Zoo Knoxville Reviews

This is by far one of the BEST Zoo's I've ever been to, the care that the Zookeeper put into caring for the animals is always wonderful and a delight! Highly recommended!

What a great place to take your family so much fun so much to say. I really love going here I live here in Knoxville I go here quite a bit it’s such a wonderful place to take your family or anyone to come visit. For adults and children great place.

This zoo has shade and sun, places to rest and lots of fun animals to interact with. You can make it an all day event or just a 2 hour visit.

We had a great day at the zoo. It wasn't very busy, we saw most of the animals, rode the a couple of the rides, loved the petting zoo and play area. We spent about 4 hours here and enjoyed our time.

I have a toddler and we frequent the zoo. There are so many different animals here that everyone is sure to find their own favorite. There is a discovery area inside and outside where kids can play and learn. In the warmer months, there is a splash pad that has many different fountain and other water fixtures to play in. The staff is always very friendly and helpful. Some of our favorites: gorilla area, goat play area, Gibbon monkeys, and the tigers.

So much to do in addition to seeing the beautiful animals! My toddler son loves the carousel and petting zoo. The new gibbon exhibit is really awesome.

The Zoo was very clean from the grounds to the animal cages. They are constantly on top of keep the animals environment clean and making sure guess enjoy themselves. Very nice exhibits.

We went and I’m extremely grateful my 2 year old grandson could not see past the excitement of animals! The conditions of the exhibits with the exception of the tiger and red panda area are horrible! Trash in the chimpanzee exhibit and I do mean TRASH Digornio pizza box, honey but cheerio Box random other items of trash scattered throughout the area. One of the chimpanzee eating what appeared to be the leftovers from feeding he was so sad down like a dog licking the taste off the wood! No adequate supply of water in ANY exhibit that we could see. All the animals appeared to be suffering from stress, or malnutrition. One of the employees informed us that the animals were cared for and that they had an inspection coming up in a short time. I pray they animals are relocated OR THE ZOO is forced to properly maintain the enclosures and exhibits! Why are they adding and building more when the current situation is in such a sad pathetic state? Visited zoos for over 25 years this is the worst zoo ever! Last time we visited was about 14 years ago and it has seriously fallen down its like they aren’t even trying!

Took granddaughters for first time. First it’s Pepsi. Yuck. Hubby got a bratz and the sauerkraut was cold. Had not been heated. No rhinos , elephants, or camels. We are from here and the Zoo just wasn’t what it used to be.

The exhibits were awesome, service was excellent. Highly recommend to anyone traveling in the Knoxville area.

The splash pad was a great way to cool off in the afternoon after a hot, hot day trip in June. They had changing cabanas close by but you may want to slip your shoes back on as the walkways are super hot in the summer. If you start your tour to the left as you enter the zoo you can end your day strategically at the other side of the zoo at the splash pad.
The elephant paddock viewing area has a wonderful misting system to help keep visitors cool. The gorillas and river otters were very active and fun to watch! My only disappointment was that the zebras and giraffes seemed to be fenced close to their barn on the day we visited. They’re my personal favorites and we never had a chance to get a good look at them.
Also keep in mind that straws are not allowed for the safety of the animals. ICEEs just aren’t the same without a straw, but dippin dots never disappoint.

I haven't been to many zoo's recently, and this was a colder, off season, mid week day so that may affect the experience. The size of the zoo was nice. It took about 2.5 hours to walk the entire park, stopping to watch what animals we could see. If it was a nicer day, we could have taken longer. Many were indoors as it was chilly that day; however even with that knowledge, it felt like there were only one of many of the animal types we could see and they appeared stressed.
Many exhibits were also closed and /or being cleaned.

What a great zoo! We have been to many zoos and this one is by far one of the best. Exhibits are well thought out. Animals have plenty of room to roam. Lots of places for children to have fun. Plenty of bathrooms. Lots of benches for sitting. Plenty of places to eat/drink. Lots of educational items to learn. Hands down would come here again and recommend to a friend.

Great family tome with the family. Lots to see and lots to do. Very neat and clean park. My only complaint would be they are extremely overpriced on all their food items. Which makes it hard when you bring in multiple small children. The gift shop has a nice variety of reasonably priced items.

at first I was "eh" (got there when it opened so all the animals weren't out) but the more I walked around the better the day got. Marcia walked and talked with me, sharing her vast knowledge on the way and (I believe his name was) Kieth took the time to explain why the zebras weren't out that day with the baby giraffe and then chit chatted again over at the wolves.
I was greatly impressed on how close I was to the animals as it made for some wonderful photos.

We always love the zoo. There is lots of construction but still a good time even with teens. Gotta wear masks indoors.

My kids are ages 16, 12, and 8 and they all loved this zoo. They have play areas for little to run off some energy and they even have a splash pad! If we would have brought our swimsuits I know mine would have been all over that! We will be back!!

We visited Zoo Knoxville on the way out of town, and it was amazing!! The exhibits were well-designed with both the animals and the visitors in mind. We were able to see exhibits from many different angles and sides, and the animals seemed very content. It took us around 3 hours to tour the exhibits, but we could have spent the entire day. The walkways were wide and fairly flat (I’ve seen some reviews that said they were hilly); it made for a leisurely walk. If the walking does get too much though, there are benches at almost every exhibit and along the paths so that you can easily take a break.

The food was reasonably priced and available at many different areas throughout the zoo. However, I think you can bring your own food, just remember no straws or lids though, so keep that in mind when ordering for kids. There are many different areas for children including a splash pad with cabanas for changing and drying stations that will quickly dry off wet kids, a nature park with different areas to explore, and a petting zoo area.

It’s a 5+ stars in my book, and to think we almost missed out on it because it was an “on the way out of town” adventure. I’m so glad we came, and when we are ever in Knoxville we will definitely come back!

The zoo here was nice. The animals were close to you. The exhibits were large for the animals. It was easy to navigate around. The biggest issue was the parking, the spots were so tight.

Very nice and convenient. Easy access from I40. Animals are well cared for. Staff is available to answer questions. I would recommend getting an annual pass and visit often. Great way to spend a few hours without feeling you have to make a day of it.

