Toledo Zoo Reviews

We are from Cincinnati (we have a great zoo) and we have visited many zoos from DC to San Diego, But this is different. Driving back home from The Henry Ford, we decided to stop for a visit to the Toledo Zoo. First surprise was the ticket booth asked if I was a veteran- and I am and got in free. Wife got another $1 off her admission. The visit lasted over 4 hours as they are excellent in the breadth of offerings. Not only a zoo, but a Natural
history museum, an aquarium, botanical gardens, and 2 huge playgrounds for kids. Much was built during the WPA (pre- WWII) So has lots of character and is well
Maintained. Animals have large settings and seemed very active on a hot July day. Many chances to eat, and moving about is easier than in many zoos. Unique variety of experiences and we could see many improvements were under way. Also they have a massive amphitheater used for evening music venues. If you have an afternoon near Toledo, do not miss this experience!!!

There is not one negative thing I can say about the Toledo Zoo. great prices. wonderful environment for everyone.

Lights before Christmas are a main attraction of the Toledo Zoo in winter. The Zoo does a great job with preparing the lights in fall and everytime there's something new to experience. By far the best holiday displays in an Ohio zoo, if not the whole country.

I love the Toledo Zoo!! We picked the wrong day to go, however. There were at least two wedding going on this past Saturday plus it rained some. The train was not operating, which was disappointing so all you could see were the giraffes because of their height and a Watusi because he was standing with the giraffes. The animals that were laying in the fields you could barely make them out. The Aquarium was fantastic and the cougars were really active. I think the whole staff was geared toward working the events that day because there were no concession stands open as we walked along. Every stand was closed except for the very last shop as we were on our way out.

We had a great day at the zoo. Most the animals where out,and we where able to cool down at the splash pad. The new museum is wonderful. It's a must see. There are hands on things to do,my 5 year old niece loves it every time we go. I must say Christmas is my favorite,the lights at the zoo never gets old.

Nice exhibits. Great old architecture. They have a train ride that circles an African Savanah themed exhibit. There's a merry go round.

They also have a nice garden area. Plus an aquarium. If you love going to the zoo its well worth a visit.

This zoo is GREAT for families! There are lots of areas specifically for children, they even have a splash pad!!
My family visited on a Thursday and it wasn’t bad at all plenty of parking available and not crowded. We spent around 4 1/2 hours at the zoo and could have easily stayed another hour or two but we were exhausted.

We had such a fun time with our teen and pre-teens!!! You definitely make your step goal and they have so many amazing exhibits!

Best lights before Christmas! The zoo also offers a great and affordable opportunity to feed the animals.

Very nice zoo, some food areas and demos were closed - assuming do to being short staffed. But plenty of animals to see regardless, would have been nice to see at it's fully operational potential.

Lets start with the bad. The ticket line. Very confusing. I don't know if it was because there were busloads of kids there that day but, we stood in a line paid and then was told to go over to another line to enter. In this line they were also selling tickets to enter. We weren't the only folks in line that were confused. We finally seen were you can go around and enter the park. I would advise to bring your own food. I figured that it would be pricey but, it is absolutely outrageous! And many of them were not even open. And this is memorial day week-end. Be prepared to pay for parking also. $11.00! Seems steep to me. Many animal exhibits were also closed. Including feeding the giraffes. It appeared that many of the animals were being put away before the park closed. Some of the enclosures seemed a little small for the animal. Including the aquarium. Our visit wasn't a complete bust. The aquarium has some beautiful species and the venomous snakes were interesting. The kodiak and polar bears have nice enclosures and we seen them enjoying the water and playing.

We went to the zoo in March and though not all animals were on exhibit due to the cooler temperatures, the ones on exhibit were extremely active and there weren’t many people there. We were able to get up close to all the exhibits and not have to deal with crowds. The food carts and cafes were not yet open, so it is a good idea to make sure kids are fed before your visit :).

Very clean and lots of animals to see - and the aquarium even better. $17 adult entry covers both. We were a little surprised by the expensive food and drinks as well as the $8.00 parking fees but we figured that’s just to be expected at a zoo.

This zoo is a good size. The animals are all spread out. There is also garden areas throughout the zoo. Because of covid a lot of the places to eat in the zoo are closed.

We are from the Detroit area. The Detroit zoo is ok, the Toledo zoo is much better. We find we have a much better time here. Better exhibits etc.

We enjoyed the Natural History Museum
The splash pad on 90 degree plus day. What we didn't enjoy was the lack of open food and drink stations open. At the beginning of the park I bought the souvenir cups. There wasn't anywhere to refill them. I asked the lady at the gift shop after leaving and I was able to refill them there but it wasn't the frozen coke. If your not going to have places open then let people bring in food and drinks

Love my zoo!!! It is an all day event. The animals are happy and you can feed the giraffes and birds. Amazing aquarium where you can pet the sting ray and watch divers feed the fish!
My girls love it!! And so do I!!

The Toledo Zoo has many animals. We especially liked the Eagle exhibit. The aviary was impressive also. It was a different experience to go through a tunnel or over a land bridge to get to the main part of zoo. Next time we will plan to visit for two days. We only saw a fraction of the zoo. All of the employees were friendly and knowledgeable.

Overcrowded. No social distancing. 80% not wearing masks. Allowed well above the 50% capacity they advertised on the website. Waited 40 minutes to get in despite buying tickets online.

A visit to the zoo in the winter is so rewarding
With the crowds down you almost have the animals to yourself. We went with our toddler granddaughter and she especially loves the aquarium. The windows go clear to the floor so she can stand and see the aquatic life. This is a first rate zoo and aquarium.
We also visited the orchid exhibit.
There are always zoo employees standing by to answer questions. Stroller and wagons are easy to get around the place. It is sparkling clean and the animals are all in habitat appropriate exhibits that are as interactive as possible.
Two hours gives you a nice visit
Four hours would get you to everything.
No matter what the weather outside there are plenty of indoor exhibits
The security guards were quite helpful when I misplaced an item
This is a very safe place
If you are visiting Toledo please stop by.
We drive two hours to get to zoo and feel it is very worthwhile.

This zoo is about 40 minutes from home. I have spent many happy times there when I was young, taking my kids there and still take them as young adults. Thru the years I have seen many changes. The changes I saw today were not good. They have reduced the number of animals on display. Shut down the Aviary. Many of the food places are shut down. They also shut down the entrance off Broadway which is much more user friendly without having to use the stairs or climb up and down ramps off Anthony Wayne trail. I left disappointed today, it used to be an awesome zoo.

For being the fifth most extensive animal collection in the United States with 720 species, it's a tad underwhelming. But the Toledo Zoo is a great family outing nonetheless, and quite a sprawling property.

Parking is efficient considering the plethora of daily guests and the zoo itself is laid out in a logical manner. Highlights (on paper) would include very rare animals like tigers, rhinos, and red pandas. But on our three visits, the tigers and red pandas were perpetually in hiding while only one rhino appeared. So the zoo is doing their part to preserve rare species, but you probably won't see them.

Actual highlights include a large elephant exhibit, feeding giraffes for an extra fee, the impressive reticulated python and green anaconda, and an impressive array of giants like the hippo, many gorillas and Kodiak bears, and a spectacular pack of polar bears.

We did the behind the scenes rhino experience and it was worth the extra money. Aashish is like a big puppy.! Mike the trainer was very knowledgeable and made it a fun experience. The zoo had two three-month old tigers as well that were fun to watch. Overall, it was a great day. The gift shop was still closed but the other exhibits were all open.

I was part of a girl scout troop that spent the night in the Arctic Zone. Overall the experience was definitely unique however there was no sleeping for the adults. There was a TV playing an educational video every 20 minutes with music that went off every 20 minutes. It was like an alarm clock all night long. So awful. I complained to the guide and she said it was an IT issue. Also, it's very bright with the emergency lights on. Recommend an eye cover and ear plugs for sure. Guides were great though, very interactive with the girls and answered all the silly questions and comments they had.

A lot of different animals from different locations. Very nice places to walk, places for the children to play and get wet, and pretty decent food.

Toledo zoo is well cared for all year around Our last visit was when the Chinese style lanterns were lit up last winter. It is beautiful to see and we would recommend it for a visit if you have not seen it yet. The animals are well cared for and the summer displays are very nice, not like the zoos of yesteryear. We have always enjoyed the free summer concerts. They may be discontinued now.
We have been to the zoo various times of the year over many years. Not sure of lantern month.

This wasn't an outstanding zoo as we've heard. We've been to about 15 zoos around the US, and we've seen better, but we've seen worse. I don't think it deserves to be on any 'top ten' list, but perhaps 'top twenty'? The line was horrendous to get in and we had to walk about 1/2 mile to get to the gate. I felt it was overpriced, but they had a neat underwater hippo exibit and up close gorrilla exhibit. Their viewing of animals was pretty consistent and the habitats and zoo itself was clean. You can take in your own food and drinks which saves money. Overall good, not great.

This breaks my heart to write a negative review on a place I love, but I have to be honest too. Growing up in Toledo, I always loved the zoo. I would be the first person to share how great our zoo is and why they need to visit it. And I still think it's the best zoo in Ohio and easily Top 5/10 in USA. But I moved away from Toledo several years ago. I just visited some friends and family in Toledo so my wife and I took our kids to the Toledo Zoo. We've been hyping it up and shared our excitement with them. But wow did ticket prices SOAR. $74 at the gate for 2 adults and 2 kids? If you buy online, you can save $1 off each ticket... so still, $70!? If you go, do what we did and buy "discounted" tickets at a nearby Kroger. It ended up costing us $58 at Kroger, and then of course $8 to park on a paved lot at the zoo. So $66 to get us in... alright. I wouldn't care as much had it been worth it. But we went and hardly any animals were out. Saw three animals the entire time in their outside areas. I'm not talking about the science museum or the aquarium areas, though nice. We mainly walked around and looked at the Christmas lights for $66, and that's why I feel this was robbery. Either lower the prices or bring the animals out. I get it's cold and some can't be. Polar bears weren't out. Penguins weren't out. Some of the inside viewing areas were even closed. I feel ripped off.

I would always recommend a trip to the Toledo zoo. I've been to dozens of zoos in the U.S. and the Toledo zoo is one of my favorites.

I am disappointed with my trip here. I understand that animals will be inside due to the freezing weather, but even the animals in inside viewing enclosures were closed. More than half of the indoor enclosures were closed for no apparent reason. I love going to zoos and supporting them but this was beyond reasonable. I shouldn’t have had to pay more than $100 for three people. We have a membership with a different zoo and the website said our membership had 100% reciprocal with this zoo but when we got to the ticket booth the lady said while this normally is the case it isn’t before Christmas. It’s January. We also did the ice slide. Disappointing. It wasn’t very fast, the employees seemed distracted, and it wasn’t worth the cost. It was great to see the dingo, red panda and elephants. Again I love zoos and want to support them, but they have to put in a little more public effort. Loved meeting the chuckwalla and petting the Guinea pig! Hopefully it’s better in the summer.

Toledo has a quirky reputation as a
city that doesn’t quite take itself too seriously. What else would you think about a city whose historic baseball team is named after a female bird and whose gourmet signature delicacy is a Hungarian hot dog? The zoo, however is serious fun. This zoo is conservation minded and has many rare and rarely seen animals which may be viewed and enjoyed. The zoo continues to expand with the refurbished aquarium, the nee train ride through africa and the restored “subway” which has been missed for years. The zoo recently refurbed the museum which is a nice place to get out of the sun for a bit. The nice thing is that the people running the place really do concentrate on the guest experience with various programs and innovations making it possible to understand and interact with the animals in unusual ways. In the arctic exhibit, you can come face to face with a polar bear! Accessible, fun and easy to get around, this zoo is one of the best.

We only had time for a quick trip and chose the penguins, and orangutan and gorilla. This is the original part of the zoo that has been thoroughly updated and is wonderful. At the penguin feeding, the speaker had very limited knowledge, which was frustrating. The docents at the orangutan were very good. The male liked to "play" with the docent. So cute to see the baby! It was his 3rd birthday and they had special activities for kids. Wonderful aquarium with nice clean tanks. Jellyfish tank is always cool. Good signage for identifying species. We are Columbus Zoo members so we got 50% off admission!

Very busy but still able to do a lot and even tried the ropes course for a little extra fun. Well worth a day trip.

Really enjoyed the zoo. A lot of neat experiences. The food was pretty good as well.
Planning a trip during the holidays to see the lights.

I really enjoy the Toledo Zoo. It is not as big as Columbus or as progressive as Cleveland - instead it has an old time feel to it. Many of the buildings were built as part of the New Deal works programs in the 1930s. The buildings are beautiful, especially the aquarium. The zoo has enough animals not to get bored with, but it is small enough to cover in a single day. The train ride gets you up close to cheetahs and giraffes. The new zipline adventure got a big thumbs up from my wife and daughter (costs $20 extra). Nice play area for smaller kids too. Plenty of picnic space too. Overall, I’d recommend this zoo to anyone in the Toledo area with kids.

Not too small and not too big or too busy. Always a great experience. The museum and aquarium are great as well. My daughter enjoyed the outdoor adventure with zip lining. We have also enjoyed the Christmas lights for the last twenty years!

Went for the zipline which was not bad. Recommend going first thing if it is hot, we were first and with helmets and such we were still sweating. The 80 ft jump off the same tower was way worth the 20 bucks. I've gone sky diving and that jump was just as exhilarating just a lot shorter. Love the free fall. The zoo itself is great and has lots of facinating things and facts. Check out the aquirum for sure, nice AC unlike the great apes.

