Los Angeles Zoo & Botanical Gardens

Plan your visit to Los Angeles Zoo & Botanical Gardens

Researched from the venue and public sources, not a first-hand visit. How we write these

How long to spend

Plan most of a day to cover the 133 acres; families with small kids often focus on one side of the zoo and the play areas and leave after a few hours.

Best time to go

Cool or overcast days are best for animal viewing; avoid hot summer afternoons, when rain, heat, and cold can send some animals indoors. Rainy days tend to bring smaller crowds.

Parking & getting there

The zoo has its own large surface lot in Griffith Park, directly across from the Autry Museum of the American West. Metro and DASH buses also serve the zoo.

Best ages

Great for toddlers through grade-schoolers. Little kids love brushing goats and sheep at Muriel's Ranch in the Winnick Family Children's Zoo and the Neil Papiano Play Park, a universally accessible playground with climbable animal sculptures and misters.

Food

You can bring your own food and drinks (no glass, disposable straws, or alcohol) and picnic near the main entrance or in shaded areas. Reggie's Bistro near the entrance and Bean Sprouts near Rainforest of the Americas are on-site options.

What to bring

Comfortable shoes for the hills, water, and sun protection. Strollers, wheelchairs, and scooters can be rented at the International Marketplace, first-come, first-served.

Rain or heat plan

On hot days, use the misters at the Neil Papiano Play Park and indoor exhibits like the LAIR (Living Amphibians, Invertebrates, and Reptiles). The zoo stays open in rain, and the Autry Museum across the parking lot is an indoor option.