Visitor Info

Welcome back to your Zoo!

Please read carefully before planning your visit.

The Birmingham Zoo is open and operating with reduced hours and at limited capacity. Due to an increase of COVID-19 cases in our community, we have made significant changes to our daily operations. For the health and safety of our staff, guests, and animals, all visitors over the age of six (6) are required to wear face coverings in accordance with State of Alabama ordinance.

Timed admission tickets are no longer required but visitors are encouraged to pre-purchase tickets to help minimize physical contact with Zoo staff.

Entry into the Zoo will be monitored to ensure limited capacity and elevated safety protocols are still in place. Hours of operation have been reduced to five (5) days a week, Wednesday to Sunday from 9am until 4pm.

Zoo Hours 

Days  Wednesday – Sunday

Time  9:00am – 4:00pm

• The Birmingham Zoo is closed Monday and Tuesday
• Entry into the Zoo stops thirty (30) minutes before closing
• Holidays observed:
  • Thanksgiving Day on Thursday, November 25, 2021 the Zoo will be CLOSED
  • Christmas Eve EARLY CLOSING at 1:00pm on Thursday, December 23, 2021
  • Christmas Day on Friday, December 24, 2021 the Zoo will be CLOSED
• EARLY CLOSING DATES & TIMES
  • Thursday, December 23 at 1pm

Tickets

Admission

• Onsite Ticket Sales stop one (1) hour before Zoo closing
• Last Entry into the Zoo stops thirty (30) minutes before closing
• Members are free and need show your Member card at the entry kiosk upon arrival
  • Purchase or renew a Zoo Membership HERE
• SNAP/EBT Discount Program  Available to Alabama residents who currently receive SNAP benefits. *Must show a valid, un-expired, signed EBT card in beneficiary’s name.
  • For full SNAP/EBT discount information at the Birmingham Zoo, click HERE

ACCEPTED PAYMENT  Credit/Debit card will be the only accepted form of payment. Cash will NOT be accepted to buy tickets, food, or merchandise.

PLEASE NOTE  Admission tickets are non-refundable but are date-transferable up to one year after purchase date.

• Zoo Discounts cannot be combined with any additional coupons, specials, or offers.
• Reciprocal Zoo discounts are available onsite at the ticket booth.

Purchase Tickets HERE

Rides

• Train & Carousel are open and operating Wednesday through Sunday from 10am until 3pm
• All rides are weather dependent
• Full Moon Wild Slide and Splash Pads are closed
• Last Ride time is fifteen (15) minutes before the Zoo closes
  • Ride tickets and wristbands are for daytime operation only and are not valid for special events.
  • One ticket or wristband per person per ride, ages 2 years and up.
  • Children under 2 years old must be accompanied by a paying adult on the train and carousel.
  • Children under 12 years of age must be accompanied by a paying adult chaperone on the train.
• Limited Capacity & Cleaning  The train and carousel will be operating at limited capacity to ensure riders are at safe distance from one another. In addition, the train and carousel will be thoroughly disinfected and cleaned after each ride.
• PLEASE NOTE  Ride tickets and wristbands are non-refundable but are date-transferable up to one year after purchase date. Zoo Discounts for rides cannot be combined with any additional coupons, specials, or offers
• ACCEPTED PAYMENT  Credit/Debit card will be the only accepted form of payment. Cash will NOT be accepted to buy tickets, food, or merchandise.

Purchase Ride Tickets HERE

OPEN AREAS 

Gift Shops

• Front Gate Gift Shop  Wednesday-Sunday 9:00am-4:00pm
• Tiki Hut at Lorikeet Aviary  Closed
• Exit Gift Shop  Saturday & Sunday 10:00am-4:00pm
• Online Zoo Gift Shop, click to here to visit.
• ACCEPTED PAYMENT  Credit/Debit card will be the only accepted form of payment. Cash will NOT be accepted to buy tickets, food, or merchandise.

