Nashville Zoo - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)
Nashville Zoo
Nashville Zoo
4
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Monday
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Sunday
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
About
Best outdoor adventure in the city! Ride the Soaring Eagle zip line, learn about the Zoo’s history at the Historic Home, and explore immersive animal habitats like you’ve never seen before. Experience the beautiful new Andean bear or Sumatran tiger exhibits. Get up close at Kangaroo Kickabout and Lorikeet Landing. See animals from around the world including spider monkeys, white rhinoceros, Masai giraffe, clouded leopards and much more! Check out the daily schedule of activities to ensure you do not miss out on amazing events. Witness a River Tank Feeding and attend Keeper Talks on several topics, including the Red River Hog, Cougars, and the Africa Field. Watch animal shows and go on tours to keep the adventure going.
Duration: More than 3 hours
Meets animal welfare guidelines
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  • winks1996
    Danville, Illinois901 contributions
    3.0 of 5 bubbles
    Nice Clean Zoo
    Really nice, maintained zoo with some pretty flowers and trees. Not to big of a place with few animals. I think kids would enjoy it as long as everyone knows going in that there is not ton of animals to see. They did have a cool area that allows you to walk around a pet lots of kangaroos which was really neat.
    Visited June 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written June 1, 2023
  • traveling_gal00
    Toronto, Canada162 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Very nice zoo
    This was a great zoo with a lot of attention to detail in its design and enclosures. I would have given it 5 stars, except the three animals we wanted to see (giraffe, sheep and red panda) were all off exhibit so that was a bit disappointing. I saw another review saying this was not a good zoo on a hot day but I actually disagree. It was about 110 degrees the day we went and I hate the heat, and while yes it was steaming hot, there was a lot of great shady areas to get out of the heat. Loved that they had some interactive things, including the 2 cute pigs roaming around the zoo that we got to pet!
    Visited August 2023
    Traveled with family
    Written August 27, 2023
  • Angela Campbell
    Nashville, Tennessee52 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Nashville Zoo Family Friendly Activities
    I live in Nashville and this was my first time visiting in about 5 years. WOW, how she has grown. I can't wait to come back in 5 more. It doesn't feel like your traditional zoo. It feels like walking in the woods with animals scattered about. I suggest going in the morning on a weekday to avoid the crowds. Be sure to try to catch the flamingo march. They were decorating for Boo at the Zoo which is a must if you have little ones. They have an event in the winter called Zooluminations which is phenomenal. When my children were little we had a family pass. It is so worth the money. The play area is huge and a great place to spend a couple hours to run off some energy. It is small, but they are expanding everywhere. The jungle loop looks to be almost completed. Hurry and visit the baby clouded leopards at the veterinarian center.
    Visited September 2023
    Traveled with family
    Written September 28, 2023
  • Deena W
    11 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Worth the time!
    LOTS of walking but pleasant experience! Several exhibits were closed due to construction/modifications. Pre-purchase your tickets through website prior to visit. 20 minute drive from downtown Nashville. Would recommend going later in the day as the park seemed to clear out around 2-2:30. Plan on 2-3 hours to take in the whole zoo.
    Visited October 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written October 6, 2023
  • Kat
    16 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Small but well done
    We are local and have a membership so visit the zoo regularly. It is a relatively small zoo and a bit pricey, but if you get a membership, or have a reciprocal membership, then very worthwhile. The more recent exhibits are vary lovely. I especially like the Tiger (he likes to lay next to the glass for up close viewing), the bears, the bamboo forest, the kangaroos, and the flamingos. We have a lovely farm with a house tour that gives the unique history of the zoo. The merry-go-round, bird feeding, eagle ride, reptile house, and animal show are worthwhile extras. The playground is fabulous and you need to allow at least 30 minutes to explore. Each time we go, I find that there is something special for that day...like the kangaroos were on the trail today so we go to pet one, or the bear came down to the window, or the monkeys were very active. I can imagine if you come once with limited time and all the animals don't "perform" that day, it can be a bummer. A couple of the bathrooms have special exhibits inside :) Oh, and the Zoo Run Run and Zooluminations are Super-duper!
    Visited October 2023
    Traveled with family
    Written November 9, 2023
  • Christine
    Clarksville, Tennessee28 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Zoolumination earns an A+
    My 19-year-old son and I visited in the evening to experience the Zoolumination exhibit. He and I have wasted money on quite a few tourist traps, so our expectations were low. Happily, we were blown away by the beauty, intricacy and extent of work invested into this excellent exhibit. There were dozens of stops along a long path that took well-over an hour to complete. Hot cocoa stands dotted the park. Music added to the experience. Our only regret was that our timing caused us to miss the acrobatics performance. I, absolutely, recommend Zoolumination.
    Visited December 2023
    Traveled with family
    Written December 28, 2023
  • pine129
    515 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Zoolumination at the Zoo was awesome !
    Each year the zoo has a latern festival event. This is the best yet! It runs until Feb 7 and is huge. The North Pole Village was amazing. It runs from 5pm to 9pm and there are shows at 6,7&8 with Chinese entertainers. Check the zoo website for up to date days now that the holidays are over.
    Visited January 2024
    Traveled with family
    Written January 2, 2024
  • Midd13
    Jersey, United Kingdom29 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Great spot
    Well set out zoo with interesting exhibits and very friendly staff. We also ate in the cafe that served Asian food - was really nice, freshly prepared to order. Well impressed.
    Visited February 2024
    Traveled as a couple
    Written February 15, 2024
  • Carlos L
    Atlanta, Georgia151 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Nashville Zoo: Diverse Animals & Unique Encounters
    Nashville Zoo: Diverse Animals & Unique Encounters Despite the crowds, the zoo was well-organized and clean, with surprising animal exhibits in the restrooms. Highlights included diverse animals like tigers, rhinos, zebras, and the interactive Kangaroo Kickabout path, where visitors can walk alongside and even pet kangaroos. Family-friendly activities, including a great kids playground at the entrance added to the fun. A must-visit for Nashville explorers, especially families seeking unique animal encounters.
    Visited February 2024
    Traveled with family
    Written February 25, 2024
  • Aswathi C
    Bowling Green, Kentucky30 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Amazing gem
    Absolutely enjoyed the experience. It was family with my 4 year old and friends with their 4 year old. Everyone enjoyed. The clean comfortable environment in which the animals are kept, the animal show which was very informative with cool birds and animals like vulture etc; the extremely good park inside the zoo. Absolutely loved it. Also loved the zip line (soaring eagle). Overall one gem of an experience.
    Visited March 2024
    Traveled with friends
    Written March 15, 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

