Bergen County Zoological Park Reviews

Went here with my 2 adult kids, their spouses and my grandchildren. The kids liked the playground more than the zoo as they are 1 and a half and 2 years old respectively. I enjoyed the zoo because I love to take pictures of animals. I also love to take family pics and had plenty of opportunity.

All in all, a great place to take the children. Everyone was friendly and the zoo and playgrounds were well kept.

Great place to spend the day with young kids. Nice zoo with train ride plus a great playground. Well worth the ride from stony point ny

Too many things to do in one visit, which is great because my grandkids like to come back.

Our fav is the train ride, followed by the carousel and the ponies.
The playground is also a lot of fun as are the ice cream stands and hotdogs.
Great day out in the sun,

ZOO: This was a decent zoo. Wouldn't be my first or second choice zoo visit. Only would visit if wanted a change. Not very crowded. There are a limited number of animals. Expect to get done in couple of hours max. Most of the zoo had a lot of shade which was good. There is no feeding or any interactions with animals which was one thing missing from zoo experience.

PARK: The park was great. It has a nice picnic area. It also had BBQ grills. Multiple children play areas suitable for multiple ages. The splash pad was also very nice.

PONY RIDE: I wish they had signs. Either it was closed or somewhere i couldnt find.

CAROUSAL AND TRAIN: Looked good and fun.

great place for kids cheep day in the park petting zoo train ride big open field for ball playing Down side must get there early gets crowded many come from out of state

Bring the entire family. This size of the zoo is just right, the animals there are a great selection, there is a great amount of shade throughout the zoo and there is ample parking. There is a great playground and merry-go-round just a 2 minute walk away within the same park. We have gone several times bringing along the grandparents who really enjoyed the day out. I highly recommend this.

I have taken my kids here for many years. Their favorite thing is to go on the train ride. We must go at least 5 times before they say that's enough. The road will take you all through the park and you can see many animals at the zoo while the train is passing. This is a great place to bring a picnic lunch and an area where the kids could play across the street and a very nice park where they have a sprinkler system. Bring the kids bathing suits and spend the whole day there. There is a cute gift shop and certain days they have horseback riding so don't miss the opportunity to visit this wonderful Park Zoo

Great park, kids get up close and personal to the animals. Love the train ride. Next door a great playground and carousel ride.

Great place for a slow walk. Nice for adults and children. The train ride is a must. Makes for a relaxed day. Bring your camera.

This park is great. So much to do and not huge. Very do-able for small children. Small zoo, good educational center, carousel, little train, nice play area with separate age appropriate playground equipment. Small snack stand and small fees for everything.

I've been a member of the Van Saun Zoo for years. My children love it here, and the train and merry-go-round are great. The park area is huge with something for every age group.

Van Saun County Park has something for everyone. It has a well designed playground, a well organized and diverse zoo with a train ride, and wonderful walking/jogging/biking trails. I highly recommend it!

There is much to do there, whether it be walking around the lake, playing on the huge play ground, or visiting the historic Washington spring(which many people don't know about) in the center of the park. There is a little hiking trail and plenty of space for games, picnics, etc. Also, there is the zoo. Although small, in season it is plentiful with animals from all around the Americas. All around it is a great park with much to do!

We took a 40 minute ride to this park and it was worth it. Big playgrounds and a nice train ride around the zoo with a small splash pad available too

I really It here to take the kids. The best time would be mornings. In the afternoon there are too many kids on the playground. But it's a beautiful park at has a little mini zoo. It's a Must see!

Wonderful place to visit with children and friends. Numerous walking paths. A beautiful pond that is adorned with many spicies of trees. Also excellent for bird viewing. Pony rides are available. A large playground that can aaccomodate vast numbers of children. A children's train that circles the children's zoo that houses buffalo and elk.

I love this park! There's so much to do! There's the zoo, train, carousel, playground, and the pony rides! It's the absolute best for the kids! I especially love the winter wonderland event in december with the ice rink! I dig it!

It is a wonderful place for anyone. Great shaded walks for the summer, interesting animals for the little ones. The environmental center is a wonderful addition, as is the bison area.
The train and carousel are always fun

Van Saun County Park is a very nice park in a nice neighborhood. It has a zoo and carousel for young children for a small price. There are many different playground areas in the park dedicated to certain age groups. There are age appropriate playgrounds nicely maintained for children ages toddlers to twelve. Park also has tennis courts, soccer fields and ball fields.

Our first stop was the nearby stable to let my son ride a pony. I figured $4 for 1 lap was a fair price for his enjoyment!
Then we went to buy tickets to the zoo but when I showed by MILITARY ID I was told that we did not have to pay the entrance fee or for the train or carousel! It was FREE for myself, my mom, and my son. The staff were all very friendly.

The train line can get long! We waited 5 to 10 minutes after the train filled up and took off. Then my son was excited that we got to sit near the front.

The carousel has a variety of animals to choose from. My son got to sit on a Zebra, a Horse, and a Lion.

We walked through the zoo in 30 to 45 minutes. I live in Omaha where we have The Henry Doorly Zoo (possible the best zoo in the world). We were not disappointed with Bergen County Zoological Park. Even though it was 90+ degrees we saw plenty of active animals.

After walking through the zoo we made a stop at the park. The splash pad was a must for my son on the HOT day! He loved it and all of their very modern equipment.

TIP: Suggest getting there early on the Weekend as the parking lots do fill up very fast!

This was a nice day to spend with my family and the best not expensive. I highly recommend this place.

Beautifully cared for smaller zoo with adjacent train around the property, a carousel and a playground. Great way to spend an afternoon with children. Highly recommend. There is a gift store and refreshments. The only reason I am not giving it 5 stars is because it does get pretty crowded and there are long lines to get in, and another long line for the zoo.

This is a wonderful park close to home! The children can spend a good day at the park and zoo. It has a train ride that the kids love to take; it's interesting to see and learn about the animals at the zoo. Across the parking lot there is a large playground area for the kids to run around and enjoy!

It's a great place to bring children to play in the playground, to go to the zoo, and have a BBQ. There is a carousel, pony rides in the summer.

Van Saun Park has been a family favorite for over 40 years, and we have always enjoyed our time there. We only have one complaint as of our recent visit with our 2 year old grandson. We waited about a half hour on a very slow moving line to purchase our tickets for the zoo and train. Surely there could be some better way to move adults and children along in a timely fashion.

The inevitable train ride is terrific for young kids. The train is a little tight for adults but when the kids are happy who cares. The Zoo portion is small but nice for the kids to interact with some animals. It is very enjoyable. There is a play area for the kids in the Park itself so it makes for a fun day.

I was there last week on Saturday, August 20, 2016 with my 22 month old daughter and my 5 yr old nephew. They absolutely had the best time of their lives!!! The park/zoo was clean, kid friendly and fun for all ages! I plan on going back in two weeks. Can't wait!

What can I say? My parents took my brothers and I since we were kids. I'm in my mid 50's and continue to go to Van Saun.

I've been going here for years. You can go as a large group and have a BBQ or go as a small group...you can spend an hour one a whole day. There's a carousel, choo choo train (a nice one, not one that goes in a circle twice and stops) that goes through the zoo. The zoo has cows, pigs, buffalo, moose, alligators and a bunch of others. There's an obligatory overpriced gift shop offering things most kids don't want to play with. You can also just go hang out in the park area.

There is a great children's zoo at Van Saun Park, and it is interesting enough for adults. It reminded me of the county fair that was a big event in the town I grew up in. I do bring relatives with kids when they visit. Weekdays seem to be free for the zoo though anytime you visit, it pretty inexpensive. The park is large for a semi urban area and I have also biked there, though there are better local options for off road biking.

This is a very underrated attraction. I think most people as I did Assume that this is some sort of petting zoo with a few attractions. It is actually a full service zoo, now it's no Bronx zoo but it's far from what you might expect, we enjoyed ourselves quite a bit with no complaints

I've been coming to Van Saun County Park with my daughter, then my grandson for many years and I've never had a bad visit.

There is so much to do there from feeding the ducks at the pond, to pony rides, the beautiful merry go round, children's playground, train ride and, of course, the fabulous zoo! The property is always clean and well maintained with lots of picnic areas as well. The perfect, inexpensive place to spend a day with family!

We love the Bergen County Zoo. It is a family favorite! We are members and they have many great activities all year long! Wonderful new updates and fantastic programs. My kids go to their zoo camp for a week in the summer as well! Love it!

This place is a great spot to visit especially if you have young children. We had our daughter's birthday party here and it worked out wonderfully. The kids could run and play, ride the train, go to the zoo, and ride the carousel! Such a great place!

We took our grandchildren, ages 3&6. The train ride was thrilling but the carousel was even more so. They did not want to get off. The staff were very friendly and understanding.
The playground is the largest I have seen. Even with maybe 200 kids it was not overcrowded and they had a great time.
If you have an afternoon with nothing to do, this is the place.

Great park! Very clean! Nice area for children! Great for picnics. Nice for walking. I love this park!

We went for a bit on Sunday, December 12. Admission was free and they gave out hot chocolate and snacks. We got to take a photo with Santa. Although some of the animals weren’t available, plenty were there for our kids to see and for us to enjoy. What a nice little zoo Tucktaway in the park. We were happy to find it and thanks to all who work there!

This is a great place for families to enjoy an morning or afternoon of fun. There is so much to do! See the animals at the zoo, play in the playground, go for a pony ride, ride the train or carousel. It would be nicer if the closer parking lots were for Bergen County residents only. Weekends are filled with families who camp out for the entire day, most of the cars are from out of state. It can get very crowed. Parking can be very frustrating during these times. Need to watch the playground area with little ones, it is not a fenced in area and they can get lost very quickly. The food trucks are a little pricey, and can have long waits as well.

The carousel and playground beside it are excellent. The zoo itself is mediocre. Few animals. No labels. Large wooden fences made it impossible for preschooler to see without lifting him. Parking difficult but go behind carousel for easier parking.

Great place to run. We love the train and Merry Go Round for the children. They also have a great zoo and special attractions.

Great park to take small children and grandchildren to. The park has a small zoo. The playground is very good.

Be sure to go to the zoo during the winter! The zoo is free until late spring and many of the animals are out. They are really active in the colder weather so it’s great for the small children.

