Montgomery Zoo

State: Alabama. Destination type: municipal zoo and adjoining natural history museum (Mann Wildlife Learning Museum). Located at 2301 Coliseum Parkway, Montgomery. About 40 acres, organized into five continental exhibit zones (Africa, Asia, Australia, North America, South America). Run as an independent City of Montgomery department, supported in part by the Montgomery Area Zoological Society. Accredited by the Zoological Association of America after ending Association of Zoos and Aquariums membership in 2013.

Montgomery Zoo traces back to a small children's menagerie that opened in Montgomery's Oak Park neighborhood in the 1920s, decades before the zoo most visitors see today. That original Oak Park site closed for a period and later reopened at its current Northern Boulevard-area location in 1972 on just six acres. A major public-private fundraising push starting in 1989 transformed the property, and 'the New Montgomery Zoo' reopened in 1991 at its current 40-acre footprint, organized around barrier-free, multi-species exhibits grouped into five continental zones. Since then the zoo has continued adding attractions, including the Mann Wildlife Learning Museum in 2003, a Zoofari Skylift ride in 2012, and a Waters of the World aquatic exhibit in 2021, marking its 50th anniversary at the current site in 2022. Today it functions as a fairly traditional mid-sized American zoo, combining animal exhibits with a natural history museum, a train ride, and family-oriented attractions on land run directly by the city rather than a private operator.

The zoo sits on the north side of Montgomery, Alabama, at 2301 Coliseum Parkway, a short drive from downtown and not far from Montgomery Regional Airport.

Montgomery has a humid subtropical climate with long, hot, and often oppressive summers and short, cool winters. July, the warmest month, sees daytime highs averaging around 92-93°F, while January, the coldest month, has overnight lows averaging around 35-38°F. Humidity is a factor from roughly June through September, and March tends to be the wettest month while October is typically the driest.

Spring (mid-March to mid-April) and fall (mid-October to mid-November) offer more comfortable temperatures for a full day of walking around the zoo's outdoor exhibits. Visitor reports suggest weekday afternoons tend to be less crowded than weekends, particularly when school groups are not visiting.

The zoo's earliest incarnation dates to the 1920s, when a small children's zoo took shape inside Oak Park in central Montgomery, eventually formalized as the Oak Park Zoo when the federal Works Progress Administration built animal housing there in 1935; the original collection included monkeys, bears, alligators, and a pair of lions. That facility closed for a period before a new Montgomery Children's Zoo was completed in 1971, and the zoo portion was renamed Montgomery Zoo the following year, when it covered about six acres and roughly 84 species. Starting in 1989, the city and the Montgomery Area Zoological Society entered a public-private partnership aiming to raise around $10 million over five years for a full modernization. 'The New Montgomery Zoo' debuted on September 21, 1991, on its current 40-acre site, laid out into five continental zones with barrier-free, multi-species exhibits, a design philosophy that was considered progressive for its time. Further exhibits followed through the 1990s and 2000s, including Bengal tigers, bald eagles, and a reptile house, and the Mann Wildlife Learning Museum -- originally built in Opelika around a private natural history collection -- was acquired and relocated to the zoo grounds in 2003. Elephant and rhino exhibits opened in the mid-2000s along with the zoo's first recorded births of those species, a Zoofari Skylift ride arrived in 2012, and a Waters of the World aquatic exhibit opened in 2021. The zoo left the Association of Zoos and Aquariums in 2013 and is now accredited by the Zoological Association of America instead.

A self-guided walk through the zoo's five continental zones is the core activity, with shaded paths connecting exhibits. A Giraffe Encounter lets visitors feed giraffes for an extra fee, and Parakeet Cove is a walk-through aviary where visitors can interact with parakeets. Other add-on experiences include a stingray touch pool, a miniature train ride, and the Zoofari Skylift ride over part of the grounds. Keeper talks and animal presentations run through the day, and the adjoining Mann Wildlife Learning Museum adds an indoor component with taxidermy displays focused on natural history.

