The Tulsa Zoo is one of the best places to take kids in Tulsa. In addition to the 1,500 Tulsa Zoo animals, there is a carousel and a train that loops around the zoo. We regularly go since we have a membership. My kids never get tired of it!
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What are the Tulsa Zoo hours?
The zoo is open almost every day of the year from 9:00 am – 5:00 pm. The carousel and train usually do not start running until 10:00 AM.
The zoo starts to fill up as the day goes on. If you want to try to beat the crowds, especially during the busy months, I suggest you arrive as early as possible.
What does the Tulsa Zoo cost?
The Tulsa Zoo tickets cost $18 for adults, $15 for seniors and kids 3-11. Kids ages 2 and under are free.
How long should you plan to spend at the Tulsa Zoo?
Two hours is the minimum time to plan for your visit. Three to four hours would be a good amount of time to see everything.
You could definitely make it an entire day outing. Pack a lunch, stop at the playground for awhile, ride the train and carousel, and see all of the exhibits.
Where is the Tulsa Zoo?
The Tulsa Zoo is located inside Mohawk Park at 6421 E 36th St N, Tulsa, OK 74115. There is a $2 fee to enter the park on weekends from April 1 to October 31. You do not have to pay for this if have a zoo membership.
Can you rent strollers?
Stroller rentals are available next to the gift shop. Single strollers are $8, double strollers are $10, and wagons are $9.
What to Do at the Tulsa Zoo
The zoo is laid out in a somewhat circular path. I suggest going counterclockwise if you are wanting to see the entire thing. When you enter, walk to the right past the train station. The first animals you will see are in the buildings which include: Life in the Cold, Life in the Desert, Life in the Forest, and Life in the Water.
Life in the Cold
Life in the Cold starts with the grizzly bear before you enter the building. The building contains an arctic fox, snowy owls, and chinchillas.
The first thing you will see in the building is the Cox Nature Exchange which is open daily from 10am-3pm. This is designed for kids to set up an account, bring in “treasures” that they find for points, and exchange points for new items. Treasures can include interesting rocks, shells, skulls, bugs, or fossils.
They have lots of shells and rocks. There are also turtle shells, snake skins, teeth, and more. When you sign up for an account, you get a little starter bag with a few items in it.
Life in the Desert
Life in the desert starts with an atrium filled with birds flying around. There are also numerous snakes and reptiles behind glass. The fennec fox is located through the doors along with the naked mole rats. Then, there is another room with insects and peccaries.
Life in the Forest
Life in the forest contains various types of birds, insects, and a raccoon. If you are lucky, you might even spot the bobcat. The majestic Bald Eagles sit perched on their branches as you leave the building.
Life in the Water
Life in the water starts with bird exhibits. Then, you enter a tall open room full of various bird species. Next, there are fish tanks filled with clownfish, seahorses, bannerfish, and various tangs.
Petting Zoo
As you continue out of the buildings and past the bald eagles, the petting zoo is on the right. The petting zoo is a wonderful interactive experience for the kids. Kids can go into the enclosure and play with the goats and sheep.
When you are done at the petting zoo, make sure to take a right up the hill to pass by the kangaroos and farm animal barn.
Rainforest Building
Start your visit to the rainforest by taking an iconic zoo photo with the Olmec Head in front of the building.
This building has a huge variety of animals including monkeys, fish, birds, a sloth, alligators, frogs, and snakes. Keep an eye out for the Macaw named Mango that roams freely inside.
Mom tip: This is the only building that doesn’t have automatic doors, so strollers can be a bit of a challenge. My side-by-side double stroller was too wide for the door.
As you exit the building, stop to see if the jaguars Ixchel and Caipora are lounging in their tree. The building next to the rainforest has some large family restrooms and a nursing room.
Tulsa Zoo Playground
If your kids need to run off some energy, stop at the amazing Helmerich Playground. It is similar to what is at The Gathering Place, but all of the equipment is animal-themed.
There is a fenced-off area for smaller kids so they do not have to battle with big kids running around. There are plenty of picnic tables scattered around this area to have lunch.
Conservation Center Area
There are multiple animal exhibits to see in this area; this section of the zoo doesn’t follow along the circle path as well. The meerkats are located across the path from the playground.
You can also walk around the corner to see the lions and African penguins. The Conservation Center building houses monkeys, birds, turtles, lizards, and snakes. Make sure to walk around the inside and outside to see all of the animal exhibits. In the warmer months, the red pandas are also housed in this building.