This is a great zoo, unless you are differently-abled. We rented a wheelchair for our daughter who cannot walk long distances. The wheelchair that we were charged $12 for had bare tires, and the brakes didn't work well. Insist on the newer ones that are in the back behind the driver-propelled chairs. Most of the inclines are gentle, which is a plus, but there were areas where a chair couldn't go. Pros: animals that you don't find in smaller zoos, including hippos, polar bears and elephants; lots of photo opportunities and helpful staff.

This was the best zoo on my trip: nearly complete animal exhibits; mostly flat walking; very good aquarium, and, to top it off; easy and free parking. I managed to get a spot right near the entrance. This zoo caters to all ages.

I really do love this zoo! My family and I visit the Toledo Zoo several times a year and it never gets old. I highly recommend visiting of you haven't already. If you have, visit again!

Despite its high rankings this is a pretty typical old-fashioned zoo. The visitor spaces are large so there's plenty of room to navigate strollers, wagons, etc. Animal viewing, though, is as it has always been: glass, metal bars and mesh fencing obscures the vistas. The Cincinnati, St. Louis and Cheyenne Mountain Zoos do a much better job. There are adequate food stations but the fare is unremarkable. Parents and toddlers will likely enjoy the Toledo Zoo experience and zoo professionals seem to appreciate the size of the collection and the treatment of the animals. For adults seeking photo ops and wishing to learn more about the critters, it's just average.

March is a little early for some of the animals to be viewed, but what was to be seen was worth the trip. Staff was helpful and kind. During a pandemic, some people can have attitudes towards masks, but no problem wear a mask; it's their policy. Easily walkable paths. Nice areas to eat a quick snack/meal. Picnic areas near parking area too. Aquarium is smaller than we expected, but it is beautiful. Enclosures are nice for viewing and the animals appear to have plenty of room compared to a few zoos we have visited. Thanks for a great visit. Will be back another time.

I didn't visit the regular zoo but rather the concert venue. It was excellent. They had plenty of concessions. The sound was great. Go to the restroom before you leave though because it will take awhile to get out of the parking lot.

We took our 4 year old and 2 year old grandkids to Toledo Zoo this morning and got there around 10;00AM. It wasn't very crowded at that time so it turned out to be a good time to visit. We entered and crossed the Highway to do the South side of zoo. We saw many items and the kids, though they had been there many times, enjoyed the visit. One of the things which they enjoyed was the bird averery in which they feed the birds. It cost a $1 to get a stick coated with bird seed. The parachetes and finches flowed to the food. The tried to land on the sticks but granddaughter was little spooked by that. She liked when they would sit on a branch and pick off the food. I really enjoyed watching them feed the birds as well as the birds themselves. It had been rather warm so many of the animals weren't very active but the GK's enjoyed watching each one. After about 2 hrs we crossed back to the north side and saw the polar bear and seals. The AC in the view areas felt very good. One of the last stops was the Garaffes where for $5 tp $11 you could feed them lettuce. Being an old fart, never had the opportunity to do that so that was a sweet treat. GK's had great time, 2 year old was going past the rope since it was taller than him and he loved the Garaffees . Toledo zoo isn't the Columbus, Indi or Cinci zoo but as a kid +50 years ago, I remember it as being very neat. The zoo is going through some updating and renovation and in about 2 years it will be that much better. We spent 3 hrs there and that was enough for us to see most of the animals.

We went on a Tuesday, which was wonderful because the crowds were limited. It was a hot day but we remained reasonably comfortable due to all the shade provided by trees and other vegetation.
The zoo has a nice selection of animals that are well displayed. My granddaughter really enjoyed the flamingos, her favorite bird.

Our zoo beats all of the zoos I have seen in other states! They continue to update the exhibits to provide great viewing experiences of a variety of animals in more “life like” settings—which is better for the animals! The aquarium is definitely our favorite area—magnificent!!! If you go early, you can often see the polar bears swimming and playing in the water—so much fun! You HAVE to check out the zoo if you are in the area!!!

Bought a zoo membership for the kids for Christmas haven’t been able to use it yet because the zoo seems to close at random times when we can go. Looked on the website last week the zoo list hours 9-5 on Mondays so we made the trip the following Monday only to drive 2 hours to find the zoo closed. Not worth the price of the membership if you ask me

We had heard great things about this zoo, and finally went this year. We love about 2 hours away so not to bad of a drive. We were weary at first because the entrance isnt anything exciting. However, this zoo not only has the size to occupy your family for hours, it is a beauty beyond compare. The exhibits allow for the animals to actually move and allows visitors to view them from multiple angles. We loved it so much, we went twice in a two month span.

We go to a lot of zoos. We pulled up a 25% discount online and four adult prices came to $50 instead of the $84. That is with two senior discounts. Not bad at all. It is a beautiful day in the 40s with sun shining, so we did not expect most of the animals to be off exhibit...but they were. We did see a few up close like the African Elephants, Polar Bear, cheetahs, and wolves. Most everything else was not on exhibit. The aviary was good. All in all, we saw a few animals over the five hours we were there. Mostly, we saw empty pens, cages, etc. Whenever we come back to Ohio, I cant say we will return to this zoo. I would suggest calling the zoo first to see if the animals will be on exhibit or not. I sure wish I could write a better review...

This is a great zoo and, in my opinion, the best in the Midwest.

What separates this zoo from others are the variety of animals and the uniqueness of some of its offerings. My favorite exhibit is the hippos but don’t miss the aviary. I have never seen some of the birds they have in their aviary at any other zoo.

If the kids get tired of looking at animals, there is a kids zoo exhibit that has a playground and a fake stream the little ones can get into. Besides this area, there is a separate splash pad area for kids near the aquarium.

If the weather gets bad, you can go into the rather large (for a zoo) aquarium or the newly renovated Natural history museum.

This zoo is large and is separated into two areas that is connected by a bridge over a major road. Most people park on the side by the African animals and polar bears. To avoid crowds, I suggest starting on the other side of the zoo in the morning.

Also, if you have little kids, I wouldn’t even attempt to see it all in one day. We have a six and three year old, stayed six hours, and saw about half the zoo.

This brings me to my only complaint. Wish they gave you a break on pricing if you come back a second day. This zoo is not cheap. Costs $78 in admission for a family of four, plus $8 to park, so it is a little cost prohibitive to try and break it up into two days. If you are an AZA member at another zoo, you do get half off the ticket price.

Overall, if you are in the Toledo area, this zoo should be the number one thing to do.

Wanted a vacation with the family, from ages 62 to 5 years old. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed themselves. Grandparents, young daughter and teenage son had fun feeding giraffes, aquarium and checking out all the animals. Our favorite was red pandas and polar bears- mom and cub were wrestling right by the window!
The food court place was a bit packed around noon and there was nowhere to sit, I recommend lunching a little later. Food wad not overly impressive either.
Also, only open 10-5pm on Saturday, wish we had a little more time. Missed out on museum and souvenir shopping.

I love this zoo and have been bringing kids and grandkids here for 35 years. My trip yesterday was very disappointing. Very expensive entrance fees, which could explain how few people were there on a beautiful day. Many exhibits and food areas were not open. Very limited hours and then the Aquarium closed early for a special event. I won’t be returning soon. It makes me very 😞

This zoo was amazing! It was such a different experience than we were expecting. We thought from the map it would be a nice zoo, but what we got was an awesome zoo. The Savannah area was amazing with the different animals running around together (wish it would have been a different time of year so we could have done the zip-line!). We will definitely be coming back to experience that soon! The enclosures were large and looked like the animals had more room to move. Finding food was a bit hard for lunch, but we did find some. The amount of babies was such a treat and the number of staff around to answer questions was unexpected. Overall, it made us visitors buy a membership so we can re-visit on our way to see our son on the East Coast.

All the staff is so polite and helpful. Whenever we seemed to be lost there was someone there to help, without even asking. Beautiful zoo

I planned a trip with my 7 and 3 year old based on the memories that I had of the zoo as a kid. Overall I think the kids had fun but for other families there are things you should be aware of. One, the admission price is insane. For the three of us, with parking was $65. Next, the layout is odd. Upon parking, the only actual exhibits on that side were the wolves and giraffes. Unless you pay to feed the giraffes or take the train (which was closed the day we went for some reason) you can’t get a good view of the exhibit. Then you had to take the bridge over the freeway to the rest of the zoo.

The biggest disappointment was the animals. The enclosures were small, a lot not very well kept. Also, many of the animals were either not out or hiding in the overgrown weeds. We didn’t see any of the large cats, the polar bears, rhino or camels. I’m not by any means a super animal activist but the exhibits saddened me. For example, the penguinarium was a dirty tank with an umbrella. They had a Galapagos Tortoise that I was excited to see...until I saw the poor thing. He was in a corner exhibit, backing up to the freeway, sitting under a makeshift metal awning.

I think they need to make some major renovations to their exhibits. We live near the Detroit zoo so to see this in comparison was jarring.

The aquarium, primates and aviary were updated and the kids really enjoyed those.

We had great fun with our 4-year old at the zoo. We frequent the Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo and being able to experience some other animals was very nice. Toledo has animals like elephants, hippos, rhinos and flamingos, to name a few animals that Fort Wayne doesn’t have. The aquarium at the zoo is almost as nice as some places that are exclusively aquariums. The Museum of Natural History is a great walk through as well, with a room full of venomous snakes and a Komodo dragon. Make sure to go in the indoor elephant exhibit. All the elephants were outside when we arrived, but there is a naked mole rat exhibit to look at once you get inside the elephant building that is a great to watch for a bit. The only reason for the rating of 4; the cost of parking. There is no parking fee at the Fort Wayne Zoo. But I feel that at least the Toledo Zoo uses the funds to add on; because there were a few exhibits closed due to construction to expand the bear exhibit (Kodiak Ridge). We will definitely return!

The Toledo Zoo has always been a gem of Toledo, but the recent upgrades in the past few years really make it outstanding. This zoo is something I am very proud of and would recommend anyone visit. It’s great for all ages.

Decided to check out the Toledo zoo since I hadn't gone since I was little. Still the same great zoo I remember. Loves everything from the aquarium to the elephants and reptile house. Staff were incredible and very nice. Worth the trip for the day.

The Toledo Zoo offers a great variety of animals, entertaining rides (train, carousel), and experiences (giraffe feeding, aerial adventure) to satisfy adults and children alike. It is our favorite zoo to visit and trumps even the San Diego Zoo IMHO. It is well organized, clean, and easy to navigate around with even the smallest/crankiest of kids on a hot summer day. Living in metro-Detroit we have become annual members and think it's a great fun/educational opportunity for our family.

Went for the Lights before Christmas event. Had a lovely time. Had delicious filling food. Enjoyed the sturgeon touch pool and helpful staff.
We also enjoyed the zoos efforts at recycling and green energy!

First off I'm a huge Zoo fan that's been to over 40 of them in the country. This thing is amazing. Considering it's in such a small City it is better than most of the big cities is that I've been to that have huge budgets for this kind of thing. It is broken and up into two parts one on each side of the highway that is connected by a bridge and or a tunnel. It has all the main animals you could think of something for everyone. Admission was $21 for an adult and parking is $8. I went on a March winter day that was rather cold and overcast with light rain on and off. I still enjoyed it and have a great time. All the enclosures are very well done very big. The animals all seem like they are treated very well. The zoo staff is phenomenal and friendly. The architecture of the buildings as something to be seen to as it's kind of old school architecture but very clean and modern as well inside. There aquarium is just as good as any cities normal aquarium stand alone. The monkeys gorillas orangutans and all of that have great exhibits and they seem well cared for. There's plenty of food options throughout. Some very nice themes especially with the polar bears giraffes and elephants. I really enjoyed the zoo and was shocked at how nice it is for such a small town. It is a good size too. Highly highly recommend this Zoo. Oh yeah and they're aquarium has an octopus which is a very very rare

What a wonderful day trip this provides for a family. Lucas County residents get in free on Monday. They have consistently the best lights before Christmas at the zoo every year. The train ride provides a wide place to see the animals on the Savannah. Moreover, they even brought back the wonderful tunnel that provided so many childhood memories. Plus, there is a nice gift shop that is reasonably price and gives members a 10% discount. Waiting for the new museum to open it should be awesome. This is a must see while you are in the Toledo area. And, on those hot summer days, there is a water splash pad for the kids to cool off.

Wonderful exhibits for a midsize city! New Promedica muse is great! Don't miss The Lights Before Christmas!

We went mid-week and it was not crowded at all, but all of the attractions were closed. No food!! Bring snacks or visit the cafe at the Natural History Museum on the grounds which is also a must-see. Venomous snakes and Komodo Dragons on the 2nd floor.

We arrived before dark to enjoy some of the animal exhibits and though many animals were indoors due to the cold, we were still able to see quite a lot. The aquarium is wonderful with hands on exhibits. But once it grew dark, the real magic happened! I’ve never been so impressed with a walk through light show! All sorts of displays and fun things for all ages to do...even tube sledding and snowball fights! What a fun place to spend an evening...with or without children in tow!

Great zoo. We're from the Houston area and this zoo is as good if not better than ours. The animals were all available for viewing except a few. The gorillas with their baby are fascinating to watch.

Toledo zoo is a very cool place to visit. Lots of great exhibits...lots of walking. We took our 13 yr old grandson and we all thoroughly enjoyed it. A terrific place for kids to learn.

We love the Toledo Zoo. It has been rated time and time again being THE BEST! It is a great place to go for a quick trip if you're local, or you can stay the whole day! There is something for everyone and all ages!

It was an extremely hot day and i was somewhat nervous if any of the animals would be active. But we honestly got to see most of the animals,more up close and happy than you usually get to see them. We did the behind the scene tour and got to see how awesome they treat the elephants and how they live behind the big outside area. The two women who did the tour were absolutely outstanding in their information. It felt more like some friends were showing you their awesome job,more than it was a "tour". I cant wait to go back again for the christmas lights! Even after moving to detroit, i still have time for the toledo zoo every year!