From the running/walking paths to the train this park has it all. The carousel is open till the end of October. Pony rides are fun for the kids. The many grassy areas are great for a pick up soccer or football game plenty of grills and picnic tables plus a great playground.
The zoo has a lot of animals that are fu. To see and feed

Been coming here since I was a little boy with my family....now I take our grand daughter...so much to do , it is truly a gem !!!! Zoo, train ride, playgrounds , ball parks, etc.....And all is cheap !!!! I just wish they would dredge the pond and clean it up....it really needs a good cleaning.....

While this site may not be that large as its close cousins in New York City, the Van Saun Zoo is a staple on any Bergen County native's childhood. The free-roaming peacocks and the strawberry FrozFruit bars are ingrained in my memory, perfect for 90-degree weather.

I have ben going to Van Saun Park since I was a little girl. Great zoo and train ride for kids. there is a baseball field and monkey bars too

Plenty of open recreational space, outdoor cooking allowed for picnics. Kids love the carousel.
Zoo has many interesting animals and the seem to be well cared for. Great train ride and farm animals.

This is a nice little zoo in Bergen county. Pretty decent amount of animals. I loved going here when I was a child. There's a train that goes around the zoo.

I bring my children here to go to the zoo (which is great for a small park) and to ride the train and carousel. The park is very big and there are many places to walk and sit to eat a picnic lunch. I have been on group outings where we have played softball and brought catered food to eat. The playground area is also very nice and full of fun things for the kids to play on.

Impromptu plan to celebrate Mother's Day today at this park. This park has multiple entrances and parking areas. The best parking is P1 which is accessible to the zoo, playground, carousel and train ride. The park closes at 4pm means the ticket window closes at 4pm including the zoo. The train ride and carousel run until 4:45 pm. So always buy your tickets first for the attractions if you come late to the park. The kids playground is huge with 4 different structures. Also there are tennis courts at this location too. I have a 5 yrs old and a 2 yr old and both enjoyed their time at the park today. The train ride is fun for kids and goes through a small mine tunnel too, I have attached the photos of the ticket prices and some fun kids photos. Definitely worth a visit to this park. Don't forget to carry your picnic bag since lot's of picnic spots in the park.

All around family park. It has a lake, a train, a merry go round. The zoo is pretty big with rare animals, trails for bicycling, jogging, etc. it is a big park with a lot of things to do. Three malls nearby, plenty of restaurants in the area.

Have been here a few times with my grandchild. The park is great with a playground that has 3 different playgrounds for different age groups. There is a nice carousel that only costs $1.00 (includes adult &child). The zoo is very well organized with lots of different sections with a wide variety of animals. There is a discount for the zoo admission if you are a Bergen County resident. The monkeys are a favorite. Well worth the visit. Note, this park gets crowed on the weekends.

It's worth it if you or someone u know lives in Bergen county. It's not worth the price outside of the county. The pony rides are cheap.

This is truly a wonderful park. There are picnic tables and pavilions, a carousel, playground, zoo, train ride, pony rides, tennis courts, ball fields --- just about everything you could imagine for a wonderful day outdoors. It is perfect for all ages and I recommend it for individuals or families.

This zoo is small and can be traversed easily. The animals are all rescue animals. The goats are really funny as they beg for food. There was a mountain lion who lost his roar. There were donkeys who tee load.

Beautiful, close county park. Great paths, love the zoo. It would be great if they brought in more food choices. Get there early enough for parking!

Had the pleasure of going to the Zoo with my one year old grand daughter and family. We brought our lunch to the park and sat outside at the picnic tables by the Zoo entrance. We had fun walking around the Zoo. Took a train ride and went on the merry go round and played on the playground. You can spend the afternoon and cover it all.

This zoo and the playground are great for young children since the zoo is a manageable size and the playground has lots of options. They also have a carousel and train ride! The paths are nice if you just want to walk and very dog-friendly (there is also a dog park at the other end).

We went to go to the zoo as it is listed on the reciprocal list of a zoo we belong to. When we showed our card to the admission desk the man in the booth told us they don't take that. We were confused and politely tried to explain we just looked it up before coming. He started shouting at us that they can pick and choose which zoos on the list they accept and our zoo was one they chose to not accept. Regardless of whether he was right or wrong, there was no need to become nasty. Rather than escalate he argument we quietly backed away and left. Stay away from this place as its employees really have no concept on how to treat a guest.

I live about near this park and zoo and visit it frequently. It's a great place to go walking, biking or just having BBQ's or picnics with family and friends. The zoo is very clean and a fun place to browse through. They even have a train ride for small kids, a carousel and a playground. The park is free but there is a fee for the carousel and zoo.

I have taken my family here several times, the zoo is a great place to visit and the park in the summer is amazing, great place for the outdoor BBQ or just a catch up with friends.

Wonderful County Park. Took my 1 year old on the train and carousel. They also have a very nice zoo. This is a perfect place to bring small children because there is plenty for them to do. Train ride and Carousel are only $1.50 a person and county residences only pay $4 to get into zoo. Well worth an beautiful afternoon with your family.

My family has enjoyed this park and zoo for more than twenty years. The prairie dogs are a favorite of mine.

This zoo is great for little feet cause it's not too big, has plenty of animals to see and a wonderful train by the entrance. Lots of parking space and its well kept. There's a huge playground across from it and a carousel. You can bring your own lunch or snacks and rent a cute stroller if you need to. Price is reduced foe Bergen county residents!

Van Saun Park is located in Bergen County. It features several playground areas, fishing areas, picnic areas, a train ride (during weather appropriate months) and a zoo.

We visited the zoo recently, and found it was clean, easy to navigate and features free admission during the winter. There are a good amount of animals to see -even in the winter months - and the there is a welcome center that offers different events and activities.

Despite the chillier weather, we saw a horse, cow, pig, mountain lion, porcupine, monkeys, sheep, donkeys, snow owls and a large condor!

If you are looking for something to do in the winter, check out Van Saun Park!

What an amazing day. First of course the train ride then the carousel. The zoo is wonderful and after all that he loves the playground.

Had a fabulous day at this park ! Although it is small it definitely has a ton to offer including an amazing train that goes around the park - a zoo with lots of animals and a carousel . Doesn't really have a restaurant so don't plan to eat here - there were some food trucks etc but I was glad we had lunch before we came . My 2 and 3 year old absolutely loved it . Don't miss the large playground with a water area - such a fun addition ! Enjoy !

My family and I absolutely love Van Saun Park and the zoo there. There is also a train ride to take the kids on, which is great for young kids, and goes all around the perimeter of the park, and a lovely carousel ride. The zoo has lots of animals and owls and other birds as well. There is also an indoor area where you can see poisonous frogs, turtles, snakes, and lizards.

This park has a good small zoo, a carousel, pony rides a playground, a park,tennis courts , a brook, a train ride. Graeat place to walk and spend the day with kids. Parking available, really reasonable and fun. We spent alot of time there when our children were young.

This might be the best county park in Bergen County, it has some thing for everyone, great zoo, carousel, train ride, pony rides, ball fields, dog park, and a very large playground for kids.

A nice size zoo with a train ride that brings you around the zoo perimeter. A huge playground for kids of all ages to enjoy. Pony rides out front when you enter and a large carousel to ride on. There our trails and paths to walk around with many ponds to feed wild ducks. A dog park and fields to through the ball around on. I hate to rate it because it will just increase the crowd size.

I recently spent some time in Van Saun County Park and the Zoo with my granddaughter. There is a wonderful zoo, a carousel and a railroad for young people to enjoy!

I've been going to the Van Saun Park Zoo since I was a little kid. Now that I have a child of my own, it's a great way to spend a morning or afternoon. The little ones love the train ride and the carousel (check for the closed days). Become a member and you'll beat the lines and save money!

Wonderful park to spend a day with kids. There is something for everyone - a small zoo with lots of animals, a train ride through the park, several playgrounds for different age children, a merry go round and much more!

I really haven't been at the park in a few years. But when my children were small we would go once a week. You can spend the day there. A train ride, pony rides, carousel and a small zoo. Picnic tables great playground. However they need to control the mean geese. Very manageable.

For every season there is something going on at the zoo. From walks with your favorite pet or person to seeing animals that are in the wild or having lunch in the park> I still go here at 50 !!!!

Clean,and green wherever you turn, makes the place a pleasant stroll whenever you need some "yoga time" for the soul.

Great place to spend time with family and friends, animal zoo carousel and a beautiful clean park to enjoy

The kids love going here to see all the animals, go on the train and play at the playground. Gets very crowded in the summer and parking is crazy, but always a good time.

Van Saun is the perfect size zoo for babies and toddlers. There are enough animals to satisfy them and it's small enough to walk around without getting tired.

Playground, merry go round, train ride around animals, pony rides.
Zoo is expensive if you are not from Bergen cty

We went with our Son, DIL & 2 Grandsons. They really enjoyed the train ride, carousel & zoo. We all enjoyed our Family time together.
We recommend this Park for local residents and visitors.

This is a great park and zoo. The whole family loved the animals that are out and about. We cannot wait to make this a regular stop for the family

Wonderful picnic tables by the lake, so pick up a pizza and camp out for lunch. Great (and safe) time at the playground - often see Bergen County police overseeing the security which makes us very comfortable.

We have had birthday parties there and visits to the zoo are nice for a day out in the sun. The kids love to look at the animals.

I've been here with all my kids through the years. They loved it. The endless age appropriate playgrounds and sprinkler in the hot summer months, the winter lights wonderland, the educational zoological buildings, bird, and animal dwellings. The most memorable for them was the train rides, merry go round, and accommodating snack bar, just in case you forgot to pack some goodies or water. Then later, ironically my first born son's university had a meet and greet picnic for the incoming freshman... so fun his life has come full circle at Van Saun County park!

Always an enjoyable place to spend the day. There is a zoo with a train ride, a beautiful carosel, pony rides, tennis courts, playgrounds, picnic benches and grills. A family would find a lot to do here to entertain the children. There are many parking lots. Prices are very reasonable. There are many local restaurants in a short driving distance. Lots of trees for shade.

Went here today with family. Was very impressed with the playground it was huge! Was the size of about three playgrounds put together !!

Tried splah pad, was a few sprays. Not inpressed and small. My water loving daughter was not into it at all.

Carousel is great! $1.50 per ride. Accompanying adults with small ones ride free. Nice variety of animals to ride on. Super cute and fun.

