Tucked away by Ocean Beach, the San Francisco Zoo a majestic animal-packed destination that you and your little ones will not soon forget. Plan on making it a full-day visit – there’s so much to see!
So many animals to meet at SF Zoo
The San Francisco Zoo has over 2,000 exotic, endangered, and rescued animals. On its 100 acres, there are so many pathways, elevated boardwalks, and indoor viewing areas to view these unique creatures – plus other fun attractions including a train, carousel, and amazing playground that families love. Lace-up those walking shoes and bring a stroller because you’re going to get your steps in when you visit the zoo. Thankfully, the grounds are mostly flat and there are beautiful gardens with hidden treasures (dinosaur statues and fairy houses) sprinkled throughout to always keep your kiddo’s interest.
The San Francisco Zoo is split into two areas: one that’s focused on seeing animals, and a second that’s all about playing at the Exploration Area, Playground, and Exploration Sculpture Plaza. We like to do it all on our visits, starting with animals and then moving to the play areas. It makes for a full day but a memorable one! Of course, it’s easy to skip over certain areas of the zoo. There are plenty of opportunities to view animals that we don’t usually see at other places, like exotic snakes, the black rhino, anteater, komodo dragon, axolotl, red pandas, orangutans, and wolverines. Below are some must-see areas. No matter how you “do the zoo”, I recommend viewing the map in advance to help create your game plan. Download map >>
African Savanna at the SF Zoo
I highly recommend starting your visit at the African Savanna exhibit. Veer right and walk through the tunnel to an area filled with giraffes, zebras, ostriches, and kudus. There are multiple viewing platforms, and it’s thrilling to get so close to these large animals. My kids loved counting the giraffes in the vast area. Further down the path, you can also walk to see gorillas, which my kids found extremely interesting. There are interactive stations near the enclosure to learn about the similarities between humans and gorillas.
Lemur Forest
Wave to the lemurs from the elevated boardwalks in the Lemur Forest. It’s exciting to spy the lemurs racing through the trees and swinging from platform to platform. Most surprisingly, these animals can be loud at times – grunting, mooing, and screeching in chorus.
Penguin Island
My whole family agreed: the penguins are our favorites! The penguins are so active and full of personality. We could have easily watched them zipping through the water, waddling to and from their nests, and picking little fights for most of the morning. Penguin Island is also centrally positioned within the Cat Kingdom zone so older kids can venture to see a handful of animals on their own while staying within sight (including the Komodo Dragon (a fave of Julie’s family).
Insect Zoo in Exploration Zone
My five- and eight-year-olds are pretty into bugs as of late, so the Insect Zoo was THE place to be! It’s small but mighty. They ran around like it was Christmas morning, jumping from spiders to ants to cockroaches with glee. After reading so much about all sorts of creepy crawlies in books, it was exciting to see them in the flesh, or exoskeleton, as it were. This is a nice place for a break from the chilly fog or sun. There’s even a little toddler area with books and a play table tucked into the corner.
The Insect Zoo is part of the larger Exploration Zone, a hybrid area of toddler-friendly animal viewings and interactive learning. There’s also a seasonal Nature Trail, playful prairie dogs and meerkats, and Family Farm.
San Francisco Zoo Playground & Sculpture Plaza
After we visited the animals and toured the Insect Zoo, our favorite spot to end the day is the playgrounds. But it isn’t just a playground, it’s a massive play area that tops most playgrounds in the area. Once your children discover this play area, they will be asking to go to the zoo to play all the time!
There are three massive play structures with different themes that you haven’t already seen a gajillion times:
- Ice Zone. Looks like ice drifts and glaciers with hidden crevices, tunnels, and slides within.
- Forest. The trees include climbing, ropes, balancing, and some funky basket swings. After they escaped the frozen tundra, they were in heaven over here.
- River tot lot. The little one area has a sweet river theme and is also cool and creative. And baby swings!
There’s also an animal sculpture area just beyond the playground that is very engaging. Plenty of life-sized animal sculptures to touch and climb on (though some are hands-off). This area has several picnic tables and so is a great place to have lunch.
On our visit, we didn’t make it to the children’s zoo because we ran out of time, and nobody wanted to wait in line for the Little Puffer steam train (but we waved!). We brought our own lunch and ate it at the Leaping Lemur cafe. I’ve heard the food offerings at the zoo are decent, though a tad overpriced. Kinda comes with the territory.
Rides and more
Take a ride on the Little Puffer steam train for $7 per person (kids 3 and under free) or a historic carousel for another $4 each (standing adults free with paying child). You can also purchase an unlimited ride ticket for the day for $19. You might also want to know that there is a zoo key for $5, and the gift shop is enticing.
Be sure to look out for life-sized dinosaurs lurking as you meander among the statuesque trees and sumptuous greenery. We weren’t expecting them, so it was surprising and exciting. Look in the gardens and trees for intricate fairy houses. Also, to get a more interactive experience, make sure to check the animal talks and feeding schedule (the penguins is must-see).
For more about the San Francisco Zoo, check out our Ten Special Things to Do at the San Francisco Zoo >>
Plan your visit to the SF Zoo
Almost always open
The San Francisco Zoo is open every day of the year. Perfect for those holiday days when everything else is closed. Hours are 10 am–5 pm, last entry is at 4 pm. They offer discounts to other zoo members (like Oakland Zoo!) and to San Francisco residents. Find out more at sfzoo.org.
Getting There and Parking
Depending on traffic, it can take about 30-90 minutes to arrive at the Zoo from Oakland. It opens late enough so you can cross the bridge after rush hour is mostly over, if traveling on a weekend. Zoo parking fee is $11/weekdays and $13/weekends and holidays. There is free street parking along Sloat Blvd if you can find it.
Parent tips
Dress in layers. It can be chilly by the ocean. Pack a stroller, snacks/lunch, hats, sunscreen, and walking shoes – you’ll cover a lot of ground. Ocean Beach is across the street from the zoo, though crossing there can be a little challenging with the nearby construction.
Make sure to allow time to run around and get sand in your shoes. Arrive early, leave early, avoid the crowds and traffic.
- Website >
- General admission: $20-$31 per person; children under 2 are free
- Address: Sloat Blvd &, Upper Great Hwy, San Francisco, CA 94132
- Phone: (415) 753-7080
The Bottom Line on the San Francisco Zoo
The San Francisco Zoo is definitely worth a visit for animal-loving families. The variety and unique collection of animals and amazing playground area are what really stand out. It has a traditional, sprawling layout, but there are many upgrades, like elevated boardwalks and new viewing areas, to keep the landscape interesting. We have a great zoo in the East Bay but SF Zoo is a really nice compliment and one of those attractions families shouldn’t pass up.
Thank you to the San Francisco Zoo, who generously provided my family with tickets for our visit. My family’s honest reviews and opinions are all our own.
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