There's a good reason this zoo has been rated top in the country...because it's amazing!! I have lived near this zoo my entire life and watched its growth and transformation. There are so many animal exhibits, hands on attractions and special events to participate in. The animals cages are always clean and they are well cared for. The lights at the zoo in the winter are equally as amazing and a family favorite. I highly recommend this zoo as a great family outing.

Great zoo. Medium size. Pretty easy to get around though the ramp to the overhead walk was being rebuilt when I was there. Not a problem if you're okay with stairs or the tunnel...and the wait for the elevator. Great, creative enclosures. Several pretty uncommon species. Unique features. Only zoo I've been to with a walk-through frog forest. The museum is not to be overlooked. Kodiak ridge is a great addition. My only criticism would be the lack of continuity of regions. I prefer a logical layout by ecosystem or continent and artic encounter is a great start but the Bactrian camel in Africa? Make sure you explore the whole zoo. If you skip the museum, you miss the frogs, many of the reptiles and arthropods. If you skip 'Nature's Neighborhood', you miss the pied tamarins. Elephants are awesome. Rhino is a little difficult to get a good view of. Unique primates like tamarins, which I love, and the polar bear cubs antics kept my attention for a while.

Our Zoo is amazing!!! The exhibits are viewer friendly. So much to do there they now have zip lining also! HIGHLY recommend this well known Zoo!!! We have a membership and go often.

This is one of the Best Zoos in Ohio!! Plan on making a whole day of it - lots of walking and goo food!!

we have a great zoo with activities for the kids, baby animals they can interact with and pretty decent food if you are hungry during your visit. If you live in the area the membership is well worth it. If not, look for discounts or use a membership from a zoo in your area for a discount if allowed.

This was nice display, extra special if you had little ones. We didn’t get to see the live shows offered. The noodle bowl was cold at the cafe. Suggest burgers. Can’t wait for the lights at the zoo.

Great. We really enjoyed the zoo. Not too crowded and clean. Animals seemed happy (they told me) and well taken care of.

We met family here, as a middle meeting point, and we all had a great time (3 adults and 5 kids). The only problem, is the extra long ramp that crosses the road. It's a little steep and difficult to climb for some.

But we made our way to the farthest point and worked our way out of the zoo. The aquarium section was the favorite among the children, but the animals were a marvel to look at, and the zoo was set up decently.

We had packed our lunch, so it saved us some money, so we were able to do other things. Unfortunately when we were there, a storm had blown in, and the giraffe feeding area shut down early, which was going to be the highlight for the birthday girl we had in our party. So she was very disappointed and heartbroken.

But we are planning another trip here, as another get together with family !! The Dippin' Dots were a HUGE hit for us all too !!

When we went there were not a lot of animals available to see. For the cost of tickets and parking, then to pay for everything else that is charges it was not worth the money.

Great place to visit anytime of the year. Compact yet lovely exhibits. Animals have room to move and live safely. Lots of learning to be had.

This zoo is made for animals. They seem relaxed and in their natural habitat. This is a large zoo but also one that can be easily navigated. Great control of the crowds; great special attractions; good food too! You cannot beat this zoo.

Stopped at the Toledo Zoo on our way to Michigan. We enjoyed the layout and the animals. Nice place to visit and would recommend it to any animal lover.

We took our 2.7 year old son and fed a giraffe, which was an amazing paid experience. The laughs and smiles we shared are unforgettable. We enjoyed exploring the indoor aviary. Seeing a giant polar bear casually walking around its quarters was super cool. Clean zoo, friendly staff, not overly crowded when you arrive 2 hours prior to close!

We go to the zoo at least once a month. They are always improving to keep it fresh. Mondays before noon are free to Lucas county residents so it is usually really busy that morning. If you can avoid that time if you dont like busy!

The Toledo zoo is a very enjoyable zoo. It is a fair size but you can see everything in a day no problem. The animal enclosures for the most part are good.

Took my sons here as a small day trip which was a 2 1/2 hour drive and was very disappointed in how many animal exhibits were unoccupied or no animals could be seen in some that even were open! Lots of the food places and vendors were closed which was disappointing. Took the ride on the train and we had to skip half the route because there were no animals. Literally saw all the animals from where we were standing so no need for the train. Just an overall disappointing trip except for time with my sons.

We went to the Toledo Zoo for the Holiday Lights. It was so well done and very impressive. Lots of activities and areas to get warm drinks and snacks. I loved that a few of the animals were out, but most weren't due to the cold and dark. I look forward to going back during normal hours to see the animals. I highly recommend seeing the holiday lights!

We went on a Friday in September so a lot of the exhibits were closed as it wasn't very busy. It was OK. I really liked the red pandas as I have not seen them before. I had heard raves about this from many people and I was disappointed. Probably a nice zoo for children as it is smaller than many zoos. It was hot too so a lot of the animals were not out.

Our first visit after reopening. So many things have to stay closed; though not the zoos fault, it just wasn’t enjoyable for my grandchildren. Paying for a pass that won’t get used if things don’t go back to normal soon. No playgrounds, animal houses closed, no splashpads, no reptiles, birds, so many things closed. They should just stay closed to extend the memberships till they really get good use.

Had been before and been pleased with the zoo, but it has gone downhill. Very poor crowd control, could not even see many animals with crowds in the way. Waited over a half hour at a concession stand for a hot dog. Waited over 20 minutes just to buy a ticket for the carousel, even with only a small handful of customers ahead. Came close to opening time and still had to park a long distance from the park entrance, with no shuttle to transport to entrance. A single unmarked fold-out table obstructed by crowds was used for an express entrance for people who bought tickets in advance, which could not easily be seen, causing unnecessary waits for advance ticket holders on long lines to purchase tickets at the gate. Very unpleasant experience overall, will not return.

If you're up for adventure, willing to learn about the various animals , try some good food. This is definitely the Zoo.

Toledo has a quirky reputation as a
city that doesn’t quite take itself too seriously. What else would you think about a city whose historic baseball team is named after a female bird and whose gourmet signature delicacy is a Hungarian hot dog? The zoo, however is serious fun. This zoo is conservation minded and has many rare and rarely seen animals which may be viewed and enjoyed. The zoo continues to expand with the refurbished aquarium, the nee train ride through africa and the restored “subway” which has been missed for years. The zoo recently refurbed the museum which is an astounding improvement over just a few years ago. You really should not miss the museum which features a ton of exhibits, lifelike scenes of Ohio’s natural history and a two story tropical plant and frog exhibit where you can hunt for the frogs all around you.
The nice thing is that the people running the place really do concentrate on the guest experience with various programs and innovations making it possible to understand and interact with the animals in unusual ways. In the arctic exhibit, you can come face to face with a polar bear! Accessible, fun and easy to get around, this zoo is one of the best.

You just can't go wrong. The exhibits are wonderful. There are great programs and opportunities for learning and experience, just go online and sign up. Toddler safari is wonderful! This grandma learned a lot!

This zoo is very clean and worth the price of admission. The exhibits are constructed so you can view the animals up close. Plenty of spots for food and drink. We will return to this zoo again.

This zoo has outstanding view sights for all animals. During the day we were able to feed the giraffes! The indoor facility of the aquarium is amazing! I really love the play park- which has free form water for the young ones to play in.
The environment is clean and very friendly. I will come back soon!

We live an hour away for the zoo and visit at least twice a year, once to see the animals then back for the lights in the winter. Nice selection of animals. Clean, well maintained property. Friendly staff. The lights before christmas are beautiful; dress warm and get there before dark. The week before Christmas is crazy busy and close parking if they are full. (We purchase a membership, as long as you take 2 trips per year it's worth it in savings.)

The zoo itself is pleasant enough. It's a zoo like most zoos.

Food is a problem.

First, we got a couple water bottles. The concession lady was nice enough to give us a cup. Well, not really nice. No smile. Just stared at me. The first two cups had brown stuff all over the lip so I kept asking for a new cup until it was a clean one. I made a couple little stupid jokes and she just stared at me still.

Hard to find actual food and once we did, it was hard to find somewhere to sit. It's like the people running the zoo have no clue that people would like to sit in the shade and enjoy a bite to eat.

No paper maps. Instead I have to use my tiny little phone to try to traverse the zoo. Awful. They have an app and when you click on "map" it just takes you to their website. So confusing. I'm sure they're saving the earth by not having paper maps or something.

People working there look generally unhappy. Even the ones working inside. There are workers standing around, but none really approachable or giving information. I won't go back.

Visited this zoo with family as it has been reviewed as one of the best zoo's in the nation. Maybe it was because the day was very hot and sunny, but I saw very few of the advertised animals as they were probably escaping the elements in secluded places. I did see the polar bear and he was growling quite a bit, apparently not happy with the hot sun.I have visited a lot of zoos world wide and this was the worst one for an animal viewing perspective that I have visited. It maybe much better in cooler weather.

Paid $60 for admission for myself, my wife and 6 year old. First, after purchasing tickets, we were uncertain as to what line to stand in for entrance. Turns out most lines were pay and enter, and there was only one line for general entrance if you already had tickets. Fortunately, one employee told us where to stand. Upon entering the zoo, signage was virtually non-existent, forcing us to find our own way with the one map provided. Getting lunch was also difficult, with only one indoor dining option. Although many employees were friendly and helpful, and most of the animals were fairly accessible, I felt the admission price a little high based on what was available to us.

Toledo Zoo has added and improved exhibits over the last 10 years that have elevated this zoo to one of the best in the country. The newest exhibit, the Natural History Museum has replicas of dinosaurs (including sound), live snakes, insects, a sturgeon touch tank, and art room for kids. The amazing Aquarium has a huge tank where sharks and other large fish live and you can watch scuba divers in it cleaning it and interacting with the patrons. There’s also a stingray touch tank along with many many other fish tanks. Most of the animals are in natural habitat enclosures and the bird house is really something to see! Plus the Amphitheater hosts nationally famous bands and singers through the summer. At Thanksgiving/ Christmas time the Lights at the Zoo are a perfect way to ring in the holiday for all ages. And if you’re into zip lining there’s even a zip line course over the giraffes.

The Toledo Zoo is quite large, but very spread out. Things seem far from each other. The displays are fine, the animals are interesting, but many were not seen as the day was hot. They need to rework how they are seen in some cases.
Food at the large cafe was not very tasty at all.

The cleanliness of the zoo was amazing. The workers were so friendly. The animals were very active and the exhibits were large. However, the bird feed was a huge disappointment. Not one bird came to us. Not one of the workers tried to assist a bird to come to us or help our daughter feed one. It was a waste of $8. Other than that, it was great.

The zoo was overall amazing. There were alot of animals out which made it nice. The staff were rude.

Beautiful zoo, great walking areas, plenty of shade.
Easy to get to, ample parking, and very clean. Really enjoyed, would recommend taking the time to visit while you are in the area

Good trip. We arrived at approximately 11 am and made our way towards the entrance of the zoo. Admission into the zoo was quite pricey and cost 42 dollars for a single person to go (11 dollars for parking and 31 dollars for admission into the zoo). After paying the admission fee, we started to explore the zoo. The zoo was quite large and extremely packed. There were a lot of people, and it was difficult at times to view some of the animals because of the large crowds. There were informational plaques located throughout the zoo, that provided some fun facts about each of the animals. The zoo had a nice selection of animals to view and most of them were quite active.

Tip: I recommend spending 4 hours here if you truly want to see everything.

The Christmas light show is the best and only thing to do in Toledo. It is very cold and a lot of walking so dress warm.

I have no idea how I've never been to the zoo having grown up daily close to it, but I'm so glad I was able to bring my own kids to play! Interactive, and with a children's discovery center for play, this is definitely one of the more kid friendly zoos I've been to.

We went this past weekend on Saturday, 4/10. I don't believe they are staying at their 50% capacity. They also really only had two food stations available, but let you're not aloud to take in your own drinks/food. We also brought our refillable cup and come to find out, after standing in line for 30 minutes, the only station that does the refill was the one at the front of the park. They need to place more workers at the concession stands vs the outside exhibits making sure no more then 10 people at a time, HELLO THEY ARE OUTSIDE EXHIBITS! Some of the staff were extremely rude to our group, made us stand in line forever just to tell us we can't go in b/c our whole group doesn't have mask. Remind you some of us were medically exempts for mask wearing! We are usually yearly members but I don't think we will be renewing this coming year.

I see a lot of people complaining about pricing but I thought everything was reasonably priced. I also saw someone comment about not being able to refill water bottles, they had a spot in the aquarium for that. This is not the biggest zoo you will ever go to, but it has many animals and it was easy to view the animals. The tiger cubs were fun to watch. I left the zoo satisfied and would definitely go back.

This is a zoo with an aquarium and museum exhibits which makes it very cost effective. A great outing for a family of all ages. They have various exhibits inside and outdoors. There is a zip line, and an area for petting and feeding animals. Train and carousel rides are on the premises for a small fee. The only drawback is the price for feeding certain animals can be costly with several children in your group. Concession stands as well as strollers and wagon rentals makes it convenient for families with small children. We would return if ever in the Toledo area because this is an all day adventure. For the locals they even have programs for families, schools and the community.

Who knew the Toledo Zoo was so amazing!! We went with our grown kids at their suggestion and had a great time. The zoo is nicely laid out and easy to navigate. The exhibits are newly redone and allow great access to seeing the animals. The animals seem to be having fun with the creative toys and activities that have been created for them. Great place to visit!!

I recently spend the day here with friends and had a wonderful time! We spent about 6 hours, took our time, ate lunch, and saw everything! I loved that all the animals were very close and easy to see. Orangutans, gorillas and aviary were my favorite parts! Highly recommend spending day here!