We recently took our 3 nephews (ages 4, 6, & 10) to Van Saun because it had been a favorite destination of ours when our own children were young. I was so glad to see that it is still an awesome place for families to spend the day. Between the zoo, which is small but excellent, the train, the carousel, & the playground, we were able to give our nephews a really fun outing which didn't break the bank. The playground, which is actually several different play areas, has something for toddlers to tweens & is beautifully maintained. This is just a really special place for children & families.

Place seemed cool. We didn't make it in, place isn't built for any kind of crowd and people were literally fighting over parking spots. If you want to see a circus come here on a summer weekend. I'll go where it's relaxing.

Great spot to take the kids. Small zoo...cool monkeys and other random animals. Train ride and a carousel.

We had a delightful visit to Bergen County during the Winter Wonderland festival. It was a memorable experience, especially for my son who ice-skated for the first time. The entire event, from beginning to end, was family-friendly and enjoyable. I highly recommend it for holiday outings. The train ride, which costs $2, was charming for the kids, and the carousel, included in the ticket price, added to the pleasant experience.

This park is simply amazing. You have beautiful gardens, an EPIC playground, adorable zoo, horseback riding, a carousal, etc. Honestly, I have never in my life seen a playground like this. When you come at 8am on a weekend you practically have it all to yourself. In the summer there are often food trucks outside of the zoo. I cannot express enough how amazing this park is.

Great place for the kids. Zoo, little train, and carousel, in summer on Thursdays the zoo open until 8 pm. Helps the working mother. Thank you, also last year put in some spray fountains the kids can run through, so bring a change of clothes just in case they see it and jump in. Great place for an afternoon, go there. Some food trucks on the side of the zoo if you get hungry.

My girls ages 3 & 5 loved the zoo. We started with a train ride around the park and got to see a lot of the animals and then walked through the park, visiting all the animals. They also enjoyed the merry go round. I would advice anyone with kids to visit this place. You can most likely spend about 2-3 hours here the most as its not very big but its the perfect size for kiddies.

This is a terrific park and zoo! Been coming here since I was a child - watched it grow and get better each and every year. Great for low key walks, children's playground, merry-go-round, and the train ride - is the exact same train I rode as a kid.

The zoo is meticulously kept, the animals look happy and enriched. Summer shows & events for children as well as adults. Park and picnic grounds kept well - some food & vendors outside zoo gates. If you're looking for a great day out - this is the place. It's huge - even if you do not have children, you'll still find something amazing to see and do!

We've been here many times and always love it. There are so many things to do here so make sure you bring enough food and drinks and spend the whole day.
For the younger kids there's a zoo, pony rides and train ride. There's even a carousel.
For the athletic minded there's many fields to play in and stay in shape.
In October there's a Halloween themed party but make sure you get tickets in advance, they go pretty quickly.
Great all around park for the family or a large group

Bring the kids - there is a zoo and a train ride . there is a lot to see. I also brought the bikes so as to traverse the whole park it is very manageable with the younger riders. ( don't forget their helmets ) Again it is an enjoyable day with the kids. During the summer there is a sprinkler system to stay cool in - Bring some towels. Bring your own water bottles also. P.S there is plenty of parking . enjoy your day at the Paqrk !

We have been going to the park for years. You can bike, tennis, walk the whole park like I do for exercise daily. There's a great zoo with a train you do pay a little to go on. Have fun and relax.

Van Saun Park has been hosting a Winter Wonderland for the past five years. This year, an outdoor ice skating rink has been step-up instead. The rink will be set-up from Dec. 18 - Feb. 21. It is full regulation ice rink which will have a limited capacity and comply with social distancing and mask wearing guidelines.

In order to maintain capacity limits there will be sessions. Mon.-Fri. sessions are limited to four hours while Sat.-Sun. sessions are two hours long. There are morning and evening session with the evening session beginning at 7 pm. I chose the morning session. Tickets can be purchased online and cost $10 per/person. The web address is bergencountywwinterwonde…. I you go on Mon, Tues or Wed it is buy one ticket and get one free. On Fri, Sat or Sun, your ticket includes unlimited access to the carousel and Bergen County Zoo's train ride which is located in Van Saun Park.

Really enjoyed the train ride, carousel, zoo and playground for all kid ages. Only wish there was more food options while there. Parking also can take a while when park is really full. Overall my family loves this park!

A nice park - lots of the kids to do and even have a small zoo but can be real stressful going there. Parents not paying attention to their kids who just take off and run into the roads or people walking in the road totally clueless to the rest of the world and blocking the roads.

Great addition in the summer is the Callahans hot dog truck is there

It's very peaceful and quiet place to go. All of my family members like to go this park. It's not that big and that's one of good things about it. Cause I don't like crowd places where are mostly full of people, cars and noise. If you want to walk in nature, you might find the right place.

Been going for 55 years. Went when I was a child, took my children many times and now I take the grandchildren. Even if its just to the playground to burn off some energy the kids love it. The zoo is good for a small county operation. The train ride is always enjoyed by the children.

Enjoy watching the many animals, train ride, carousel, playground, and pony rides. I've had great times with my kids here and Bergen County residents benefit from a discount

I am fortunate to live close by and I bring my 16 month old grandson here on a very regular basis. Awesome playground with many age appropriate activities, a just the right size zoo, a train ride and a carousel...perfect!! We haven't tried the pony rides yet but that will be soon. Also a great destination for walking: I used to push the stroller all through the paths when he was a newborn and I needed him to have a good nap. Van Saun Park is a treasure!

We go bike riding here on the weekends and are always pleased to be able to ride without fear of bearing run over by a car or dodging pedestrian traffic. The Zoo is terrific for kids of all ages, too!

My wife and I took our nieces and nephews with an age range of 6-15 years old to Van Saun Park. The little train ride around the park is adorable and was enjoyed by all of the adults and children. After the train ride, we took a walk through the little zoo where we saw bald eagles, cows, horses, monkeys, mountain lions and other animals. For the eight of us it cost $30 ($12 for the train ride and $18 for the zoo).

This is a vast park in Bergen County. They offer a small zoo (free in the spring) nominal at other times. That has a small but good variety of animals (monkeys, lamas, moose, buffalo, etc) Outside the zoo there is an animal carousal, and train ride (that you can see animals from!) for $1.50 each. There is a HUGE open playground that is accessible...the only problem is watching to make sure my kids don't run to a new area! They also offer a small spray ground in the summer.

There are plenty of walking trails and a small pony stable rides. Are either $2.00 or $4.00 depending on the number of laps you chose. There are bathroom facilities and water fountains...but the only snacks are in the zoo-

My 2 year old really enjoyed this zoo. We did the whole Zoo in about 2 hours. The train ride is about 5 minutes and it's $1.50. There is also a playground and small spray park across from the zoo. Really nice place to go if you have young children.

The Bergen County Zoo and Van Saun Park are a treasure. The zoo has a variety of animals from North America and South America. We especially love the spectacled owls (they're only out in the summer), bald eagles, bison and elk. The monkeys are fun to see and it's nice to visit the farm animals, too. The Andean Condors were out in November and they were the biggest birds we have ever seen! Some of the enclosures are a little small, but some of the animals, like the bald eagles, were injured and can no longer live in the wild. So it's important to remember the zoo is sanctuary for them. The animals appear to be very well taken care of, and their paddocks/enclosures/pens are very clean.

The facility is kept very clean with lovely flowers and plantings blooming in the summer. It's fun to ride the train around the zoo. The gift shop wasn't open over the summer, but was open in November. There was a nice assortment of items for children and everything was very reasonably priced. Our favorite part is riding the beautiful carousel across the road! It's so much fun for little ones and our daughter's favorite. The park also has an amazing playground, splash pad and stables with pony rides.

This is a wonderful place to spend the day and we are fortunate to visit regularly. I couldn't believe a non-resident adult was only $8.00 over the summer, and the rides were $1.50 (admission is free in the off season). Old fashioned family fun, learning for little ones, a great place to make memories... a true treasure right in the heart of Bergen County!

Pack a lunch and enjoy yourself at the zoo and playground. It was a delightful afternoon with the kids to just let them play and relax.

We had a great day at the Bergen County Zoo and Van Saun park. Our toddler loved the animals. Entry was free because we were there at the tail end of the off season, but we still saw plenty of animals- monkeys, owls, a tapir, llamas, condors, peacocks, donkeys, horses, sheep, pigs. We went on a Monday so it was not busy. The train does not run on Mondays, but my son loved riding the carousel, which was only $1.50- they only charged us for our child even though an adult rode with him. The playground is great too...lots of play areas. There is also a splash park area in the summer. We loved it and will definitely be back!

This park is a gem! It has something for everyone....a pond, a path, picnic areas, a garden, lots of open space, a zoo, pony rides, a train, a carousel, a playground with sprinklers for those hot days, tennis courts, handball courts, baseball/softball fields, a soccer field, and a dog park. It's all right there! If you're in the area, then you don't want to miss this place!

Great place to go with your kids. The zoo and train ride are loved by the kids and adults. Merry go round is fun too. There's a great playground for children of all ages. There's even pony riding and ducks galore. Great place for an outdoor picnic.

The park is wonderful for young children. There is a large playground with equipment appropriate for toddlers, as well as, older children. The zoo is also geared for families. The train and carousel are reasonably priced as well.
Great for grandparents too.
Judy S

Park is a beautiful place to visit year 'round. Walk around the lake on a lazy summer day or briskly in the colder weather is relaxing and enjoyable. Great playground for children including water spouts in the hot weather, pony rides and a carousel. Walk across the lot to marvelous zoo with its train ride

This is a wonderful place for a day outdoors with family. There's is a large park area for picnics, walking around, outdoor birthday celebrations. A wonderful playground with many sections for different ages of kids, and a small zoo with a rideable train. The zoo has admission fees but they are not much. Discount for Bergen county residents- just bring an ID.the other side of the park has a pond to walk around and there's also point rides (again for a small fee) - kids can sit on a pony and go around a short track twice.
Last winter they even held an event in the park for an additional fee, with ice skating, Christmas trees, cartoon screening, face painting, balloon animals, and food stales. Hope winter wonderland becomes an annual event.

