Since its opening in 1991, Nashville Zoo has remained one of Tennessee’s top attractions, attracting over a million visitors yearly.
Home to more than 6300 animals, the zoo is spread across approximately 188 acres (76 hectares) of land.
The zoo offers an opportunity to understand animal lives, behavior, and lifestyle, and the zookeepers tell you interesting facts and stories about these creatures.
This article shares everything you must know before buying Nashville Zoo tickets.
Top Nashville Zoo Tickets
# Nashville Zoo at Grassmere
# Meet thousands of animals with the Grassmere
# Fast Track Ticket
What to expect
Tighten up your shoelaces, keep your camera ready, pack your snacks, and prepare for a trip to Nashville Zoo at Grassmere.
At Zoo Nashville, delve into the natural world that throws before you paths of learning and conservation.
Some of the animals and birds you can find here are listed below.
Amphibians: African clawed frog, eastern hellbender, poison dart frog, Panamanian golden frog, Surinam toad, axolotl, etc.
Arthropods: Goliath bird-eating tarantula
Birds: Toco toucan, tawny frogmouth, rhinoceros hornbill, lorikeet, Chilean flamingo, Caribbean flamingo, American comb duck, greater flamingo, etc.
Fishes: Blue discus, lionfish, piranha, redhead cichlid, red-tail triggerfish, ocellate river stingray, jaguar cichlid, black arowana, etc.
Mammals: Alpaca, Andean bear, clouded leopard, cotton-top tamarin, goats, miniature donkey, meerkat, horse, Sumatran tiger, southern white rhinoceros, etc.
Reptiles: Alligator snapping turtle, eyelash palm pit viper, green anaconda, komodo dragon, rhinoceros iguana, South American bushmaster, etc.
Where to buy Nashville Zoo tickets
You can buy Nashville 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.
When you book early, you also get your preferred time slot.
How online ticket works
Go to the Nashville Zoo ticket booking page, select the number of tickets, time slot, and date you wish to visit, and book your tickets right away!
Upon completing the payment, you will receive a confirmation email.
On the day of your visit, show your ticket at the zoo entrance gate, and walk in.
Remember to bring your official IDs.
Cost of Nashville Zoo tickets
Tickets for Nashville Zoo are priced at US$23 for all guests aged 13 years and older.
Children between two to 12 years receive a US$4 discount and pay only US$19 to secure admission.
Infants below one year of age can get free admission to the zoo.
Military personnel can buy tickets at the zoo ticket booth and avail special discounts (don’t forget to bring ID).
Nashville Zoo tickets
Book Nashville Zoo tickets and get admission to the zoo, including access to animal experiences and a playground.
With your general admission ticket, you can see thousands of animals like clouded leopards, bears, plains zebras, red pandas, tigers, two-toed sloths, etc.
Not just this, you get a chance to get nose-to-nose with exotic creatures through Animal Experiences at Kangaroo Kickabout, Lorikeet Landing, and Critter Encounters supervised by zoo guides.
Remember, at Lorikeet Landing, you are allowed only to see the birds. The feeding activity comes at an additional cost.
Drop your kids at Jungle Gym, and let them swing, fly, and run at this 6600 square feet (613 m) playground.
Wilderness Express, Wild Animal Carousel, and Soaring Eagle Zip Line are NOT included in this Nashville Zoo admission ticket.
If you want to experience them, you can buy separate tickets at the zoo.
Ticket Prices
Adult Ticket (13+ years): US$23
Child Ticket (2 to 12 years): US$19
Infant Ticket (up to 1 year): Free
Combo tickets
Combo tickets are the best way to explore two attractions on the same day, as they are available at reduced pricing.
There are a few attractions and tours near Nashville Zoo, and to experience them, you can easily commute by car or public transportation.
You can buy Nashville Zoo tickets in combination with tickets for Adventure Science Center, Belmont Mansion Tour, Museum of African American Music, or Nashville Old Town Trolley.
Adventure Science Center + Nashville Zoo at Grassmere
Distance: 6 miles (9.6 km)
Time taken: 11 minutes by car
Take your kids on an educational tour at Adventure Science Center and Nashville Zoo.
At the Science Museum, let your kids take physics, biology, math, and chemistry lessons, and at the zoo, allow them to go wild as they move from one exhibit to the next.
This Adventure Science Center + Nashville Zoo combo ticket is available for a 5% discount.
Ticket Cost: US$41
Belmont Mansion Tour + Nashville Zoo at Grassmere
Distance: 6.1 miles (9.8 km)
Time taken: 15 minutes by car
Time to herald on a historical tour exploring the Belmont Mansion constructed much before the Civil War and Nashville Zoo housing a wide range of species.
Dig deep into the mansion’s history with tour guides and learn more about the house’s restoration efforts and architectural design.
Get 5% off on Belmont Mansion Tour + Nashville Zoo combo ticket.
Ticket Cost: US$37
Museum of African American Music + Nashville Zoo at Grassmere
Distance: 6.1 miles (9.8 km)
Time taken: 15 minutes by car
Grab a Museum of African American Music + Nashville Zoo combo ticket and enjoy a fun and musical day.
At NMAAM, learn about how African music influenced American culture, which now reflects well in American music.
Celebrate the iconic songs, legendary singers, and their unsung stories at the museum.
This combo ticket is discounted and hence is a must-buy!
Ticket Cost: US$44
Nashville Old Town Trolley + Nashville Zoo at Grassmere
Distance: 6 miles (9.6 km)
Time taken: 14 minutes by car
You should take advantage of the Nashville Old Town Trolley + Nashville Zoo combo ticket, which is available at a 5% discount.
