Fun Zoos in and near Tucson
Tucson, the second-largest city in Arizona, is famous for its picturesque desert landscape and natural areas; however, zoos in Tucson are too limited and there are just 2-3 zoos located here.
Apart from zoos, it contains more than 120 parks, 5 public golf courses, ballfields, and natural areas. Due to the limited existence of the zoo in Tucson, in this post, we will give information about zoos that are in and near Tucson to visit.
Reid Zoo in Reid Park
Reid Park Zoo is one of the zoos in Tucson, which was founded in 1967, with an area of about 24 acres(7 ha). It is a city-owned and non-profit zoo that is easy to find as it is a part of Reid Park, which is the largest park in Tucson midtown.
There is a good variety of more than 500 animals you would like to see, and they look very well cared for. You can also stop and feed Reid Park zoo animals, like giraffes, etc.
Reid Zoo has a relaxing and enjoyable atmosphere, so consider allocating enough time to cover all parts of the zoo in a few hours. It has some exhibitions like Adaptation Zone, South American Animals, Flight Connection, and Asian Animals.
This zoo has something for people of all ages and one of the most fantastic Reid Park Zoo events for children is that you can celebrate their birthday here with animals, and you are allowed to invite at least 15 guests, the price of a birthday celebration per person is about $30 (not including the birthday child), so if you have an animal lover child, then it will be a memorable birthday of their life. Moreover, there is an area for kids to run around, climb, and play.
Reid Park Zoo prices for general admission are $10.50 for adults, $8.50 for seniors (62+), $6.50 for children (2-14), and free for children under 2 years old. Also, note that the last admission is at 3:30 pm and your ticket is valid for 1 year after your online purchase.
Reid Park Zoo is open every day from 9 am to 4 pm located at 3400 E Zoo Ct, Tucson, AZ 85716, United States.
Tucson Petting Zoo
It is a petting zoo Tucson, which is also a fun place for kids and adults. This zoo includes some animals like ducks, chickens, goats, tortoises, rabbits, and turkeys; moreover, some of its animals like capybara, kangaroo, warthogs, porcupines, and more have been moved to the Ghost Ranch Exotics in Marana, a town in Arizona, which is 30 minutes far from Tucson.
It was also a great place to visit with your family or friends to feed animals and learn more about their habitats.
You could also celebrate a birthday at Petting Zoo at the price of $450 for an hour. However, this zoo is not open now and is completely moved to the Ghost Ranch Exotics.
Ghost Ranch Exotics and Funny Foot Farm in Picture Rocks
This hidden gem is a haven for animals and is not classified among zoos in Tucson, as it is in Picture Rocks, Arizona. It is about 30 minutes from Tucson to Picture Rocks by car, so if you have seen all the Tucson zoos, then spend half an hour to reach this spot.
It is a really nice experience to be in this zoo and feed animals; however, consider not wearing anything you would be upset about getting dirty.
Ghost Ranch Exotics is a must-visit place for a unique experience. Undoubtedly, not only is it entertaining, but it is also a very peaceful and perfect outing experience.
If you would like to visit this zoo, remember that you need to make an appointment and book your time beforehand or you can also book a private session for a personalized experience to learn interesting facts about each animal. You can book a time you would like to visit the zoo on their website and have more details about its ticket prices.
This zoo is located at 9027 Ghost Ranch Rd, Marana, AZ 85705, United States.
Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum in the West of Tucson
It is a wonderful attraction with a stunning view of nature, a zoo, aquarium, botanical garden, natural history museum, publisher, and art gallery.
The zoo area has a good variety of animals that are native to Arizona. They are also working on saving and protecting the natural systems of the Sonora Desert region.
This Zoo Tucson prices vary based on the visitors’ age, an adult (13-64) should pay around $29.95, and a child (3-12) should pay $19.95.
You can visit this zoo at 2021 N Kinney Rd, Tucson, AZ 85743, United States; every day from 8:30 am to 5 pm.
Phoenix Zoo in Papago Park
Phoenix Zoo is the largest privately owned zoo in the United States. It is not among the zoos in Tucson and if you would like to come here, you need to drive an hour and a half from Tucson to 455 N Galvin Pkwy, Phoenix, AZ 85008, United States.
It is a fun place for both adults and children and if you would like to see all the animals here, you need to spend about 4 hours, as it is a huge zoo both in size and variety of animals on exhibits.
Phoenix Zoo exhibits are Tropics Trail, Children Trail, Arizona Trail, Africa Trail, and Stingray Bay. Besides different exhibits, it includes some places to eat food and a playground for children.
If you choose a good time in moderate weather, then you are lucky enough to see all the animals near a big lake, where different animals hang out.
In order to buy a Phoenix ticket, visit their website to save money and time; an adult online ticket price is $37.95, and a child (3-13) online ticket price is $27.95. However, if you plan to purchase a ticket at the zoo, you have to pay $39.95 for an adult and $29.95 for a child.