Our extended family visited the zoo on the weekend. This is a great zoo with attractive exhibits and a good variety of animals.

The Toledo Zoo is always a big hit with our family. The zoo is an excellent part of the community, and we always love watching the animals. The Christmas Lights to Music Under the Stars is a wonderful tradition for any family.

Took my grandson, seven. Very nice zoo, well laid out. Overhead pathway, looking down on animals in natural habitat, is very nice. Splash pad for kids was welcome. Recommend.

Wonderful zoo. Amazing variety of animals birds and reptiles. A nice sized aquarium. Delicious food. A great zoo to visit for all ages.

the is alot to do.. aquarium, african safari, feeding the animals, ziplining, playground & pool activites

Kids had a great time looking at all the animals during the daylight, entered the aquarium at dusk, and came out to beautiful Christmas lights! Had fun dancing and drinking hot cocoa.

Love the way they have incorporated the turn of the century zoo buildings into a modern zoo environment. The aviary was particularly well done and the aquarium was excellent. The primate exhibits were typical of northern zoos with generous indoor habitats. The up close and personal penguin area was great but has a very small topside area that can get very congested. Many habitats seem outdated and small. The highlight of our trip were the volunteers and employees manning the exhibits. They were friendly, knowledgeable and enthusiastic. Even a security employee staffing a closed area was happy to tell us about their new rhino.

This was our first time there and we brought our 9 year old granddaughter. We parked on the Broadway entrance, and the Aquarium was our first exhibit to see. We made our way through all the exhibits, making sure not to miss any by following the map! Lions and tigers and bears oh my! Flamingos and monkeys and seals! Gorillas and snakes and penguins, right down to feeding the giraffes !! Take the train ride, go on the merry-go-round, sit under the trees and take it all in ... Take lots of pictures, all the animals are pretty close for viewing. It was a fabulous day, not too busy, not too hot because of all the trees they have there - and the splash pad! All of the staff were marvelous, answering any questions, with kind words for all... Reem B. made my granddaughter's trip when we were departing - she wanted a stuffed animal and wasn't sure which (and I wasn't spending $50 lol) - Reem was so kind to her and spent time with her deciding which one - so we got two (small ones at $8 each) lol.... Make sure you bring (or rent for $11) a wagon/stroller and wear walking shoes. A backpack works great for frozen water bottles and we brought Subway. We didn't find any "healthy" lunch but the "junk food" is fun lol. Pay the $1 a stick to go in the Aviary and feed the birds and we did the $11 for 12 (instead of $5 for 4) romaine lettuce leaves to feed the giraffes - everything is reasonably priced and a wonderful day !

We took our 2 year old and 17 year to the zoo on a quick vacation. We had never been to Toledo before so we thought we would see what they had to offer. If you live near Toledo and go more than one time it would be best to get a season pass, but as an out of state visitor it might be best to pick a cheaper zoo. It cost $8 to park and almost $20 per person including our 2 year old who enjoyed the splash area the best. You also have to pay to do anything extra at the zoo like riding the train and other activities. The zip line was an extra $15. I will say the zoo is very clean and staff members are nice.

This is one of the best zoos I've visited!! It's clean, well laid out and has friendly staff! The animals are very close and easy to see.

Very nice zoo. Most of the exhibits are very close to you for excellent animal viewing. The map is a must have as which ways to walk are not labeled very well. On hot days there is a water fountain area for children to stomp through and get themselves cooled off. Very nice for little ones. Inside aquarium is a :touch the sea life" pool. Very fun. They have an octopus somewhere but we missed it. Spider crabs are very large and right on the other side of the glass. Ugh. If you go, get discount tickets at the Kroger store. Still have to pay the $8 parking fee.

It was nice to be back at the Toledo Zoo for their annual Orchid Show. It was our first visit for the show and it didn't disappoint ... the orchids were spectacular!!! Then being able to walk the grounds on a beautiful Sunday afternoon in February was a much needed bonus!!!

we used to go yearly but hadn’t went since 2018. we went yesterday and it’s gone downhill!!! penguin beach closed and you can no longer go inside. the “animal show” in natures neighborhood was not as good as it used to be. the cafe inside the old tiger exhibit closed so there was nowhere to escape the heat and eat in the AC. super bummed so much has changed!

Excellent family experience! Take a day, it's worth it! Amazing hands on activities for kids! Wonderful place for Grandparents to take the Grandkids for a day! Beautiful exhibits that are animal friendly and have public education displayed. The Bird House has exhibits that where visitors actually walk through the exhibit, with birds flying around! All exhibits have educational information posted, have the kids read to you or read to the kids! Hands on activities for kids all over the entire zoo! Playground, splashpad in the summer & educational play areas as well. Food vendors available and a cafeteria also OR you can pack your own picnic and eat at one of the many picnic areas. Great place to stroll with a date or to spend a day by yourself too! Regardless of who you come with be prepared to walk, walk, walk! There are strollers, scooters & wheelchairs for rent too. Wear casual, comfortable clothing and good walking shoes! Year round events to watch for and many venues available for weddings or private parties.

If you live in Toledo or visit Toledo without going to the Toledo Zoo, you’re missing one of the best zoo’s in the country. I’ve been so fortunate to have visited the Toledo Zoo for well over 50 years, walking thru the tunnel under the trail as a child. This Zoo still totally amazes me, and it just gets better every year, you owe yourself a visit!

My daughter and granddaughter went to the Toledo zoo. I bought a 93.00 pass which got us in. We took many photos. My favorite was the ape exhibits. We had a lot of fun where they have the snakes. We saw a room that had a art / craft in which I made a book mark and read a book to my grandmother. That was fun and the young lady was sweet. Later we made our way to the Polar Bear exhibit. I saw this machine that said Arctic freeze for $2 so out of curiosity I swiped my credit card paid the $2 and went inside of it that was a wonderful experience. It was completely fun. As we were leaving a little bit later we stopped at a little food stand for all of the young men were kind and got popcorn and a souvenir cup. One of the guest was rude to the young men but the young men handled it very well. All in all it was a fun day at the Toledo zoo.

For those of you who grew up in the 60's and 70's going to the zoo, it has come a long way since then. New exhibits are constantly being added, and the aquarium is simply awesome, very hands on for the kids.The new Promedica Museum was equally amazing as well. This is by far one of the finest gems that the city of Toledo has to offer!

The Toledo Zoo is amazing. I think it is a little pricey but lots to see. The walk from the parking lot is quite extensive and wish they could shorten the walk. The eat in dining is very expensive.

Toledo Zoo

Went to this zoo in 2017. Not bad. When you live next to the Detroit Zoo. Most zoos look small. Good size. Many people. No issues. I do like the fact that you don't need to pay extra to visit the Aquarium.

Highly Recommended

It was very enjoyable. We had a lot of fun and there was a lot to see. I would definitely recommend for all ages.

Zoo Day! Very fine zoo. Some food and stores still closed but the exhibits are great. Some seem a bit small and no mixed exhibits. Very easy to see all in half a day. One play area closed one open. One petting zoo open one closed.

This zoo used to be my favorite. However, my visit today changed my mind. The admission price is fair but the food price is outrageous, as is the parking at $8. Then there are numerous other money grabs once you get inside. I don't know how a family can afford it. We have gone there before and I don't remember the food being so high priced. My advice is to eat before you go or pack a lunch. Don't pay $9.50 for a burger with burnt onions and peppers on it or $3.50 for a bottle of pop. Other than for that, they have a nice variety of animals there. That being said, I do not plan on going back.

This is one of the best zoos I have been to. It’s very clean and the inter action with the giraffes is so cool. Great for family day or just going by yourself if you love animals.

Absolutely love the Toledo Zoo. I love the experience package they offer too. You get to feed the giraffes and farm animals unlimited. You also get to ride train and carrousel. The only thing I don't care for is they are cashless now. I love all the animals and visiting them.

We live “close” to both the Toledo Zoo and Detroit Zoo. Both Zoos have advantages over the other. Some of the things we and our 2 year old loves about the Toledo Zoo.

(1) Train ride to see the savanna animals.

(2) Exhibits are close together than the Detroit Zoo and most other zoos we’ve visited. This is especially nice with younger kids who like to be carried or are in/on strollers/wagons.

(3) The Aquarium is part of the zoo (you don’t have to pay extra) and very cool.

(4) You can feed the giraffes🦒

(5) Lots of non-animal things to do with younger kids including a stream and splash pad, train ride, and carousel.

A most of family outing if you are in the area or live nearby.

The Toledo Zoo is a nice zoo. The animal habitats are not necessarily always conducive to optimal viewing, but not awful. Be prepared to walk, the layout is spread out. Overall, good experience.

The Toledo Zoo is awesome! You can easily spend 4 or more hours here. I loved their Gorilla's, petting zoo, Big birds such as the Cinereous vulture, Northern bald ibis and Bald Eagle as well as the Aquarium, reptile house and many other animals. The zoo is very clean and well kept and easy to get around. We also visited the ProMedica Museum Of Natural History within the Zoo which does not cost anything to visit once in the zoo. The day we were there you could easily get around and see everything with ease. The staff there are easy to talk to, friendly and informative. If in the area, it is very much worth visiting!

My employer had a paid day at the zoo.we all got in for free. Been some time since I was at this zoo. Very impressed this time. To much too look at and do in one day. Wore out from walking.

A yearly must do for the children! Sparkling lights, animals, hot cocoa, and play what could make for a better holiday season tradition!

We had a wonderful day at this beautiful zoo: fed the giraffes, rode the carousel, saw a polar bear, hippos, penguins, beautiful fish -- petted some stingrays! All lovely, EXCEPT the food is mediocre for the high prices and the bottled water ($4.00) very expensive. The website states you aren't allowed to bring in outside food or beverages...yikes! Bathroom water faucets put out either HOT water, or a trickle of cold. For the expense, drinking water and wash water needs to be easier to access.

What an awesome and fantastic zoo. Have been going about every other year for past 8 yrs. Lucas - baby elephant is so much fun and had a great personality. Bo - baby polar bear is adorable. Orangutans were crowd pleasers too. Don’t forget to feed the Giraffes - memorable experience. Will be back in a year or two.

Very neat and clean grounds. We went on a Friday afternoon about 84 degrees. Never felt hot or uncomfortable walking around, spent about 3.5 hrs there. The animals all were active and the enclosures let you see them very close and unobstructed. It was cool to see a young polar bear swimming or the baby gorilla rolling around.
Bottled water was $3 and they had refilling stations throughout.
It was a very nice time walking around the grounds seeing all the exhibits.

This is by and far our favorite zoo. It’s easy to navigate, clean and has fantastic views of its animals. Great for the whole family!

When watching Grandkids either in Monclova Ohio or Dundee Michigan, we try to visit the Toledo Zoo. We have always enjoyed the visit but this time not quite up to snuff. Note" it has been a scorcher in July so some of the exhibits may have been effected by heat. There were several areas in which there were no animals - not certain if they were remodeling, the animals were sick or what? Wish there was an explanation besides exhibit closed. The other thing I noted were several restrooms I visited had broken equipment, sinks, toliets and urinals. Either the zoo is losing money or they are spending their money on New stuff vs keeping up the infrastructure. Personally new stuff is great but if you don't repair what you have, people won't be happy.

We tried coming on Tuesday only to find out that they close for deep cleaning on Tuesdays. So we went back the following day. I was Impressed with the venomous reptile area! That was the best that I have seen. We also enjoyed seeing the baby chimp and gorilla. The polar bears also seemed very active in their enclosure. I didn’t like that you can not see the giraffes unless you pay to feed them. Otherwise you can only see them from quite a ways away. The aquarium was nice. They all looked very clean.
I would love to see a concert here. It looks beautiful!

There are many hands on exhibits with volunteers to interact with kids. various feeding times and a kid specific play area. This zoo also hosts many great musical acts; Chicago for instance. The Lights at Christmas are fabulous!

We love going to the zoo. If you arent a member the tickets basically pay for themselves if you go a few times a year. It is beautiful, with lots of animals. You can pack a lunch to take inside which is nice because of course the food is pricey. They even have special events during the year like a Chinese lantern festival which is beautiful. A boo at the zoo for Halloween or lights before Christmas. All are so neat!

My five year old went to a summer camp at the zoo this past August and he didn't want to leave. He enjoyed the entire camp,

Open up the gift shop. Why is the gift shop closed? The gift shop provides a major income for the zoo. At some point you can't keep saying it's all about covid. All major retail is open and the zoo is falling behind. The zoo experience has changed and the property looks bad. You can do better then this and if the people incharge can't or won't then make some changes. we deserve better.

Disappointing; I sure hope non-members don’t come to the zoo.. since there’s no price break yet it’s very disappointing when there isn’t the usual amount of animals on display; the lines for the train are very very long. Then after we waited over a half hour yesterday, they closed the line and moved us to the train window. Therefore everyone losing their original place in line. Very few eateries open, so again super long lines at the ones that are. And the gift booths are a joke. The main gift shop isn’t open and the pop up ones are few and very limited merchandise. And AGAIN LONG LINES. I didn’t see any teem summer help anywhere. Looks like they still want to charge their normal price but didn’t hire any help this year. I’ve been coming for 40+ years through many changes and even Covid mess but this is ridiculous.

I’ve been going to this zoo for years. Very family friendly! The aquarium is great, full of many fish. Animals are always out and active. During the summer this is a fun splash pad for the kids. The lights before Christmas is a must see!

