ZooTampa at Lowry Park is a 63-acre nonprofit zoo in Tampa’s Seminole Heights neighborhood, and it’s just added the biggest expansion in its history: the Florida Waters area, home to a brand-new manatee rescue habitat, stingrays, otters, and jellies.
Whether you’re mapping out hours and ticket prices or just want to know if it’s worth the trip, here’s a complete, up-to-date guide to visiting.
Quick Answer
ZooTampa at Lowry Park is open daily, typically 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with general admission tickets sold both online (a few dollars cheaper) and at the gate. It’s a 63-acre, AZA-accredited zoo with 1,300+ animals across 300+ species, best known for running the world’s largest nonprofit manatee critical care hospital. As of 2026, non-member parking carries a daily fee, and the new Florida Waters expansion has just opened with an up-close manatee rescue habitat.
Planning Your Visit: Hours, Tickets & Parking
ZooTampa operates year-round on a fairly consistent daily schedule, generally 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with a shortened day on Christmas Eve and full closures on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. Because hours can shift seasonally or for special events, always check the official ZooTampa visitor hours page before you go.
Admission is tiered: buying online in advance is a few dollars cheaper per person than paying at the gate, and children ages 2 and under are free. Memberships (individual, pair, trio, quad, and family tiers) offer unlimited visits and typically pay for themselves after two or three trips for a family. The zoo has also run ‘Zoo Fun Ticket’ promotions that unlock free repeat admission for the rest of the calendar year after a single purchase. For the exact current prices, membership tiers, and any active promotions, check the official ZooTampa admissions page.
Parking policy changed in early 2026: non-members now pay a daily parking fee (collected through the ParkMobile app), while members park free. Bags, backpacks, and packages are subject to inspection at entry, so packing light speeds up the security line. ZooTampa is located at 1101 W. Sligh Ave, Tampa, FL 33604, just off I-275, with clear signage from the highway.
The Zoo Experience
Visitors move through immersive themed zones, from the Asian Gardens with tigers, rhinoceroses, and Komodo dragons to Safari Africa’s giraffes, zebras, and African elephants. Primate World houses orangutans, gibbons, and lemurs, while Wallaroo Station showcases koalas and other Australian species. A Main Aviary hosts free-flight bird and raptor shows throughout the day.
The Florida Wildlife Center highlights native species including alligators and manatees, tying the zoo’s exhibits directly to its conservation mission in the Sunshine State.
Florida Waters: The Zoo’s Newest Expansion
In March 2026, ZooTampa opened Florida Waters, the largest expansion in the zoo’s history, funded by a $33 million capital campaign. The new area centers on the Straz Family Manatee Rescue, which gives visitors eye-level and underwater views of manatee rescue operations for the first time. It’s paired with Stingray Shores, an Otter Oasis for up-close river otter viewing above and below the water, a walk-through mangrove tunnel, and a jellies exhibit modeled on Florida’s freshwater springs.
This expansion sits alongside — and directly grows — the zoo’s existing manatee hospital work, giving guests a much closer look at the rescue and rehabilitation process than was previously possible.
Manatee Conservation Leader
Since opening in 1991, the zoo’s David A. Straz, Jr. Manatee Critical Care Center has treated more than 600 injured, sick, and orphaned wild manatees, making it the largest nonprofit facility of its kind in the world. The center operates around the clock with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service-certified veterinarians on call.
In 2025, ZooTampa released a record 26 rehabilitated manatees back into Florida waters — the most in the center’s history — and the new Florida Waters expansion builds directly on that work by putting the rescue effort on public display.
Is ZooTampa Worth Visiting?
For most visitors, yes: the combination of a manageable 63-acre size, a genuine conservation mission (not just an entertainment zoo), and the new Florida Waters exhibit makes it stand out among Southeast zoos. Plan for at least a half-day to see the themed areas, aviary bird shows, and the manatee center without rushing.
Weekday mornings and the shoulder seasons (fall and winter, outside school holidays) tend to be less crowded than summer weekends. Florida’s heat is a real factor from late spring through early fall, so an early arrival and plenty of water breaks make the visit more comfortable.
ZooTampa at Lowry Park visitor guide FAQs
What are ZooTampa at Lowry Park’s hours?
The zoo is generally open daily from 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with a shortened Christmas Eve schedule and closures on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. Confirm the current schedule on the official ZooTampa visitor hours page before visiting, since hours can shift for special events.
How much are ZooTampa tickets?
General admission is sold in tiers by age, with online advance purchase priced a few dollars lower per person than buying at the gate; children 2 and under are free. The zoo also offers memberships and periodic ‘Zoo Fun Ticket’ promotions for repeat visits. Exact current pricing is listed on the official ZooTampa admissions page.
Does ZooTampa charge for parking?
As of January 2026, non-members pay a daily parking fee through the ParkMobile app; members park free. Check the official site for the current rate before you arrive.
When did ZooTampa at Lowry Park open?
The zoo opened in 1957, though its origins trace back to a small animal exhibit at the University of Tampa in the 1930s.
How big is ZooTampa at Lowry Park?
The zoo covers 63 acres in Tampa’s Seminole Heights neighborhood and is home to more than 1,300 animals representing over 300 species.
What is ZooTampa best known for?
ZooTampa is widely known for operating the world’s largest nonprofit manatee critical care hospital, which has rescued and rehabilitated hundreds of manatees since 1991, and for its new Florida Waters expansion featuring the Straz Family Manatee Rescue.
What’s new at ZooTampa in 2026?
ZooTampa opened Florida Waters in March 2026, its largest expansion ever. It includes the Straz Family Manatee Rescue with underwater viewing, Stingray Shores, an Otter Oasis, a mangrove walk-through tunnel, and a jellies exhibit.
Is ZooTampa worth visiting?
Yes for most visitors — it’s a manageable half-day zoo with a strong conservation focus, themed animal areas, live bird shows, and now the new Florida Waters manatee rescue exhibit, making it one of the more distinctive zoo visits in the Southeast.
Get More from ZooTampa at Lowry Park visitor guide
Log the coasters, stadiums, and venues you’ve experienced, rate ZooTampa at Lowry Park visitor guide, and see what your friends thought. Get the ThrillZing app.