We went here because of the zoo, but after about 45 minutes of walking the zoo it was over. Very small and pricey for the size. After we did a train ride, and a carousel ride and headed off to the playground which we didn't notice until we parked for the zoo. The kids had more fun at the playground then the main event, the zoo. The playground had many different sections for different ages. We probably could of spent hours just here. Will be back another day to hang at the playground and eat lunch. They have a couple of food truck vendors outside towards the zoo entrance also.

Van Saun County Park have the Zoo, Train and many playgrounds.
You have fun and enjoy the zoo how long you want and if your children are tired you can go on a train or to the playground.
It is just fun for the all family.
I used to take my kids almost every day.
They were happy, relax and ready to go home.

A great place to exercise or to take your kids to. There is a petting zoo, a little train and a merry-go-round.

We visit this local zoo several times a year although we are empty nesters. While this cannot compete with a major zoo such as the Bronx Zoo, the animals are well cared for, and they are exhibited in lovely, large areas. The Zoo is constantly improving and upgrading.

The zoo is small enough and varied enough for an excellent experience for all. There is also a train ride, pony rides, a carousel, and picnic areas. My kids and I have always loved it there and it's a fav spot for the grandparents to bring their grandkids.

I like this park. It has a playground with three areas as well as a large spacious grassfield that dogs love to go through in the front of the park. There's also a gated dog park in the back of Van Saun too. There is also a zoological zoo in the middle of it as well as plenty of parking space. But, to be honest, it's not as great as back in 2008/9.

Van Saun is the perfect place for young kids. The zoo is small and yet has many animals so they won't be overwhelmed. There is a train, pony rides and a carousel as well as a great playground. Take a walk around the duck pond too.Zoo Boo is also a nice thing and they have a great summer camp at the zoo.

great animals lions horse and the docents who work at zoo very helpful telling us about the types of animals showing sculls and other items the education center was great the zoo is open all year well worth the trip

Great Place to spend the day with Family. Parks, Rides, Picnics and the zoo - it has EVERYTHING!!! You'll love it.

Don’t miss the petting zoo, or the train ride or the age appropriate play grounds, or the ice cream. I have taken my own kids hears many times, now I take my grandkids.

Living near Van Saun County Park has been great since we have opportunity for daily strolls, especially with kids to the playground.

Long time summer spot for Bergen County. The little zoo is the biggest attraction for young children. But I still like it!

I visit Van Saun Zoo with my Daughter & Grand Daughter often. We all love it. It is a nice "Walk in the Park" by itself w/o the zoo. The animals are fun to watch with my grand daughter as she is a curious child with a great sense of humor. It is worth every penny of the entrance price, especially since Seniors are ½ price. :-)

A wonderful place to walk, play sports, picnic, bbq,visit the zoo and well equipped playground.The only downside is the plethora of Canadian geese which makes walking in certain areas unattractive due to their droppings. Since I live only a mile away, I visit the park frequently to walk around the pond which is .63 miles.

Looking for something to do with kids under 2? Van Saun Park is run by the county and is great fun. The play areas are free and they have one for tiny tykes. There is a mini-train ride that cost $1.50 for kids and one adult gets to ride free with them. There is a carousel to ride for $1.25. The zoo is $4 for county residents and $8 for all others. I don't think this zoo is worth $8 especially when you can see many of the animal on the train ride. As for food, there are some food truck concessions, nothing really special but at least affordable. Lots of large shade trees throughout the park so you can be there for hours without worrying about sun burn.

You can go here for a walk, go to the zoo, ride the train, have a picnic, go to the park, bring your dog...you name it!

It has been awhile since I was there, but I do say it is a very nice park for the children and grownups also, a with little zoo very nice to take a stroll.

In need of a impromptu family picnic venue, Van Saun Park is the place. If you want to spend just 2 hours or the entire day, this place has so much to offer. Apart from the children’s play area, the pony ride, carousel and train ride makes the day so exciting for kids. Don’t forget to walk around the zoo. The various animals and birds also increase the excitement level of the kids.
There is attraction for every season. If you are looking for photoshoot venue during fall, then this place will not disappoint you. The Halloween event organized by the park is a super exciting event for the kids. It’s just gets over crowded but the experience is something which keeps happy for many days.
During winter the ice skating ring is also a much talked about attraction. Only negative side is the wait time to skate.

This is a favorite spot for my 3 year old. A place which all ages can enjoy.

This park is located in Paramus and has lots of visitors on weekends, but a more moderate amount during the week. There's a wonderful train ride and carousel that adults accompanied by children can ride for free. Large and unshaded playground and pleasant zoo with assorted animals. Picnic tables and open grassy areas for outdoor activities.

The playground/ splash pad is perfect for a "heat advisory" in NJ! My 3 year old had a blast. the zoo is small enough that he will walk the whole thing himself.

This Zoo is nicely laid out and the Animals very well taken care of. My favorite exhibit was the racked. It is great for families with kids as well. It has an old style Carousel and a small train ride which makes its way throughout the park. A must see if you are in the area!

As a "Paramus"ian, I am proud of this park. My kids and grand kids enjoyed this park immensely.
It is a great place for the kids to spend time. The kids playground with slides and sand boxes are really great. There is also a carousel. And an ice cream stall in summer. They have a children's zoo, and a choo-choo train ride. The combo ticket is cheaper. Fees for Bergen county residents are less. There is also a horse back riding facility for a short period during summer.
For adults walking by the pond with ducks, swans and geese and weeping willow leaves .
There are picnic spots, tennis courts and play fields.
Those who do not live in this area and coming for the first time, it will be easier to use the Continental Ave entrance . The entrance signs are small. One is likely to miss the entrance on the northbound Forest Ave. One can exit only northbound Forest Ave, by Continental Ave and Howland Ave. The visitors should check the timing of the various attractions on the web , specially for the zoo and train ride before coming.
I am sorry to leave this town after 34 years.

One of the best "hidden in an urban/suburban" parks I have been to or can imagine. Everything from grassy picnic areas,quiet ponds,a nationally ranked small zoo next to a restored 1800 farm (with animals!), excellent tennis courts,and a safe (on rubber, not cement) playground with handicapped child swings as well...nice walks,lots of benches,water fountains. Well-kept. Pleasant walks & amusement for all ages.Exceptional.

Nice large park in Paramus. I imagine young children love it here with the petting zoo and the train, but adults can take a hike or walk or meditate in nature.

We have visited this park many times in different occasion.
Church bbq, friends gathering and so on.
Took my daughter to the zoo once and she liked it. If you live in bergen county, you will get discount, too.
Park is huge and there are updated nice children't playground.
Love it.

Van Saun Park is a great place to spend quality time with your family. Picnic areas, playground, zoo, train ride and a carousel. Everytime I go here I can see the improvements and it is always crowded.

Love the train, the winter advents, the caliber of families are friendly and trouble-free. great place for families!

This is a nice little zoo that you are able to visit easily with small children. Parking was a bit difficult the day we went as it was one of the first nice days of the year and spring break for neighboring counties. The train and carousel tickets are the same, so if you are buying one buy both and skip the second line. Enough animals to keep small kids entertained but not so many you miss half the zoo when they get tired.

The county needs to be applauded for creating and maintaining this magnificent park. There's a zoo, a train ride for little ones, a tennis center, a pony riding areas, a large and small d park and, as if that weren't enough, a brilliant playground for kids. Easy parking, walking and playing. What a gem!

Had friends visiting from out of the area, brought the children, 6,3,2 to Van Saun. Great time, kids loved the train ride, only a $1.50 per ride. Cost for the zoo was inexpensive as well. Very clean zoo and park, the zoo is great for all ages. The playground for the kids is wonderful, different level playground for them to play on, plus a sprinkler park for the hot days. You definitely want to get there early for good parking and less crowded. You can rent picnic spaces as well for get togethers and parties.

Van Saun has everything - from a playground to a carousel to a train ride and a zoo, it has kept my kids busy time i
After time.

Van Saun Park is located in the heart of Paramus, NJ. It is a wonderful place for all individuals, children & adults to visit. It contains a great zoo, merry-go-round, train ride, pony rides, playgrounds, picnic grounds, fields for play etc. Free at times so call to confirm

Have been going to this park for years. They have everything you need in a park. A big playground for the kids as well as plenty of room for them to run around. The zoo is quite good. I recommend stopping by the monkeys and the mountain lions! I also love the train ride and your kids will as well. It is a nice respite after walking all over the park! There are also grills and areas for large gatherings! A great place!

The zoo in Van Saun Park is a great place to take the family. Not the best when with a handicapped person in a wheelchair as the pavement is not always even but it is nice to see the animals and talk to the rangers working there. They have several nice exhibitions and the animals are well taken care of and seem cheerful. Excellent place for a relaxing afternoon and traveling with small children who I know will enjoy it. They also cater birthday parties.

Van Saun Park has quite a few different things for all types of family fun. Theres a newly renovated, giant jungle gym next to a picnic area with stationary grills and more than enough picnic tables.Tennis courts and single player tennis walls are right next to a large kiddie carousel. A small zoo with some cool animals from Bison to mountain lions and monkeys. My boy Michael says "don't forget to tell everyone about the vicious Jersey grey squirrels that roam the park in search of free handouts". The park also has pony rides and a few hills for sleigh riding in winter.This park has plenty of free parking and a great little antique train ride for $1.50/person that circle the zoo's perimeter. It's centrally located and close to all major highways and less than 10 minutes from the George Washington Bridge. All around a great way to spend a Saturday with the kids.

If you have young kids its Great. The park is huge. It has a small zoo. The train ride is always a favorite for the kids. A great place to spend a day with your family and can almost cost you nothing. A lot of activities in the park for the kids.

Nice park to go for families. Kids can enjoy small zoo area and take a train ride. Good to unwind and spend some family time.

Can't say enough great things about this Zoo. Easy to get to, friendly staff and incredible selection of animals. It beats trucking all the way into NYC for the Bronx Zoo!

Between the playgrounds, pony rides, walking paths, ball fields, and of course the train ride and the zoo, Van Saun remains a gem in the county park system!

Its got good zoo for kids with a train they can ride on. A nature center and a pony ride. Fun if your young. On weekends there are a bunch of people of dubious citizenship playing soccer or rugby on all the fields so forget about playing catch or having a friendly pick up game of softball. Everything is reserved.