We are Cincinnati Zoo gold members and have been to zoos all around the USA. Membership offers reciprocal entry fees which have been honored all around the country except at Toledo. In addition to not honoring the agreement the clerk was rude. I paid the expensive entrance fee and then when we entered there were additional fees required. You couldn’t see the savanna animals unless you paid for a train ride, which was closed the day we visited. To go on the giraffe platform you had to pay for lettuce to feed the animals which was $6 for 4 leaves. You’re not allowed to bring in coolers so you have to purchase their food. Which again the cafe we did find were closed. Not only is the entrance fee at $31.50 high compared to other zoos the nickel and dime you to death. Not sure how young families afford an outing at the Toledo Zoo. I will not be going back anytime soon.

This Zoo is one of the best zoos ever. lots of animals and a children's discovery center with 2 play grounds and a splash pad. train ride 2 carousels they have zip lining for extra cost. the aquarium is really neat.

We were visiting some friends from out of town and decided to go to the Toledo zoo, so worth it! Free entry to active duty and veterans and reasonable prices otherwise. There was plenty to see! Well worth it!!!

This is the best zoo I have ever been too. The zoo is clean and they have many animals that you dont see at other zoos. Staff is knowledgeable and zip line is fun as well.

Used to love this zoo but this visit was really disappointing. The whole zoo used to be like a well manicured public garden with animal exhibits included - now it just seems ramshackle. Main gift shop was closed and the small pop up gift shop we saw had a lot of clearance stuff and not much quality. Penny presses were for the most part jammed or marked out of order.A lot of the animals seemed MIA (pleasant fall like weather) and the whole place seemed to need a broom and a handyman.

First of all, the gift shop is great. They have tons of fun stuff and the prices are really reasonable. T-shirts, cute bags for $15. If it's raining, they have child and adult sized ponchos for $2 each (they are behind the counter so ask the cashier). There is a little bakery shop in the middle with cookies, coffee, smoothies,etc. Definitely check it out. It's the shop by the main entrance. This is also a great zoo to just walk and ramble. At the main entrance you go through a tunnel and then over a catwalk to the main portion of the zoo. Again, lots of walking so if you are with someone who cannot walk distances, then you will want a wheelchair or scooter.

Food lines were long at lunch time (of course) but the lines moved. Lots of picnic tables outside for those who bring lunches. Prices were not bad. I think the chicken fingers combo was around $8 and that's with fries and a drink.

The main thing I did not like about the zoo is that it was hard to navigate. Things could be labeled a bit better because we did a lot of "Do we go here? What building is that?" while trying to find our way. Some places are just easy to navigate because it's open and you can see the different animal areas. This is much more closed off and you really have to know where you're going.

Oh, final note. Before you get to the crosswalk by the main entrance, go right to see the giraffes. There's a whole area we didn't get to because we were so tired once we got back from the main area.

Definitely worth seeing if you want to spend a nice afternoon outside with a decent amount of walking.

Visiting my son and daughter in-law from Western NY. I have been to many zoos and this one was the best by far. The animals were very active when we were there and they obviously are well taken care of and happy. The Avian building was really cool. Got to see one of the polar bears hamming it up for the crowd. It was trick or treat day so it was VERY busy but even with that, it was still pleasant. My son and daughter in-law have passes and they go there quite often. I particularly love how it is on both side of a busy expressway that you walk over or under. Just a great place to visit!

The Toledo Zoo has always been a family favorite for over 30 years. This zoo is top notch! The Lights Before Christmas is something you don’t want to miss. It gets more beautiful every yeas!

Beautiful zoo and my favorite part wad the hippoa aquarium was the best! Great way to spend the feast!

By all means do not go to the zoo hungry as the food is less than average, and it is highly overpriced!

Toledo zoo is home to many animals including penguins and a large aquarium and splash pad. I’ve been to almost every zoo in Michigan and a visit to Toledo is well worth it!

One of the best zoo's anywhere, December has lights before Christmas which is one of the best light displays in the country. Wide selection of animals in their natural habitat.

We were in Toledo for the YMCA Nationals, and decided to take a trip to the zoo. Our day miserably hot, how ever we still had a lot of fun. The zoo is beautiful and well maintained. I would say it is a much smaller version of the Milwaukee Zoo, but with a great variety of animals, which was nice for as hot as it was. All in all we had a great time.

Whenever I go to a new city, one of the first sites I usually see is the local zoo. I love zoos. I love the lions, tigers, bears (oh my!), apes, monkeys, tapirs, lizards, turtles, birds, -- the list goes on and on. A good zoo can take me three or four hours to see. The Toledo Zoo took me 6 and a half hours! I didn't have the nerve to do the optional fee zip line high over the African safari, but you might. An enjoyable full day outing for everyone.

We went to an evening show at the amphitheater. The theater is very nice. Parking is the biggest issue. We did not visit the rest of the zoo just the amphitheater. It is a nice place to see a show.

Zoos usually bum me out, but this is a beautiful zoo. Well maintained with lots of helpful staff and zoo keepers to answer questions.

Wife and I went to the zoo as a getaway weekend. We always enjoy this zoo because it's updated, clean and pretty well organized. It was Halloween at the zoo and many people came out in costumes, kids as well as adults. Very well done and came back at night for the lights display which again was great. I definitely recommend this zoo for everyone.

We have been members of the Toledo Zoo for many years. Membership is a good option for us, considering that the entrance fees are fairly high. There are always interesting things going on. We appreciate the recent interest of zoo personnel in restoring native plants to the Toledo area, and we have purchased many of the plants developed by the zoo personnel.

We've been to the zoo with different groups, different ages, during different seasons, and for different events! We always see something new and participate in interesting activities. I'm an educator, and I still learn something new, every time I come! 😆

Great chance to see several animal species. Good place for small kids. Free admission on Mondays for lucas country residents.

Toledo Zoo is one of the finest in natural habitate wild life. Enjoy gardens and natural habitates with rides and dinning options. Its a easy place to spend a day educating yourself about nature.

We loved this zoo!! All the staff was very helpful, a little difficult to navigate, but we made it through! The only complaint I have is they have breastfeeding pods, they need to have more, and make them have air conditioning, it was a sauna in the one I was in.

We are members of this great zoo because we appreciate all the programs they offer for all ages. We go to many concerts in the amphitheater, and enjoy the entire place. We appreciate the conservation efforts that they do all over the world. We take our grandchildren often. The Zoo's gardens are full of beauty and are very peaceful to walk in. They have a Zoo Pal Program where one can sponsor an animal of choice, come and watch their animal being fed and cared for, and a special night to enjoy the zoo. This is a nice gift for a grandchild, which is what we participate in. Plan on a day-long visit to see everything.

We were in town visiting friends and decided to go to the Toledo Zoo. We were there for about 4 hours and did not see everything! Completely missed the Museum of Natural History and the Ziems Conservatory that is within the zoo:( The Reptile House was under construction but we wouldn't have had time to go through it anyway. LOTS to see and do! Give yourself at least 5 or 6 hours if you want to see it all and especially if you have littles that love a good splash pad to cool off in!

This zoo has a lot of little, fun, novelty things that I have not seen in a zoo before. For example, in the Arctic Encounter Exhibit they had an Artic Blast chamber that was really cool to give kids (and adults) an idea of how fast and hard the winds of arctic blow. Plus, its a quick way to cool off if you are there when it is hot out. It costs $2 but you can easily fit 3 kids in the chamber or two adults. The orangutan outdoor exhibit has a button inside the enclosure that the orangutans can push that activates a shower head outside the exhibit to shower people with water going by. They didn't do it while we were there but that would be pretty funny to see! Inside the orangutan nursery room, they have an ultrasound of one of females when pregnant that was cool to see.

Fountain water is free, thank goodness. I've been to other zoos that charge $5 for a bottle of water and do not hand out fountain water. Food is expensive (as most zoos are) but portions are a good size, so you could easily split a dinner. We will definitely be visiting again:)

We had the absolute best day at the zoo!! The end of August is a great time to go. We had perfect weather, it wasn't too hot so the animals were all lively. It wasn't busy as I'm assuming most kids were back at school (we are not from the area so not sure of the school calendar). As a couple in our mid 50s-60s, we had so much fun! We even did the aerial adventure course (skywalk, zipline and quick drop) - staff was great (shoutout to Amanda)!! We took the train ride and learned a few things and fed the giraffes. A couple of things to note though - the food vendors were limited (mostly closed) and the ones that were open, were only open for a few hours, so we missed the opportunity to purchase any food unfortunately.

Our zoo is fabulous! There is so much to see and do. The aquarium is beautiful with so many interesting things to see. The aviary is open so visitors can walk right through where the birds are flying. The animals are in habitats rather than cages.

In the evening, there are concerts at the outdoor amphitheater and some are even free to the public.

Parking is convenient, the cafe is decent, and there is plenty of shade.

At Christmas time, they decorate with lights and are open in the evening. It’s magical!

Best zoo by far in the Midwest and one of the top five in the country in my opinion. Make plans to enjoy one of the summer concerts. You'll be glad you did!

This is a great Zoo! We are from Detroit and the Detroit Zoo is pretty spectacular also, but this Zoo is laid out very well, lots of animals to see. Feeding the giraffes is a must do! Buys the extra lettuce )family Pack) they eat quick and it's worth it.

The water pad play area is pretty awesome, so make sure to pack the kids suits

Penguins so close they have to tell you not to stick your fingers near them as they will bite

A great day spent at the Zoo and we will definitely go back!!

Our first visit to the zoo was less than stellar. It is a beautiful location with historic buildings and beautiful animals but because it is cashless my daughter got her heart broken. The zoo is for children to learn and enjoy nature and family bonding. But going cashless is adult oriented. The highlight of every zoo visit for my daughter (7) is to find a plush animal to take home as a souvenir. She does extra chores and helps out in the yard and with our farm animals all year, to save enough money to get it herself. We all are very proud of her. But for the lady at the register to act like her money was worthless stole her joy in the moment and broke her heart! I really don't care if we can get a card at a kiosk. It is impersonal and takes away the educational experience of counting out the money and figuring out if there is enough, or the correct change, for a young mind. She cried all the way home and said she never wants to go back. I had considered getting a family membership, but now we won't.

Spent a day with our twin grandkids, 3 year olds. They loved the aquarium, it’s setup is perfect for toddlers. Saw a diver in the big tank feeding fish. They also like all the statues of animals they can climb on to play on, and great photo ops for grandparents. Had a picnic lunch in view of the animals. Finished the day with rides on the train and the merry go round...priceless memories!

Very nice zoo, with well groomed grounds. Disappointing that so many areas were closed on such a busy day, though. After paying steep admission prices, it seems like parking should be free...we also thought some of the exhibits, especially in the aquarium, were too small for the size and amount of animals/fish. Having said all that we enjoyed the trip overall

This zoo is compact and easy to visit. The exhibits are lovely and the animals appear happy and well cared for. There are many little spots to stop and rest and enjoy a little time. Feed the animals, ride a zip line, pet a sting ray how fun!

We came from a few hours away in MI to check out the Toledo Zoo. My son really wanted to see elephants & gorillas, both were here at the Toledo Zoo. I’m not usually a fan of most zoos, but I feel like the majority of animals here are happy & well taken care of. There are exhibits everywhere you walk, so you can still see everything here within a very reasonable amount of time.

Very nice zoo! Laid out nicely, never felt crowded. We went on a Saturday about an hour after it opened. They have a nice train ride and a carousel. Plenty of food and ice cream vendors. Definitely will go back at Christmas to see the lights.

I visited the zoo today and it was so so so fun if you go to Toledo Ohio you have to check it out there are so many attractions and things to do employees are very nice and helpful and just the entire zoo is a fun place to see animals and relax I personally recommend going to the museum of science it is a fun place to go and look at stuff from venomous snakes to lions to big etc. If you visit this so I promise you will have a good time 😁

We especially loved the underwater viewing areas for the polar bears, hippos, and otters. I will have to call because we had a few odd charges on our card afterward. There was an extra $10 on top of the $78 we paid for admission and I was charged $8 for a $3 Gatorade. The machine that made a molded plastic elephant was marked $3, but only charged me $1.50. Not complaining about that:)
The train ride was also very good and not at all rushed. The zip line and museum were unfortunately not open. We also missed the entrance to the children’s play area until the very end because they had some semi trucks parked there to set up for a concert. The aquarium was probably our favorite spot.

The definition of "jewel in the rough" The Toledo Zoo & Aquarium houses over 10,000 individual animals and 720 species, an incredible diversity for such a small city. Less sizable than Detroit or Cleveland's Zoo, but far better maintained, animals range from Tasmanian Devils to deadly birds and snakes plus an impressive Safari. Feed the giraffes, ride a train and don't miss the recently renovated aquarium.

Great Zoo, The Christmas Lights at the Zoo are so beautiful, they have lights everywhere...If you are in Toledo or near by, you don't want to miss it

We took our two Grandkids - 5yr and 3 yr old to zoo and met our other Grandkids 9, 12 and 13 at the zoo. We arrived early about 10:15 am ( zoo opens at 10:00) and first stop was the giraffe area where you can feed them for $5 for 4 pieces or $11 for 12 pieces of lettuce. There can be a long line so we were one of the first families in line. They stated on busy weekends they can have 1000 people and not unusual to have 500 on weekdays during summer. We stood in line and waited until we were called. We bought $16 for all GK to feed the female giraffe. The kids enjoyed it and it was a fun time. The older GK live about 15 minutes from Zoo but they had never fed the giraffes. The next stop was watching the Seals and the Polar Bears. Nice viewing area where you can watch them swimming and also lounging on outside area. Then we went across the bridge to main area of zoo which has the majority of animals. The zoo tries to have as much a natural area as possible and not have the animals in cages unless weather is inclement and then they maybe inside. Overall the kids enjoyed the outside with special mention of Aquarium in which they can touch Stingrays etc or the Aviary in which they can feed birds. My one grandson was the recipient of a special dropping from one of the birds - so watch what you wear. The day was warm so make certain you stay hydrated when walking.

this zoo is very well kept, the animals are well tended and well cared for. The zoo is clean and has interesting activities, several kiosks for souvenirs and refreshments. You can feed a giraffe! This zoo is a leader in renewable technology, using solar panels and water recycling. Best to buy your tickets online and for parking ahead of time.

