids especially loved the penguins who seemed to be having the time of their lives! The food at the cafe was really good too! I got chicken strips that were fried to perfection and juicy. My daughter got mac and cheese which was made with cavatappi noodles! We really enjoyed our time and felt like the zoo was a really well thought out, lovely place for animals and education.
a month ago

Good to know

Good for kids
Free parking
Paid parking
Wheelchair accessible
Credit cards
Contactless payments

Hours & Price

Closed now

Monday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Tuesday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Wednesday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Thursday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Friday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Saturday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Sunday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Offerings

Bay Area Discovery Museum Exclusive Member Offer50% off up to four ticketsZoo Members receive 50% off up to four Bay Area Discovery Museum tickets! Don't miss Bubble Bash at Bay Area Discovery Museum! Giant bubbles, joyful foam parties, and hands-on play across 7.5 acres. Bubble Bash ends September 7 and this special offer ends September 13. The Bay Area Discovery Museum is designed for children ages [ ]
Sunset FridaysSunset Fridays, an after-hours event for the whole family, will run on consecutive Fridays* through October 9 from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Playfield Lawn. Guests will enjoy live music, outdoor bars, kid-friendly activities, ambassador animals, and more. *Excluding Friday, September 25, 2026.
SF Resident Free DayFreeSan Francisco Residents receive free admission with proof of SF Residency. Bring your government issued ID to the area where tickets are scanned and receive free entry. One free admission per ID provided in which SF residency is shown.
Senior Mornings Guided Tour$15 for Senior level Members, $25 for non-membersEnjoy a guided walking tour with almost the whole Zoo to yourself. Watch the animals that are active early in the day with a dedicated guide to answer your questions and offer fascinating insights into animal behavior. For guests 65 years and older.
Member MorningsFree for MembersMembers get early entry to the Zoo from 9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. as well as free access to Dinos Rule! Come enjoy the Zoo and visit Dinos Rule!