General Admission to the Phoenix Zoo is $24.95 for Adults (14+) and $14.95 for Children ages 3-13. Children 2 and under are free. Pricing is as of September 2016.
A Value Ticket is also offered, which includes admission to the 4-D Theater, Safari Train, and Stingray Bay, in addition to the zoo admission. The cost of the value Ticket is $34.95 for Adults, and $24.95 for children.
Your final option for entry is the Total Experience Ticket, which covers Zoo Admission, 4-D Theater, Stingray Bay, Safari Train, Unlimited Carousel Rides, and a Camel Ride. This costs $39.95 for Adults, and $29.95 for Children.
Various Membership Packages are also offered. A Phoenix Zoo membership allows you free or discounted admission to over 150 Aquariums and Zoos nationwide. See our Resources page for details.
If you were paying attention to the pricing structure, you probably noticed that in addition to your average every day zoo experience, you can add on a number of adventures. Each of the extras (Safari Train, Carousel, Stingray Bay, 4-D Theater, Camel Ride) can be purchased separately, at the exhibit.
This Zoo was huge. We made the decision to visit on a whim, so we weren’t well acquainted with the layout of the zoo, and found it slightly confusing. We still aren’t sure if we even made it through the whole thing. A map was offered, and we probably should have used it! In the end, it didn’t really matter, because we had a blast. Upon entry, we saw the Giraffes straight ahead, and the Safari Train was passing by. That was all it took. A TRAIN! Giraffes!
We veered left, and wandered through the expansive zoo. At this point, I believe TT Dad and I enjoyed the zoo just a bit more than the kids, but we aren’t sure if that’s because the animals were a little difficult to view, or if they were still a little young to appreciate it. Each zone was large, allowing for multiple hiding places for the animals. It was great to see the animals in an impressive replica of their natural habitat, but it was often difficult to get a good look at them.
It was a pretty hot day, even though it was February, which probably didn’t help the animal viewing situation. Most of the shaded areas were farthest away from the viewing area. The heat also lessened the duo’s naturally curious personality. They were a bit crankier than normal, so we were both disappointed, and excited, to find the children’s area very late in our visit.
The good news was that we found some of their favorites for lunch options, but the downside was that they weren’t really in any mood to explore. We did bring them into the petting zoo area, and Z loved following the goats around, even if she was a little too scared to pet them. G was over it before he even entered the pen.
A quick handwash, and we settled in for a picnic. After lunch, we were able to snap a couple of pictures with them, but the good spirits didn’t last too long. One of our rules for family travel is to pack it in if things are turning south, and to follow the cues of the kids, just like we do the parents.
Of the Zoos we had been to at that point, this felt like the largest, which wasn’t a problem for our stroller kids, but older littles may have difficulties making it the whole way. There didn’t seem to be much of a flow to the zoo, either. It was difficult to know if we’d already seen what was down each path we came across. The surroundings were impressive. Each pen was enormous, which was both a pro, and a con. I imagine the animals felt a little bit more at home, without humans crowding them, but it sometimes caused difficulties in terms of viewing.
A major pro to the general spaciousness of the zoo is that we never felt crowded, either. There were only a few times we found ourselves waiting to get the prime view, or felt others waiting behind us to grab our spot when we vacated.
This was the first major zoo we had spent quality time at, and it was definitely worth it. We settled for general admission, and did not add on any experiences, but I think we would definitely take the Safari Train on a future visit. The Camel rides were tempting, but the kids weren’t big enough, yet!
We recommend this zoo for all ages. There is really something for everyone!