Group Reservations

Bring Your Group to Your Birmingham Zoo!

We are open Wednesday – Sunday, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Group reservations are NOT available on Monday or Tuesday. Group reservations must be booked at least 2 weeks in advance of your visit. All group reservations must have at least 15 paying individuals.

(A 3% transaction fee is added for all payments except cash or check.)

Click the links below to learn about Birmingham Zoo groups and to reserve your visit today!

Steps to Make a Group Reservation

1. Review all policies and procedures located below.
2. Gather projected attendance totals, contact information, and Tax-ID number (if applicable).
3. Complete the Group Reservation Request Form, located at the bottom of this page.
4. You will receive a confirmation email within 5 business days that will outline the details of your reservation and provide an invoice for your trip.

Groups Price Guide: Tax-Exempt

For Tax-Exempt organizations who are bringing 15+ paying individuals. 

Admission:

• Students: $13.00 per person
• Chaperone/Adult: $17.00 per person
• Teachers: 1 free teacher for every 10 paying students
  • Maximum of 10 free teachers per reservation.
  • Additional teachers outside of this ratio will pay the adult admission price.
• Bus drivers & School Nurses: Complimentary Admission

Train Ride:

• Students & Adults: $4.00 per person
• Teachers, Bus Drivers, & School Nurses: Complimentary Ride Ticket
• Single-Use Ticket

Lorikeet Feedings: 

• Available Spring – Fall
• Limited Daily Booking Capacity
• $4.00 per person
  • No Complimentary Feedings

Specific pricing is available for Title I school groups. Contact [email protected] for more information or select Title I as group type on the reservation form.

Groups Price Guide: Non-Tax-Exempt

For Non-Tax-Exempt organizations who are bringing 15+ paying individuals. All prices include sales tax.

Admission:

• Adults (ages 13+): $19.00
• Children (ages 2-12): $15.00
• Infants (ages 0-23 months): FREE

Train Ride:

• $4.40 per person
• Single-Use Ticket

Lorikeet Feedings: 

• Available Spring – Fall
• Limited Daily Booking Capacity
• $4.40 per person

Education Programs

View complete details of available programs

Changes/Reschedules/Cancellations for education programs are required by EOD (End of day) via Email ONLY the Friday before your scheduled visit. If a program is changed/rescheduled/cancelled after this timeline a $100 fee will be incurred by the school/organization, the group will be invoiced for the cost and payment is required before any other groups trips may be booked for the organization.

Lunch at the Zoo

Pre-Ordering Lunch:

To pre-order your lunch from the zoo, please fill out the lunch section on the group reservation form or e-mail [email protected] for more information or assistance. 

• Lunches are only available for school groups only.
• Lunches must be ordered through the Group Reservation Request Form.
• All lunch orders must be initiated 7 business days before your scheduled trip date.
• Please note lunch portions are for elementary-aged children.
• All changes, reschedules, or cancellations must be communicated only through email.
• All changes, reschedules, or cancellations are required by 4:00 PM the Friday before your trip.
• If a lunch is changed/rescheduled/cancelled after this timeline, the group will be invoiced for the cost and payment is required before any other groups trips may be booked for the organization.

Click the link below to preview lunch options. To order lunch, complete the group reservation form and include lunch selections.

Bringing Lunch:

• You may bring your lunch and enjoy our picnic tables at the Pavilion in the east parking lot next to the Junior League of Birmingham playground. Tables are first-come, first-served, and may NOT be reserved.
• Educational groups may also enjoy their lunch picnic-style on Henley Park lawn just inside the entrance to the Zoo, or one of the other designated lunch areas provided with your correspondence.
• Seating inside/outside of Nourish 205 and Wild Burger is reserved for paying restaurant guest only. 
• Packed lunches provided by the school must use one of the designated spots for groups.
• Everyone is also welcome to bring money and individually purchase lunch at either of our two restaurants, Nourish 205 and Wild Burger.

Payment Details

• • All group pricing is valid for one transaction/payment per reservation. The entire group must be paid together in full, and cannot add additional guests or add-ons after the payment occurs. Anyone not paid as part of the group must purchase General Admission tickets at the Front Gate or online ahead of the trip date.
  • If parents/chaperones would like to receive the group rate, they must pay through your organization and be included in the single group payment. If your group is paying the day of, please collect money from any parents/chaperones that are receiving the group rate prior to arriving at the Zoo.
  • We do NOT accept individual payments from parents/chaperones for Group Rates, but they are welcome to visit the Front Gate for General Admission tickets.
  • You may pay for the trip the day you attend before your group enters the zoo.
  • Please allow 14-21 business days when mailing payment in advance. If you cannot mail a payment this far in advance, please hold the check to bring with you at the time of check-in.
  • We accept business checks and all major credit cards. No personal checks will be accepted as payment for organizations.
  • Payments may not be invoiced and purchase orders are not accepted as payment. Groups must have a valid form of payment (business check, credit card, or cash) available to pay in full prior to entering the zoo.
  • Zoo Memberships may be used for admission ONLY. If you have guests joining you that will be utilizing their membership, DO NOT include them in your attendance totals for your reservation.
  • There must be 15 individuals paying for admission in order to receive group rates. Those using memberships to gain free admission do NOT count toward this number.
  • To receive an updated invoice for your booked trip, reply to the confirmation email sent by [email protected] with the final totals of students, parent chaperones, teachers, bus drivers, and/or nurses.

