The short answer: bring your own snacks and a refillable water bottle (most zoos allow outside food), skip the valuables since many zoos have no lockers or bag check, pack sun protection because zoo paths have little shade, and plan for a stroller or wagon rental if you don’t bring your own.
This page covers the rules you should actually check before you pack — bags, outside food, strollers, and lockers — using the Smithsonian’s National Zoo in Washington, D.C. as a verified example, plus a practical checklist and product picks for a day spent walking between exhibits with young kids.
Stats at a Glance
- Bags Allowed: Yes — security may hand-check bags, strollers, and containers on busy days (verified at the National Zoo)
- Loose Articles: Not applicable at most zoos — this is a walking venue, not a ride-based park
- Outside Food: Allowed at the National Zoo; no alcohol, glass bottles discouraged. Confirm at your specific zoo
- Lockers: Not available at the National Zoo — confirm locker availability at your zoo before relying on one
The Rules to Know Before You Pack
At the Smithsonian’s National Zoo, you’re allowed to bring your own food and non-alcoholic drinks — glass bottles are discouraged because broken glass is a hazard to visitors, staff, and animals, and alcohol isn’t permitted. There are no bag-size limits published, but security does conduct hand-checks of bags, strollers, and containers during busy periods, and you may be screened with a wand.
The National Zoo does not have lockers or any bag/coat check, so don’t plan on storing anything during your visit — whatever you bring in, you carry the whole time. Strollers and wagons are available to rent at the Visitor Center on a first-come, first-served basis (credit card only, no cash), but during peak visitation strollers may not be allowed inside animal buildings, where you’ll instead find designated stroller parking at the entrance. Free entry passes are date-specific, not timed — once you’ve booked a pass for a given day, you can arrive any time during regular hours on that date (groups of 16 or more do need to arrive at their specified time). If you leave and want to come back the same day, get a hand stamp from the Visitor Center or the Harvard Street entrance before the last admission time. Balloons, drones, and toy weapons are prohibited, and only trained service animals are allowed. Rules vary by zoo, so check the official site for your specific destination before you go.
Gear Worth Packing
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Since most zoos let you carry your own bag all day with no locker backup, pack things that pull double duty for comfort and sun protection.
Kids’ UPF 50+ Bucket Hat
Zoo paths are long and mostly uncovered, and shade doesn’t line up with where the animals actually are, so a hat that stays on is worth more than sunscreen alone.
Neutrogena Kids Mineral Sunscreen Stick
A stick applies with no greasy hands, which matters when you’re reapplying between the primates and the big cats and don’t want sunscreen on everything your toddler touches next.
Kids’ Insulated Water Bottle (12 oz)
Outside drinks are allowed at the National Zoo (skip glass bottles), so a bottle that keeps water cold through a full loop of exhibits beats buying drinks at every stop.
Gaiatop Clip-On Stroller Fan
If you bring your own stroller rather than renting, a clip-on fan helps on a hot exhibit day without needing a free hand to hold it.
Hip Seat Baby Carrier
If strollers aren’t allowed inside a given animal building during a busy day, a hip seat carrier means you’re not left juggling a toddler in your arms at the exhibit glass.
Spill-Proof Snack Cups (2 Pack)
Since outside snacks are allowed, spill-proof cups keep crackers contained in the stroller basket or your bag instead of scattered on the path.
Folding Wagon
Useful if you’re bringing your own gear rather than renting — a wagon covers a tired toddler, a diaper bag, and snacks across a zoo that can span a mile or more of walking.
Kids’ Rain Ponchos (Family Pack)
Outdoor exhibits don’t pause for a passing shower, and a poncho in the bag means you’re not cutting the visit short over weather.
Quick Checklist
Beyond gear, these are the things to actually confirm you have before you leave the house or the car.
| Bring | Why |
|---|---|
| Tickets or membership card | Many zoos, including the National Zoo, require a free entry pass reserved in advance for a specific date |
| Photo ID | Needed to pick up will-call tickets, verify membership, or rent a stroller |
| Refillable water bottle | Outside drinks are allowed at the National Zoo; confirm at your zoo, then use the water refill stations |
| Snacks your kids actually eat | Outside food is generally allowed — check your zoo’s specific rules first |
| Diaper bag essentials | No lockers at the National Zoo means you carry everything the whole visit |
| Hand sanitizer or wipes | Useful after petting-area exhibits and before snack time |
| Cash or card for stroller/wagon rental | The National Zoo accepts credit cards only for rentals, no cash |
| Map or app download | Helps plan a route for nap schedules and stroller-restricted buildings |
Tips From Experience
Go early. Zoos get hot and crowded by midday, and a toddler’s patience for walking runs out before yours does.
If you’re renting a stroller or wagon, bring a card — most zoo rental counters, including the National Zoo’s, don’t take cash.
Build in a buffer for stroller parking outside animal buildings during busy days — you may be unloading and reloading a toddler more often than expected.
Explore more: ThrillZing guides.
Zoo Day Packing List for Kids and Toddlers FAQs
Can you bring your own food into a zoo?
At the Smithsonian’s National Zoo, yes — outside food and non-alcoholic drinks are allowed, though glass bottles are discouraged and alcohol isn’t permitted. Policies vary by zoo, so check your specific zoo’s official site.
Do zoos have lockers for bags?
Not always. The National Zoo does not offer lockers or a bag/coat check, so you carry your belongings for the entire visit. Confirm locker availability on your zoo’s official FAQ page before you go.
Are strollers allowed in every building at the zoo?
At the National Zoo, strollers may not be permitted inside animal buildings during peak visitation days, with designated stroller parking provided at the entrance to each building.
Is the National Zoo’s free entry pass for a specific arrival time?
No — the pass is date-specific, not time-specific. Once you’ve booked a free Entry Pass for a given day, you can arrive any time during regular hours on that date. The exception is groups of 16 or more, who must arrive at the time listed on their reservation.
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Photo: Quadell / CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.