Nestled in Texas is Austin Zoo, housing over 300 animals across 100 different species.
The zoo was initially opened as an animal rescue and rehabilitation center but later became a getaway destination for families to see animals.
This article covers everything you must know before booking tickets for Austin Zoo.
Top Tickets for Austin Zoo
# Tickets for Austin Zoo
# Austin Zoo+Austin Aquarium
What to expect
At Austin Zoo, see a range of animal species, from mammals and big cats to primates, reptiles, amphibians, and domestic animals.
Big cats: Hear tigers, lions, bobcats, jaguars and cougars roaring.
Mammals: Watch North American black bears, wolves, coatimundi, genet, and binturong resting in their habitats.
Primates: Meet the naughtiest creatures like capuchin monkeys, black & white colobus monkeys, ring-tailed lemurs, brown lemurs, and common marmosets.
Domestic animals: Get up close with longhorns, pot-bellied pigs, and llamas in the barns.
Reptiles & amphibians: Check out different reptiles and animals, including Galapagos tortoises, red-footed tortoises, leopard tortoises, red-eared turtles, iguanas, geckos, ball pythons, etc.
Birds: Discover some cute birds at the zoo, like peafowl, emu, and blue and gold macaw.
Native Texas wildlife: Explore the indigenous wildlife of Texas, which includes a wide variety of birds and animals.
Don’t leave the zoo without taking a train ride and feeding animals, which costs an additional few bucks.
Where to buy Austin Zoo tickets
You can buy Austin Zoo tickets online and at the ticket booth at the main gate.
We strongly suggest you purchase online tickets to save money and time.
Online ticket prices tend to be cheaper than tickets at the venue.
When you buy online, you can avoid the long queues at the ticket counters.
Because some zoos sell a limited number of tickets, booking early helps avoid last-minute disappointment.
How online tickets work
Go to the Austin Zoo ticket booking page, select the number of tickets and date you wish to visit, and book your tickets right away!
Upon completing the payment, you will receive a confirmation email.
You don’t need to take ticket printouts. On the day of the visit, show the ticket on your smartphone at the Admissions Trailer near the entrance and walk in!
Remember to bring your official IDs.
Ticket Price
The cost of Austin Zoo tickets for adults between 13 to 59 years is US$19.
Seniors over 60 years, students, and military personnel can get the ticket at US$18.
Children’s tickets (between two to 12 years) are priced at US$16.
Toddlers below two years old get free admission.
Discounts
Children, students, seniors, and military personnel can purchase reduced tickets for Austin Zoo.
Children receive a discount of US$3, while seniors, students, and military personnel can save up to US$1.
Discounted tickets make family zoo trips more budget-friendly!
Austin Zoo tickets
With this ticket, you can access all the Austin Zoo exhibits.
You can see cheetahs, lions, tigers, monkeys, snakes, peacocks, lemurs, binturongs, etc.
For animal encounters, you must get a separate ticket.
To feed goats, deer, llamas, alpacas, and sheep, get some food from the onsite gift shop at the zoo.
Ticket Prices
Adult Ticket (13 to 59 years): US$19
Senior Ticket (60+ years): US$18
Child Ticket (2 to 12 years): US$16
Student Ticket: US$18
Military Ticket: US$18
Infant Ticket (up to 2 years): Free
Austin Zoo + Austin Aquarium combo tickets
Austin Zoo is 26 miles (42 km) from Austin Aquarium, and you can cover this distance within 30 minutes by car.
So book this combo ticket and level up the fun.
Explore the animals on land and underwater at the zoo and aquarium and learn about different species.
You get up to 5% off on this ticket.
Ticket Cost: US$42
How to reach
Austin Zoo is located in Texas Hill County.
Address: 10808 Rawhide Trail, Austin, TX 78736. Get Directions
There is no public transport connectivity to the zoo so either book a cab or come to the zoo in your vehicle.
The zoo offers free car parking facilities.
Timings
Austin Zoo opens at 9.30 am all around the year.