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Popular mentions

4.0
4.0 of 5 bubbles1,633 reviews
Excellent
731
Very good
516
Average
241
Poor
94
Terrible
51

bfpadma
Clarksville, TN58 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2021 • Family
This was a great trip, all in all, and my daughter and I had a great time. We went for 2-3 hours and were able to walk around the entire outdoor area (we didn’t have time for any of the indoor exhibits)—however it is very expensive especially when you don’t arrive until 3 hours before closing. I’d think that like many other parks, afternoon visits should be discounted. They also charge for parking and food is extremely high ($7 for a popsicle). A lot of exhibits seemed closed or under construction, so all in all there weren’t a whole lot of animals. I did later find out that for less than half the cost, we could take our entire family to the Evansville Zoo, and I’ve heard it’s much better. Or to Saint Louis, where it’s very large and free. It was certainly a great visit! But definitely plan for a whole day and a lot of walking! Overall, great!
Written March 26, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

USTrvlr12
Bentonville, AR214 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2020 • Family
My kids, no matter their ages, always love going to the zoo so of course we added the Nashville Zoo to our list of things to do. One thing we noticed right away was how nice and shaded a majority of the zoo is for the animals and those of us touring. I’ve never been to such a shaded zoo and it made the experience during the summer heat, completely manageable bc of the shade.
Many portions of the zoo are under construction but there are still lots of animals to see and admire. The tiger area was really nicely done and I loved the hanging lanterns. We also really enjoyed the area with the bears. Side note: the women’s bathroom outside of the bears and between the Guinea pigs has a monkey enclosure in the bathroom. It’s the coolest thing and no, the family bathroom nor the men’s has one - only the ladies.
I definitely recommend this zoo especially if you’re an animal lover. The house on the property is also very neat but unfortunately it’s closed due to Covid so we will have to return and tour it at a later date & time.
I do have two complaints: 1) I paid for parking online and when we got to the gate, no one even cared. Not sure if you’re supposed to pay for parking or not but I basically donated $7 to the zoo. Oh well. Also, 2) it was hot and I wanted an icee. Y’all... $10 for what they call a large but what is definitely not worth $10. Again, another donation but I did think it was way overpriced.
Otherwise, go and enjoy the animals!
Written July 6, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