I brag about our zoo it's the best love it so much I bought a senior grandparents membership,i take my grandkids every time they visit and I go when I want to just see the animals they never do the same thing

I live near Detroit, and try to make a trip there a few times every year. My friend suggested we try the Toledo Zoo, and I was very pleased to follow her lead. The Toledo Zoo is very clean, well set up, and lets you get close to the animals without disturbing them. The bear exhibit was eye opening, as the bears are so close and active. I would rate this zoo a bit better than Detroit's version. It is laid out so you can find anything on their m,ap, plenty of rest rooms, inexpensive food available, and the walking was very nice as the paths are designed well.

First time for me and my friend visit this Zoo, We re from Nebraska. it’s amazing because the ground is flat, easy to walk compare Omaha Zoo have lots of hills to walk. This Zoo have lots of Africa theme, it’s cool for sightseeing and the animals. They also have zip line there, make sure u wear tennis shoe for zip line. We couldn’t go because we wore sandal. Damn... 😉

This is a great zoo for all ages. There is always a family event occurring and the zoo by itself is one of the best in the world. I’ve been in zoos all over the country and this zoo is very clean and updated. The animals all look wee cared for in great habitats.

Took our team to tour the zoo for two upcoming parties for work. So clean and extra ordinary. Beautiful at every turn.

We took our 4 year old grandson to this zoo and really enjoyed it. The zoo is not too big to walk the entire zoo in a few hours. It has lots of animals, statues of animals and is layed out nicely. Most of the eateries were closed due to Covid and lack of employees. We joined and will hopefully return soon.

Cool animals place was very clean, not a very good flow kind of confusing of where you were, and whatever you do do not waste your time buying the tongue depressors with a couple seeds on it to feed the birds in the aviary because they won't touch it you put your sticks in a little plexiglass container as you walk out and they just resell them to the next person.

The zoo is amazing! No matter what time of year you go but over the holidays, the Lighs Before Christmas, is second to none. Ths Zoo offers good food, snacks, souvenirs and much fun.

The Toledo Zoo has incredible exhibits for almost all of their animals. They have updated most exhibits to make them very visitor friendly, while being true to the natural habitats of the animals. They have also added interactive activities for guests and continue to do so.

This was our first visit to the zoo and overall we were very pleased! We greatly enjoy going to zoos and have visited many across the country, so naturally we compare each one we visit to the others we have been to. While this zoo is smaller than some, it does have a very nice selection of animals and you do feel like you can get closer to the animals and their habitats than at other zoos, which was nice. However, getting closer to the animals does come with the drawback that multiple layers of fencing interfere with the ability to get good clean pictures of just the animals. While many habitats have indoor viewing areas with clear glass, this isn’t always conducive to getting good pictures either. Only a few of the habitats have viewing areas that are slightly higher up than the animals to allow for pics without fencing being immediately in the way.

We’ve always wanted to feed giraffes and have missed the opportunity to do so at the other zoos we’ve visited, so we were BEYOND thrilled when we were able to feed them here!!! For us, this was the highlight of our day!!!

The zoo property was incredibly clean and well maintained. The day we went, it wasn’t very busy and the majority of animals were out and about. It was a wonderfully sunny day but not too hot and there were many shaded areas throughout the property, so you could get some relief from the sun as you walked around. In order to really see and experience everything, it was definitely an all-day event! We came across incredibly friendly staff EVERYWHERE we went! Knowledgeable individuals were at several of the animal habitats, offering information and answering questions. Even while we were walking around exploring the zoo, we had a few different staff members approach us to see if we needed any help or if there was anything they could do for us. The friendliness of the staff was definitely impressive!

I lived for 40 years in Toledo and have seen the zoo grow in many ways. From building animal friendly environments (natural habitats) to tearing down old buildings or renovating, the Toledo zoo has really become a great place to visit. While any captive animal is not ideal, the Toledo zoo has done very very well in updating all the homes for the animals. I live in Massachusetts and have visited their two zoos along with one in RI, and all three together do not even come close.

Our visit last year to the Toledo Zoo was fantastic! Told everyone we know about it! This year was very different.
No where on the website does it indicate that the Aerial Adventure Course is closed on Mondays. So that was disappointing. Nor are there signs at the course telling you it is closed.
The zoo policy is that you bring in no food or drink unless medically necessary. THEN THE CONCESSIONS should be open. There were no concessions open on the North side (the Arctic side). Not one place to get a bottle of water. Then, when you cross to the South, the largest cafe was closed. You could get a burger at an outside tent, but they were $15.00! Pizza was also there cheaper, but very dried out. Chips were available too. All junk food. And the staff at the tent were clearly new or untrained. DON'T TELL US NOT TO BRING IN FOOD IF YOU'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE ANY, OR ANY AFFORDABLE CHOICES. $15.00 for a burger is something I'd expect sitting down at a restaurant, not from a tent.
All in all, this visit was very disappointing. The animals are great! But the Zoo seems to be differently managed and poorly run.

A welcome zoo. The grounds are so very clean, the animals very easy to observe, good places to eat. Just a wonderful place to visit.

Visited on Sunday morning with 4 generations of our family! I remember going there as a child in the ‘60’s and it brought back a lot of memories.
Easy parking. Admission tickets reasonable.
My grandchildren loved the Safari Railway.
Baby elephant Kirk was so cute and everyone loved seeing him play. We arrived at the hippo pool in time for feeding so that caused a lot of excitement. Only a couple of exhibits were closed so we were able to see all the favourites.
Everything was well maintained and safe. The animals looked healthy. Indoor exhibits were clean and well-ventilated.

While this zoo is fairly compact and easy to navigate, there is a lot walking. If you have someone with slower or reduced mobility, do consider renting a power scooter or wheelchair.

Wish I could have rated it a 3.5, it's not "average" but it's not "very good" either. Probably better for people with small children since there seems to be a lot more for them to do besides see animals. The museum and aquarium were nice and we did see a lot of animals but the major drawback was the cost and the food. Food quality wasn't that great, cost a lot for what it was, and I literally stood at the counter waiting for three sandwiches for over 30 minutes (order the chicken tenders if you want your food relatively quickly). They also need to get some functioning air conditioning in the Carnivore Cafe because it was disgustingly hot when we visited.

We went to the zoo as part of a group trip with the church (20+ people). The zoo was very accommodating to such a group. The animals were out and the crowds were moderate. The down side was that there wasn’t enough staff for food. There were only limited restaurants open and the lines were crazy long. We didn’t have anything to eat from 10am-4:00. Really wish we would have packed a lunch! The place was very clean. We had a great time!

The Toledo Zoo is World Class, everything a Zoo should be. Anyone thats like animals in natural habitat will like the Toledo Zoo.

Great zoo that I grew up visiting. Clean zoo with a lot of exibits & animals to see. Hands on experiences are a must. You can feed the giraffe, birds & there's touch tanks. Areas to get out of the heat. Lots of walking so take good shoes. Parking is 8.00 which is a little high but a safe area to park.

It's been a little while since we've been here and we were in Toledo last weekend and considered going to the zoo but I really feel like it's just extremely overpriced it's $8 to park and then $21 per person for two people that's almost $50 just to Park and get into the zoo God forbid you want something to drink or eat while you're in there and I understand that zoos need money to run but there are lots of really good zoos out there that are completely free for example of St Louis Zoo completely free to get into Chicago Lincoln Park Zoo again completely free to get into both of these zoos are just as good if not better than the Toledo Zoo as much as I love zoos I'm just not willing to spend that much money to walk around for a couple hours it's just not worth it is my opinion.

The Toledo zoo is a very nice mid sized zoo. We spent about 2.5 he's there and were able to see everything. Be aware that some construction is going on, but only the small museum is currently closed. The animals have nice enclosures, and the zoo is later out pretty efficiently. We really enjoyed the newborn gorilla, Tasmanian devil(first one we have seen), and the aquarium. They have a couple of touch looks my girls really loved. Overall very nice zoo.

The Toledo Zoo was great, we were very happy with our decision to visit this zoo.

We were able to get around the entire zoo in about 4 hours. The zoo was smaller than we’d anticipated but still very nice overall. Had a great assortment of animals and feeding the giraffes was by far the most exciting encounter. It’s a little expensive to do, however, well worth it.

We will certainly visit this zoo again.

The zoo has become overly commercial. Due to covid no drinking fountains or any other free source of water available, only $4.00 for a 12oz. bottle of water. This is not acceptable. If you want to see giraffes up close that will be $5.00, if you want to see big cats, your in the wrong place, The large cat building is now a cafe. It is expensive to park, and expensive to enter. I was once a member and this will not happen again. As far as the other exhibits, very nice, I just don't like trying to suck the last cent out of the customer.

Went when it re-opened. Henri Matisse listed but only one (lesser) work shown. The blurbs next to the paintings on display were informative and interesting. And the museum people were gracious.

Our home zoo was the Columbus Zoo for the past 5 years. We made a special trip to the Toledo Zoo to see baby polar bear Bo and his mom Crystal. Bo is truly an amazing baby polar bear. But we were delighted by all the awesome offerings of the Toledo Zoo. Their aquarium is awesome. We loved the hippo, elephant, otter, polar bear, and gorilla displays. The hippos were incredible to watch. One big negative is the zoo has a ton of animals behind glass and the glass was dirty in almost every animals cage, big bummer for photo enthusiasts like myself

Personally i love the zoo ive been going my whole life and its a great summer job for the most part this recent summer i was hired in again and within a month or 2 i was basically was forced to take off a hat and was asked to leave the zoo premises 2 days later i was wrongfully terminated reasoning being that i walked off the zoo grounds after i was given orders to leave. Good family outing but job wise absolutely not.

I used to visit with my family as a kid occasionally and this Summer I took my 4-year old for the first time. We arrived at open and didn't leave until they kicked us out, and we still didn't see everything. We absolutely love this zoo. Plan for a full day, especially if you have little ones.

Definitely check out all of the indoor attractions - the museum, the aquarium. My kiddo fed giraffes here for the 1st time (they have that at the Detroit zoo too, which is much closer to home, but it never seems to be open). Also loved the touch tanks in the aquarium, the ice wall and the room of fossils and furs in the museum.

Lots of interactive parts of the zoo for kids. There is a big play area...and we didn't even make it to the splash pads.

Perfect weather and not too crowded. Got to see them feeding the penguins and a big snake. Love the aquarium. We got to see a diver in the tank feeding the fish. Loved touching the stingrays and horseshoe crab.

Let me start by saying I LOVE THE TOLEDO ZOO. It’s one of the best zoo’s in the country. So much to do and see. Like so many other establishments, TZ took a huge financial hit during the COVID shut down and can’t find qualified employees to bounce back. Our visit yesterday was not anywhere near the standard we are used to from the Toledo Zoo. Food service was terrible. Employees with total disregard for their positions. Texting rather than preparing food, confused and disorganized. Lines were long and prices are high even for a zoo. The grounds are a mess. Once held to a Disney standard weeds and overgrown shrubbery were everywhere. I can only assume it’s due to a lack of staff. Lots of exhibits are still closed as well. Hopefully things will turn around for next year. If you’re considering an out of town visit I would highly recommend waiting. It just wasn’t what it usually is.

We went for the Luminous and it was very good, granted they had less lights up than last year maybe because of the construction going on. We ate at the carnivore cafe and love the create-a-bowl chinese cuisine they had featuring for the event. and their hot chocolate is great!! love the chinese themed items in the gift shop as well.

We went on a Friday during the day. It was a ghost town! We basically had the zoo to ourselves! Some of the exhibits were closed because it was November. The had a lot of good animals. Better than the Indianapolis zoo for sure.

We loved this zoo. My favorite part were the many different and colorful species of birds here on exhibit. That was different from other zoos. We missed having a paper map to refer to. Maps were digital only. Lots of shade for walking and the animal exhibits were nicely done and spacious. A few projects are also in the works too. We recommend!

We visited the zoo around 1pm. The girl at the ticket office told us most of the animals should be visible. She never mentioned that none of the food or gift shops would be open. Most of the animals were sleeping or out of sight. No penguins or zebras to be seen. The elephants & giraffes were licked inside so had to be viewed through dirty glass. Had we known all the details, we would not have wasted our time or $$. Full price was charged. If a huge discount had been given, this zoo experience might have been more enjoyable. The aquarium was nice, but, was not enough to make this trip worth it.

very fun lots of cool animals and places to take pictures definitely go if considering its amazing and even has a park. The lights during the winter time are very nice too

Lovely and interactive experience. I've been here several times with family, friends, and even for work and have had an amazing time every visit!

It is always nice to visit the zoo and you always see something different! Animals are amazing and its good exercise too!

It’s been 20 years since I’ve been to the zoo. The animals look well fed. The brown bears and lowland gorillas were a hit with us as was the hippo. Most of the animals were sleeping. All of the big cats were napping. As were the polar bears, wolves and the rhino. Prices aren’t too awfully bad for food but could use more options. Everything appeared clean and well maintained. Getting in and out is easy.

We went to the Fall Illuminations Exhibit last year taking our son and his family. We opened a new membership before heading in thinking this was the best way to get the entire family into the Zoo and be able to go back later for other visits. When we went to enter, were were stopped and informed the Illuminations wasn't covered by the membership and hand to spend another $100 to get in after having the family travel several hundred miles to go. What a disappointment ! The Zoo sold us a membership knowing we were heading to this event and never mentioned it wouldn't get us into the Zoo and wouldn't refund the membership claiming they'd advertised this on local media outlets. Well we don't live in the Toledo area so who knew. It is the last membership we'll buy given the treatment we received! In addition, I've looked this year and the fact that the Illuminations exhibit is "outside" your membership isn't made clear unless you go digging to figure this out.Shame on you Zoo from someone who has been visiting for over sixty years!!!!!!

