Central Park Zoo sits on the southeast corner of Central Park at East 64th Street and Fifth Avenue, a compact 6.5-acre wildlife park run by the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS). Its roots trace back to an informal 1864 menagerie, making it one of the oldest public zoos in the United States, though the zoo in its current form dates to 1934 and underwent a major naturalistic redesign by architect Kevin Roche that reopened in 1988.
Despite its small footprint, the zoo packs in distinct habitat zones, a busy daily schedule of animal feedings, and a separate children’s zoo, which makes planning ahead worthwhile. Below is what you need to know about hours, tickets, parking, and the best way to spend a couple of hours here.
Quick Answer
Central Park Zoo is open daily from 10 a.m. year-round, with closing times that shift by season (roughly 5 p.m. on weekdays and 5:30 p.m. on weekends from April through October, and 4:30 p.m. daily in the cooler months). Standard adult admission runs under $25, with a cheaper limited-admission online ticket also available; the zoo has no on-site parking, and the closest subway stop is Fifth Avenue/59th Street on the N, R, or W lines.
Habitats and Exhibits
The zoo is organized into three main climate zones plus the central sea lion pool. The Tropic Zone recreates a rainforest with flying foxes, tamarins, and macaws, while the Temperate Territory houses red pandas and snow leopards. The Polar Circle features grizzly bears, penguins, and puffins around a chilled habitat, and the sea lion pool anchors the zoo’s entrance with a rotating cast of California sea lions.
In total the zoo cares for around 130+ species and roughly 1,400 animals across its exhibits, a dense collection for such a small site. The zoo has been home to notable animals over the decades, from Gus the polar bear to Pattycake the gorilla, and its sea lion pool has long served as an unofficial gathering spot for park visitors passing through.
Planning Your Visit: Hours, Tickets & Prices
Central Park Zoo runs on two seasonal hour patterns. From roughly April through October, the zoo opens at 10 a.m. and closes around 5 p.m. on weekdays and 5:30 p.m. on weekends and holidays; from November through March, it operates on a shorter daily schedule closing in the mid-afternoon. Animal exhibits typically stop admitting visitors about an hour before the zoo’s official closing time, so plan to arrive well before then.
Admission is sold in two tiers: a standard ticket (which includes entry to the main zoo, the Tisch Children’s Zoo, and the 4-D theater) and a cheaper limited-admission ticket sold only online with no theater access. Pricing is broken into adult, senior, and child (ages 3-12) brackets, with children under 3 admitted free. Because prices and hours are adjusted seasonally and around holidays, check the official Central Park Zoo hours and rates page before you go, or visit the official Central Park Zoo site for tickets, memberships, and any date-specific reservation requirements.
Getting There: Address, Subway & Parking
The main entrance is at East 64th Street and Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10065, on the southeast edge of Central Park. The closest subway stop is Fifth Avenue/59th Street, served by the N, R, and W trains; from there it’s a short walk north along Fifth Avenue. The Lexington Avenue 6 train to 68th Street/Hunter College is another option, followed by a walk west and south to the entrance.
There is no parking lot at the zoo itself. Visitors driving in typically use one of the paid garages in the surrounding blocks, and booking a spot in advance through a parking app can save time and money compared to circling for street parking near the park.
Daily Schedule: Feeding Times & Shows
Feedings and keeper talks are a big part of what makes a Central Park Zoo visit feel worthwhile despite the small size. Sea lion feedings, which double as training and enrichment sessions, are typically scheduled multiple times a day, and penguin feedings run on their own daily schedule. Because show times can shift seasonally, check the zoo’s posted daily schedule at the entrance or online the day of your visit so you don’t miss a session.
Timing your visit around a feeding is one of the easiest ways to see the animals active rather than resting, and it’s worth building your route through the habitat zones around whichever session is coming up next.
Tisch Children’s Zoo
Included with standard admission, the Tisch Children’s Zoo is a separate petting-zoo section within the same complex, home to goats, sheep, pigs, and what’s often billed as the only cow in Manhattan. Hand-feeding is a highlight here, with feed dispensers on-site (bring a few quarters), though animal feeding is generally limited to a mid-morning-through-early-afternoon window rather than all day.
It’s a quick add-on rather than a destination in itself, most families spend somewhere between 20 minutes and an hour here depending on how long the kids want to linger with the animals.
How Long to Plan & Best Time to Visit
Given the zoo’s compact 6.5-acre footprint, most visitors can comfortably see the main habitat zones in about an hour to 90 minutes. Add the Tisch Children’s Zoo and a stop at the 4-D theater, and a full visit typically runs closer to two hours.
Weekday mornings shortly after opening tend to be the quietest time to visit, especially outside summer weekends and school holidays, when Central Park itself draws heavy foot traffic that spills into the zoo’s ticket lines.
History in the Heart of Manhattan
What began as an informal 1864 menagerie of donated and surrendered animals grew into a formal zoo by 1934. By the 1980s, outdated, cramped cages prompted a full redesign; the WCS reopened the zoo in 1988 with naturalistic habitats designed by Kevin Roche, a layout that still largely defines the visitor experience today.
Central Park Zoo visitor guide FAQs
How big is Central Park Zoo?
Central Park Zoo covers about 6.5 acres, making it one of the smallest major zoos in the country despite its central Manhattan location.
Who operates Central Park Zoo?
The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) operates Central Park Zoo as part of its network of NYC zoos and the New York Aquarium.
When did Central Park Zoo open?
An informal menagerie existed in the park as early as 1864, but the zoo in its modern form opened in 1934 and was substantially redesigned and reopened in 1988.
What are Central Park Zoo’s hours?
The zoo opens at 10 a.m. daily. Closing times run later on weekends than weekdays from spring through fall, and shift to an earlier, single daily closing time in the winter months. Check the official hours and rates page for the current schedule before visiting.
How much are Central Park Zoo tickets?
Standard admission (which includes the 4-D theater) is priced by age bracket — adult, senior, and child (3-12) — with children under 3 free. A cheaper limited-admission ticket without theater access is also sold online only. Exact prices are set by the zoo and can change, so confirm current rates on the official site before you buy.
Is there parking at Central Park Zoo?
No, the zoo does not have its own parking lot. Visitors driving in typically use nearby paid garages; reserving a spot in advance through a parking app is usually easier than finding street parking.
What time are the sea lion feedings?
Sea lion feedings, which double as training sessions, run multiple times a day on a set schedule. Times can shift seasonally, so check the daily schedule posted at the zoo or on its website the day of your visit.
How long do you need to visit Central Park Zoo?
Most visitors can see the main zoo in about an hour to 90 minutes. Adding the Tisch Children’s Zoo and 4-D theater typically brings a full visit to around two hours.
What is the nearest subway stop to Central Park Zoo?
The Fifth Avenue/59th Street station, served by the N, R, and W trains, is the closest subway stop, a short walk north to the zoo’s East 64th Street entrance.
Get More from Central Park Zoo visitor guide
Log the coasters, stadiums, and venues you’ve experienced, rate Central Park Zoo visitor guide, and see what your friends thought. Get the ThrillZing app.