Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden

State: Ohio. Type: zoo and botanical garden in the Avondale neighborhood of Cincinnati. Founded 1873; opened to the public September 18, 1875, making it the second-oldest zoo in the United States. 75 acres; over 500 animal species and about 3,000 plant species. Accredited by the AZA and WAZA; named top zoo in North America in a 2019 USA Today readers' poll.

The Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden opened in 1875 on a compact site in the Avondale neighborhood, making it the second-oldest zoo in the United States behind only Philadelphia's. From an original 64.5 acres it has grown to about 75 acres while packing in over 500 animal species and roughly 3,000 plant species, giving it a garden identity alongside its animal collection. The city of Cincinnati purchased the zoo in 1932 and has managed it since through the Board of Park Commissioners, keeping it a civic as much as a private institution. The zoo's Gorilla World program has been a national leader in gorilla births, and the zoo has been home to notable individual animals, including Martha, the last known passenger pigeon, who died there in 1914, and Fiona, a premature hippo born in 2017 who became a widely followed internet phenomenon. A 2019 USA Today readers' poll named it the top zoo in North America, and it holds accreditation from both the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums.

The zoo is at 3400 Vine St, Cincinnati, OH 45220, in the Avondale neighborhood just north of downtown Cincinnati. Its compact urban footprint sits within a dense city neighborhood rather than a suburban campus.

Cincinnati has a humid continental to humid subtropical transitional climate, with hot, humid summers and cool-to-cold winters. Because the zoo has both outdoor habitats and indoor exhibit buildings, weather affects which parts of the visit are most comfortable at any given time of year.

Spring and fall generally offer the most comfortable temperatures for a full day outdoors at the zoo, while summer, though hotter and more humid, is peak season for family visits during school breaks. The zoo's PNC Festival of Lights, running from late November through the end of December with extended evening hours, is a distinct, highly seasonal reason to visit in winter.

The Cincinnati Zoo was founded in 1873 and opened to the public on September 18, 1875, on an original 64.5-acre site, making it the second-oldest zoo in the country. It operated under private and civic partnerships for its early decades before the city of Cincinnati purchased the zoo outright in 1932, after which it has been run through the city's Board of Park Commissioners. Over the following century the zoo built a reputation for conservation and breeding programs, notably in gorillas, while also becoming linked to notable individual animals: Martha, the last passenger pigeon, died there in 1914, and Incas, the last known Carolina parakeet, died there in 1918. In 2016, the fatal shooting of gorilla Harambe after a child fell into his enclosure drew intense national attention. In 2017, Fiona, a premature Nile hippo calf, was born at the zoo and became widely followed online as she recovered, adding to the zoo's public profile in more recent years.

Visitors can explore exhibits across the zoo's roughly 75 acres, including Gorilla World, one of the country's most successful gorilla breeding programs, and habitats for hundreds of other species. The zoo's identity as a botanical garden as well as an animal park means landscaped plant collections are a significant part of the grounds. Seasonal events, including the PNC Festival of Lights each winter, add programming beyond standard daytime visits, and the zoo offers a rides package covering its carousel and train as an add-on to general admission.

Gorilla World is a signature exhibit given the zoo's long-running and successful gorilla breeding program. The zoo's roughly 3,000-species plant collection across its grounds reflects its dual identity as a botanical garden. Historical points of interest include markers related to Martha, the last passenger pigeon, who died at the zoo in 1914.

The zoo sits in Cincinnati's Avondale neighborhood, a short drive from downtown Cincinnati and accessible by car, rideshare or city bus. Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport is the region's main airport, roughly a 20-30 minute drive from the zoo depending on traffic and exact route.

As of research, the zoo was generally open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with later hours during the PNC Festival of Lights from late November through the end of December. Confirm current daily hours on cincinnatizoo.org before visiting, since they can vary seasonally and for special events.

The zoo uses dynamic, date-based pricing: as of research, adult general admission ranged roughly $9 to $26 and senior/child (ages 3-12) admission roughly $6 to $20 depending on the day, with online tickets cheaper than gate prices. Parking is a separate $10 fee. A combined rides package (admission plus unlimited carousel and train rides) ran roughly $16-$38 for adults and $13-$27 for children and seniors. Confirm current pricing on cincinnatizoo.org before visiting.

Most visitors plan at least half a day, three to five hours, to see the main animal exhibits and botanical gardens; a full day allows a more relaxed pace and time for the rides package or seasonal events.

Downtown Cincinnati, a short drive from the zoo, has a full range of hotel chains and larger properties reflecting its role as a business and convention hub. Neighborhoods closer to Avondale offer some smaller and mid-range lodging options for visitors wanting to stay nearer the zoo itself.

The zoo has its own in-park dining options for visitors who prefer not to leave the grounds. Nearby Cincinnati neighborhoods and downtown offer a broad mix of casual and upscale restaurants, reflecting the city's larger dining scene, a short drive from Avondale.

Downtown Cincinnati and its riverfront attractions are a short drive from the zoo. The wider Avondale and Clifton neighborhoods, including the University of Cincinnati area, are nearby for visitors extending their day beyond the zoo grounds.

Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport is the region's primary airport, roughly 20-30 minutes away by car. City bus service reaches the Avondale neighborhood, though most visitors arrive by car or rideshare given the zoo's urban but not transit-central location.

As with any zoo, follow all posted barriers and staff instructions around animal enclosures; the 2016 Harambe incident, in which a child entered a gorilla enclosure, underscores why exhibit barriers should never be climbed or bypassed. Stay hydrated and use sun protection for a day mostly spent outdoors, especially in Cincinnati's humid summers. For any emergency, dial 911 or alert the nearest zoo staff member.

Comfortable walking shoes, sunscreen, a hat and a refillable water bottle are practical for a day largely spent outdoors across the zoo's 75 acres. A stroller (personal or rented) is worth considering for visitors with young children given the grounds' size.

Because ticket pricing is dynamic and date-based, buying online in advance can secure a lower price than paying at the gate on a given day. Visiting on a weekday or outside peak summer season generally means smaller crowds. If visiting in winter, check whether your date falls within the PNC Festival of Lights season, since hours and atmosphere differ substantially from a standard daytime visit.

Dial 911 for any emergency. The zoo's general information line is (513) 281-4700, per its official website.

Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden - https://cincinnatizoo.org

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This section is being updated and will be available shortly.

This section is being updated and will be available shortly.