Restaurants

• Wild Burger outdoor dining is the only restaurant open (Nourish 205 is closed)
• Side Track concessions stand is open
• ACCEPTED PAYMENT  Credit/Debit card will be the only accepted form of payment. Cash will NOT be accepted to buy tickets, food, or merchandise.

Health & Safety Protocols

Face Coverings

• All Visitors & Members over the age of six (6) to the Birmingham Zoo will be required to wear face coverings for the protection of other guests, our staff, and our animals
• Children under six (6) years old are not required to wear face coverings
• Zoo Staff are required to wear face coverings and maintain other heightened safety protocols

WHY? In accordance with State of Alabama ordinance mandating the wearing of face coverings in public places, the Birmingham Zoo supports efforts to reduce the spread of the novel coronavirus, and we recognize that the best way to prevent the COVID-19 illness is to avoid exposure to the virus.  The Birmingham Zoo follows, and expects our guests and members to follow, all applicable government ordinances and we will adjust operational plans accordingly. *Visitors can purchase face coverings at each ticket booth and gift shop kiosks near the exit.*  View State of Alabama face covering ordinance, HERE

Social Distancing

• Entrance  All guests and members will enter through the front gate
• Exit  All guests and members will be required to exit through the Children’s Zoo gate
• NO Re-entry  Guests and members will NOT be allowed to reenter the Zoo after exiting
• Capacity  The Zoo maintains strict limits on attendance
• One-way Traffic Flow  Visitors will follow a one-way directional path through the Zoo from entry to exit
• Ground Markers  Directional and distancing markers will guide guests on a one-way path through the Zoo
• Signage and other measures will remind visitors of safe & healthy practices and to follow social distancing guidelines
• ZOO MAP Download a copy of our one-way path map of the Zoo, here

Staying Healthy

• Hand Sanitizing Stations have been installed throughout the Zoo and made readily accessible 
• Sanitation Procedures  The Zoo has enhanced our rigorous sanitation protocols and cleaning standards to ensure that all facilities will be thoroughly disinfected
• High-touch Areas  Staff will be routinely cleaning all surfaces and public areas, such as: handrails, viewing glass, door handles, sensory room, and restrooms
• Feeling Sick? The Zoo continues to follow the current Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines by asking staff and guests to stay home if they are sick or feel sick. We are also encouraging respiratory etiquette, hand hygiene, requiring face masks, and maintaining other heightened safety protocols

Limited Amenities

• Food Service  options have been reduced. Wild Burger outdoor dining is the only restaurant open. Side Track concessions stand is open
• Drinking Fountains are disabled but water bottle filling stations are operational
• Rentals Strollers are not be available for rent during this time
• ACCEPTED PAYMENT  Credit/Debit card will be the only accepted form of payment. Cash will NOT be accepted to buy tickets, food, or merchandise.

CLOSED Areas & Attractions

• Zoo Grounds are open, but interactive experiences, playgrounds, Henley Park, Full Moon Wild Slide and Splash Pads are closed
• Experiences & Encounters including Behind-the-Scenes programs, shows and demonstrations, have been postponed
• ZOO MAP Download a copy of our one-way path map of the Zoo, here

Rides & Attractions

• Full Moon Wild Slide
• Splash Pads

Facilities

Animal

• Reptile Building

Restaurant

• Nourish 205

Play Areas

• Junior League of Birmingham Playground (Parking Lot)
• Children’s Zoo Playground
• Trails of Africa Playground
• Nature Play Space on Henley Park

Encounters & Experiences 

• Lorikeet Feedings & Aviary
• Giraffe Encounter & Feedings
• Camel Rides
• Predator Zone Lion Training
• Sea Lion Show
• Wildlife Show
• Camel rides
• Flamingo Feeding
• Goat Walk
• Ambassador Animals
• Behind-the-Scenes Encounters
• Chipangali Research Station