Military members get free admission and parking. Lots of variety. Pricey gift shop. I bought some postcards and a giraffe statue. They also had a penny machine. Will be back.

We visited the zoo on a Wednesday and did not find it to be crowded. We were surprised by the variety of animals, particularly the number of large animals. Some exhibits could use sprucing up, but overall it was a nice visit.

For a city the size of Knoxville this zoo is really impressive. Lots of nice habitats and a good variety of animals. The chimps and gorillas are amazing and they have 3 baby gorillas that are hilarious to watch. The new gibbons exhibit is really fun. The tiger exhibit lets you get really close to the tigers. Lots of fun things for kids. Somewhat limited food options especially during the off peak times/seasons, or I would give it 5 stars.

We arrive shortly after they opened. They were still cleaning some exhibits and had animals put up. The snack carts and most restaurants still closed at 11:00 . Not as much to see. It's been 20 years since we've been there. I expected bigger, better. It is the Knoxville zoo! Very disappointed. Over priced for what you get to see.

What a great visit to the Zoo Knoxville. A quick email a few weeks ago asking if they could accommodate our RV while we visited turned into a meet and greet with Einstein the parrot and 3 of her trainers. Great place to bring your kids. Our kids are grown up but we still had a great time. Thanks for being so accommodating and friendly!

This is a sweet little zoo. It took us about two hours to get through with our two year old. We were bummed that the gift store didn’t have magnets with the zoo’s name and location for our souvenir collection, but everything else was wonderful. Lots of shade, which was much appreciated!

We drove to the Knoxville Zoo and unfortunately it was closed due to the current pandemic. So we drove around the grounds, observed the workers doing their chores to ensure the animals were properly cared for, and then left.

We had a fantastic time at the zoo. We have a 2 year old and he loved every minute of it. We actually felt this was better from the Atlanta zoo. Would def recommend. They also have a splash pad during the summer months so bring a bathing suit for the littles.

Nice exhibits but didn't like that the giraffe exhibit didn't have any natural foliage to feed on, they lived in a dusty barren area. Staff members held broken tree limbs to feed them. If you have the animals you need to give them a habitat close to their natural environment. Would not go back.

Awesome place to visit we had a blast and did not see the whole Zoo. Became season pass holders so we can go back tomorrow

Pitiful. The otters were the best part. Barely any animals. If they had them, maybe one in each area. We have been to many zoos and this one was the worst. 27.50 each. 3.65 for a water. We will pass by here next time.

Really enjoyed our recurrent trip to the zoo. It was super hot but totally worth it. We have a annual pass to multi zoos nation wide so we like to go to the different ones and see what reach had to offer. I would recommend this zoo. It's a little in the small side but has a good assortment of animals to see

We visited here with my family, baby, and nephews. Everyone had a great time! There are water misters going all around the zoo to help with the heat. The gorillas are a lot of fun to watch. The giraffe just had a baby about 3 weeks ago so they are not on display but you can still get a glimpse of them in the distance. This was my first time seeing the tigers! The tiger exhibit was great! There’s a little train for little ones to ride and a live camel. Highly recommend for all ages! Wear your best walking shoes.
There’s also a trolley that will pick you up from the lower parking lot to the front gate.

This zoo is nothing above average. The enclosures seemed small and a lot of their main attraction animals were not even out. They also had a ton of turtles. Was disappointed with the size and attractions.

We have been to many zoos, large and small, and this is one of my favorites as it packs quite a few exhibits into a fairly small footprint while also containing some unique exhibits, such as the African wild dogs, which is one of my favorite animals. We have the annual pass and go quite frequently as it is an easy trip to do for a couple hours and keep the kids entertained. Highly recommended.

Maybe I didn't expect Knoxville to have such a nice zoo, and that's why I was initially surprised by the admission? Once inside, you easily forget how close you are to I-40!! That always surprises me. My favorite animals are the rhinos - I don't know that I've ever seen anywhere else? Good place to spend an afternoon.

A Really nice Zoo. Lots of Animals and nice shaded areas. They have an Amazing Red Panda breeding program. Not my first time seeing a Red panda but first time being that close to one.

A couple downfalls are that they are doing construction in some areas so some animals weren't out. That's fine but I would expect a discount of some sort. Another thing is we had to wait for them to clean the elephant exhibit so we had to wait until noon.

Definitely, worth a visit! Expect half a day.

My wife and I visited the Knoxville zoo in may. We have been going there for at least 25 years but it has been about 3 since we weee there. We weee very disappointed at the new layout and lack of coordination of the grounds. There was a lot of walking and not a lot to see. If I were asked to rate it on a scale of 1 to 10, I would give it a 4.

Excellent place to go when you are looking for a different pace. Also this is a go to pace with grandchildren! Ample parking sandlots to see. Staff is very friendly

Great zoo. Loved being there. Will go back if we are in Knoxville. It was hot, so the animals were in the shade and not very active, but we enjoyed the visit.

Zoo Knoxville is a beautifully landscaped small zoo. Easy to get to, this is a great zoo to bring small children - lots of fun things to do in addition to viewing the animals (i.e. play areas, photo opportunities, petting zoo). It doesn't take long to see most of the exhibits. The tiger exhibit was excellent!

My husband and I met a friend and her niece to go to Zoo Knoxville. My friend had a season pass so we didn't have to pay for parking otherwise it would be a $5 charge to park.
The park opens at 9 and the earlier you get there, besides being cooler, affords you a closer spot to the entrance.
We parked on the lower lot and there is a tram that will take you to the entrance.
This particular weekend they were running a special...bring a recyclable item per guest and you get in for $10 each otherwise the price is $19.95 per adult.
Throughout the zoo, they have mister fans to cool people off as they're walking to each exhibit.
We didn't eat while we were there but the prices for drinks are outrageous

Not the best zoo we have been to, but we really appreciated their Covid proactive steps such as requiring face masks for the staff, wiping the carousel seats off after every rider, roping off areas that were previously high touch for children, and having hand sanitizer available. For a family of four to enter and parking was over 60 some dollars which seemed high for a 2 to 3 hour visit. Our kids really enjoyed seeing the tigers and elephants.

