43 Free Zoos and Aquariums in the USA (2026 Guide)

There are 43 completely free zoos and aquariums across the United States that anyone can visit for free, any day they’re open — no residency, tickets, or special days required. They’re spread across 24 states, with Wisconsin (8) and Kansas (6) leading the way. Dozens more offer free days, resident days, or seasonal free admission — those are listed under each state too. The largest free zoo in the US is Chicago’s Lincoln Park Zoo, open 365 days a year at no charge.

What to Pack for Your Free Zoo Day

Admission is free, but you’ll want to bring a few essentials to make the most of your visit:

• Reusable water bottle with strap and bag– Most zoos allow you to bring your own water. Stay hydrated and save $3-5 per person on bottled drinks.
• Comfortable walking shoes– Even small zoos cover 1-2 miles of walking. Your feet will thank you.
• Snacks – Many free zoos allow outside food. Pack granola bars, fruit, or sandwiches to save $30-50 on food.
• Portable phone charger– You’ll take way more photos than you think. Don’t miss the perfect shot because your battery died.
• Organic Sunscreen – Outdoor exhibits mean sun exposure, even on cloudy days.

Budget tip: The zoos listed here are free, but many are in expensive cities. Consider staying in budget hotels outside downtown and driving in. Compare rates on Expedia to find the best deals.

Free Zoos by State

Arizona

• The Navajo Zoo (Window Rock) — Always Free to everyone!

Arkansas

• Mammoth Spring National Fish Hatchery Aquarium (Mammoth Spring) — Free aquarium and aquatic education center.

California

• Cabrillo Marine Aquarium – Free with a suggested donation of $10 for adults and $5 for children and senior
• Roundhouse Aquarium (Manhattan Beach) — Free at the end of the pier, suggested donation $5/person. Open daily except Christmas.

Also Free (With a Catch)

• San Francisco Zoo – Free admission for San Francisco residents, free days are often the first or second Wednesday of the month.
• Santa Ana Zoo (Santa Ana) — Free for Santa Ana residents, 3rd Sunday of every month with proof of residency.
• Monterey Bay Aquarium (Monterey) — Free days for Monterey County residents part of each year, reservations required.
• Aquarium of the Pacific (Long Beach) — Free Shark Lagoon Twilight Tuesday evenings.

Colorado

Free With a Catch

• Denver Zoo has a free 7 days a year you can get thru a lottery

Delaware

Free With a Catch

• Brandywine Zoo– Is free December 1st – February 28th due to some animals hiding

D.C.

• Smithsonian National Zoological Park – Always free

Florida

Free With a Catch

• Florida Keys Eco-Discovery Center (Key West) — Free marine sanctuary visitor center with Keys/ocean ecosystem exhibits. It’s a marine center rather than a classic tank-aquarium free marine discovery center (exhibits, not a traditional aquarium).
• Naples Zoo (Naples) — Free all day for Collier County residents, first Saturday of every month.
  

Georgia

• Bear Hollow Zoo – always free

Illinois

• Lincoln Park Zoo always free open 365
• Phillips Park Zoo – always free

Also Free (With a Catch):

• Brookfield Zoo-Free Admission for Military Personnel
• Cosley Zoo (Wheaton) — Free only to Wheaton Park District residents.
• Shedd Aquarium (Chicago) — Illinois residents get free days on select dates; proof required.
• Peoria Zoo (Peoria) — Free on roughly 44 donation days a year, many in winter. Check their site for current dates.

Kansas

• Lee Richardson Zoo, pedestrians are free, cars are $10
• David Traylor Zoo – always free
• Riverside Park and Ralph Mitchell Zoo – always free
• Great Bend Brit Spaugh Zoo – always free
• Clay Center Utility Park & Zoo – always free
• Hutchinson – free with a suggested donation of $2 per person or $5 per family

Louisiana

• Natchitoches National Fish Hatchery & Aquarium (Natchitoches) — Free admission, and it has actual public aquarium display tanks

Also Free (With a Catch):

• Audubon Aquarium (New Orleans) — Free for New Orleans residents, but rotates weekly across four Audubon sites, so not every Wednesday.
• Audubon Zoo (New Orleans) — Same rotating-resident-Wednesday program as the aquarium above.

Maryland

• Salisbury Zoo – always free and free parking

Also Free (With a Catch):

• National Aquarium (Baltimore) — Not generally free, but runs a Free Fall Friday Night once a year (free timed tickets online), plus reduced-price Maryland Mornings for state residents.

Massachusetts

• Woods Hole Science Aquarium (Woods Hole) — Free admission (NOAA-run, oldest US public aquarium, 1875). Closed for major renovations, reopening early 2027 — check before visiting.

Also Free (With a Catch):

• New England Aquarium (Boston) — Boston K–12 students + up to 2 guests free on the 1st and 2nd Sundays monthly (Boston Family Days program).