Sea Lions
The sea lion show is done twice a day and is worth stopping at. Arrive at the sea lion show early to get a seat in the bleachers. Kids can sit down by the glass.
There is another viewing window on the left side of the pool that gives you a good view of the second sea lion and trainer. If you didn’t time it right to see the show, make sure to check out the underwater viewing area on the right side of their pool to see if the sea lions are swimming. It is a little hidden so look for the steps or go a little further for the ramp.
African Plains Animal Exhibits
Cross the train tracks and walk the outer edge trail to see lemurs, warthogs, and rhinoceroses. You can see the giraffes from the viewing deck or the path. The zoo offers giraffe feedings during peak weekends. As you keep walking, you will pass the Aldabra Tortoises.
Elephant Preserve Barn
The Asian elephants have a new habitat at the zoo. The Elephant Preserve Barn provides the elephants with a lot of outdoor and indoor space.
Lost Kingdom
If you keep walking along the path, the next area you will see is the Lost Kingdom. It is my favorite part of the zoo. It houses tigers, snow leopards, Siamangs, and a Komodo Dragon. It also has Red Pandas during the cooler months and a Binturong during the warmer months.
There are nice restrooms, a concessions stand, tables, and a restaurant in this area.
Chimpanzee Connection
As you make your way back to the front, head over to Chimpanzee Connection. There is an indoor and outdoor habitat for them to roam. If you catch them at a good time, you can watch the young chimp pester the older ones.
Tulsa Zoo Carousel
The carousel is good old-fashioned fun. There is a variety of animals to choose from. My kid’s favorite is the tiger. There is also a bench and a giraffe that doesn’t go up and down if you have a child that isn’t too sure about it.
The carousel costs $3 per person for non-members and $2 for members. You only need a ticket if you are riding on an animal meaning you can stand beside your child without one.
Tulsa Zoo Train
Riding the train is a must every time that we go to the zoo. If it is your first time at the zoo, it would be a good idea to start your visit with the train to get your bearings. As you ride around the edge of the zoo, there is a recording that plays over the speakers that explains what you are passing.
There are two locations to get on the train: the front of the zoo and the back of the zoo. The train ride costs $6 for non-members and $4 for members to ride the entire way around, half that if you are only riding one portion. For the round trip option, you will need to give a ticket at each train depot. Children 2 and under ride free.
You can leave strollers at the train depot for round-trip journeys. If you are only riding one portion, there is a designated train car towards the front of the train where you can put your stroller.
Tulsa Zoo Membership
We have had a zoo membership for quite a few years now and have loved it. If you live close, I highly recommend it. There are multiple options to fit your family.
The least expensive membership is the associate membership for $119 which covers one named adult and a guest. The family membership is $159 and covers two named adults and four children. There are other memberships to include more family members and guests. Remember, children 2 and under are free.
You can also splurge on the Adventure Pass, now $329. It covers two named adults, four children, four guests, free train rides, free carousel rides, and 6 tickets to HallowZOOeen.
This pass makes your zoo visit extremely flexible. If the kids want to ride the carousel 3 times, no problem. You can also skip the train ticket line and just have to show our membership card to get on.
Another (often overlooked) benefit of the zoo membership is 50% admission at 100+ zoos on the AZA Reciprocal List. Some of the closest zoos on that list include Little Rock, Kansas City, Oklahoma City, Springfield, and Dallas.
The zoo periodically offers discounts on memberships. Keep an eye out for end of year and spring break sales.
Tulsa Zoo Events: HallowZOOeen
HallowZOOeen is the zoo’s version of trick or treating. We do this every year and love it. It is perfect for all ages, but especially for young kids. The zoo sets up candy stations around the zoo that are sponsored by various businesses.
There is also a hay maze, game stations, a decorated train ride, and craft stations for the kids. In the past, they have held it on multiple nights leading up to Halloween. The downside to this is that the buildings with the animals were closed.
Starting in 2020, they changed the hours and hosted HallowZOOeen during the day. With it being during the day, you can view more of the animals during the visit.
Since then, the Tulsa Zoo has started offering both options for visitors. If you have little kids, enjoy the zoo during the day. Older kids will love the nighttime experience.
Other Things to do Near the Tulsa Zoo
- Mohawk Park contains a splash pad that would make the perfect ending to a hot summer day.
- The Tulsa Air & Space Museum is also close by.
- Oxley Nature Center is also located in Mohawk Park past the zoo.
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