Small zoo with limited animals. Nice day out for the family. They charge you for many extra things (feed giraffes, elephant ride, etc). There is a tram to/from lower level parking to entrance. Nice to use to not walk up hill.
We ate at the sit down cafe near giraffes. It was very busy and understaffed. We waited 30 minutes for our food. Plus they gave you an order number but didn't use it when order was ready.

Nothing to improve on, some animals were not out in their areas, that's Their right, they aren't paid circus performers.

Nice zoo with lots to do and see. We were on vacation and decided to spend a half day at the zoo. A nice suprise was to find a petting farm and a spray zone which was great for the grandchildren. Besure to pack the swim suits. If you like elephants, this the place to come. This is worth the visit.

We visited in mid August 2018. This place needs to be cleaned up with brush cleared, grass mowed, overhead tree limbs cleared, etc. The pathways were filthy, broken, and needed new directional signs.
The few animals that were there looked healthy and fed. Not many animals there. The place looks to be half the size it used to be. Lots of construction going on at Chilhowee Park next to the zoo. What's going on?
The places that sell ice cream, food, and drinks were mostly closed. Just one or two places to get a drink.
It's in a sad state for a zoo and looks to be ready to close permanently.

Really a great zoo and a fun vibe as you walk around and enjoy the animals. The kids are excited everytime we are going.

Had a wonderful time at the zoo love and lie out of how the zoo was made easy directions to see all the different types of animals the tiger really enjoyed

The zoo is super clean and the animals are beautiful. We’ve been here twice and would go again. The elephants are our favorite!

This was a smaller zoo (walking wise), but they packed a lot in to it. I was really surprised and pleased with all of the great exhibits. There was a good variety of animals. We went after lunch and almost all of the animals were napping...not sure if we would have gone earlier in the day if the animals would have been more active.

We have been to lots of zoos and I would probably put the Knoxville Zoo in the middle somewhere. Its not bad, but its not great. The newer exhibits like the Asian Animals and Reptile Building are nice and modern, but they still have some older, smaller exhibits that could use replacing. Its not an overly large zoo so walking it isn't bad, but they could use a better parking setup for busy days. If your nearby its worth a stop or visit, but I certainly wouldn't go out of my way for it. The next time were in the Smokies We will probably skip the zoo here.

We had a wonderful first time visit to this very nice zoo. Nicely landscaped and designed. Unfortunately, it is next to an interstate so there is the constant roar of traffic. Overall, a great experience. We especially enjoyed the giraffes and loved seeing Bea the baby giraffe.

What an awesome day for a trip to the Knoxville Zoo! The chimpanzees put on a show!!! We enjoyed the day very much.

Great facility and was able to see all the animals up close. The staff was friendly and knowledgeable, responsive to all our questions. Plenty to see and do, spent around 3-hours in total. Enjoyed the Gibbons exhibit and the singing.

This is such a great size zoo with such interesting spaces for the animals. The tigers were our favorite - just beautiful!! But the red pandas were a close second. However, all of the animals looked healthy and happy and had plenty of room to roam and play.

A very nice Zoo on the move! This zoo had a very humble beginning and has come such a very long way and so many plans are in the works for expansions. It is not quite up to the point of Nashville or Memphis but with time it will become the premier Zoo of the southeastern United States. The community has made a huge commitment towards expansion and maintaining such a great attraction!

I liked the exhibit of the animals. Saw most of the ones I was interested in, I didn’t see the fee beforehand so that was on me, I think it’s a little bit much but it’s ok.

What a great zoo. We were very impressed with the layout, cleanliness and the animal exhibits. Each one was nicer and nicer and all the animals were out. You could tell they are each happy in their environment by how active they are. Definitely recommend going here

We have been to dozens of zoos and this one is quite nice overall. It’s a very clean zoo. There aren’t as many as exhibits as some similar sized zoos but they have some good exhibits. The gibbons were very active as well as most of the other primates. The elephant sadly passed away this year and that exhibit will be replaced with a white rhino exhibit. The otters were very active too. Go early and in cooler weather, it’s a better experience overall and the animals tend to be more active. Almost every snack shop was closed, not sure if that was due to staffing issues or what.

Many improvements have been made and they are continuing to add to the zoo. The Tiger Habitat is exceptional. The Team Members could be better trained as Hosts and Hostesses to the Guests.

we went to the zoo in oct, and it was a nice little zoo. Wasn't sure about the gorilla/ape cages. They were all indoors on a concrete floor. It seemed like they were bored. Maybe we just caught them at a bad time.

My wife and I have season passes to Zoo Knoxville and we love it. We are going to renew them this year.

OK! Not to impressed with this zoo. Not all they had to offer was open but I do understand they are making major improvements to the park and I hope everything works out. The new Asian trek was nice but I feel more could be done for the public and the children who visit here. There seems to be no interaction between staff and visitors. Several staff members need to watch it with the f bombs around children, which happened more than once. Overall they seem to be trying to make a better place but it needs work.

Definitely will not be visiting this zoo again. The price was way too high because many animals were no where to be seen and my granddaughter wanted to see hippos, none there, nor zebras. Definitely not worth it. Too pricey for what they've got. The zoo was much more enjoyable when it first opened. I would not advice or recommend families with teens to waste their money going there. I was there less than two hours and that was including being in that overpriced gift shop for over 30 minutes. Highly disapointed.

We went on a Saturday around lunchtime. We spent about 3 hours and didn’t see everything, so there is a lot to do. However, many of the animals weren’t in a visible area. I guess that can’t be helped. We went by the penguins 3 times because my son really wanted to see them. They were finally in their exhibit on the 3rd time. We paid ~$60 to get in plus $5 parking to park in the zoo parking lot (?) and then there are several optional experiences you pay separately for inside, like a camel ride, train ride, and giraffe feeding. We liked it but it didn’t feel it was worth the money we spent.

We went during fall break so it was very busy. It is a small zoo and some attractions were closed during our visit. But it is a good family attraction and wasn't that expensive when we visited.