Again this year the Music under the Stars program was wonderful!
It was a full house on Sunday evening for the concert.
The music (mostly patriotic) was great
The zoo had popcorn, ice cream beer and pop sales
Our friends who are zoo member parked on the broadway side of the zoo and said parking was no issue. We did see that many
people take Tarta bus transportation down to the zoo.
We used our own folding chairs and sat down on the main floor in front of the cement stands
We had a great time!

I vist to see the hoilday lights at the zoo. I got see some cool Christmas Light's where cool there and some zoo animals.

Enjoyed how spaced out the habitats at this zoo were -- animals didn't seem at all cramped or uncomfortable! Found that the zoo does a lot of work rescuing endangered and injured animals, which was great to hear.

Nice fall activity. Baby orangutan and gorilla were adorable. The aquarium was nice. We hadn't been here in at least a decade; it was nice to see all of the improvements and new exhibits.

In my opinion, this zoo is over-rated. It boasts of so many animals. We sure didn't see them. It's a lot of walking, and very little viewing. I should have kept count of the number of animals we actually saw. I truly don't believe the numbers are anywhere near the ones boasted about in their brochure. We had been to the zoo several times in the past and was most disappointed in this recent trip.

This Toledo Zoo gets better and better every year. The animals are well kept, easy to see up close. Even on a rainy day, there is lots to see indoors. Downside. New Splash pad is a lawsuit waiting to happen. Last year and this year, I watched as many children slid on the slippery wet surface. Something has to be done before a child really gets hurt. I saw children even with aqua shoes fall. It is a great add on for those hot days, but better gripping surface needed. Also add some more benches for the parents to sit and watch. Food court needs more workers. Had to wait 45 minutes to get a meal

Beautiful place, friendly people and staff, clean and lots of different animals to see, has lots of activities and events.
A must if your in the area.

We are big zoo fans and had been wanting to go here for years. We really enjoyed our experience. The historic old buildings were great to see and they have those machines where you can make wax figures..which I have not seen in years. The museum on site was great too. Overall, one of our most favorite zoos.

Having said that there was some downsides--food options were limited and the main restaurant was closed . We were also not able to feed the parakeets..it was shut down in the morning, they said because of lack of staff. Opening hours were also limited on the day we went. We highly recommend a visit to this zoo..pre-planning is advised and we could have definitely spent more time. A great combination of historic buildings and well done exhibits. Loved it!

We visited the zoo on the way back from a trip in Sandusky. We were easily able to use our discount from having a membership at another zoo, and parking was free on the Monday that we visited. Lots of animals out and very close, though some of the habitats looked a bit small for the type of animal being housed there. The surroundings were beautiful, and the harvest decorations were very well done. This zoo has a unique layout with half of the zoo on one side of the freeway and the other on the other side, with a covered bridge connecting the two. Ramps and elevators are available. Our 1-year old enjoyed seeing the animals, as did we. The downside was the website was not accurate in terms of saying which eateries were open, and since you can't bring your own food in, we really wanted to find somewhere we could eat. When we finally did find an open eatery, the food was just average or sub-par and way too expensive. That would be our only negative about the trip. Otherwise, a beautiful zoo and lots of great picture opportunities.

Go see one of the best small zoos in the country. The Lights before Christmas is well worth seeing. They add more every year. Plenty for the family to see and do. Lights everywhere, huge trees covered. Plus you can see a number of animals. The aquarium is open.

This is a find in a most un zoo/park area. staff are very friendly. All the animals seem happy and area is clean.Many very exotic animals. Birds galore ! You can actually get inside with the birds having a mesh barrier(like Chatanooga) A discount for folks over 60. If you love animals this is really cool!

Had a great experience at the zoo. Visited on a beautiful fall day. Some of my favorite exhibits were the rhinos and seals. The aquarium is wonderful, loved it. Disappointed there were no penguins in the enclosure. The natural history museum and the poisonous animal exhibits upstairs was one of the best set ups I have seen. Only negative for us were the amount of things that were closed. I understand it’s off season, so that was probably the reason. Which they could give you a list of food and drink locations that were open when you get your tickets. We only found two places and they were towards the end of our stay. We ate at the first one because we didn’t know if any other ones would be open. Looks like the second choice over by the history museum would have been a lot better. Otherwise, great trip and I would love to return during the summer season.

We visit this zoo at least once a year, usually to have a fun day with visiting grandchildren. Having this wonderful facility basically in our back yard is a great asset for the area. I've been to tons of special wildlife and animal attractions over the years and can honestly say the Toledo Zoo is one of the best. The aquarium is world class, the elephant facility top notch and the aviary remains a favorite of ours. Prices are reasonable and the staff is always courteous and knowledgeable. I love to see attractions, especially those showcasing animals and the conservation of their habitats putting money back into the facilities. My children and now their children have enjoyed the Toledo Zoo for years and we look forward to our visits for generations to come. The only reason I didn't give a perfect star rating is because of the hours. Zoos have a history of limiting their hours to allow the animals plenty of "quiet" time and I guess it's a bit selfish to want to spend a beautiful evening strolling the grounds occasionally. Do yourself a favor and take a day to experience one of Toledo's best treasures!

the animal enclosures were too small, i felt for the animals. Several empty enclosures. The place stunk really bad like the enclosures hadn't been maintained. No bears, no sloths, no lions, no cheetahs, no small animals such as prairie dogs, meerkats, lemurs, kangaroos.... the barnyard exhibit had goats, chickens, pigs and llamas and the only thing you could touch were the goats! Wolves are pack animals and they had only 1 in the enclosure, sad. The fish and the reptile houses were great.

The Toledo Zoo logical Gardens is world-renowned and is a fantastic place to take the family for an entire day there are many new exhibits there and don't miss the African safari

This is a nice well kept zoo. My favorite part was the train ride through the Africa exhibit. The announcer kept things lively with her little quips. Feeding the giraffes was also a highlight. My 16 month granddaughter did an excellent job. The Africa exhibit does not have a lot of shade but across the highway the rest of the zoo has plenty of shade. A new cafe has opened called Monarch something. It has some great choices for gluten free and vegan friendly food, but the shelf was pretty empty when we arived. Many people were ordering tacos or nachos so the line was a little slow for that as those were made fresh. The food is priced high so be prepared for that.

This zoo was fantastic! Animals were very active throughout and the habitats were nicely done. Love the old buildings that were made new and maintained. The new history museum portion was really cool too - my son loved the venomous snakes and creepy crawly sections. The baby polar bear with his mom were just precious. Spent about 5 hours there and could have spent about another hour, as we missed a couple small sections. A great way to spend the day!

Been coming to the toledo zoo for eyar, will be back all the time. its probably the best zoo in the nited states

I love this Zoo. They are always working on it. Which is hard sometimes because an area might be closed that you want to see. You can see almost every animal up close. It's clean and well kept up. The food is expensive, so if you don't want to pay those prices, pack a lunch and take water. You can take anything in that you want. We do like to eat in the old lions cages.
It's so worth the trip. I wish it was open longer in the evening when the weather is cooler. But there is lots of shade if you need it.

Wonderful zoo! Clean, lots of animals, well organized. The aquarium was beyond great-a must see! We didn’t eat there or go into gift shops but from what we could see they looked well maintained and stocked.

Friendly people in museum. Astounding art collection. We go back every year and are endlessly delighted.

This zoo is huge! I had heard good things about it so we were excited to visit with our kids ages 13 and 11. We spent 3 hours here and didn't do any of the extra cost attractions. At first we were disappointed at one of the first places you come to from the parking lot, the large African animals exhibit. It seems you have to pay to get much of a close experience to these animals. You have a distant viewing platform unless you want to pay to go out to the giraffe feeding area (yes, you have to pay even if you don't want to feed them), pay for the ariel adventure course, or pay to take the train around the exhibit.

But things got better once we took the bridge over the road to the rest of the zoo. Not only is there a huge aviary, but also a big aquarium and a natural history museum. By the time we got to the museum, we were pretty tired so we kind of rushed through it. We certainly could have spent more time here!

A lot of food stalls seemed to be closed, maybe because it was a weekday in October, but there were a lot of people here. The reptile house was also closed for renovations until 2026 so we had to miss out on that. But we still saw plenty! I could definitely see us going back again in the future!

We went on a weekend and it felt like we were almost alone. There were other people but it wasn't crazy busy or difficult to navigate at all. We were able to go through the entire zoo; they had tons of new baby animals that were amazing. We were there around mid-day and the animals were more active than any other zoo I have been too.

The giraffe viewing area is a little far but an entire group can get closer if someone, or a group decides to feed them. The prices for this were very cheap, compared to other zoos. Subsequently I could only be a few feet from where they were standing.

Great place for families and little kids; there were talks and shows throughout the day to keep us even more entertained. Food court is pricy but not too bad.

It is always fun to take children to the zoo and experience the animals thru them. We always have the best time . It's hard to say what is out favorite. The food is good,but high. Staff is great.

Horribly overpriced from entrance fees to parking and food. You could feed a family of four for several days for this price. I'm shocked that the Zoo doesn't charge for the water yet, honestly. I don't know how 'an average family' can afford this. You claim it's a 'family experience, fun for all'. It is NOT. While we have had our membership for 20÷ years, we are also financially above average. It's really quite disgusting what The Zoo charges. Seriously makes us NO LONGER want to be members or financial donors. For just a few more dollars, you can go to Cedar Point, for HOURS. I just find the Zoo costs are despicable. ZERO FAMILY FRIENDLY PRICES, PERIOD.

This is a well designed zoo. Plenty of animals to see and several of the exhibits are rather close (in distance) to the public.

We paid for the Behind the Scenes Pingüin Tour. It’s a half hour experience: you enter thru a side door and see the kitchen where the fish/vitamins are prepared. Then you go up the stairs to a rather small area where the penguins can come over. About half of the penguins available will be there. You get very close to them but cannot touch not feed them. Plenty of opportunities to ask questions and to see them swim and eat. All in all: a unique experience with a $269 cost for 6 people ( includes Park entrance).

Some exhibits are rather small for the size of the animals. Others are pretty good, particularly the aquarium exhibits.

Food concessions are available throughout the park, but not all stands are open. Due to Covid the zoo store is closed but they ended up making an informal open door store available. Unfortunately that’s the same location where wheelchairs and scooters are rented, so the queue was rather long.

I have lived in Toledo for over 28 years and my husband's family grew up here. I loved the Toledo Zoo when I first went. It was so pretty, the entrance was under the Anthony Wayne Trail at the time, I believe and has now been moved to go over the highway- very nice entrance! But.... It has been a while since I had attended the zoo before this last year when I took good friends visiting me in Toledo for a trip to the Zoo! I wasn't a fan of the entrance and ticket booth, but I kept a good attitude. To put it simply it seemed to me that everything had been changed or moved and it was quit honestly no longer the elegant and welcoming entrance I remembered. Many buildings had been moved, relocated or knocked down. Animal exhibits were no longer pretty, but seemed more crowded to get more buildings in.... the lovely open areas were almost gone. I felt sorry for the animals... the people and quite honestly the Zoo itself. It just wasnt gracious or pretty or even intersting anymore. The bird house seemed crowded, the giraffes didn't look as elegant as they once had with more room to roam around them. I was disappointed and my friend, whom I had brought to see the zoo years earlier- perhaps almost a full decade made some of the same comments- he wasn't nearly as impressed as he had been the first time we had visited. Just because you spend a lot of money on something doesn't mean it going to be better. Whomever the Board has engaged to do work on the Toledo Zoo, hasn't done a very good Design Worthy job. And the food could also be improved upon as well!

Compate photographs from, 1996 to 2023, area by area and I think you will be able to see what I saw- a lot of money spent on some badly conceived and poorly executed ideas! Bring the elegance and architecture of our Toledo Zoo back to life!
Right now I sadly do not want to take anyone to my Zoo!

I have always preferred this zoo over the Detroit Zoo we have been coming for years . Living in the Ann Arbor area its the same drive. I always felt this Zoo has more to offer and is a better value. I have also been here with a group before and it was a good experience .

What a nice time and a great way to spend an afternoon! The Toledo Zoo is very clean and spacious. The animals looked healthy and the crowd was not bad. They are making many improvements to certain areas but there is a lot open. The cost is very reasonable when compared to many large city zoos. We spent a nice afternoon a had a great time!

We were there at the start of the season so not much was open. It was okay for the price.

A plus is that it goes on both sides of the road and they have either a bridge over the road or a tunnel “subway” to walk under the road with.

The penguin exhibit is the best of all. Watching those little guys is so much fun. The aquarium is amazing. The entire zoo is the best zoo I have ever visited again and again. The lights at Christmas is so awesome.

This is a very nice zoo. There is a large collection of animals on exhibit and both children and adults will enjoy. It is not too far from the Interstate and makes a nice break for a few hours if the kids are restless. You will be impressed by the large and diverse collection and presentations.

We used to love this zoo, but since they are now cashless, my family won't be supporting them. Sad to see this happen. Cash should never be prohibited to be used.

Our son (8 yrs) old really enjoyed the zoo. He enjoyed feeding the giraffes. Only drawback was we were there on a Sunday, the hours are limited on Sundays. We didn't have enough time to see everything. Wished we would have gone on another day of the week.

I have been going to Toledo zoo since I was 9 and I’m 34 now and love watching my kids love it as much as I do. I will continue to visit Toledo zoo for as long as I am alive. I recommend this zoo to all families to visit at least once because that’s all it takes to be hooked.