From February to October, the zoo closes at 5 pm Monday to Friday and 6 pm on weekends and public holidays.
During winter, from November to January, the zoo closes at 4 pm Monday to Friday and 5 pm on weekends and public holidays due to cold weather conditions.
The zoo is closed on Christmas and Thanksgiving Day.
The last entry to the zoo is one hour before the closing time.
How long does the zoo take
Austin Zoo is small, and you can easily wrap up your entire zoo tour within 3 hours.
But if you’re here with kids or plan to feed animals, take a train ride, or participate in animal encounters, your stay may exceed a few more hours.
Best time to visit
The best time to visit Austin Zoo is as soon as they open at 9.30 am.
There are four benefits of starting early – the animals are very active early in the morning, the temperatures are still cool or moderate, the crowd is yet to pour in, and you have the whole day to spend at the attraction.
As the day gets hotter, animals prefer staying inside their shelters, and you may get disappointed when you don’t see them in their exhibit.
Weekdays are better for a peaceful visit, and the rush is at its peak on weekends and school holidays.
The zoo is most crowded on weekends, especially between 11 am and 2 pm.
If you are on a short holiday in Texas, starting early also allows you to add another attraction to the day’s itinerary.
Map of Austin Zoo
A map is a must when visiting Austin Zoo, which is spread across a huge area, and has many animals, attractions, and activities.
With a map, you can easily navigate the zoo to spot exhibits, drinking facilities, washrooms, ATMs, gift shops, etc.
Train ride at Austin Zoo
Speed up your Austin Zoo tour by taking a train ride that takes you through the different animal habitats, offering a fantastic view of the surroundings.
This 20-minute train ride is worth experiencing and departs every 30 minutes.
Timings: 11 am to 4 pm
Days: Saturdays and Sundays
Ticket Price: US$5 per rider
Austin Zoo Keeper Chats
The zoo hosts many animal chats, which makes the zoo tours more educational.
The zookeepers share amazing facts, information, and stories about animals worth knowing.
Here are the details about the Zoo Keeper Chats at Austin Zoo.
| Animal | Days | Timings |
| Porcupines | Monday to Friday | 10 am |
| Parrots | Monday to Friday | 11 am |
| Alligators | Monday and Friday | 1 pm |
| Reptiles / Discovery Center | Tuesday to Thursday | 1 pm |
| Primates | Saturday and Sunday | 10 am |
| White Tiger “Zulema” | Saturday and Sunday | 11 am |
| Galapagos Tortoises | Saturday and Sunday | 12 pm |
| Black Bears | Saturday and Sunday | 1 pm |
Animal encounters
At the Austin Zoo, visitors can experience two animal encounters, one with capybaras and the other with Galapagos tortoises.
Capybara encounters
– The animal encounter is available on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
– The activity starts at 12 pm.
– The cost of a ticket per person is US$60.
– Reservations cannot be made online; you must call to book the slot. (call at 512.695.3021)
– All the participants must sign a liability release.
– Check-in is done at the Gift Shop.
– The whole experience lasts for about 30 minutes.
Galapagos tortoise encounter
– The animal encounter is available on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
– The activity starts at 11 am.
– The cost of a ticket per person is US$25.
– Reservations cannot be made online; you must call to book the slot. (call at 512.695.3021)
– All the participants must sign a liability release.
– Check-in is done at the Gift Shop.
– The whole experience lasts for about 30 minutes.
FAQs about Austin Zoo
You can book zoo tickets online by clicking here.
There are no restaurants or cafes at the zoo, and guests can bring food and drinks (non-alcoholic) from home and eat in the picnic area.
If a guest arrives 10 minutes later than the scheduled time, his/her encounter will be canceled, and no refund will be generated.
No! There can be times when you won’t see animals in their habitats. For such disappointments, the zoo will not refund the ticket money.
Make sure you wear comfortable shoes as you’ll be walking a lot. Also, do carry sunglasses, hats, and sunscreen.
There is a Gift Shop at the zoo to buy souvenirs for your loved ones. Animal feed can be purchased if you plan to feed animals.