Highlights include the Mann Wildlife Learning Museum, a large indoor natural history collection with several hundred exhibits; the Waters of the World aquatic exhibit that opened in 2021; the zoo's five continental realms; and its red wolf habitat, home to two endangered red wolves that arrived from other accredited zoos. The reptile facility is another notable stop, though visitors should check ahead since it and other exhibits have periodically been closed for renovation.

Montgomery Regional Airport (MGM) is the closest airport, roughly 9 miles and about a 14-minute drive from the zoo. Montgomery does not currently have Amtrak passenger rail service, with Birmingham being the nearest station, so most visitors arrive by car, whether flying into Montgomery directly or driving in from elsewhere in the state.

As of research, the zoo was open daily from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with last admission at 3:30 p.m. (4 p.m. for members), and closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day. Confirm current hours before visiting.

Pricing found on the official site listed adults (13+) around $19, children (3-12) around $15, and seniors (65+) around $17, with toddlers 2 and under free and discounts for military/AAA members; other sources cited slightly different recent rates, so check the official site for the current price before you go.

Plan for roughly three hours for a full self-guided walk through the zoo and museum.

Hotels near the zoo include Motel 6 Montgomery Coliseum (about 1.2 miles away) and Days Inn by Wyndham Coliseum Montgomery (about 2.6 miles), while a few miles further into downtown Montgomery, options include the Embassy Suites by Hilton Montgomery Hotel & Conference Center, the Renaissance Montgomery Hotel & Spa at the Convention Center, and Staybridge Suites Montgomery Downtown.

Downtown Montgomery, a short drive from the zoo, offers dining tied to the Wind Creek Casino and Hotel Montgomery, including Itta Bena, a speakeasy-style steakhouse, and BB King's Blues Club, serving Memphis-style barbecue with live blues and R&B. The House, in Montgomery's entertainment district, offers Alabama-influenced dishes with Gulf seafood. Additional casual dining is available along the roads near Coliseum Parkway closer to the zoo itself.

Riverfront Park and the Downtown Riverwalk offer river views, riverboat cruises, and walkable access to restaurants and historic sites. Downtown Montgomery is also home to significant civil rights history sites, including the Legacy Museum, the National Memorial for Peace and Justice, the Civil Rights Memorial Center, and the Rosa Parks Library and Museum, along with the Montgomery Performing Arts Centre for shows and concerts.

Montgomery Regional Airport (MGM), about 9 miles away, is the closest airport. A car or rideshare is the most practical way to reach the zoo, since it sits apart from downtown's more walkable core.

Keep hands and food away from enclosure barriers, and follow zoo staff instructions during any animal encounter or feeding experience. Use sunscreen and stay hydrated, since much of the zoo is outdoors with limited shade in Montgomery's hot, humid summers. Supervise children closely near the stingray touch pool and other water features. Check the zoo's website before visiting for any construction-related changes to entrances or exhibit access.

Sunscreen, a hat, a water bottle, comfortable walking shoes, and a stroller if traveling with young children. The zoo asks visitors not to bring plastic lids or straws for animal safety reasons, and restricts glass, alcohol, and balloons if you bring your own food or a picnic.

Buy tickets online ahead of time and aim for a weekday visit if you want smaller crowds. Because of ongoing construction noted on the official site, double-check which entrance is currently in use before you arrive. Visitors may bring their own food and drinks, subject to the restrictions on glass, alcohol, and balloons, so a packed lunch can help stretch a family visit. Ask at the gate about AAA or military discounts, and set aside extra time for the Mann Wildlife Learning Museum next door, which is included with zoo admission.

For any emergency in the United States, dial 911. For general visitor questions, the zoo's main office number is (334) 625-4900.

Montgomery Zoo (City of Montgomery): https://www.montgomeryzoo.com/

This section is being updated and will be available shortly.

This section is being updated and will be available shortly.

This section is being updated and will be available shortly.