RetiredTravelerTN
Nashville, TN3,830 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2020
We always enjoy visits to the Nashville Zoo. Our recent visit was for a special exhibit -- the evening Chinese Festival of Lights called Zoolumination. Few animals are out at night. We saw a tiger on the move, a sleeping bear, a group of alpacas, and the flamingos. But mostly, this event is about the colorful lights displayed throughout the grounds.

The festival of lights featured flowers, birds, tigers, pandas, hens, giraffes, kangaroos, zebras, peacocks, dragons, and other animals. A Christmas Village is presented in the area of the original farmhouse. The colorful lighted exhibits make a dramatic show against the black night sky. A short, entertaining Chinese show is presented during the evening. We spent a leisurely 2 1/2 hours at the Zoolumination.

We're glad that we made the effort to attend this special exhibit. Evenings are now reduced to Thursday - Sunday through February 2. Of course, the regular zoo admission is available every day.
Written January 10, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

North Greenville Locals
Greenville, SC306 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2021 • Family
This zoo is very green, it’s like a hidden gem in the city. I will warn you it’s a LOT of walking but we have an 8 and 10 year old and they loved it. The animals have so much space in their living areas compared to other zoos around the country. We had a membership to anther zoo and we were given a 50% discount. The website says you have to buy tickets online, NOT true, you can get them at the entrance. Great day and lots of shade on the walkways will go back for sure.
Written June 4, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

SarahMo
Illinois21 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2021 • Family
Our kids are ages 13, 11, and 5 and there was something for everyone at this zoo! The reviews about the lovely SHADED walkways are spot-on… a wonderful break from the Tennessee heat and humidity! I enjoyed the historic info about the residents and owners of the original property. My husband and teen got a thrill from the zip line; it costs $8 a person and you can buy tickets for that AT the attraction. The elegant wooden carousel was $2 a ride and I did not have to pay since I was helping my littlest one. I was impressed with the size and quality of the enclosures for the animals, and the tiger exhibit was particularly educational in the viewing building. Everyone loved getting to pet the kangaroos, and our five and eleven year-olds were amused by the horde of guinea pigs. Be sure to check out the women’s bathroom by the guinea pigs…. 🐒🐒🐒🐒🐒in a cage in the bathroom, no joke!
The $8 payment to park was on the honor system it seemed, since we simply were asked if we parked in the lot and then paid an additional $8 for that and no one checked on the way out. Our membership at another US accredited zoo saved us 50% on admission so that softened the cost of the expensive day as well!
We did not try any of the restaurant or cafe items on site but it seemed there were a lot, and what you would expect for prices at a zoo.
It was an eclectic group of people that were visiting and all the guests we encountered were happy to be there and friendly!
We spent about 4 hours there, could have rushed through in 2 to see what we wanted and also could have had a whole day of it. I will say we are slightly spoiled with convenient access to the Chicago Zoos and the St. Louis Zoo and in terms of the number of animals and exhibits it didn’t top those… but still a worthwhile use of an afternoon on our Nashville vacation!
One last note—the elaborate children’s climbing / play area is under construction and unfortunately we did not find any other little mini play type areas around the zoo for our littlest.
Written July 4, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Kim W
Greenville, KY69 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2020 • Family
We had a spur of the moment block of time and arrived at the zoo around 4:30. It was opening at 5 for the zulimination. We walked straight up and got tickets. It wasn’t very crowded. Wow is an understatement. This is spread throughout the zoo. You walk the path around the zoo and each section has lumination. It is somewhat dark, but you are able to manage wheelchairs, strollers and toddlers. In one section, there are vendors that you can purchase a few authentic items from. The kids favored the small lit rockets that you could purchase. The carousel and zip line ride is open too. There are vendors throughout the park selling hot chocolate, beverages, popcorn/flavored and regular, and other novelties. A few of the restaurants are open as well. This event happens until February 2nd. We watched the 7:00 show and it was phenomenal. It lasted about 20 minutes so you don’t get too cold and fidgety. I highly recommend. Dress warmly, expect it to get crowded around 6:00 pm. It stays open until 8 so you have more than enough time to see it all.
Written January 19, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

