Your safety, as well as the safety of our employees, volunteers and animals, is absolutely paramount. With this in mind, we have made widespread operational changes throughout our 80-acre campus. A quick overview is below—for more information on our safety measures, visit DenverZoo.org/updates.
All employees are required to wear masks and observe six feet of safety with animals as well as guests, volunteers and other employees. Additional guidelines are also in place for other potentially sensitive species—such a primates, felines and otters.
If you must remove their mask, we ask that you physically distance yourself from other people or groups, turn your back to others, and then lower your mask as needed. Once your task has been completed, replace your mask prior to returning to the one-way loop.
High-touch surfaces, including restrooms, are being disinfected frequently on a set schedule. Some high-touch surfaces, like restaurant tables and chairs, are cleaned immediately after use.
When the zoo is open to the public, public restrooms are closed and cleaned every two hours. The area is thoroughly cleaned with disinfectant cleaner; high touchpoints (door handles, ledges, dispensers, trash receptacles etc.) are additionally disinfected with an electrostatic sprayer. Public restrooms are also thoroughly disinfected each evening. Additionally, we have added 20 portable restrooms and handwash stations to campus to encourage dispersion of use and social distancing.
A one-way path around the entire campus allow guests to view a majority of our animal habitats and garden while maintaining six feet of safety.
Our one-way path is for the safety of everyone on campus—including guests, employees, volunteers and our animals. There are two places to re-loop or exit: (1) at the hippo/tapir, where you can return to the entrance or repeat the primate portion of the 2-hour loop; and (2) at the main gate, where you may opt to do another 1- or 2-hour loop.
There are benches along the pathway for guests to rest. Benches are disinfected every hour. For the safety of all, please do not rest in the flow of traffic or on hay bales.
In addition to complying with all government-mandated COVID-19 safety procedures with regard to the preparation and service of all food and beverage items, we have moved to a touchless and tamper-free dining experience. Grab-and-go food and beverage options are available throughout campus with easy ordering at DenverZoo.org/eat:
The Samburu Patio is open with seating for guests. All seating is outdoors, with tables spaced out for social distancing. Tables are bussed and cleaned by staff after each use. Additionally, you may picnic on Zoo grounds while adhering to social distancing guidelines. There are picnic areas in Giraffe Meadows, Sycamore Island near the okapi exhibit, and in the Woodland Garden. We ask that you do not bring straws, for the safety of our animals.
When eating, you must physically distance yourself from other people/groups, turn your back to others, and then lower your mask to consume food or water. Masks should be replaced prior to returning with the flow of people. Please do not break/rest in the flow of traffic, or on hay bales.
Denver Zoo’s primary gift shop, Kibongi Market, will remain open with safety modifications—including one-way traffic flow, distanced displays and available hand sanitizer. Guests can also purchase anytime from our online gift shop and have purchases shipped.
Everyone here at Denver Zoo missed having guests on campus. But, while we're excited to welcome back our wonderful community, we also have an obligation to abide by City and State health orders. Per their request, we submitted a detailed re-opening plan in mid-May which outlined how we planned to protect guests, employees, volunteers and our 3,000 animals with new operational procedures including social distancing guidelines, timed ticketing, mandatory mask-wearing and more. Our opening date was determined by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment and the Governor’s office after they approved our new operational plan.
Children under the age of 16 must be accompanied by a person 16 years or older.
It depends on the type of membership you purchased. Visit our membership page to learn about your benefits.
We have restrooms at the Main Gate, Gates Center, Congo Basin in Primate Panorama, Bird World, Tropical Discovery, Giraffes, Felines, and near the McGrath Family Amphitheater in Toyota Elephant Passage. See our map for locations. Full-service restroom facilities that accommodate the physically challenged are available in Tropical Discovery, Primate Panorama, Gates Center and near the Kamala Cafe. Baby changing stations are available at all locations. View our digital map or download our app to find restroom locations.