I am not happy! I have left a message with personal about my experience and have not gotten a call back. Tell me please why the Zoo charges a wheelchair rental of $12? The electric cart was $24. There are no senior rates for either choice.
Charging $12 is way to much for a wheelchair rental. For a senior that money could be a lunch, prescription, and even an Uber ride to the Doctors office but to charge for a convenience unheard of! Please don’t give the sorry excuse of wheelchair wear and tear. My mother and aunt had their walkers with them as we were signed up for a zoo event. As I called the Education department with the concern of the ladies able to walk the distance to the event, I was assured that it was of short distance. Well when we got to the zoo we were Iill informed. And had no choice but to rent 2 wheelchairs.

To be clear, this zoo appears very high quality for the animals. My amature opinion would be that this zoo has better habitats and enclosures for the animals than many others. That being said, the layout of the zoo will result in you walking a lot more than you'd wish or simply taking longer to see everything that you want to. The fact that part of the zoo is across an avenue (you go over a bridge) means even more back and forth. I think that that price $19 for adults $16 for kids is high but I'm probably just cheap. Like with just about every zoo, it seems that too much of it is made up of areas trying to get you to spend even more.

The animals were all out and playful. Never been there and seen so many out and active. The kids loved seeing them all and feeding the giraffe’s

We went last week of March. The weather was cool so we really appreciated the indoor viewing areas. I have to say that the animals were very active which was fun. We were frustrated trying to navigate the zoo. I feel they could do a better job of matching the exhibit numbers on the map with the actual exhibit. I realize now that we missed a couple exhibits.

The other thing I feel could be improved is listing online what is open and what is not. I did the research before I went and it appeared that everything would be available. The Penguin exhibit was closed as were: Safari railway, zip line, conservatory, carousel, animal holding.

Overall, we really did have a nice time and got our money worth.

A nice place to visit. Much of it built by the WPA it is now getting a facelift. Due to the construction and a couple of other factors, I would now recommend a visit to the Detroit Zoo for a better educational experience (for the time being). The Toledo Zoo has a lot of potential but has to replenish their animal stock. Good news: for some reason there was no charge for parking when we visited and veterans (which I am) are always admitted free. For a 'no cost' adventure this proved to be a great day in spite of my comments. Loved the Aviary, Aquarium, and Ape areas.

I've been to Columbus Zoo and Cincinnati Zoo and the difference is like comparing Cedar Point to Kings Island. To me, no comparison. I've been to Texas Zoos and California Zoos and Toledo is still my favorite.

Had a nice time here with our two teenage kids. Hippo exhibit is the best part! It is great to be able to see them under water. The touch pool in the aquarium is really fun for kids. We touched a ray, shark, horseshoe crab, starfish, and urchins. The Africa exhibit was a let down because you were only allowed out to the viewing deck if you were buying overpriced lettuce leaves. We were not really able to view the animals in this area because they were over by the leaf feeding. It seemed like there were a lot of "extra" purchase items like the carousel, the zip line, the train, and the bird feeding but I suppose that is everywhere any more. I also didn't realize that there was an $8 parking fee in addition to admission price. There was a lot of construction going on too. It will be interesting to see everything when it is finished.

There is a variety of animals, reptiles, sea life to observe in this mid=-sized zoo. Don't forget to cross the bridge to the other section of the zoo since the zoo is separated by a highway.

We love the Toledo Zoo. We usually come when we are close when visiting family. The zoo is much larger than our small town zoo. There are tons of animals and great exhibits. The zoo was busy and with social distancing there were a lot of lines. We were going to try and feed the giraffes but after waiting 15 minutes and the line not moving we decided to pass. The limiting of people in the aquarium area was actually nice. It usually hard for my little kids to see with all the other people looking. With less people inside they had front row viewing. We enjoyed that there were lots of baby animals. Lots of the primates had little babies which were so cute. We will make it back soon. The animals were very active. My one year old loved the polar bears.

Staff was great, the attractions were clean and nice. Really great time and very educational! I really wish there could have been a shower and then it could have been a 2-day activity instead of a one day, but that is all I would change! This is a great family or group trip and I would highly recommend!

We have heard so much about this zoo, especially the aquarium portion so we decided to get a membership here instead of the Detroit zoo this year. The pass is a great deal. If you just go twice, you’ve already got your money’s worth.

We came with 2 other families and spent about 5 or 6 hours walking around, seeing everything. It’s a relatively small zoo (compared to the Toronto Zoo), so you could probably see it all in a few hours but we took our time and let the kids play in the splash pad and at various exhibits.

Our favourite moments were seeing the baby gorilla up close playing around with her older sister, watching the polar bear sleep right next to the window, and feeding the giraffes! Feeding the giraffes is not included in your ticket but was well worth the experience. You walk out onto a platform and get to hand feed them lettuce leaves!! Total photo op!!

We’re looking forward to going back for the holiday light event.

I've grown up going to the Toledo Zoo even to this day it still doesn't disappoint. Summer and winter are my favorite times to go.

The Toledo Zoo is one of the best in the USA, if not the world. It is always clean and well maintained and in the constant state of growth. I like the fish exhibits and how it is presented to the public. Then you get to see the lights of Christmas, in season of course. Those are fantastic! I like to walk through them when it is snowing. A very nice feeling.
The zoo is great no matter when you go there.

My husband, myself and our 3-year-old visited the zoo today 4/12, which I was hesitant to do because of 1) recent reviews and 2) the limited admission hours for the zoo on Mondays. Also, it was somewhat overcast and was even raining a little when we arrived around 11:00. We ended up having a really great visit, there were animals visible from outside in most of the exhibits and several were really active; we had a fantastic time observing the gorillas, they were spectacular. Our family has no problem wearing masks and most other visitors also wore masks all the time, outside as well in buildings that were open, it was not a big deal and is posted clearly everywhere. I suppose if masking is an issue for you, you might not have a good time. Also, the zoo was not crowded in the 3 hours of our visit. Perhaps other reviewers went on a busy weekend? We did not encounter rude staff. We did not have lines except for a short one while we waited for a pretzel. There were limited places for food but I expected that because the zoos website indicated limited food options. Several things were not as accessible, or areas were closed off, or certain things were not happening on a Monday that are probably available on weekends or prior to COVID. None of that bothered our 3-year-old or us. I think the only things that could be better were adjustments that had been made due to the pandemic, otherwise it was excellent.

The Toledo Zoo ranks right up with the much better know San Diego Zoo. The exhibits are first class and the grounds are much easier to get around. You and your family will enjoy great views front and center and your family won't be wearing holes in their shoes doing it. Most impressive!

We visited the Toledo Zoo on our way back from Chicago. This is one of our favorite zoos and we were not disappointed. We last visited in 2007, so we noticed some of the improvements. The aquarium was excellent, and we really enjoyed the African penguin exhibit. We spent a good amount of time at the hippo and elephant exhibits as well. The elephant exhibit has been redesigned since we last visited and provided some excellent viewing areas. The aviary gave us some up close views of birds that we have never seen before. We did not get to see all of the animals, but due to the heat on the day that we visited, that was understandable. If you enjoy visiting zoos, definitely make sure to visit Toledo. We definitely plan on coming back for another visit.

Visited in June 6th, 2018. Have always loved this zoo and definitely loved the improvements that have been made. Disappointed that we didn't get to see any bears, no lion, very few of the large cats, no meerkats and no giraffe's.

While the trip was enjoyable, the animal population seemed quite down in numbers from past visits. After driving over 2000 miles, we hoped for a better visit with more animals to enjoy.

I have been to 30 or 40 zoos and aquariums around the world. Many countries have no major zoos but Ohio has 5. I was very surprised at the quality, the amazing architecture and the collections at Toledo. Although some have been rated the best in America, I would hate to have to rank the top 4 zoos in Ohio. To say it was worth my 150 miles to get there would be a great understatement.

Lot’s of ground to cover. Lot’s of empty spaces, no animals in that empty space.
Seems like a waste of a lot of ground. Makes for real long walks in between some exhibits. The biggest problem is the signage. Very hard to get around. They do pass out a map of the grounds but it is not laid out very well. There is an Amphitheatre here but there is no information on the map what it is used for or when. Signs at this zoo are very small, many places none at all, they need to be larger, with a color of paint that stands out so they can be found & easily read. If you don’t find a staff member to ask for directions you will waste a lot of time & energy moving about this place.
The staff members are few & far between also and their uniforms blend in with the brown fencing, trees, shrubs so they do not stand out as an easy to find source.
The temperature today was only in the low 89’s yet a lot of the animals were just laying on the ground, not moving around. So kind of boring to look at. Not entertaining for our 12 year Grandson who is a zoo lover.

Toledo zoo not bad most exhibits closed. Staff does not seem to be very happy. Nice giraffe exhibit. Good place to walk around and hang out.

I like this zoo especially for children who are under the age of 9. It's walkable for those who are too big for strollers. I recommend getting there 10-15 minutes before it opens and get in line. The line will move fast. Bring snacks and water and a change of clothes for the little ones and comfy shoes or sandals that can get wet. Look at animals for an hour and then go to the splash pad, eat lunch, and then look at animals some more and ride the train or carousel to finish out the day, there is also a play area. Interjecting the amusements with animals makes it so fun for the kids and gives little legs a break. Visiting first thing, you see more animals moving about. Adults enjoy the little ones excitement over the animals.

Well established zoo being upgraded regularly to provide outstanding exhibits! Wide walk ways are mostly flat for easy walking. The most recent new exhibit is the aquarium with floor to ceiling glass! Right now there is an or hid show in the garden area. There is ample parking on one side of the zoo, and a grassy picnic like area on the other side with a good view of the river. It is easy to spend the whole day there.
At Christmas time, the light show is amazing!

We choose a very hot day to visit the zoo, I do not recommend this. Since it was hot the animals we not very active. Can't blame them.

Got an average rating because lets face it, cant see any animals but you gotta pay full price to walk around on sidewalks, I mean it cost me over 100 bucks for 5 of us when you throw in the parking fee.

I like this zoo very much. It's a good place to visit, especially for children. A lot of wild animals that I never seen before.

My husband and visited the Toledo zoo several years ago. That was when I could walk. If you have any problems with mobility, you can rent a scooter for the "low" price of $25.00 for the day.

When we went to buy tickets, the staff member wanted to see my driver's license being the credit card was in my name. I didn't have it with me. Fortunately my husband had a credit card in his name that we did not wish to use, but we would have had to leave, for she would not take mine.

To get to the main part of the zoo, you have to walk up a ramp and cross over a bridge over a highway to get to the main part of the zoo. It rained the entire time we were there and the train ride was closed, as were the food stands. If the train was open, there was an additional cost to ride the train to see the African animals.

Even using a map, the exhibits and restrooms were confusing to get to. They really need to have larger signs. I never did get to the gorilla exhibit, for we couldn't find it.

I wanted to feed the giraffes, but decided against it when I found out I had to pay $5.00 for three pieces of lettuce. Parking was 8.00, the scooter was 25.00, senior admission was 18.00 each.

It saddened me to see the injured eagles that could not be rehabilitated; however I was glad the Toledo zoo made a home for them. I loved watching the baby polar bear and if it wasn't so crowed with people under umbrellas, I would have watched him a lot longer. The flamingos were a pretty sight to see.

I may have had a better time if it wasn't raining, so we may go again in good weather and I will be sure to bring my driver's license!

Truly one of the finest zoos in America. We have been members for years and have see this place det better and better. We really enjoy the art fair in the summer with many of the areas finest artist showing off their crafts. Another must see of course is the xmas lights. So wonderful

The Toledo Zoo is one of the best Zoo's in the country bring your wide eye children and the child in all adults for this not to miss Toledo attraction. I have visited the Zoo for over 20 years and find something new to enjoy every time I go with my 6 kids. Come with high hopes and you wont be disappointed

Great zoo! Loved the aquarium. Lots of different animals. The polar bears and sea lions were great. Had a splash pad for kids.

Awesome zoo! It gives a big zoo vibe in a smaller city. The animals are well taken care of and there is always something exciting going on. There is a botanical garden, which is beautiful, as well as an aquarium! Additionally, there is an aviary where a lot of the birds are just free flying with you in the room with them!

Check their website because they have a lot of cool events from time to time for no extra charge!

Took the family there this fall ... Great zoo .. Very clean , all level.. No hills .. Easy to move the strollers around .... Nice variety of food to eat .... Lots of animals to see .. Park for the kids to play in ... Lots of parking ...

We went with five children (ages 11-15) and they had a brilliant time on the Challenge Course and zip line. It was very well run with the friendly staff being very safety focussed. The activities were hard but doable and I now have five exhausted but very proud kids. It was very hot today but they kept water available. Overall a great experience which was well worth the price given it took over three hours. A special mention for Kira and - I think - Emily who couldn’t have been more helpful and supportive for our kids.

Loved it. Brought back memories from when I was a kid and got a souvenir caveman club from when it had dinosaur statues. Lots of cool animals. Kind of expensive. Was not very busy when we went, but if it was, I would probably complain about viewing area size.

Great spot to let the little ones enjoy millions of Christmas lights and decorations. It's nice to get out of the house and walk around the zoo during the colder months.

I had my grandkids over for the weekend and we came to the zoo. Easy to find good parking and clean inside the zoo and out. The zoo getting better every year.

Our experience here was very good from the star. Parking was easy, and admission speedy. The exhibits and animals were healthy designed to best portray a more natural environment. The aquarium was especially entertaining and informative. The museum of natural history is a must see for the creative and awesome displays of extinct animals and comparisons to living descendants/variations. The red panda exhibit is wonder, and makes it easy to see these amazing animals. Zoos sometimes get bad raps, but many, like Toledo, try to focus on conservation of species.