A M
Columbus, IN67 contributions
1.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2022 • Couples
The Night Vision zoo experience offers embarrassingly little. There was only one animal exhibit open, the flamingoes. (It was beautiful and interesting.) I heard the snake house had been open, but it closed at 8:00 PM. The dinosaur trek (animated dinosaurs) was open. The exhibit was a little more interesting than during the day because of the spotlights. As for light exhibits, there were about four projected lighting “scenes” and a lot of “light sticks” vertically anchored to the bases of trees and bamboo. That is it.

There were some rides and attractions open for an extra fee. On top of A $25 PRICED ADULT TICKET!

After going to the Columbus, Ohio zoo lights last December for about the same price, I guess my expectations were pretty high.

We spent about an hour and a half there, 20 minutes of which was spent in a line waiting for coffee. We found out after ordering that they had to stop and clean the coffee maker. Right that second. They only found out after a long line of waiting people that the coffee maker needed to be cleaned. Embarrassing.

I am going to choose to feel good about this evening and chalk it up to helping the zoo with their “spring fundraiser.” But, really, come on Nashville Zoo. You can do better than this.
Written April 15, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Jrbacon
Nashville, TN220 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2020 • Family
We went on July 2 and due to Covid several exhibits were closed. Basically the main attractions. The zoo is small with not many animals to begin with. It doesn’t even come close to the free zoo in St Louis. They should be giving a discount during these times of closure since you are missing the best parts. Would not recommend visiting until everything is back to normal. $17 per ticket plus $7 to park.
Written July 5, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

TNLikes2Travel
Tennessee95 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2022
Tickets for Night Visions include free rides on the animal carousel and zip line, and free admission to Dino Trek. This makes the tickets well worth the price if you have kids who enjoy those experiences. Arrive before the gates open at 7:45 PM to be first in line. Head straight to the zip line, then the carousel to avoid later long lines. Bring a small drink cooler or water bottles; everyone gets thirsty. Wear comfortable shoes; there is a lot of walking. The Disco Cove light display is mesmerizing and worth watching several times. Flamingos are always interesting. Dino Trek is well laid out, fun, and interesting. Even though this experience starts at most kids' bedtimes, the whole family will enjoy Night Visions. Maybe plan to sleep in the next morning. Premium Passes are good for multiple visits and useful if weather restricts your planned visit. Hope this info helps families plan an enjoyable visit.
Written June 28, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Melissa W.
Chattanooga, TN99 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2022
I was kind of surprised at how much I loved the Nashville Zoo, and wish we could have spent more than four hours here for the day. We weren't able to do a couple of things, but thoroughly enjoyed the vast majority of the zoo. I think only the tiger habitat was closed off due to construction, although there were signs at other habitats that animals may be inside due to the weather (there were bad storms the night before). I was able to take a ton of amazing pictures, and the day was not too sunny and hot, at least!

It was incredibly crowded, but found we were able to still enjoy ourselves and see every animal available. The aviary and reptile house is awesome, and really enjoyed so many habitats. We did think it was weird that you had to pay an extra $4 for the DinoTrek, but these two adult dinosaur lovers thought it was well worth it. We didn't do any of the other activities and glad we didn't pre-pay for the adventure pass, as the lines were too long. The walking paths are mostly shaded and surrounded by beautiful trees and plants. It was very relaxing. I loved the bamboo forest!

I do wish parents would teach their kids not to scream at the animals, though. I was on the other side of several screaming kids, and it wasn't nice. One thing I do wish they had were vending machines that took cards, because we had no cash. There weren't any vendors open that we passed, and forgetting a water bottle was a huge mistake on our part. It was about 3 hours into our day before we were able to buy something to drink.

I'd like to go back when they finish their expansion, and be able to spend the entire day!
Written April 17, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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Nashville Zoo - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

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