Yes, family restrooms are available at the Main Entrance, Primate Panorama and near the Kamala Café in Toyota Elephant Passage and are available for nursing in private. View our digital map or download our app to find restroom locations.
Smoking is not allowed inside the fences of Denver Zoo. You can get your hand stamped and exit at the Main Entrance, smoke in the designated smoking area outside of the zoo and re-enter the zoo when you are finished.
You may park in any of the parking lots adjacent to the zoo or in the zoo’s four-level parking garage. All of the parking is free. Access to these parking lots is along 23rd Avenue between York Street and Colorado Boulevard near the zoo’s main entrance.
Denver Zoo encourages carpooling, using public transportation, bike riding and walking.
We have seven free days annually. Click here for list of upcoming free days at Denver Zoo.
Yes, we have push wheelchairs for $10/day and electric scooters for $30/day. You must be at least 18 years of age to operate; no reservations can be made as it is first come first served. Wagons are $8/day and safari jeeps $10/day. Members receive a $1 discount on wagons and safari jeeps. When the Wagon Rental is closed you can rent at Samburu Grille.
No, for the safety of our guests, self-propelled or motorized riding conveyances such as skateboards, skates, “Heely” brand shoes or similar (wheels must be removed), roller blades, scooters, cycles, big wheels, electric powered toys/riding toys, etc are not allowed.
No, for safety of our guests and animals, pets of any kind are not allowed on Denver Zoo grounds. Assistance animals are allowed with some restrictions. Please check in with security at the main gate if you plan on bringing a service animal into the zoo.
Yes, for the safety of our animals items such as balloons, confetti, flags, straws, boom boxes, loud toys, horns, laser pens, flashlights, stilts, etc., are not allowed. Denver Zoo reserves the right to refuse any other items that animal staff advises may cause distress to the animal collection.
Feeding, chasing and teasing the animals is strictly prohibited. This includes the free roaming animals that call Denver Zoo home, such as the beautiful peacocks. Observe these animals from a distance and do not approach, chase or feed them. Please do not tap on glass or shout at animals. Violation of this rule is subject to removal from the zoo grounds and/or prosecution.
Guests who are interested in feeding an animal should visit Lorikeet Adventure where they can purchase and feed this beautiful species with specially created nectar designed for their dietary needs. Lorikeet Adventure is a seasonal/weather dependent experience and will be closed if the temperature gets too low for the birds safety.
Please visit the Boettcher Welcome Center at the Main Entrance to see if the item has been found or file a claim to report the lost item.
We take care of "owies," and, if needed, paramedic service is available. Please ask any security officer or employee to assist you.
Denver Zoo is a casual, family-oriented organization. Footwear is required at all times. We suggest you dress comfortably, wear good walking shoes and check the local weather report before you leave for the zoo. In Colorado, it is often a good idea to bring an extra layer just in case. Ensuring that the zoo is family friendly is an important part of the zoo experience. In that spirit, we ask you to use discretion and common sense.
No, Denver Zoo does not generally accept animal donations from private individuals. Many animals in our collection are carefully managed by a Species Survival Plan (SSP) and we coordinate managing these populations by working with other zoos and accredited organizations. This helps us make sure that we have a healthy animal population and know as much as possible about each animal before they arrive.
If you have an animal you want to find a new home for, please contact our Guest Care Center at 720-337-1400 for information about specific animal rescue organizations.
Many visitors to Denver Zoo spend an average of 1-3 hours at the zoo, but how long you stay is really up to you! We offer food, restaurants and activities that can offer an entire days worth of fun and memories for you and your family.
We generally recommend guests arrive early in the day, ideally when gates open for the day, or in the early afternoon, as mid-morning to noon is often the busiest part of the day.
Please view Denver Zoo's Weapons Policy.
Your MY Denver Card is good in January and February. It can be used for up to 5 free visits with a paid adult per family or 16+ can attend without paying adult. It does however exclude special events, zoo lights, field trips and classes.