What a beautiful gem. This Zoo is always such a fun thing to do. Takes about 2-3 hours to cover with plenty of resting areas. Very clean and well maintained with a very good assortment of animals. The habitats are very nice and well maintained, and they are expanding. Friendly staff and ready and tested to deal with the Covid 19 and new protocols. I just moved to Knoxville October 2019. After my first visit I knew I had to buy an annual pass. You will not be disappointed.

Was just blah. Charged us 5$ to park (online tix) but there wasn’t any zoo parking. Had to park at a park with a nice hike uphill to the zoo. (Apple Maps sent us through a questionable neighborhood and still didn’t get us there). There was a splash pad where kids would have a great time. That would be the only plus. Not impressed-not going back.

If you live in Knoxville the annual pass is the way to go- especially if you have children. With an annual pass you will get a great price to visit multiple times, and my children never get bored. The zoo has taken great steps to improve and expand in the last several years. They are not the largest or the best zoo ever, but they certainly get an "A" for effort. The new tiger display is a must see, as well as the gibbon exhibit next door to it. If your kids to get bored with the animals, take them to the Kids' Cove area, and they can play in the playhouse, brush goats, walk amidst birds, etc. Also the Wee Play area is great for small kids, although your teens will get bored after looking at all the critters in there. Definitely see the African Wild Dog pups, the gorillas, rhinos, otters, and night time critter displays. Food is available, as well as add-ons such as camel rides and the carousel. Best prices, again, come through the season pass, as well as discounts on zoo events such as "Feast With the Beasts". Whether you have one day or several to spend here, you won't be disappointed.

I have been to many zoos and would choose this as the best hands down. It is in a very natural setting, clean, offers a great variety of animals and is beautiful. Much nicer than many zoos in large metropolitan cities.

Great time! The animals were cute loved the rhinos and water sprayers.qe will be back soon. The giraffes were great too .

This zoo is well taken care of and the animals all look healthy. Staff is very knowledgeable. Loved watching the giraffes being fed. Our favorite thing was riding the 🐫.The misters we great for cooling off. This was a spur of the moment stop because we were in the area and we are so glad we stopped and visited.

Wonderful zoo experience! Park well designed. Enjoyed all the animal encounter opportunities. We go to zoos all over, in US and other countries, and this was a fun and educational experience! Most of the animals were out and active. It is sad the elephant is no longer there. Hopefully they will be able to give another one a much needed home in the beautiful enclosure. We enjoyed the gift shop just wished that it had a greater selection of turtle keepsakes.

We enjoyed our trip to this zoo ! If you have small children they would love it ! Many of the enclosures were nicely designed and it appears they are creating new editions to the zoo. Many of the animals were being fed while we were there and the keepers used obvious care and answered all our questions with patience. You should be expecting a zoo's size in relation to the city it resides in. If you do you will be happy with Zoo Knoxville.

What a great zoo experience. My granddaughter loved it. Especially the red pandas and the monies (her fsvorites). We had a bit of a short visit but enjoyed every minute. The dinosaurs made the visit extra memorable.

All I can say is thank goodness I got tickets at half price. This zoo was a big disappointment to me. I brought my grand daughter here from Ohio and we visited Zoo Knoxville. Maybe we are just used to the Columbus Zoo, but this zoo had far less to offer and way too expensive. I know the animals are on their own time but it seemed like most of the animals were either out of sight or sleeping. No kangaroos at this zoo and only 3 penguins that you could barely see because of the glare on the glass. A lot of the places to eat were closed and no one to take pictures of your family at the entrance until 10:00 am (zoo opens at 9 am). or at the camel rides. A lot of the areas were being cleaned when we were walking around trying to view animals which makes me wonder why can this not be done before zoo opens or after it closes so it doesn't interfere with the public? I guess all that matters is that my 4 year old grand daughter enjoyed herself but I definitely won't be back to this zoo. They should really visit the Columbus Zoo in Ohio and take some pointers. Oh and don't forget the bug spray! We were eaten alive and had to go to the ranger station for bug spray which they weren't too happy to provide!

Alot of the animals will walk up close where you can see them very good! Its so clean and well ran! Service is great!

The expenditure is unjustifiable, as a group of five individuals incurred a little over $130. Regrettably, the scarcity of fauna was a significant letdown. Multiple displays were unoccupied, and in those that did house creatures, often only one was present. Moreover, the animals were positioned at the remotest edge of their respective habitats, making it arduous to discern them. It was apparent that these solitary creatures were experiencing isolation and desolation.
Despite its flaws, this Zoo is brimming with latent possibilities, displaying exquisite habitats. However, it is imperative that they address the animal scarcity issue.

My friends and I enjoyed our first trip to this zoo today. Lots of wonderful animals- the chimps, gorillas, and tigers were the big favorites- in decent sized enclosures. Prepare for a good day’s walk- I think we did about five miles over the course of the day, walking end to end with a few return trips back to see some favorites.
The only thing I was disappointed in was the lack of information available about the various food service areas around the zoo. We were traveling with one picky eater and went from place to place to look at menus until we found a place that suited us. Would be nice to have either full menu options or general descriptions of each location and it’s food options either online or on the park map so visitors can better plan their day.

Pretty basic set up. Seems outdated. You walk a long way to only see a few animals in certain areas. Time to rearrange and update.

Loved this zoo! One of my top favorite zoos I have ever been to! The staff was so welcoming and willing to tell you all about the animals. I was very impressed with the architecture of the zoo. The animals had amazing enclosures. You could get so close to the animals but felt very safe. Took about 4 hours to go through the entire zoo and we do not have children so that will add to the time as well. This could be a full day adventure. Highly recommend going!

We were VERY disappointed in this zoo. It cost my husband and I $50 (entrance fee and parking) and it was a total waste. Imagine going to a zoo and not even seeing a monkey, bear, otter, and so many others. Many of the animal exhibits had signs up "closed for cleaning" or "animals being vet checked." The zoo is only open from 9 AM - 4 PM so why areas can't be cleaned before/after hours is beyond me. Save your money and go see the stuffed animals at Bass Pro Shop; you'll see more!

