Planning a trip to the Memphis Zoo? Here’s the full picture: current hours, ticket prices, parking, the must-see exhibits like Zambezi River Hippo Camp and Teton Trek, and the complete story behind the zoo’s famous former panda exhibit.
Tucked inside Overton Park in Midtown Memphis, the zoo has grown from a small city menagerie founded in 1906 into one of the most-visited zoological parks in the country, home to more than 3,500 animals across 500-plus species.
Quick Answer
Memphis Zoo is open daily year-round, generally 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. in spring and summer and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in fall and winter, with adult admission typically in the mid-$20s, child admission a few dollars less, and parking around $10 per vehicle. Tennessee residents get free admission every Tuesday with an advance online reservation. For exact current hours, prices, and any closures, check the official Memphis Zoo website before you go.
Memphis Zoo Hours
The zoo runs on a seasonal schedule: longer hours (roughly 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.) during the warmer March-through-October stretch, and shorter hours (roughly 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.) once fall and winter set in. Gates typically stop admitting new guests about 30-60 minutes before closing, so plan to arrive well before the posted closing time if you want to see everything.
Like most major zoos, Memphis Zoo closes on a handful of major holidays each year, including Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. Because seasonal hours and holiday closures shift from year to year, always confirm the current schedule on the official Plan Your Visit page rather than relying on a search snippet.
Tickets & Admission Prices
Memphis Zoo uses tiered pricing: adults (roughly ages 12-59), children (roughly ages 2-11), and seniors each pay a different rate, and prices are usually a bit higher on weekends than on weekdays. Kids under 2 get in free. Tickets can be purchased online in advance or at the gate, and buying online is generally the faster way in during busy periods.
If you plan to visit more than once a year, a Memphis Zoo membership pays for itself quickly — memberships include unlimited general admission and free parking for a full year, plus discounts on food and gift shop purchases. Tennessee residents also get free general admission every Tuesday, though the zoo requires a free reservation booked online in advance for that program. Exact current prices, membership tiers, and any active promotions are listed on the official ticketing and membership page.
Parking at the Memphis Zoo
Parking is pay-per-vehicle at the zoo’s on-site lots, and it’s free for members. On especially busy days — holidays, free Tennessee Tuesdays, and summer weekends — the main lots can fill up, so arriving early or using rideshare drop-off near the entrance can save time. Because parking rates are adjusted periodically, check the official visitor page for the current fee.
Where Is the Memphis Zoo?
The zoo sits at 2000 Prentiss Place, Memphis, TN 38112, inside Overton Park in Midtown Memphis, just a few miles east of Downtown off Poplar Avenue. Overton Park itself is one of the city’s largest green spaces, so visitors often combine a zoo trip with a walk through the park’s old-growth forest or a stop at the Memphis Brooks Museum of Art, which sits nearby in the same park.
Top Exhibits & What to See
Zambezi River Hippo Camp, which opened in 2016, is one of the zoo’s most popular stops — an underwater viewing area lets guests watch hippos swim at eye level alongside Nile crocodiles and flamingos, recreating a slice of Africa’s Zambezi River ecosystem.
Teton Trek, themed around Yellowstone National Park, immerses visitors in grizzly bear and timber wolf habitats alongside elk and trumpeter swans. Northwest Passage brings the Arctic to Memphis with polar bears, black bears, sea lions, and bald eagles, including underwater viewing of the polar bears. Cat Country, a 3-acre open-air habitat, lets tigers and lions roam alongside smaller predators and prey like fennec foxes and meerkats.
Beyond these headline exhibits, the zoo’s roughly 55 developed acres hold more than a dozen themed habitat zones, making it easy to spend a full half-day or more exploring without repeating ground.
History & Overton Park
The Memphis Zoo has anchored Overton Park in Midtown Memphis since opening on April 4, 1906, growing from a small city menagerie into one of the country’s most-visited zoological parks. Spanning 76 acres with roughly 55 developed for exhibits, the zoo is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, with its accreditation renewed through 2030 following a multi-year inspection process completed in 2025.
Today the Memphis Zoo houses more than 3,500 animals representing over 500 species, drawing approximately 1.2 million visitors annually and remaining one of Tennessee’s most popular family attractions.
What Happened to the Memphis Zoo’s Pandas?
The Memphis Zoo built much of its national reputation on its China exhibit, home to giant pandas Le Le and Ya Ya for roughly two decades under a loan agreement with China. Le Le died in February 2023, and Ya Ya returned to China in May 2023 as the loan agreement concluded, ending the panda residency at the zoo.
As of the zoo’s most recent public statements, there is no confirmed plan to bring new pandas to Memphis. A few other U.S. zoos, including San Diego, have received new pandas under fresh agreements with China, but Memphis Zoo representatives have said they have nothing new to report on the subject. The former panda habitat space remains part of the zoo’s China exhibit area.
Conservation and Recognition
Beyond its exhibits, the Memphis Zoo participates in AZA-coordinated conservation programs for endangered species and underwent extensive facility upgrades, including an 11,500-square-foot veterinary hospital renovation completed in 2025 after 25 years of service. The zoo’s accreditation, most recently renewed in March 2025, reflects sustained compliance with national animal welfare and care standards — a status not every zoo and aquarium in the country holds.
Tips for Planning Your Visit
Weekday mornings tend to be the least crowded time to visit, since school groups and weekend families drive up traffic later in the day and on Saturdays and Sundays. If you’re a Tennessee resident hoping to use the free Tuesday program, book your reservation online well in advance, since those slots can fill up. Summer visitors should plan around Memphis heat by starting early and taking breaks in shaded or indoor exhibit areas during the hottest midday hours.
Memphis Zoo visitor guide FAQs
When did the Memphis Zoo open?
The Memphis Zoo opened on April 4, 1906, in Overton Park in Midtown Memphis, Tennessee.
How big is the Memphis Zoo?
The zoo covers 76 acres, with about 55 acres currently developed for exhibits and visitor areas.
What are the Memphis Zoo’s hours?
The zoo is generally open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. in spring and summer and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in fall and winter, with a few holiday closures each year. Confirm exact hours on the official Memphis Zoo website before visiting.
How much are Memphis Zoo tickets?
Pricing is tiered by age (adult, child, senior) with kids under 2 free, and weekend prices typically run a bit higher than weekday prices. Check the official site for current rates, since prices are adjusted periodically.
Is parking free at the Memphis Zoo?
No, general parking is a flat per-vehicle fee, though it’s included free for zoo members.
Is there a free admission day at the Memphis Zoo?
Yes. Tennessee residents can get free general admission every Tuesday with a required advance online reservation.
Does the Memphis Zoo still have pandas?
No. The zoo’s giant pandas, Le Le and Ya Ya, were part of a roughly 20-year loan from China; Le Le died in February 2023 and Ya Ya returned to China in May 2023, ending the exhibit’s panda residency. As of now, no new pandas have been confirmed for Memphis.
What are the must-see exhibits at the Memphis Zoo?
Zambezi River Hippo Camp, Teton Trek, Northwest Passage, and Cat Country are the zoo’s headline habitats, featuring hippos, grizzly bears, polar bears, and big cats respectively.
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