Changes/Reschedules/Cancellations for lunches are required by EOD (End of day) via Email ONLY the Friday before your scheduled visit. If a lunch is changed/rescheduled/cancelled after this timeline and food has already been purchased or prepared, the group will be invoiced for the cost and payment is required before any other groups trips may be booked for the organization.

Changes/Reschedules/Cancellations for education programs are required by EOD (End of day) via Email ONLY the Friday before your scheduled visit. If a program is changed/rescheduled/cancelled after this timeline a $100 fee will be incurred by the school/organization, the group will be invoiced for the cost and payment is required before any other groups trips may be booked for the organization.

Check-In & Arrival

Paying & Checking In:

• Please complete the Field Trip Check-In Form provided by the reminder email before your trip and turn in with your in-person payment to ensure charges are calculated correctly.
• Please print out the Bus Map provided in the reminder email before your trip to all bus drivers.
• Final updates on admission numbers must be provided at the time of check-in and payment.

Parent Chaperones:

• If a parent/chaperone needs to purchase their own ticket, they may do so at one of the Ticket Booths at Front Gate or online before your trip. They will not receive the discounted group rate when purchasing a ticket individually.
• If a parent is running late meeting your group, they must have a method to communicate with the teacher directly to receive their wristband if paid via the school. Staff cannot locate a group once they have entered the zoo.
• If parents have a Membership they must check-in at the Front Gate.

Bus Parking:

• Buses must park in the gravel lots. Buses CANNOT park on the paved, main lots directly in front of the zoo.
  Click HERE for the bus parking map. 

Inside the Zoo:

• If you have an Education program, your meet-up time and location was provided in your confirmation email. A Zoo Educator will be waiting to meet you at the designated location. 
• There is no place inside the zoo designated to store lunches. They may placed placed along the wall of the entrance breezeway, or somewhere in the zoo nearby or on Henley Lawn. All lunches must be out of the guest pathway to ensure guest safety. We do not guarantee the safety or security of any lunches left unattended. Please label all coolers or boxes storing lunches with your school’s name. 
• Groups that bring their lunch CANNOT utilize restaurant seating to eat their meal. Restaurant seating is reserved for paying customers of restaurants.
• Students of any age must be supervised in all areas of the zoo, including all indoor areas such as restaurants, the gift shop, and animal habitat buildings.

Refund/Cancellation/Reschedules

Refund Policy:

• Any unused wristbands or ride tickets can be used for another date of their choice.
• A refund may be issued for check overages of $35 or more if the difference is discussed at the time of purchase.
• Refunds take 2 weeks for processing and will be sent to the school/organization address on the original check or address given on the group reservation form.

Cancellation policy:

• Cancellations must be submitted via e-mail at least 72 hours before your trip.
• You will receive an e-mail with confirmation of your cancellation. If you do not receive a response within 48 hours please resend your cancellation request.
• If you have pre-paid for your trip and are unable to reschedule, the wristbands you purchased are good for up to a year. They may be kept to be used for another trip or distributed to the participants to come and use another day.
• If a refund is preferred, all wristbands/ride tickets must be returned to the Birmingham Zoo before your refund can be processed and the trip must be canceled at least 72 hours prior to your scheduled arrival.

Rescheduling policy:

• Your Birmingham Zoo remains open and available for groups rain or shine!  
• Reschedules must be submitted via e-mail at least 72 hours before your trip and the new visit date must be available.
• If you arrive on a day that is not your scheduled visit date, you will be subject to paying General Admission prices at the front gate.
• There is no fee to reschedule if:
  • 1) It is your first (1st) reschedule request,
  • 2) The reschedule is necessary due to unexpected circumstances beyond your organization’s control, or
  • 3) If the Birmingham Zoo requires rescheduling.
• Any additional reschedules will be charged a $25 rescheduling fee.

Changes/Reschedules/Cancellations for lunches are required by EOD (End of day) via Email ONLY the Friday before your scheduled visit. If a lunch is changed/rescheduled/cancelled after this timeline and food has already been purchased or prepared, the group will be invoiced for the cost and payment is required before any other groups trips may be booked for the organization.

Changes/Reschedules/Cancellations for education programs are required by EOD (End of day) via Email ONLY the Friday before your scheduled visit. If a program is changed/rescheduled/cancelled after this timeline a $100 fee will be incurred by the school/organization, the group will be invoiced for the cost and payment is required before any other groups trips may be booked for the organization.

Sensory Initiative

Raising Awareness – Increasing Accessibility – Promoting Inclusive Experience

Your Birmingham Zoo is Sensory Inclusive! We were the first zoo to partner with KultureCity to develop the Sensory Inclusive Zoo Initiative. This initiative has been successful in making your zoo—and many other attractions throughout the U.S.—more welcoming and accessible to individuals with Sensory Processing needs.

• Quiet Zones, Headphone Zones, and locations with weighted lap pads are identifiable by signs throughout the park featuring the sensory logo.
• A limited number of Sensory Bags are available for checkout at no cost on a first-come, first-served basis in our Membership Booth. These bags contain noise-canceling headphones, fidget toys, and other resources.