We had a great time visiting with Denso Family Day. Most all of the animals were out and viewable. The new Asian area is our most favorite! We loved to watch the Tigers and small monkeys. There was an employee who told us all the monkeys names and ages. She was very friendly and we enjoyed learning more about the monkeys. Thanks for a great day at the zoo.

I've been to many zoos during my lifetime including the Bronx Zoo and the Miami Zoo, and this one blows them all away! We got there on a Tuesday morning just before they opened at 9 am and were able to park almost at the front door. The kids are back in school in mid August so there weren't the usual crowds that you'll see in the summer. These animals all seemed to be extremely well taken care of and in very spacious environments conducive to their original habitat. Kudos to Zoo employee "Phil" who we noticed several times throughout the park, checking on the well-being of the animals. He was extremely friendly and spent a couple of minutes talking with us as we're still fairly new in the area. It took us 3 hours and 20 minutes to see everything while spending sufficient time in each exhibit. Make sure that you stop by, there's also a senior discount for us retirees!

We last visited the zoo about six years ago. Hearing that renovations had occurred, we opted to visit. This is not a user friendly zoo for fixed income. Taking our grandchildren, it was $92,00 for two seniors, one adult (15) and two children (12 and under.) Parking is $5.00.
We have been to alot of zoos that are much more user friendly. Sedgwick country zoo, for instance, offered a grandparent membership for just a little more than our one day admission and allowed us to bring up to four grands under 18 years. Knoxville zoo offers no such deal.
The zoo itself is expansive and seems to require you to double back in order to see the various animals. There is no contiguous route to go from one end to another without going back to the entrance area and heading the other direction.
Older staff are very friendly but the kids working there are more interested in texting and talking than helping. Very disappointing. Displays need to to be renovated, especially the reptile area, hard to see through plexiglass.

Price was good. We really liked the asian trek. We arrived shortly after the zoo opened and some animals were not on display. We really enjoyed the emphasis placed on survival of the different species of animals

We love Zoo Knoxville! My family has been going to the Zoo for over 20 years and have enjoyed every time we go. The best time to go is early in the day. That is when the animals are the most active (in our experience). This zoo cares about its animals and makes sure each animal is happy in its habitat. The annual pass is the best way to go!

My wife and I are zoo enthusiasts. You could say we "collect" them, having visited well over 30 in the U.S. and a handful internationally. We don't discriminate based on size or finances. Having visited San Diego, the National Zoo, Miami, and many other "big" destinations, some of our favorite zoos are smaller county-level, or even family-owned zoos.

We decided to go on a road trip to visit Zoo Knoxville and all I can say is Thank God there's plenty of other activities and attractions in the area. Zoo Knoxville was a colossal waste of time.

The park has broad walkways and the newer habitats are large and very nicely designed. The animals are clearly well taken care of, although for a zoo of their size, they don't have a lot of variety or volume. We easily saw everything (taking our time!) in 2.5 hours.

What was most disappointing was that the gift shop is closed (undergoing renovations). Although they had some clearance merchandise set up for sale elsewhere, this was largely limited to kids toys and t-shirts. Basic merch like refrigerator magnets or lapel pins were unavailable. When I asked about those, I was told by an employee that the previous concessioner had "taken all that with them", so I'm not sure if the renovation story is accurate or if they have vendor problems. Either way, we would have known in advance if they had posted any kind of notice to their website and maybe waited for another time to visit.

Similarly, we looked into the dining options online. We don't exactly go in for the hamburger and hot dog menus, so we were very pleased to see a selection of salads offered at both of the main restaurants and planned accordingly. We walked into one and placed our order only to be told that they were "out of salads". I don't know whether that means they forgot to order lettuce that week or don't actually offer them during the off season, but either way, the full menus are still on the website (no mention of limited off-season menus) and worse - still displayed in the restaurants with no indication that they don't actually offer what they say they do. Fortunately, we were almost ready to leave anyway (see initial comments above).

I don't necessarily put much stock in negative reviews when they are far outweighed by positive ones, but in this case, I wish I would have. A previous reviewer said something about a play area for children with a few animals scattered around. I think that is accurate. If you're going to Zoo Knoxville because you enjoy zoos, there are many better options for your time & money.

This is a great zoo! My kids are teenagers and still really enjoy a day at the zoo! Much to their dismay, I love all the photo ops around the zoo. Gift shop is cute, snacks were great!

During our trip to the Pigeon Forge area, we made the drive out to the zoo because we love experiencing new zoos wherever we go! It was worth the trip! Our favorite animal exhibits were the elephants, giraffes, and the gorillas. Most of the exhibits you got to see the animals up close, which was awesome! We loved watching the baby giraffe run around and play! Our 4 year old loved the wee play area and it meant so much to me that there was a nursing room to have a clean, quiet, comfortable place to feed our 9 month old. We do wish there would have been some signage or alert that all of the food services were closed that day except one so that we could have planned accordingly. We also had a bit of trouble with finding a few of the exhibits as it didn’t seem the signs/directions were very helpful. Overall we had a great time and everyone enjoyed themselves!

We spent an extra day on the way home from Lake Lure, NC to go to Zoo Knoxville. We were not disappointed. It's a wonderful zoo. The day was hot but it is nicely shaded so that we took our time and spent a lot of time looking at all the wonderful animals. My favorite always is the gorillas and they had several babies which put on quite the show for all of us. A great time for both my husband and myself. It is well worth a visit and would highly recommend. Side note the volunteers are very excited about their zoo and happy to answer questions or share information about the different species. Our home zoo just got a red panda and we learned a lot at that stop from the volunteer when we shared that with her.

Boo at the Zoo. This is one of the most exciting things for young child they get candy and get to walk through the woods looking at wild animals it's lit up in nice little Halloween designs it's fun for all ages great for the parents and children too

The Zoo is under renovation but it is still a wonderful place to visit. Great staff and the animals look well taken care of.

This a a very nice zoo especially for families with younger children. Besides the animal exhibits they also offer a water area for kids complete with cabanas and dryers. It is not so large that you get lost but big enough to have well rounded exhibits. There are elephants, tigers, gibbons, chimps, tortoises, snakes, red pandas to name a few. We spent a little more than 2 hrs. visiting.