Great Local day out for your little ones.....1-5 yrs. The playground is under renovation and gets packed on the weekends. The zoo is perfect for little ones seeing unusual animals and birds for the first time. Again, very crowed on weekends! The park HAD a great butterfly exhibit....What Happened To It??? The Train and Carousel are fun for kids and adults. The bathrooms are disgusting! This park needs a cleaning service!!!!! It is the worst in all of Bergen Co.

We really liked our trip to this zoo. It was on the small side, but very relaxing and staff were nice.

this is a great park for the family! There is a petting zoo, train, baseball field to play, playground, and you can even barbeque. My favorite park since I was a kid. You have to pay for the train ride.

As a father and a grandfather, I have to say, "I love Van Saun Park."
When our children were young, my wife and I looked forward to our short ride to this amazing park where our children were fascinated by all the sights around them.They saw animals galore and were always excited to ride the carousel and the old- time locomotive.
Today, we take our grandchildren here and watch them light up with the same excitement
that out daughters had when they were their age. When our grandsons ride the carousel
and we wave at them, the magic of this ride emanates from them through their giant smiles
and their twinkling eyes. No matter what they do at Van Saun Park, you can truly feel their
energy and excitement.
So the next time you are in the area, stop off at Van Saun Park and feel the wonder that only
a child can give you, when you experience it through a child's eyes.
Noel Mouldovan
Teaneck, New Jersey

My husband and I only had about an hour that we could dedicate on visiting this zoo. We actually probably stayed just slightly longer. This zoo is perfect for families with young children. There are plenty of animals to keep young kids interested. They have monkeys, mountain lions, and some other unique animals. I have to say i also saw a horse, cow, and goat but that is great for little kids. The zoo is very clean. There is wide paths to walk which helps with families with strollers.
There is a train that runs around the outside of the zoo. We didn't go on since it is extra and we don't have small kids. there is also a very large carousel that sits outside of the zoo which really looked nice. I highly recommend this as a place to entertain yourself for a short period of time.
Cost was $8 for adults if you don't live in Bergen county. If you do live in the county it is only $4 for adults.

I visited the zoo today and I felt like a little kid again. It has not changed that much over the years. Even with some of the cosmetic changes it still looks the way it when I was ten.

The farm animals are so used to seeing humans they actually pick on the vibes. They just go munching away. The monkeys are very engaging and are all over the place when you watch them.

Still on a sunny afternoon it fun to stroll around the zoo and watch the animals. I still watch the families line up for the train like they did when I was little.

Van Sawn is a cut above the normal park including numerous age specific areas for kids to play, zoo and train rides as well as a carousel. Great destination for a family outing, but does get busy on weekends and parking can be a bit of an issue - food is available, but pretty limited vendor based selections

It has been many years since my children were young and we have visited. I must say it is absolutely beautiful and so well kept. The displays are attractive and the animals seem to love their home. Highly recommend a visit for anyone with small children or even adults just looking for something to do (as my husband and I did). Bring lunch and sit for a while....beautiful hidden gem.

5/23/2022
I visit this zoo today it isn't a large zoo but has some nice exhibits i didn't go with any kids so I kind of breezed through it I may have been there about an hour. The zoo is inside of a large park so you can also walk around and maybe have a picnic after your visit at the zoo. It is very affordable there is resident and non-resident admission fee but both are less than $10..

Like the zoo. People are friendly and there were good exhibits. The whole park is nice to walk through. They have a nice area called "Washington's Spring" which is where the Continental troops and their commander, General Washington, had stopped for a drink. Local legend states that a member of the Van Saun family provided the army with cider and vegitables while camped there. Great play ground for young kids.

Much nicer than many small regional zoos. Some farm equipment exhibits, some farm animals, the exciting spider monkeys and a number of glass enclosed smaller creatures. Easy to walk it in an hour but segmented to keep it interesting. Some free days - call ahead. Signs at the exhibits provide good insights.

Whenever we are in the area we make time to come to this zoo. It is very small, and likely would only take an hour, but they have a number of interesting exhibits. In addition, it is right next to a "small railroad" that travels around the zoo, a traditional and large carousel that operates on weekends and special holidays, and a HUGE playground. If you are looking for a few fun hours outdoors with the kids, come here.

Animal galore. take o train ride around the zoo.
Walk the park for healthy exercise.
Enjoy the scenery.

There is so much to do with children at this picturesque park. Although the main attraction is probably the zoo, the park has an old fashioned carousel, train ride, playground and pony rides. There are areas for picnics and a ball field too. The walking path around the lake is lovely in any season.

I've lived in Bergen county for 20 years and have driven by this place all the time. Never been in though. My friend took me in and it's like going to central park. It's a great place to go with kids on a nice day. You can picnic, okay in the park, etc.

The zoo is small but nice. I think the price is a little high. $8.00 each for non residents of bergen county residents $4.00 each seniors $2.00 non residents $1.00 residents of bergen county. There is a food truck in front of the zoo.You can buy food and drinks before or after you enter the zoo. there is tables and chairs to sit down. I like the monkeys,and the prairie dogs but the prairie dogs were not there because they are redoing there area

Maybe it was because of the heat of summer, but many of the animals were not seen because they were napping somewhere. However, the plaques were informative and the pens nicely spaced out. A pretty good variety of animals for a small zoo. A booth where one could purchase refreshments would have been a nice addition- drinks at least, if not something suitable for lunch.

This park is amazing. It was a zoo, small but a zoo for kiddos to view animals. Outside the zoo there is a merry go round, and train ride along with pony rides and lots of park to walk around. There is also this amazing playground that is huge for all ages as well as a water play area that the kids just love. Bring a picnic and make it a day!

This is a great place where you can spend some quality time with your kids. The park is big and it has plenty of spaces for picnic, there's a pony ride where you pay some bucks for a few laps. Also there's a playground and a small but interesting Zoo which charge a small fee to get in. The train ride will take you along the zoo, is pretty fun and safe, there's also a small fee to ride this train.

The Van Saun Zoo is a nice local zoo. The kids have always loved the train ride through the zoo. There is also a nice playground area -- there are playgrounds for toddlers and then one for older kids. Also a great carousel.

We've been coming to Van Saun Park/Zoo for YEARS! It's a nice, small, doable zoo. Over the years, they've added admission, starting in May. They also added a carousel. We went today (4/29/18), before they started charging. Actually, unbeknownst to us, it was Autism Awareness Day, so even the train ride and carousel were free. The zoo was crowded, even on this somewhat cloudy, and windy day, but many of the animals were not yet in their cages (They're probably in a holding building, which is not open to the public.), and they're doing construction, so some of the animals could only be seen from the train ride. This wasn't advertised, so if you didn't take the train ride, or drive past the bison area, you missed them, which is a shame! The bald eagles, also, were really only noticeable from the train today, as they were in a caged area, on the outside of the holding building. We looked for them, as we walked around the zoo, but only because we now knew to. The mountain lion cage was closed off; with no explanation, and the turtle area was in the process of being made ready for "the season." There were a lot of animals to see, but when the zoo is fully operable, the zoo is normally, or used to be, really great!

I'm not sorry we went, and I'm very glad that there was no admission, but seeing all the animals would have been nice. We'll come back!

I recommend that you take the train ride, if you go.

Also in this park is a lovely playground, ball fields, picnic areas, and sometimes donkey or pony rides. The carousel is a typical ride, but one has a variety of animals in which to choose to ride; they're not all horses.

Zoo is clean and pleasant. Good selection of animals to enjoy. Good for small children. Take a wonderful little train ride. Pack lunch and enjoy it in the beautiful Park that surrounds the zoo.

With parks in Bergen County to choose from this def. is one of the more fun ones I found with my children growing up as well as into their adulthood. Always interesting and fun things to see and do. If you arn't from the Bergen County Area and just visiting for the day - small children or not... a nice way to spend a few hours on a Sunday.

Bergen County Zoo in Van Saun Park is a wonderful place for people of all ages. Great zoo with all kinds of animals, train ride, pony ride, carousel, picnic area and acres of walking trails. This is located in Paramus, NJ accessible to mass transportation .

Great place for family fun and exercise! kids loved the zoo! I like to walk there in the nice weather.

Have been using this park for many years. Peaceful for an early morming walk or run etc. Love the duck pond. It is approx .64 miles once around. Lots of geese, ducks & turtles in the pond. The zoo & kiddie park are awesome too. We have taken many family visitors here for a fun day. Do the train ride. It's a classic

This is a great park, has a zoo with train rides around it for the kids (make sure your small enough to fit). The zoo is nice for the locality of it, but can improve the inside of the animal cages, as they are messy with foliage. Beware, the gift shop is overly priced, as with others zoos. They have a nice playground and many tables to enjoy lunch outside. Very often on the weekends, the part get's overly crowded, so you may want to visit during the week. They have many walking trails, such as the paved one around the lake, but again the area in front of the lake is messy. Plenty of parking in the back area, but if you want to park near the zoo get there early. Make sure to bring your license, as you will have to prove you are a residents or not (its costs more for non-residents).

Getting a permit to have family reunions is easy. If you pick a spot near the zoo and playground there will be entertainment throughout the day for all family members no matter the age.

This park is very clean and has tons for the kids to do. A train ride is great to start, along with a tour of the zoo, so many animals to see. The have large open areas for Frisbee, football, and any other activity you would care to do, The park is dog friendly, but you can not bring pets to the zoo area. They also have a concessions stand for food as well.

A wonderful park and zoo that I have been visiting all of my life as I grew up in Paramus, and still live nearby. I took my kids all of the time and now my grandchildren. A must see while on the area. The summer is best as that is when all of the animals are out.

Nice little zoo for the county. Kids can learn in the center and see animals. Train ride is fun and peacocks fly around and spread their tails. Be ready to take a picture.

We come here a lot. My son is 7 and have been coming since he is 9 months old. We love that it is cozy but you can see a lot. We also attended a bday party for a friend and it was grear.

A mile and a half of easy hiking, lots of parking, many picnic tables and some BBQ pits.

A fairly good zoo, although I am concerned about how well some of the animals are kept.

Several playing fields, and an historic house.

This park is great for old and young. There are many picnic tables and the play area is clean with a lot a different things for kids to climb on. They even a section to run through spraying water to help you cool down. The carousel is very unique and the train ride around the zoo is fun. The zoo was nice and the kids enjoyed all the exhibits.