This single ticket will take you through Tennessee’s iconic attractions via trolley tours, and you’ll burst into laughter on hearing the commentary of tour guides.
You’ll pass by hundreds of attractions during the tour, including Centennial Park, Lower Broadway, Music Row, Marathon Village, Bicentennial Capitol Mall, etc.
Ticket Cost: US$80
How to reach
Nashville Zoo is a few miles from Downtown Nashville, Tennessee state of the US.
Address: 3777 Nolensville Pk, Nashville, TN 37211, United States. Get Directions
You can reach the zoo by bus or car.
By Bus
Nashville Zoo Station Inbound is within 0.5 miles (0.8 km) and can be reached by walking in 10 minutes.
By Car
If you’re traveling by car, turn on your Google maps and get started.
Click here to view car parking lots.
Timings
Nashville Zoo opens at 9 am daily all year round, but its closing time can vary.
The zoo welcomes guests from 9 am to 4 pm from October to March. However, the zoo is open from 9 am to 6 pm from March to October.
As the closing times vary, we recommend you check the ticket booking page before starting the tour.
The last entry to the zoo is one hour before closing time.
The Zoo Nashville remains closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day.
How long does the zoo take
It would take 5 hours to explore Nashville Zoo, including strolling through different exhibits and animal experiences at Lorikeet Landing, Critters Encounters, and Kangaroo Kickabout.
When you take your kids to the playground, don’t expect them to be out within an hour.
If you plan to ride on Wilderness Express and Wild Animal Carousel and experience Soaring Eagle Zip Line, reserve at least 2 to 3 hours for this.
Best time to visit
The best time to visit Nashville Zoo is as soon as they open at 9 am.
There are four benefits of starting early – the animals are most active early in the morning, the temperatures are still moderate, the crowd is yet to get in, and you have the whole day to spend at the attraction.
As the day gets hotter, animals prefer staying inside their shelters. As a result, you may get disappointed when you don’t see them in the exhibit.
Weekdays are better for a peaceful visit because the zoo gets crowded on weekends and school holidays.
The zoo is most crowded on weekends between 10 am and 2 pm.
If you are on a short holiday in Nashville, starting early also allows you to add another attraction to the day’s itinerary.
Animal Experiences
Animal experiences with kangaroos, lorikeets, and critters are as enchanting as it sounds.
Here are some animal experiences offered at the Nashville Zoo.
Lorikeet Landing
Step into Lorikeet Landing and get welcomed by these bright, colorful birds who will come flying towards you with wide open wings as if they want to hug you.
Lorikeets are extremely playful and friendly, so don’t mind if they sit on your shoulder or start running their beaks through your hair.
Kangaroo Kickabout
Time to hop along with red kangaroos, who will take you through their Australian habitat.
While they can wander anywhere they want, visitors must stay on designated pathways.
Critter Encounters
Meet and interact with galapagos tortoises, camels, goats, alpacas, and various birds at this exhibit located between Unseen New World and Flamingo Lagoon.
You are free to pet and brush the goats and even take selfies.
Jungle Gym
Let your little ones go wild at Jungle Gym playground in Nashville Zoo.
The swings and rides will make them jump like kangaroos, run like leopards, swing like monkeys, and fly like lorikeets.
The playground has a 35-foot tall house structure with a slide, a giant snake tunnel, a multi-level net area, climbing structures, slides, ZipKrooz, a we-go-round, and a two-level spinning globe.
Map of Nashville Zoo
It is wiser to have a copy of the Nashville Zoo map to navigate the various exhibits.
A map can help you locate the animal enclosures and visitor facilities such as restrooms, restaurants, baby changing facilities, medical rooms, souvenir shops, etc.
Carrying the Nashville Zoo’s layout is highly recommended if you are traveling with kids because you won’t waste time finding the various exhibits and getting exhausted.
You can download and print the zoo map here
Where to eat
Nashville Zoo has various food kiosks, so you can stop at any food outlet and relax while enjoying food.
| Cafe/Restaurant | Food | Location |
| Quills Cafe & Grill | Hot dogs, burgers, salad, fries, rolls, sandwiches etc | Near Gibbon Islands |
| Screaming Gibbon Pizza Kitchen | Pizzas, cheesecakes, sodas, beers, etc | Near Gibbon Islands |
| Fat Cow Creamery: Coffee and Cones | Coffee, ice creams, hot chocolate, desserts | Near Gibbon Islands |
| Snake Bites | Chips, nachos, popcorn, cotton candy, beverages, etc | Jungle Loop |
| TN BBQ Depot | BBQ sandwiches, mac and cheese, hot dogs, etc | Adjacent to Snake Bites |
| Carts, Kiosks, and Outposts | Frozen lemonade, popcorn, popsicles, etc | Throughout the zoo |
You can buy Nashville Zoo tickets online by clicking here.
Yes, you can leave the zoo and come back again, but you must inform the staff about this in the Information Hut.
Yes! You’re welcome to bring home-cooked food. You can leave your food in your vehicle and take it later when you want to have lunch. Make sure you don’t carry glass, disposable straws, and lids.
The zoo is accessible to people with disabilities and has a wheelchair rental facility for the tour.
Military personnel and children can get reduced tickets, provided they bring official IDs.
Visitors who arrive between 15 minutes before and up to an hour after the time of their reservation can get admission.
Yes, the zoo is open even when it rains. But some rides, activities, and exhibits may get shut down depending on the severity of the weather.
No! The prices of Nashville Zoo tickets keep changing depending on peak and non-peak days/seasons, and you are encouraged to buy new tickets for a different date.
Yes! You can enjoy five categories of membership passes- Single, Dual, Household, Household Plus, and Safari Set.