Our extended family, including 2 toddlers, visited the Knoxville Zoo on a hot day in July. The zoo is laid out well and the habitats look great. Many of the habitats have outdoor & indoor viewing areas so that you can maximize the chance to see the animals up close. The animals look very well cared for. There are shady spots and several misters that allow you to cool off when needed. We spent well over half a day, even in the July heat. Highly recommend!

My wife and I were in Knoxville for a short getaway, and I was looking forward to visiting the zoo as one of our activities. I have visited zoos all over the country and was a docent at the Buffalo Zoo years ago. I have to say I was disappointed with this visit.
First, I should explain that the zoo is clean and the animals are well housed and cared for. The grounds are beautiful, and there is plenty for kids to do, including some very creative play areas. I also understand that the zoo is a leader in breeding endangered red pandas and some tortoises. The gibbon/langur exhibit is especially creative and well done. There are many good things about this zoo.
The first problem is that the majority of exhibits are designed to be viewed from the outside. Many must be viewed through glass, which reflects the outdoor background, often making it next to impossible to see into the exhibit unless one stands against the glass and cups their hands to eliminate the reflection.
The second issue is the fact that photography is next to impossible in many situations. The problem with glass reflection is one. The other is related to the netting or chain link used to enclose many outdoor exhibits. An auto focus camera most often will focus on the closest object. Thus, you get a perfectly focused picture of the netting or chain link, with a blurred blob of the animal in back.
A third problem relates to visiting in the winter. Many animals, especially the snakes and other reptiles, were off exhibit due to the temperature, which was, when we visited, in the high 50's. Coupled with that, the camel ride and the giraffe feeding stations were closed for the winter, as were all but one of the food venues.
Finally, the zoo is within a few hundred feet of I-40, a major interstate highway. In parts of the zoo the traffic noise is loud and intrusive, with large semi's going by constantly.
I appreciate that this is a small zoo with limited funds and that we visited during the off season. Most of what I have described is beyond the zoo's ability to change. I'm sure that a summer visit would have been a different experience. I certainly hope that people will support this zoo. That said, I think it is important for people to be aware of the photography issues and those issues connected with visiting in the winter.

It's nearly $30 each for adults and $22 for the kiddo.

There's a great deal of (invasive) bamboo to admire. A couple new and fancy exhibits but overall it's mostly playgrounds for little kids, extremely expensive restaurants and a few (and getting fewer) animals.

The fine print shows that it's all really devoted to conservation, etc which is fine but when you want to visit a zoo, that's what you expect, especially for such high prices.

Currently it's going through a lot of construction however it's still a nice zoo. It has two areas for kids to play in the water, petting zoo, and play area.

We love visiting Zoo Knoxville. We are passholders and the kids love coming to see the animals and playing in the splash pad during the summer. The staff at Zoo Knoxville are always so friendly and helpful- they're great about answering questions about the animals and taking the time to educate you as well. The animals appear to be well cared for and happy. The different exhibits are great and most offer you a great view of the animals. There are a couple of restaurants that offer a nice variety of food and several shady spots throughout the zoo that allow you stop and enjoy a snack and rest your feet a bit. Parking at the zoo itself can be a bit difficult to find on a busy day, but there are shuttles available to take you from the overflow lot at Chilhowee park to the front entrance or you can walk (it's a pretty steep uphill climb so I probably wouldn't recommend it for the elderly or those with strollers).

This zoo, while beautiful, is exceptionally hilly -- be prepared for a workout! I would not recommend this zoo for anyone who is being pushed in a wheelchair, and small children should definitely have a stroller. We were almost done in by the hill walking while here.

Knoxville Zoo

My son Rain, has been going to Knoxville Zoo, every since he was a baby.

He wants to become a zoologist, after he graduate from high school in 2025.

My son favorite event at the zoo, is their huge trick-or-treat trail and dance party

Knoxville’s largest Halloween event featuring several nights of not-too-scary Halloween fun perfect for preschool and elementary-aged children.

BOO! At the Zoo is a family event featuring trick-or-treating along the BOO! Trail.

This amazing event is great for little trick-or-treaters they can fill their bag with goodies as they make their way through the zoo.

Most of all, the entire staff is dress up in their very own Halloween Costumes.

Oct 11-14, 2018
Oct 18-21, 2018
Oct 25-28, 2018
5:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. each evening
$9 per person Thurs, Fri and Sun
$10 per person Saturday

Children under 4 admitted free and Free parking.

I visited this zoo back in the early 2000s and have not returned until now (June 2021). The motivation to visit was to see the new Amphibian & Reptile Conservation Center (ARC) exhibit. The new ARC exhibit is the perfect blend of conservation and education while highlighting advances in reptile welfare. I was very impressed by the exhibit and I am glad I made the trip to see it.

I would recommend planning on spending 2 - 3 hours to fully experience the zoo. Animals tend to be more active in the morning or late afternoon. We arrived shortly after opening and many of the animals were not only active, but very close to the visitors. We never had any issues not seeing an animal or had any concerns about their welfare. Many animals were eating, playing, or engaged with toys.

There are dramatically improved areas of the zoo since my last visit. Some other areas are showing their age and need to be addressed (elephants). I encourage everyone to give this zoo a shake and to visit. I also encourage the zoo to keep moving this direction and capitalizing on this momentum.

What a let down! The zoo is well kept and pleasant if you enjoy walking but not seeing many animals. Most of the exhibits were empty. The only enjoyable zoo experiences were the gorillas and chimps.
The children's petting zoo was a real let down. The only animals there were goats that seemed comatose. I have never been in that setting and seen goats standing "frozen." Usually they run and play and respond well to attention.
Their signage is lacking information. In some areas, there were no signs posted with info.
If you want an excellent experience, go see the Bright Zoo near Johnson City, TN. It is smaller, but impeccable. There is much to see and enjoy-especially the zoo keeper chats. :)

Four of us visited the zoo for the first time in 28 years and I have to say it was a great experience.
Zoo, staff, layout, food, was all excellent.
Keep up the good work

I’ve been to a lot of zoos in this is one of the finest. The only ones I would rate higher our Baker such as San Diego in St. Louis. But thisSue was a great deal of fun. We had three generations. Of course we loved all the animals – they were easily visible with explanations of what they were. Overall the park looked clean and well cared for as did the animals. There was sufficient food and drink with reasonable prices. There was also a fun water play area for adults and kids. My granddaughter and her husband even bought passes so they will be going back frequently . 🦆🦛🦏🐘🦓🐫🦒🦜👏👍

I brought a handicap Bff for mother's day. I can understand charging for a stroller, as that is a choice. But, charging 12 dollars for a wheelchair should be illegal. She did not choose to need one. Seems like discrimination. Wheelchairs should be complimentary. Shame on you!

