Petting zoos & farm visits in SoCal

San Juan Capistrano · Petting zoo

About 80 animals including horses, goats, sheep, pigs, guinea pigs, a llama, an alpaca, llampacas and an emu, plus pony, tractor and train rides and mining/digging. It is at 31791 Los Rios St in the historic Los Rios District; the site does not state a reservation requirement.

🗓️ Daily 10am–4pm (last entry 3:30pm)

💵 Admission not published online; call (949) 831-6550

Orange · Farm visit

Walking ponies take ages 1+ (under 45 in. and 70 lbs); trotting ponies take ages 3+ (under 54.5 in. and 100 lbs) on weekends only. Babies cannot be held on a horse; the rides are run by a separate operator, not Irvine Park Railroad, at 1 Irvine Park Rd, Orange.

🗓️ Tue–Sun 11am–4pm; closed Mon and Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve/Day, New Year's Day

💵 $8 per child, cash only (plus park entry)

Orange · Zoo animal area

A small zoo of Southwest native animals (black bear, mountain lion, bald eagle, kit fox, ocelot) with a barnyard of domestic goats and sheep for kids to visit. It is at 1 Irvine Park Rd, Orange; the site lists no reservation requirement.

🗓️ Mon–Fri 10am–3:30pm; Sat–Sun 10am–4:30pm

💵 $2 per person ages 3+; under 3 free; park entry $3 weekdays, $5 weekends (holidays $7–$10)

Costa Mesa

A working farm at 88 Fair Dr with fruit and vegetable gardens, livestock and the Millennium Barn, where visitors can see farm animals up close. It also runs Discovery Days and Junior Farmer tours plus garden classes; phone 714-708-1619.

🗓️ Mon–Fri 1–4pm; Sat–Sun 10am–4pm (excludes holidays and all-grounds events)

Long Beach

A historic ranch at 6400 E Bixby Hill Rd with a ranch house, four acres of gardens and working-ranch livestock including horses. Guided tours and seasonal public programs are offered; phone (562) 431-3541.

🗓️ Wed–Sun 1–5pm (gates close 4:30pm)

Lakewood · Petting zoo

A contracted petting zoo and pony ride operation at the city-leased equestrian center, 11369 E Carson St. Contact lakewoodbarnyardbuddies@gmail.com or 562-405-1010 for prices and reservations.

🗓️ Petting zoo and pony rides Wed–Sun 10am–5pm; center open dawn to dusk daily

💵 Pricing not published; call 562-405-1010

Montebello · Petting zoo

A petting zoo with pony rides, a John Deere ride, picnic area and playground at 600 Rea Dr in Grant Rea Park. It operates year-round and takes birthday bookings at 213-718-5442.

🗓️ Wed–Sun 10am–5pm; closed Mon–Tue (holidays may vary)

💵 Admission $11; pony ride $12; John Deere ride $10; animal feed $3; gem mining $10; weekend package $24 per child

Rolling Hills Estates · Farm visit

A working equestrian center at 26401 Crenshaw Blvd offering pony rides, hay rides and a petting zoo; rides require an appointment (310-365-7343 or The Barn 310-541-9487) and a signed liability form. The site does not publish petting-zoo pricing.

🗓️ Pony rides Mon–Fri, Sept–May, by appointment only (closed Jun–Aug for camps)

💵 Pony rides $50 per pony per half hour (1 child per pony); cash, check or Zelle; card adds a fee

Valley Center · Petting zoo

A farm zoo at 15954 Woods Valley Rd open daily where visitors can feed and interact with alpacas, a mini-donkey, goats, sheep, geese and an emu. The property also has a country store, picnic grounds and a seasonal pumpkin patch (Sept 17–Oct 31, 2026); phone 760-749-3333.

🗓️ Daily 9am–5pm

💵 Not stated on the page

Lake Arrowhead · Animal sanctuary

A San Bernardino Mountains sanctuary for non-releasable wild animals run by the San Bernardino Mountains Wildlife Society. Reservations are required, walk-ins and self-guided visits are not allowed, and no pets; phone (909) 337-1391.

🗓️ Saturdays, weather permitting, typically spring through fall; Bear Watch Fridays seasonally

💵 Book online; price not on homepage

Big Bear Lake · Animal sanctuary

A mountain wildlife-rescue zoo at 42801 Moonridge Rd that also runs a hotline for injured or orphaned wildlife (909-584-1299). Admission is through the online booking system, and the homepage did not list hours or prices.