If you want peace and quiet or a fun family fun day, this is the park for you. There's an adorable little zoo and train ride for the kids, plenty of parks with barbecues close by and a pond to sit at and relax. Been going there since I was a child, bringing my childern and I always enjoy it.

Right in Paramus, NJ so easy to get to and spend a few hours. Sometimes we just go and visit the zoo for an hour and grab hot dogs for lunch! Great jungle gym (there's more to do for younger kids.. perfect for 8 and under). beautiful walking area, lots of picnic areas, the zoo is the best! it's tiny and fun! Take a train ride, a carousel ride, visit the horses and take a ride on a pony, visit the zoo.. it's very affordable, too.

Great zoo and park. We love the train ride around the zoo. Bringing my children there since they were little. Very clean! Lots of parking.

I liked that the park was large with lots of room for picnics and barbeques, and even had a zoo. Definitely a great place to walk around or just relax on the grass or a park bench.

Van Saun has something for everyone. Great zoo with domestic and exotic animals close up.
The children love the farm animals, carousel, pony rides and the train.
There is a great playground for the kids with spray pool areas during the hot weather with excellent picnic areas.
Everything reasonably priced and now got the first time there is a Winter Wonderland for December with ice skating!!!!

I've been coming here since I was a child, long ago! We've taken our nieces and nephews and out of town guests here many times. It is charming, adorable, manageable, and very well done for a small, local zoo. Favorites include the train and carousel.

Very enjoyable. Even very beautiful during the winter when there is snow and ice on the trees, great photo ops

Most of the time your tax dollars are spent on things that have little tangible effect on your daily life. Van Saun is a rare exception. There are all sorts of attractions for your children and several miles of well groomed walking paths. There is plenty of parking and the best part, the cost of admission is free-extra for the zoo however.

The Bergen County Zoo is a very interesting and pleasurable place to visit. This late in the season (fall) most of the animals are housed inside. We visited on a rainy morning but still we had a nice tour and had the zoo to ourselves and had a nice time. The tour guide did a nice job explaining the animals breeding, living habits and feeding which I thought was interesting. Take time to go on the train ride when in season.

Van Saun Park is a great Bergen County facility. Tax Payers money benefiting many at a reasonable fee. The Zoo, train ride, carousel, and playgrounds are truly great. All Bergen County residents should be proud of this facility.

Been going here for family picnics since I was a kid. Great, interesting Zoo and train ride is good for kids of all ages..:-)

Been going here for years with kids. Perfect ages are 3-9/10ish. Easy to get around and lots to do for a local place. Highly recommend!

Been going here since I was a kid. And now I bring my kids here. Awesome family place. Plenty of activities and great park for a family picnic and play ground area

We used to go to this zoo a lot when the kids were very young.

It is compact - just large enough to see everything and not tire out the young ones. It’s very safe and well maintained.

There is a train ride that goes around the zoo. Kids love it.

There are also pony rides in Van Saun park a very short walk from the zoo.

Let it Glow is a special event held at the Bergen County Zoo during the holidays at Christmas. The night transforms this small zoo into a wonderland. It includes a special train ride. I had a great time.

one of the best little kept gems. young old fun for all .my father my son and his baby we all enjoyed. even one hour to kill by your self just to relax .this place is wonderful .take the little train ride it will make you a kid once more.feed the animals, just have fun.

The zoo has great facilities especially for children. The train ride and pony rides are the main attraction. Weekends are mobbed.

My family and I just went to this park and I'm so happy we did. If I knew about it sooner this would not have been my first visit. We went on a Saturday and I was a little worried it would be packed. The park is so big that there was enough room for everyone without people seeming to close. The zoo itself it fairly priced like other reviews state. I loved that the animals were close to one another not spread so far apart that it was a far walk for the little ones. I think this is the perfect size zoo for little ones- great for toddlers. I did see some older tweens there to and they seemed to be enjoying it as much as the little ones. Although I did not partake on the train ride my family did and highly enjoyed it especially since my little one has a bit of train obsession. As far as food goes, there were some food trucks there- pizza, 2 ice cream trucks and one hot dog truck. I would strongly suggest a picnic it's another money saver and tons of tables or grass to enjoy a meal. The park portion was nice as they had many places for the kids to play. I also seen that there were building a sprinkler section in the toddler play area which would be great on a warm day. Overall, a few hours probably about 4 to do everything I think is enough. If you picnic there and have a lot of people I could see spending a little more time there.

The Bergen County Zoological Park is a great family destination that everyone will enjoy. There are plenty of animals to see, such as buffalo, eagles, a mountain lion, and turtles. There are monkeys and even animals from South America.
The kids will love the farm section where they can pet a goat, for example.
The park is relatively small but well designed so it is easy to see everything.
Don't forget the train ride.

Sunday we attended an event at the zoo. Giving of holiday gifts to the animals in the zoo. I went into the restroom and it was filthy. The floor was covered in mud and toilet paper covered the floor. When I questioned an employee I was told there are no maintenance people here on weekends. So the bathroom hadn't been cleaned since Friday. How can you have events on weekends and not keep the bathrooms cleaned? Makes no sense.

Our favorite local zoo/park. Lots to do & plenty of space to just run around & have fun after the zoo, train, carousel, pony rides, & playground.

My children love this park. The playgrounds are relatively new and are handicap accessible. There is a beautiful merry go round in the middle of the park. At the zoo, the children can take the train which goes through the perimeter of the zoo. There is also a pony ride for your little adventurers. Not sure if they still have the food trucks. But if they do, they are all good.

Van Saun is a great place to visit, job, walk or study nature. There are also athletic fields (which may require a permit for groups to use. The Zoo is a major attraction (along with the train and antique marry-go-round. It may be hard too pry the kids away to have a picnic at any of the many beautiful spots in the park.

Love going here for a walk through the zoo. Prairie dogs are my fav. Animals are all healthy and cared for. After the zoo, have the kids go to the playground to get their energy out. Great place for a picnic too. Lots of grass, trees, picnic tables. If you coming with a large group, you may have to get their really early to get benches close together. Lots of parking.

Small but lively zoo and train ride. Lots of parking and activities. Check out the butterfly exhibit. You might even be the butterfly whisperer. :)

Van Saun Park is a wonderful place to visit especially with chidren. Ther's a great zoo wwith all kinds of animals including buffalo, mountain lions, huge pig, cows & of course the kids favorite monkeys. There is a train ride for children as well as a carousel & pony rides. Lots of places to barbecue & picnic too.

They just did a whole new makeover of the playground area. What an amazing job they did, I think my favorite thing is the rubberized mulch that is padded - feels like your walking on a cushion! The train and merry go round are still a must do if you have young children they will love it! Best part about it is you can spend hours there an it and cost you only a couple of bucks if you go on the train and merry go round. Love this place.

Van Saun Park is a great place to bring the family. The Zoo is a lot of fun, and don't miss the train ride. Bear (our train engineer) was awesome, and super friendly! The park is clean and a good place to picnic. The carousel is beautiful and worth the wait if you go on the weekend. In October they do a Zoo Boo that is fun for the kids but you need tickets in advance so contact them eárly because it sells out.

Inexpensive little zoo-great local place to take the kids or just feel like one. Educational presentations, plaques for self education, a train ride (extra charge of coarse) and my two favorites...the Capybara and the Prairie Dogs. Across from the zoo parking lot there is an arched Bridge where couples come to take wedding photos. Next to that is an updated playground. All throughout the park there are plenty open areas for frisbee play and picnics.

We take all our grandkids here when they are in visiting us, They love the train and zoo and there is plenty of room to wander.

Taking the train and playing on the variety of modern, clean play equipment was a highlight of our recent visit. Cooling off in the 'spray park' was a real bonus on a hot day. (Have been visiting this park since my son, now father of 3, was an infant!)

Only negative part was the 'wait on line' for train/zoo tickets. On a busy, hot summer Sunday there should have been more concession help to speed the line through.

Great space, always well maintained. Parking is plentiful and the surrounding park is beautiful. Train ride is available in warmer weather.

The ease of movement around the facility, kid-friendly rides and surprising value and number of exoitc animals etc. make this a must for the grandparent/grandchild trip

Great place to walk and chill. The zoo is cute. They have pony rides for the kids. The park,in May, is absolutely beautiful.
Parking is not a problem. Has much to offer. Great place for the family or even a date.

A very well organized zoo. Visitors can get close to the beasts and learn a great deal about them. They live in fanciful dwellings and all look like a happy lot. The staff is generally friendly and informative. Only issue is that there is no ice cream truck nearby.

Fab park, some nice walks throughout , nice place to visit, lovely little Christmas village set up here just after Thanksgiving, was nice to see families all out enjoying themsleves

Great time at this park. We have visited a lot of zoos in the northeast over the past two years in DC, NY, CT, RI and NJ. Originally planned on making a trip to Philly Zoo, but the weather was iffy. Lived in Bergen County a few years ago and my parents are still there so I came across this park/zoo while browsing for "zoos" in NJ. I saw that it was conveniently located about 15 minutes away from my parents and not too far from Route 4, as we planned and did make a trip to Bergen Town Center for some shopping afterward. Easy access from Forest Avenue. Lovely park/zoo, especially this time of year when the fall colors take over. We visited the zoo first, which is usually $8 for adults, $5 for children ($4 and $2 for Bergen County Residents). It was free that day!!! I think in the fall and winter months its free, which is great!!! No parking fees either. A bunch of animals to see there including horse, bobcat?, puma, owl, porcupine, elk, bison, prarie dogs and a discovery center which has a bunch of tanks with reptiles, fish and bugs. I believe you can rent out this area for parties as well. There are also other activities there that you pay per activity, such as a little train ride around the park and pony rides which are a few dollars per person, weather permitting. I think I loved the zoo portion, moreso because it was free. If we paid the general admission (8+8+4) $20, I would probably knock it down a star and a half.

The park now is great. Free year round it seems to be free. Lovely park with large play area for the kids. A large carousel there as well, but I believe there is a fee for that. Lots of parking available. Lots of picnic benches and trails. Simply spectacular on a fall day with the lovely colors.

Recommend both park and zoo to all.