My cousin and I visited today. Was a beautiful day to visit. The zoo is a nice size. We went early. Plenty of animals to see as they were out and about. We really enjoyed it.

A great family outing. Zoo Knoxville is always improving and creating new areas simulating the natural environment of the species. Oh, for Mom and Dad alcohol is available. A cold beer goes well on a hot afternoon. Also there is plenty of shade.

We had a fun day visit he zoo. The baby red pandas were the highlight of our day! Although the zoo needs updating, we still enjoyed our time there.

Clean everywhere, plenty of interesting animals, friendly & informative Staff, restaurant has reasonable prices. So many unique animals that I had difficulty pulling away, because I wanted to watch longer...BUT, there were other animals to see. Two trainers were very informative and willing to give loads of info when taking questions from me & a woman from out of state. A girl selling merchandise was helpful as well as informative about actions & locations of other animals. I'll return again.

I love, love, love this zoo!
I think they are handing all well Post Covid. I never felt unsafe. Can still have a great time!

Not many animals were out due to rainy cold weather. Lots of construction going on so alot was closed. Pricey gift shops.

It was a rainy kind of day when I went so not a lot of people there. The tiger was sitting right next to the glass enclosure so I was able to put my hand on the glass and see how his paw compared. How cool is that? The monkeys etc were swinging around and I saw how fast they really are. Many zoo employees talked to me about the animal diets, where they came from, etc. The elephant was playing with a huge ball where carrots we're hidden. The otter was quite entertaining quickly getting in and out of the water. Even the rhinos were moving around.
Most food stands we're not open yet. You could take a camel ride and the merry go round and train were running too.
Quite a good selection in the shopping area. I bought a season pass so I'll be going back. I was there apx 2 hours. Have fun.

I was here two different times in the last few weeks. My first experience was for Brew at the zoo. This event was great. It was laid out great and a great time. Then went back with my wife and another couple to see the zoo. We went to the right as you walk in first. This side has the majority of the anime at it is larger. It seemed like it needed some attention. There were many areas overgrown and not maintained as well has they should be. We got in for free but if I had paid the regular price, I would have been very disappointed. The what appears to be the newer side, to the left, was very well kept. It has a lot if potential, just needs some better upkeep.

The zoo is full of animals. We visited Lions, Tigers, Zebras, Camels and may more. One of our favorites were the gorillas .The monkeys were so much fun to watch.The red panda bears were beautiful. This is one place you do not want your children (yourself too) to miss.

I want to start out by saying that I did not hate this zoo. I've been to a lot of zoos and I gave this one 3-stars because the enclosures they had for the animals were very nice. But when my husband and I went in May there were barely any animals out to be seen. I know that the zoo can not control the activity of the animals but we really didn't see a whole lot. No chimps, tigers, black bears, and langurs. They had 1 gibbon, which "performed" for us and that was great. I also got to see the Lions and they were right up against the fence. We circled the park twice hoping the second time around the elephants would be out and they finally were. But overall I was not impressed. The layout was not ideal but at least the animals had spacious areas to roam.

The zoo is clean and well set up, but its not good on super busy days. The pathways get cramped and you cant view the animals. The parking lot is a nightmare and the extra parking is so far down the hill. The price is moderate, but nothing about this zoo has a wow factor.

Zoo Knoxville is known for it's natural exhibits, animal enrichment programs and educational opportunities, as well as for it's conservation work, including one of the most successful red panda breeding projects in the world. It's a terrific place to learn while having fun, for people of all ages. In October Zoo Knoxville hosts their traditional "Boo at The Zoo", with costumed characters, trick-or-treating, and other events for a safe and exciting Halloween. They sponsor other events throughout the year. The park is easy to enter and navigate, with plenty of spots to relax or play in between enjoying habitats. Allow at least 2-3 hours, for a full tour. Food/drinks available; great gift shop. Zoo Knoxville never grows old for locals, and visitors should definitely put it on their To Do list!

We had a really great time walking through the zoo. Everything was fairly handicapped accessible with the exception of the indoor elephant exhibit the doorway has a tall frame which we couldn't get the wheelchair to go over. A good amount of animals were off for the cold weather. The otter exhibit was being repaired/replaced.

We were only in Knoxville for the good part of one day. A very rainy day (08/02). There weren't a lot of people so getting through the zoo was easy. Unfortunately, due to the rain, it meant some animals were inside and not very active, and most of the attractions and shows were closed, as well as snack bars and some restaurants. Completely understood why - no problem. Their tiger exhibit is one of the best I've seen. We were lucky enough to be there during feeding and they were quite active. The volunteer - Bryce? - was so helpful and it was obvious that he really enjoys sharing information about the tigers with visitors - he truly seems to enjoy his "job". In fact - every employee/volunteer we spoke with was very friendly and most informative. We also loved the rhino exhibit. Both rhinos were active and were next to the fencing so we were able to have very close views (named Polly and Dolly?). The zoo is well maintained, nicely landscaped and clean. I only have one slightly 'negative' comment (I hesitate to even say negative). One of the inside exhibits - beautiful owl, sweet house mouse, pretty rats and historical Appalachian photos - When we entered there were 4-5 other people and everyone was speaking in quiet voices/almost whispers, respecting the owl. Within a few minutes 4 employees/volunteers entered laughing and talking to each other in very loud voices - far above normal. I understand enthusiasm - but this was quite distracting and somewhat annoying. Other than that - the zoo was perfect. Due to rain, we missed a couple of the animal exhibits, but will be in E TN again in a couple of months and plan to return - hopefully on a sunny day.