🗓️ See site for current hours

💵 Tickets bought online; see site for prices

Farm Sanctuary Southern California

Acton · Animal sanctuary

A 39-acre sanctuary at 5200 Escondido Canyon Rd with about 100 rescued farm animals including cows, pigs, chickens and turkeys. Tours last about an hour, so arrive 15 minutes early; terrain is dirt and gravel and power wheelchairs cannot enter animal areas.

🗓️ Public guided tours Sat and Sun year-round; advance registration required

💵 Ticket price not published on the visit page

Wolf Mountain Sanctuary

Lucerne Valley · Animal sanctuary

A nonprofit offering interactive wolf education tours where guests can touch the wolves. Reservations are required and taken by phone only at 760-248-7818, 8am–6pm.

🗓️ Tours by reservation; closed Mondays

💵 Not published on the homepage; ask when booking

Sylmar · Animal sanctuary

A small zoological park at 16027 Yarnell St in an old olive grove, caring for over 100 displaced, rescued and zoo-born wild animals. It also offers paid individual animal experiences and daily private tours, which require reservations.

🗓️ Daily 10am–5pm; closed Thanksgiving and Christmas

💵 Admission on the booking page; advance reservations recommended

Palm Desert · Zoo animal area

At 47900 Portola Ave, the Goat Kraal in Village WaTuTu lets kids meet friendly domestic animals daily, and you can hand-feed giraffes with romaine. Paid rhino and Rats to the Rescue encounters are also offered; the giraffe area closes Sept 29 for maintenance.

🗓️ Oct 1–May 31 8am–5pm; Jun 1–Sep 30 7am–1:30pm

💵 Adults $44.95; ages 3–17 $34.95; under 3 free; giraffe feeding tickets sold at the feeding station

Santa Clarita · Animal sanctuary

A nonprofit gibbon sanctuary at 19100 Esguerra Rd offering guided public tours. The center posted that it no longer gives refunds and can only reschedule if you contact them before the tour; phone 661-296-2737.

🗓️ Public tours daily at 10am; reservations required

💵 Tours: adults $20; students and seniors $15; children 3–12 $10

Santa Clarita · Animal sanctuary

A rescue sanctuary at 15825 Sierra Hwy where guests hug cows, give pigs tummy rubs, feed horses and hold chickens. Private family tours ($400) and group tours ($500) run Tue–Sat by advance booking.

🗓️ Public visits Sundays; online reservation required, door tickets not guaranteed

💵 Sunday tickets via online booking (price not shown publicly)

Santa Clarita · Farm visit

A family farm at 30116 Bouquet Canyon Rd with pony rides, a farm train, tractor-pulled wagon rides, gold panning and visits with farm animals. No pets are allowed; phone 661-645-2517.

🗓️ Sat–Sun 9am–2pm year-round

💵 Pay per activity; cash and cards accepted

Alpine · Animal sanctuary

A 142-acre rescue at 24402 Martin Way with more than 60 animals of 19 species, mostly big cats and bears. All visits require an online reservation and a digital waiver, and all children must stay with an adult.

🗓️ Public visits Wed–Sat by reservation only (Tuesday is school trips)

💵 Guided visit: adults $55; children 3–12 $31; feeding and behind-the-scenes tours cost extra

Moorpark · Farm visit

An Animal Center with farm animals, plus a farm market, pick-your-own produce and educational tours at 3370 Sunset Valley Rd. Most visits are walk-in, while birthday parties and tours need advance booking; phone (805) 529-3690.

🗓️ Daily 9am–6pm (5pm starting Nov 1, 2026)

💵 Gate admission; see site (Somis lists $5 per person for its berry-field entry)

Moorpark · Zoo animal area

A student-run teaching zoo at 7075 Campus Rd where Animal Care and Training students work with exotic animals, including a white lion. Weekday field trips and birthday parties are also offered; phone 805-378-1441.

🗓️ Sat–Sun 11am–4:30pm

💵 Weekend tickets sold through the online booking system

Somis · Farm visit

An Animal Center with pygmy goats, chickens, alpacas and sheep, plus a farm market and pick-your-own berries at 5696 E Los Angeles Ave. Pull wagons are available; phone (805) 386-4660.

🗓️ Daily 9am–6pm (5pm starting 11/1/26); closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's Day

💵 $5 per person listed to enter the pick-your-own berry fields; Animal Center pricing on site

Solvang · Farm visit

A farm at 610 E Hwy 246 with 80+ ostriches and 70+ emus you can see and feed up close; the birds cannot be ridden. Closed-toe shoes are recommended, dogs must be leashed, carried or in strollers, and groups of 30+ must call ahead.

🗓️ Daily 9am–6pm (gates close 5:45pm)

💵 Rates on the booking page and higher on holidays and 3-day weekends; call (805) 686-9696