This is an amazing park wit so much to do I love coming here with friends and family and my children also love it. We come where often

I've been here a few times with young children. The playground is huge and varied, with so many different structures for different aged kids with different preferences. While there is only a little shade on the playground, the mature kids around the outside give plenty of choices for shady breaks. There are four different swingsets, including two with baby's swigs. A small spray pad is good enough for a quick cool down (no bathing suits needed, but water friendly shoes would be good because of puddles), but definitely not where I would plan to spend any significant amount of time. After the playground, definitely go check out the Zoo, train and carousel. For all three it's only $11 (less if you're a Bergen county resident). If I lived closer I would definitely get the season pass. It's a small zoo, but for the price it's a great way to spend the afternoon. The only annoying thing was that there was a HUGE line (their summer college staff probably went back to school, so they were very short staffed) and the carousel and train tickets weren't being sold at those rides, but at the zoo admission booth. The 25 minute wait was ridiculous. But this is the only time I've had any line to deal with there, so I'm considering it an aberration. The carousel is fun, with lots of different animals besides just horses (my niece was excited to ride the rooster!). For $1.50, ride it a few times! The train ride kind of goes through nowhere, there's very little to look at along its route. But for the small ones it's a nice diversion. We took a walk over to see the pony rides, but decided not to wait to ride. For the price, however, ($2/a circuit) it would be great for a young child. There are also tennis courts, a ton of paved walking paths including one around a pond! I can't say enough about this park. Go once a week if you can!

We visited for the first time on Father's Day. We took a double stroller into the zoo and had no problem maneuvering around. My older toddler loved seeing the animals. My younger one was kinda indifferent. We also rode the train. There was a line but we didn't wait long. My older one rode the carousel and rode a pony. We didn't check out the playground because we ran out of time. Bathrooms were clean. We brought our own food & just ate in the car. We had a great day from start to finish.

Went to Van Saun Park with family. We all had a wonderful time at the zoo and riding the train and carousel.
Have been going to this park for many years...in the early years with my children, now with the grandchildren. Will definitely be returning to the park on a regular basis.

Great for taking the kids and now grandkids. Get close to the animals, feed the ducks take train ride. We can come here over and over again.

If you have an hour or 2 to kill, the zoo is pretty awesome. But you'll find it tough to stay any longer then that, given the size of the place. It's also free starting in mid fall.

The park itself is a great place to walk or jog and also has many places to sit down and enjoy lunch.

There are tennis courts but I never used them. They look well maintained.

Adults and children alike will enjoy this zoo. It is small, but well done and maintained. There is enough to see to keep you busy for hours. I especially love the monkeys!

We went as a family and wanted to see the zoo first. We were done seeing the zoo in half an hour. It is good for small kids. The price is reasonable 4$ for adults. There is a carousel, play grounds, water fountains for kids to play( it did not work ) and lots of nice and clean picnic areas. Well managed park.

We enjoyed this zoo but it was rather small. I have a hard time with zoos this size where you required to pay. Meanwhile, Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago is free and decent sized. I think the kids really enjoyed the train, carousel, and the playground with the splash pad the most.

Great park for any event. We have a reunion here every year. lots of things for kids to do. They have a carousel, a newly renovated kids play area, and a great zoo among other things. I'm sure you'll love this little gem.

My wife and I took out 2 grandsons to Van Saun for a little fun. We went to the zoo, the play area, train ride, and merry go round. The little guys loved it. The zoo, though small, was very nice and had lots of info on the animals that were there. The playground was fairly large. The park is large. I think we had as much fun watching the kids enjoy themselves as they did playing.

lovely for strolling! great in all seasons. we love coming here with friends to picnic or just walk the dogs

If your looking for a variety of things to do with children this is the place. Get there early as parking fills up quickly. Unfortunately every thing you do $$. Zoo, train ride, carousel & food. Bring a picnic lunch, lots of tables and shaded areas.

Enjoy all aspects of the Park...Zoo, playground, train ride. We keep going back with our grandson, who will be six soon.

Van Saun park is just large enough to make an afternoon interesting and just small enough so that you don't end up limping to the car. A long time favorite of the suburbs close by.

The zoo has all your favorite animals and even a sloth... :-) Larger animals such as Bison as well. Really neat.
There's a miniature train ride that's only $1.50 for non-residents of Bergen County. As well as a magnificent large carousel at the entrance to the park for $1.50 as well. Last ticket is sold at 4:30pm.

The zoo is $4 or $8 for adults ages 15-61, $2 or $5 for children 3-14 for bergen county residents and non-residents respectively. Active military are Free. Children under 3 are also free.

There are daily animal shows in the amphitheater with schedules posted at the entrance.

All in all: Great deal for the price and very well kept.

Came by on Mother’s Day at around 10:30 (it opens at 10) and it was already getting crowded. Admission is $6/adult if you live in Bergen County. If not, it's $10. The carousel is $3.

It's a pretty small zoo, which has its pros and cons. Pros are that you can finish seeing everything pretty quickly. We probably spent less than an hour there, including the carousel. Cons are that there was not much to see. There were exhibits that listed certain animals, but they were nowhere to be found.

I would say that if you're just looking for an activity to do with the kids, this would be a good option. But if you're looking to actually see any animals, you’ll need to go to a bigger zoo.

Very family friendly. The variety of animals for such a small zoo is very impressive. It can keep the kids entertained for hours.

From the zoo --- a wonderful zoo -- to the playgrounds to the picnic areas, there's a lot to do. Just visit the park for a walk along the walking paths and you'll enjoy. Check out when the food trucks are in the park (during summer months) to pick up a famous Callahan's hotdog!

I used to come to this park before they had a zoo and it was a great park. The addition of the zoo was a nice touch. Be aware that the park/zoo gets very crowded and parking is limited so that can be frustrating. They charge more for admission if you're not a bergen county resident so it can be considered expensive for what you're getting since the zoo itself is relatively small with few animals, although the some good animals. I agree with some of the other reviewers in that this zoo is really more suited for smaller children who have lower expectations. Additionally, they have a carousel and train ride which plays into that as well.
Overall, it's a good zoo for what it is and worth a visit if you're close and looking for something to do but it is small... does not come close to Turtleback, Cape May, or Bronx... so set your expectations accordingly.

I have been coming to this park since I was a young child. This park contains a zoo, a merry-go-round, sports fields, walking paths, bathrooms, places to purchase snacks, and much more. There are plenty of parking lots, and there is always something going on.

This is definitely worth the trip. The animal exhibits are conveniently close together. Very good zoo for young children. There is a five minute train ride around the zoo that is enjoyable for all ages.

The park is beautifully maintained and wonderful to visit. The employees were well-trained and good-spirited and friendly. Only 2 criticisms: there must be a better way to purchase tickets! We waited on line (in the HOT) sun for an hour which felt like much longer with a 4-year old hanging in me! There was only 1 employee in the ticket booth. Also, although there was a Callahan's Food Truck, there was no place (other than a well-hidden vending mschine) to get ice cream!

Lots of space for picnics and sports. Grills all over. And, a really nice zoo. Something for everybody, including a little railroad ride around the zoo. Can get crowded on weekends in good weather and the zoo moves animals indoors in the winter, so you may not get everything you want all year round. But, it's fun just to watch the people...birthday parties, family get-togethers, big football and soccer games. And plenty of parking. There's even the historical Washington's spring, where the Revolutionary soldiers sipped as they camped.

This is a relaxing and not overly crowded county park. There are family crowds at the playground and zoo, but the park is big enough for people who enjoy lots of space. The walking trail is long and loops around the park. There are plenty of parking spaces. Toilets are decent. Definitely make time for the zoo.

I found this Park when I first moved to Burgan county in Nov, of 2016. It is a big park with a 2 mile walking / jogging trail, Pound, Pick nick areas, Play sounds with a water spray area ( just spray no pool ) Regular art shows and carnivals and a wonderful little Zoo with a train ride around it. There are 2 or 3 churches that back up to it so it is a good Sunday after noon retreat. there are also Grills and Pick-Nick tables in good supply.
This Park will be a regular weekend stop for my family.

This is a small zoo that does not take long to walk around but there is also a train ride and carousel during warmer months. The playground is great with different areas for different ages which sometimes means its hard to keep track of different kids, nice walking paths around a small pond. This place gets very busy on nice weather days and the parking lots fill up, it looks like they may be adding more parking by the carousel. Small food stand is closed for the season

If you can. This is a perfect park located in a very congested area. What else can you ask for? Miles of tracks, a zoo. choo choo train, tennis courts, ponies, great playground. You get it. And millions of people as well. Try to avoid weekends and holidays. You won't be able to park.

My kids like the zoo, but that's not the reason to go to Van Saun. The playground here is HUGE and the kids can easily spend over an hour here and not get bored. There is so much variety of equipment and activities here that it would be difficult to get bored.

In the summer back a swimsuit for the kids because the water park area of the playground is a blast.

The zoo is small but clean and fun to visit after playing all day on the playground. It is like the baby brother of Turtle Back Zoo.

Great wide open spaces allow for peaceful times. The walking paths allow for a fun stroll with a pet. The park also features convenient places to picnic and barbeque.

Train, zoo are good but playground gets too crowded. Walking paths are in poor condition at best. For kids 7 and Undet it’s great. Otherwise avoid

There are many walking trails; I enjoy the 3/4 mile walk around a scenic man made lake. Another trail takes you through areas of flowers, interesting plants and bridges overlooking cascading brooks. There's a wonderful playground for children, a charming carousel, and a pleasant train ride around the park for children of all ages. The zoo is also a wonderful place to visit where you can see farm animals as well as Tigers, prairie dogs living in their natural habitat and monkeys, condors and llamas. I have seen families celebrating birthday parties in the park, or families and friends enjoying a pleasant picnic. It's just old fashioned fun in a beautiful scenic park area.

Van Saun and the Bergen County Zoo are worthy destinations even if you are coming from outside the area. Great park for walking around a small lake, little trails, large playground, pony rides, a carousel. There are also ball fields and tennis courts. Picnic pavilions are here too. The zoo is really nice with an education center, demonstrations in season and a train ride around the whole thing. You can't ask for more!

I take my nephew here once in a while...he loves to see the animals and ride the train...I too enjoy the animals and the merry go round.