Michigan

• Belle Isle Aquarium (Detroit) — Free, $5 donation encouraged. Open year-round, Thursday–Sunday. One of the oldest aquariums in the country, open since 1904.

Minnesota

• Como Park Zoo & Conservatory (St. Paul) — always free, donation-based. A genuinely major free zoo. It’s one of the bigger free zoos in the country.
• Oxbow Park & Zollman Zoo (Byron/Rochester area) — always free.

Missouri

• Saint Louis Zoo – always free, said to be one of the best zoos
• Neosho National Fish Hatchery Aquarium (Neosho) — Free visitor center with native-fish aquarium display.

New Jersey

• Cape May County Park & Zoo (Cape May Court House) — always free, and free parking.
• Cohanzick Zoo (Bridgeton) — always free, every day. NJ’s (and one of the country’s) oldest free zoos.

New Mexico

• Spring River Zoo (Roswell) – always free

New York

Free (With a Catch):

• Bronx Zoo (Bronx) — Free every Wednesday — but a timed ticket is required in advance, online. free on Wednesdays — grab the free timed ticket online first, or you’ll have a rough day at the gate. One of the biggest, best zoos in the country.
• New York Aquarium (Brooklyn) — Free after 3 p.m. on Wednesdays, advance timed tickets required.

North Carolina

• Livermon Park & Mini Zoo (Robersonville) — Free every day. A charming small-town mini-zoo — a few animals and an easy picnic-and-stretch stop, not a big-city operation. Nice little no-cost detour.

North Dakota

• Garrison Dam National Fish Hatchery Visitor Center (Riverdale) — Free visitor center with five 400-gallon aquarium tanks.

Ohio

• Put-in-Bay Aquatic Visitor Center (Put-in-Bay) — Free admission, donations appreciated. Small aquatic visitor center on the island. It’s seasonal (island location, summer-oriented).

Also Free (With a Catch):

• Cleveland Metroparks Zoo (Cleveland) — Free Mondays for Cuyahoga County and Hinckley Township residents, proof required.
• Akron Zoo (Akron) — Free-admission days like MLK Day + Summit County resident community days.
• Toledo Zoo & Aquarium (Toledo) — Lucas County residents, free Monday mornings (10am–noon) with proof.

Pennsylvania

Free (With a Catch):

• Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium (Pittsburgh) — Annual Donation Day — one free daytime admission per non perishable item donated.
• Elmwood Park Zoo (Norristown) — Norristown Borough residents free, last Saturday + Sunday monthly, pre-registration required.

Rhode Island

• Abrams Animal Farm (Block Island) — Free. Not quite a zoo, but a fun little animal farm you won’t regret — just remember it’s on Block Island, so plan for the ferry and check seasonal hours.

Also Free (With a Catch):

• Roger Williams Park Zoo (Providence) — Free first Saturday monthly for City of Providence residents, proof required.

South Dakota

• Gavins Point National Fish Hatchery Aquarium (Yankton) — Free, with a 13,000-gallon public aquarium holding 40+ mostly local species.

Tennessee

Free (With a Catch):

• Memphis Zoo (Memphis) — Tennessee residents free on Tuesdays with free reservations; parking still costs.
  

Texas

• Sea Center Texas (Lake Jackson) — Free admission, donations appreciated. A marine aquarium + fish hatchery run by Texas Parks & Wildlife.
  

Also Free (With a Catch):

• Houston Zoo (Houston) — Free Zoo Days the first Tuesday of each month, online reservations required.

Virginia

• Center in the Square Aquariums (Roanoke) — Free public aquariums in the atrium, including an 8,000-gallon coral reef tank plus themed exhibits.

Washington

• MaST Center Aquarium (Des Moines, WA) — Free. A charming little Puget Sound aquarium with 250+ species, including octopus and wolf eels. Open Saturdays year-round plus some summer Sundays — check their site for hours.

Wisconsin

• Henry Vilas Zoo (Madison) — always free, free parking too. A real full-size free zoo — worth flexing inline.
• Ochsner Park Zoo (Baraboo) — always free, 365 days.
• Menominee Park Zoo (Oshkosh) — always free
• Irvine Park Zoo (Chippewa Falls) — always free + free parking, in a 318-acre park, running since 1909.
• Wisconsin Rapids Municipal Zoo (Wisconsin Rapids) — always free
• Manitowoc Lincoln Park Zoo (Manitowoc) — free, suggested donation
• Concord Zoo (Oconomowoc) — always free
• Bay Beach Wildlife Sanctuary (Green Bay) — Free. Not a zoo but a 535-acre wildlife refuge full of animals — owls, eagles, deer, and more. Free and open year-round, and worth the detour.

Also Free (With a Catch):

• Milwaukee County Zoo (Milwaukee) — Family Free Days a handful of times a year, parking/attractions extra.

Love free experiences? We’ve got even more for you! Dive into our guide to other awesome, no-cost attractions and join us in helping these places thrive. Your adventure—and your donations—make a big difference!

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