Columbus Zoo and Aquarium

State: Ohio. Type: zoo and aquarium in Liberty Township/Powell, Delaware County. Founded 1927 as Riverside Park; 580 acres total, with 164 hectares (about 405 acres) as the zoo proper. More than 7,000 animals across 800+ species. Address: 4850 W Powell Rd, Powell, OH 43065.

The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium sits near Powell, just north of Columbus in Delaware County, and traces its roots to 1927, when Columbus Dispatch owner Harry P. Wolfe helped establish Riverside Park on a modest 21 acres by the O'Shaughnessy Reservoir after visiting the St. Louis zoo. It became the Columbus Municipal Zoo in 1937 and shifted to non-profit management in 1970, growing over the decades into a roughly 580-acre property housing more than 7,000 animals across over 800 species, organized into themed regions such as Heart of Africa, Asia Quest and Polar Frontier. Director Jack Hanna, who led the zoo from 1978 to 1993 and remained its public face for decades after, transformed it from around 360,000 annual visitors to 1.4 million by 1992 by replacing older cages with naturalistic habitats. The zoo is also known for Colo, born there in 1956 as the world's first captive-born gorilla and, at 60, the oldest gorilla known to have lived in human care. More recently, the zoo lost its AZA accreditation in October 2021 amid financial mismanagement allegations before regaining it in March 2023 under new leadership, a chapter worth knowing about alongside its long conservation history.

The zoo is at 4850 W Powell Rd, Powell, Ohio 43065, in Liberty Township in Delaware County, just north of Columbus near the O'Shaughnessy Reservoir. It sits within the wider Columbus metropolitan area, close to the town of Powell.

Central Ohio has a humid continental climate with hot, humid summers and cold winters that can bring snow. Because the zoo's hours and some outdoor exhibits vary seasonally, colder months bring shorter operating hours as well as colder outdoor conditions.

Spring through fall generally offers the most comfortable weather for a full day at the zoo, with the zoo's own seasonal hours extending furthest (9 a.m.-6 p.m.) in June and July. Winter visits mean shorter hours (as tight as 10 a.m.-4 p.m. in January-February) but smaller crowds, and the zoo remains open essentially year-round apart from Thanksgiving and Christmas Day.

The Columbus Zoo traces its beginnings to 1927, when Columbus Dispatch owner Harry P. Wolfe, inspired by a 1920 visit to the St. Louis Zoo, helped establish Riverside Park on 21 acres near the O'Shaughnessy Reservoir. The city took over operations as the Columbus Municipal Zoo in 1937, and management shifted to a non-profit model in 1970 as the zoo continued to expand. Jack Hanna became director in 1978 and, over 15 years, modernized the facility by replacing older cage-style enclosures with naturalistic habitats, growing annual attendance from about 360,000 to 1.4 million by 1992; he remained the zoo's public face well beyond his formal directorship, into 2020. The zoo's gorilla program produced Colo in 1956, the world's first gorilla born in captivity, who lived to 60 and became the oldest known gorilla in human care, with 31 gorillas born at the zoo in the decades since. In October 2021 the zoo lost its Association of Zoos and Aquariums accreditation following allegations of financial mismanagement, but under new leadership it regained AZA accreditation in March 2023.

The zoo is organized into eight themed regions, including Heart of Africa, Asia Quest, Polar Frontier, North America Trek, Congo Expedition, Australia and the Islands, Shores & Aquarium, and Adventure Cove, each with its own habitats and species focus. Visitors can also explore Zoombezi Bay, a separate water park on the same property, available through combined multi-day passes. The zoo's long-running conservation and breeding programs, especially for gorillas, are a notable part of the visitor experience and educational programming.

Heart of Africa and Asia Quest are among the zoo's larger themed regions, reflecting its broad global-habitat approach. The gorilla habitats carry particular historical weight given Colo's status as the world's first captive-born gorilla. Shores & Aquarium and Polar Frontier round out the zoo's more aquatic and cold-climate exhibits.

The zoo is in Liberty Township near Powell, Ohio, a roughly 20-30 minute drive north of downtown Columbus depending on traffic, and is most easily reached by car or rideshare. John Glenn Columbus International Airport is the region's main airport, generally a 30-45 minute drive from the zoo.

As of July 2026, hours were 8 a.m.-6 p.m. from July 1-5 and 9 a.m.-6 p.m. from July 6-31; other months vary from as early as 9 a.m. to as late as noon opening and closing between 4 and 6 p.m. depending on season. The zoo is open every day of the year except Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. Confirm the current month's specific hours on columbuszoo.org before visiting.

As of research, online admission for non-Franklin County residents started at $27.95 (ages 3-9), $34.95 (ages 10-59) and $32.95 (ages 60+), with children under 3 free; Franklin County residents receive discounted rates (from $18.95 to $24.95) reflecting a 2015 voter-approved property tax levy supporting the zoo. Parking is a separate $12 fee. A two-day zoo-plus-Zoombezi Bay pass ran $59.95 for adults and $56.95 for children as of research. Confirm current pricing on columbuszoo.org.

Most visitors plan at least half a day, four to six hours, to cover the zoo's eight themed regions; a full day is recommended for those adding Zoombezi Bay water park via a combined pass.

The town of Powell and the broader northern Columbus suburbs, including Dublin, offer a range of hotel chains within a short drive of the zoo. Downtown Columbus, roughly 20-30 minutes south, has a wider selection of hotels for visitors combining a zoo trip with a broader Columbus stay.

The zoo has its own in-park dining options across its themed regions. Nearby Powell and Dublin offer a range of casual and family-style restaurants a short drive from the zoo, reflecting the character of Columbus's northern suburbs.

Zoombezi Bay water park sits on the same property and is accessible via combined multi-day passes. The O'Shaughnessy Reservoir, adjacent to the zoo's original site, and the towns of Powell and Dublin are nearby for additional day-trip options.

John Glenn Columbus International Airport is the region's primary airport, roughly 30-45 minutes from the zoo by car. A personal vehicle or rideshare is the most practical way to reach the zoo, since it sits outside Columbus's core public transit network.

Follow all posted barriers and staff guidance around animal habitats, and keep an eye on children in crowded exhibit areas. Sun protection and water are important for a day spent largely outdoors, especially during Columbus's hot, humid summer months. For any emergency, dial 911 or notify the nearest zoo staff member.

Comfortable walking shoes, sunscreen, a hat and a refillable water bottle are practical given the zoo's roughly 400-acre footprint. A stroller for young children and, if adding Zoombezi Bay, swimwear and a towel are worth packing for a combined visit.

Booking tickets online in advance can be cheaper than gate pricing and helps avoid lines, especially in peak summer months when the zoo keeps its longest hours. Franklin County residents should bring valid local ID to access discounted admission rates. If combining the zoo with Zoombezi Bay, check the water park's own separate operating season before planning a multi-day pass.

Dial 911 for any emergency. The zoo's general contact number is (614) 645-3400, per its official website.

Columbus Zoo and Aquarium - https://www.columbuszoo.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.