Denver Zoo: A Practical Guide to Visiting

Denver Zoo, officially Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance (DZCA), is at 2300 Steele Street in City Park. The zoo’s formal operations began in 1896 with a black bear cub given to Denver’s mayor. A later landmark, Bear Mountain, opened in 1918 with a naturalistic habitat design that let people see animals at eye level without bars or fences.

DZCA is open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., except Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. Mid-morning through noon is often the busiest stretch, so the zoo recommends arriving at opening or in the early afternoon. Members have an early-entry window from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. daily from Memorial Day through Labor Day.

If you’re staying at Off Broadway B & B, the zoo is one of the city outings to consider. You can also pair a separate day with the Denver Museum of Nature and Science. Before setting out, check the official site before you go for current hours, ticket availability and visitor information.

General admission requires an online timed-ticket reservation. Choose an entry window when booking; you can arrive any time after that window. Tickets go on sale 10 days in advance and are non-refundable, so check your plans before reserving.

• Adults ages 16–64: $27
• Seniors ages 65 and older: $24
• Youth ages 3–15: $19
• Children age 2 and under: free, with a complimentary online ticket required

Children under 16 must be accompanied by someone age 16 or older. DZCA holds seven Community Free Days throughout the year, with limited tickets distributed through an online lottery. SNAP/EBT Explorer card holders can reserve admission for $5 per person for up to 10 guests.

For a large-animal habitat, start with Toyota Elephant Passage. It has five habitats that Asian elephants, greater one-horned rhinos and Malayan tapirs can rotate among, plus a sixth yard reserved for tapirs.

Tropical Discovery offers a different mix, including fish, amphibians, invertebrates and reptiles, along with a bat cave and reef-dwelling fish. If you want to cover more ground between areas, the Denver Zoo Railroad runs from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.; the published general-public fare is $4.

Free guest parking is available in the lots beside the zoo and in its four-level garage. Vehicle access is along 23rd Avenue between York Street and Colorado Boulevard, near the main entrance.

RTD bus routes 20 and 40 pass near the zoo. From stops at East 23rd Avenue and Colorado Boulevard, walk west on East 23rd Avenue to the main entrance on Steele Street.

Accessible parking spaces are available on all four levels of the garage near the elevators, as well as in the East Lot in front of Kibongi Market and the Main Entrance. Wheelchairs and electric convenience scooters are available to rent first-come, first-served; DZCA strongly recommends reserving one when you book your ticket.

You can check out a sensory kit at no charge from the Concierge booth just inside the Main Entrance. You’ll need to leave photo ID while using it. One aide, attendant or guide is admitted free for each person who needs assistance; contact Guest Care to request that ticket.

Pets and emotional-support, therapy, comfort and companion animals are not permitted on campus. Visitors may not feed, chase or tease animals, tap on exhibit glass or shout at them, and must stay on designated pathways. Glass containers are prohibited except for small containers such as baby-food jars; balloons and plastic straws are also prohibited.

Most people spend an average of one to three hours at the zoo. Food, restaurants and activities can extend the outing to a full day, so choose your pace based on how much time you want to give the habitats and other stops.

If you have a shorter visit, pick a couple of areas to prioritize rather than trying to fit in everything.