My wife and I took our grandson (2) and his mom (our daughter) to Van Saun Park. We had heard a lot about it and were not disappointed. The park was clean and there was ample parking. After our picnic lunch, our first stop was the zoo. Admission price is reasonable, with discounts for seniors and bergen county residents. My grandson loved seeing all the animals, especially the bison and elk. Next, was the train ride. My grandson loves trains and couldn't wait. He rode free (children under 42 inches in height ride free) with an adult ticket costing $1.50. He was smiles all the way round. Finally, the carousel awaited. Again, he rode free with adults charged $1.50. There were a variety of animals on which to ride. He chose to ride the bunny. Again, all smiles. There were other things to do, including a huge playground (which is under expansion). All these activities are within walking distance of each other. We all had a great time and will definitely be back.

Went after she got out of school always a good time lots of things for the children to do and see zoo is always awesome my children love it

reasonable fee for the train ride. All else is free. Nice small zoo for children and pony rides on weekends.

This is a nice park in a suburban setting. The zoo is actually pretty impressive for a facility of its size. Kids under 13 will enjoy.

They have lots to do here, but again it is not a place to feel like you want to get lost, too many people. They have walking and jogging trails, Merry go round, and pony rides (expensive and very small rink, for young children). They have a train that goes around the small zoo. This is very exciting for the children, but don't plan to rid it if your a tall or large adult, as it will be too small for you to ride. Costs are inexpensive to get on the train, but make sure you bring your id to prove your a resident of NJ or not or disabled. One of the cashiers is troublesome, and won't let you in, as this has happened to me. They have a hotdog truck on the outside, very expensive, and worth the cost, bring your own sandwiches or buy before you go. The gift store is not but small. This is a great place for children, but if you are planning to spend the whole day, make sure to bring other things to keep you busy.

This "local" park is a great place to take the kids for an afternoon: animals, train ride, carousel, play areas, train ride. You can cover it all in 2-3 hours. Can get crowded on a weekend. Crowd is all sizes, shapes, colors and languages. They do not accept credit cards to pay for admission charges (which are modest). No food or drink sold inside, but there are food trucks in the parking lot. For a local zoo/park this place has a lot to offer.

Have been here a few times, and it always is a good day. the zoo is well maintained, the exhibits are well viewed. carousel and train always fun for the kids.

I have been going to the Park since I was a kid. The Zoo is great. Perfect size for a day with the little ones. The train ride is a must! Then you go play in the playground, ride the merry go round sit and relax in the grass and then the pony rides.

This is a fun place to take little kids. Cute little zoo (don't expect the Bronx zoo) and train ride. Really good playground.

This place was cool! I'm glad I decided to take the 9 year old child that I care for to the zoo and park! He loved it and it is a nice place to take the kids! To go to the zoo you do have to pay but it is a reasonably price for a day trip. The park is nice and has playgrounds. I would go back again.

Last weekend we took our 2 year-old granddaughter to Van Saun County Park, her first visit. We have previously taken our own children and our grandsons here when they were the same age. Among the terrific venues there that all the kids love are the county zoo with many interesting (for kids) animals, the miniature railroad train which circles the zoo and can be ridden by kids and adults alike, the ornate musical carousel and pony rides. All of these activities are within easy walking distance of parking lots and each other. There are also several separate playgrounds for kids of different ages. On a sunny weekend there may be hundreds of families with the same idea of having a nice day outdoors with their children, so it is best to arrive early (opening time is 10 AM). There are also several picnic areas to make your day complete. Highly recommended as old fashioned family fun. Prices are reasonable, especially for seniors bringing their grandchildren. Recently food trucks have been parking inside the park for anything from snacks to full meals.

Small but well maintained County Park- the zoo is small but clean with a nice variety of animals to see - wish they had more room though- brought my kids here almost every day when they were little - I still come 4 or 5 times a week. Lids love the carousel, the train ride and the playground. That said I'd stay away on the weekends during the warmer months - very crowded and no parking.

The Park has plenty for those who wish to be outside. Including a great play area for children a carousel and a train that goes around the zoo. Zoo is open space so no animals are caged and offers a great deal for Bergen County residents. Great to have such wonderful park in close proximity.

They have a zoo, train, carousel and more. Lots of playground space with swings, jungle Jim, and more.

The park is very nice for family outings, picnics or company events and it is nice that the zoo is there for the children. I have gone for many years when I was young, when my son and nephew was growing up and never a disappointment.

You have to try the choo-choo train with the kids or grand kids. During the summer, they do have areas for bbq as well as tables and large plain fields. Large enough for kite flying. On occasion we are able to do pony rides if the lines are not too long. The merry-go-round is also a favorite. When it is really warm out about August, the park has sprinklers on so don't forget swim suits for the kids.

I was at the zoo which is always a nice day out for a family and I went on the train for the first time in 30 years. I think I was in junior high the last time I rode the train. Not quite the experience I had as a kid but still fun.

The zoo has some nice exhibitions, a wonderful gift shop and on a warm sunny day, it is a pleasure to hang with the animals. For a zoo, these are pretty polite creatures. They are so used to humans that we are just an afterthought. It still is a fun day out and nice to stroll amongst the paths to the exhibitions. Great place to bring small children.

This is a great park with farm animals and zoo animals for children to see. This park has animals that you can feed. There are train rides for the family. It has a area to have a picnic in the park. You can ride the carousel. The playground is the BEST with playground equipment for all children all ages.

VanSaun is a great park. The zoo is fun to explore for all ages. The zoo train is a must ride. The playground is great for kids. Love taking stroll around the beautiful lake.

I love the fact that this is so close to home, and run by the County. It's clean, the animals seem well cared for, and the little ones love it. . . and the admission wonpt break the bank.

It's a great park for kids and adults. The park has many things to do. Their is a zoo,playground,a train for the kids and a merry go round.The staff are very nice.

Great place to bring little ones for a short zoo trip. Lots of animals - monkeys, bison, elk, condor, and even mountain lions. Easy to navigate. Train ride is a big hit for toddlers.
There is an admission fee, and fee for the train ride. Lots of free parking. Can get crowded.

great park for walking and riding your bike
I went to the park with my daughter, she was training for her triathlon
so while she did her run I did my walking so i notice how nice the park was.
very nice.

I've lived in the area for more than 10 years and had no idea it existed. It's small, but so is the entry fee- around $10/person. A train-ride around the zoo is extra. We found it more than adequate and our girls loved it. There's a merry-go-round and pony-rides across the parking lot.

Went to a birthday party at the park. The children were introduced to 3 animals and were able to pet 2 of them. I was impressed with that part of the party since the children got some information about the 3 animals. After there was a tour of the farm where they got to see a few animals and got an explanation to them. The children returned to the party room to eat and have cake. My children had fun and even got to ride the train and merry-go-round.

I found it annoying, today, that they don’t provide a map. Luckily, the zoo is small enough that you eventually see everything while wandering around.

Having been to much larger zoos with higher admission prices, I was somewhat disappointed. But this zoo serves its purpose to the local community.

So glad I arrived Sunday at 10:30AM because by 11:30AM there was quite a long line at the ticket booth.

Beautiful park that I was totally unfamiliar with. The zoo was amazing, and there is so much to see and do. Perfect park for small children.

We ventured to the zoo and play area as a result of a recommendation found on Mommy Poppins. To our pleasant surprise the zoo offered free admission (not sure if it’s a weekly occurrence but this was on a Tuesday). The kids ages 3-7 thoroughly enjoyed the exhibits despite the large crowd. The play area was expansive and provided various types of equipment. I found it a little overwhelming with 2 adults tracking 4 kids but despite my mini anxiety attacks, the littles enjoyed every second. Excellent day trip!

Very nice, very big county park! Go for a nice walk or drive. They have picnic areas and bbq's too. One of the larger parks in Bergen County. There are several others, but this by far, is the largest. Think you can even reserve picnic areas and ball fields!

We arrived on a beautiful fall day and free Zoo day. Grew up going to Van Saun and had to bring our grand daughter for a visit. We enjoyed seeing the animals and the monkeys and condors, horse, pigs and big cats. Had been years since I've been on the train around the zoo and I enjoyed watching our granddaughter waving at everybody
As we passed by. They have a merry-go-round and a wonderful playground. Many events held during the course of the year can't wait to bring her back to boo zoo next year.

Reasonably well maintained cycling venue. Good for a five mile ride with small duck ponds on either end. Best time to ride is during middle of week.

We took my 8 year old niece here last year and she loves it. She loves the animals in the zoo & then we cross the road & she goes on the Merry-Go Round & the pony rides. She just loves the pony rides-then she walks over & plays with all the kids in the play around. It's a huge park where you can throw a family reunion, wedding or BBQ, they have soccer fields, and baseball fields. You can find something for everyone here. Great place to spend the day either with your family or just with the kids.

What's not too love? The Zoo has always been attractive the staff are very nice. They have the train and the carousel across the street along with a playground. The Zoo itself isn't very big but it is a nice visit when taking in other aspects of the park.

This is an excellent county zoo! Excellent for all ages. Great programs, special exhibits, adopt an animal program, and membership perks including members only events. Located in the middle of beautiful Van Saun County Park which has a carousel, pony rides, picnic areas, grills, and an awesome playground area. The kids will love it!

The zoo isn't bug but they have a good amount of animals that children can enjoy seeing and learning about. However, you will most likely not spend the whole day there. Possibly 2-3 hours max. But they have a picnic/park area that allows the visit to the zoo even more encouraging!

This was out f second time there it's a great zoo for toddlers. I feel like they are able to see the anals up close. They have a little food cart with your typical fast food. The train is a must see so adorable. The best part is of you go outside the zoo there is a huge park that kids really enjoy playing. Pack a lunch have a picnic use one of the tables nearby!!

Very nice place for family with little kids. Big park and playground, they have zoo and it's absolutely free for Bergen county residents.

I am not a Bergen County resident but have been coming here for years. It is just the right size for young children. They changed the place around and it looks much nicer. My 10 yr. old enjoyed all the animals & exhibits. It did cost $8 for adult and $5 for under 12. If you are a resident , adults are only $4. Kids are $2, I think. The train ride is always a hit. At $ 1.50 per person it is well worth it. Its not a long ride but relaxing. We went on a Monday and it was not crowded at all. They also have a carousel which we did not go on. Lots of tables and a playground.
Also, it is NOT on Forest Ave. It is on Continental Ave. (off of Spring Valley Rd.) My navigator always gets me lost when I use the 216 Forest Ave address. They need to update that.