We don't like any zoo because of the caged up animals, but this location was very sad. The animals just paced and walked back and forth the glass and you could tell they were not happy. Lots of the big cats were just laying by the water and flies and bugs were all over them. None of the big animals like the elephants or rinos were out because it was so hot and they have no shade at all. It was sad.

We visit every zoo in the US that we can, and were disappointed here. Many of the animals were not visible or the exhibits were closed. You're also required to exit through the gift shop. We purchased souvenirs, and would have either way - but come on, why force this on everyone?

Zoo Knoxville is reaallly trying. The zoo is a bit of never of a metaphor for the scruffy little city. I might call it the scruffy little Zoo. It may not be the Bronx Zoo or definitely not the San Diego Zoo but the new Malaysian tiger attraction is pretty impressive. The Tigers walked right past us and three feet back and forth pacing bored and we loved it. The zoo's environment for the animal seems to really be coming around especially for the newer attractions. Some of the older attractions still look like the space is small. Locate the location next to the interstate and the neighborhoods around is a bit sketchy so be careful and make sure you just go to the zoo and immediately leave. Chimp and gorilla exhibit is well done and has a nice viewing area and then a nice environment environmental area or the animals to go to and come back in for viewing. Overall, you're in Knoxville it's worth the trip.

Has a great splash pad and kid play area. Nice animal exhibits. Good for kids and fun for adults as well.

I'm sure this zoo MAY be great in the summer, however, we went on a warmer day in the "winter" (a few days ago) and we basically paid 25 dollars a person for a walking trail. 85% of the animals were put up (mainly the ones that one would be excited to see, elephants, giraffes, zebras, otters etc.) I understand some animals are sensitive to colder weather (it wasn't cold this day), and if that is the case, it should be mentioned to the guest before paying that many animals will not be able to be seen. It was never mentioned to us, until we asked because not seeing anything was becoming to regular for us not to ask a zoo keeper what was going on. The only access we had to beverages were vending machines and no food was available, anywhere. Even walking round the zoo, there were a lot of eyesores and it definitely appears to be less maintained in the winter time. I never write reviews, but this was a huge disappointment and waste of money, other than knowing its going to help feed the animals.

Took our 2 yr old granddaughter for the day to the Knoxville Zoo and she absolutely loved it! So did we! Tons of animals, places to eat, gift shops, etc... there were new parts of the zoo under construction and some closed while we there which was disappointing but they have to do that to expand so we will go back again after they complete it! Perfect for families! And for anyone else who just enjoys that type of environment!

The giraffes were not out bc of the new baby. Elephants were inside. And didn't see the zebras. It was a ok trip.

We are fortunate to have an attraction in East Tennessee that has a 1st class facility,housing a wide diverse animal population that is professionally groomed and pampered.The Zoo is a great day trip that is easily navigated,providing a good map and signage thru out the facility.The employees seem to be interested in the inhabitants and the visitors.Everthing was clean,providing a very memorable visit

I was truly impressed. Having been to the NC Asheboro zoo, it's hard to compare the two, and the NC zoo is way more impressive... but this zoo is a really lovely work in progress. The animals all seem to be well cared for, especially those in the kid's section. The staff were very kind and informative in that area. We loved petting the goats/sheep. The tigers and monkeys are all gorgeous creatures and great fun to watch. The giraffes were also a personal fav along with watching the gorillas play. An older staff member that we bumped into several times was especially kind and full of fun facts. Would love to return once the new sections of the park open and during a time of the year when the tortoises are out!

We attended the Boo at the Zoo for our son. He was Batman!! They had a very nice layout of the place! They had set up candy stations, had a dance tent and spooky train rides. It was awesome!! Only ten bucks for adults and free for 4 and under!! Def recommend!

Love Zoo Knoxville. i have been there twice. We went early to avoid the heat and most major animals were not out yet but they were out about an hour later. We loved the bat earred fox, tiger, lions playing together, elephant eating and drinking water. The dinosaurs are cool bit I htink the zoo could have spent thtat money on better habitats for the animals.

We had a great day at the zoo. We made the trip to hopefully get to see the new baby Giraffe and it’s momma. The sign said they were off exhibit the day we were there but we still caught a glimpse of the 2 big giraffes.

This zoo is very heavy on turtles and birds. So many of each. We couldnt see the tiger the day we happened to be there I guess they were cleaning the grass so they couldnt let them out. No elephants out either which was a bummer since it seemed you could get kind of close. To me it didnt seem very big and I think we just picked a day to go when to many school groups were there. Also, you had several of the animals you couldnt get a clear view of. The African paint dogs, wolfs and a couple others were out but you could just see a tail or a paw. They do have plenty of bathrooms and looks like they have plenty of parking. We got lucky and found an empty spot on one of the lots near the entrance.

Definitely one of the best zoos Ive been to! Its not super big, but its very well themed and decorated and focused on conservation.

My new Fav Zoo. Beautiful settings - nice walk ways and displays. They have some construction going on but still a terrific zoo.

Very nice zoo and easy to reach from Lenoir City. Although we arrived a bit late in the afternoon, we weren't kicked out a closing time. Service at the snack bar was quite slow, but they do have beer. Grandson's girlfriend had a group pass from her employer, which eliminated any entrance cost and gave her a way to contribute to our time together. Plenty of interesting animals to see, so we'd happily visit this zoo again.

Their own words “It is the mission of Zoo Knoxville to deliver dynamic guest experiences while inspiring action for wildlife and wild places.”

I think one of the worst zoos ever. Very few animals, poorly laid out, can’t get close to the animals because of the blue buckets and yellow plastic chains and the PLEXI glass on all the habitats make it impossible to take in the experience. No giraffes, no tigers and no staff to engage with. The one area for the snakes and birds is probably the worst, you can’t see anything. I don’t know if $25 is worth it, maybe to some, but I think a waste of maybe 90 minutes.

Atlanta and other places have lots bigger zoos, but this average size zoo keeps growing. We usually go to "Boo at the Zoo" so the smaller kids can trick-or-treat there. We may go once during the Summer, too. They keep adding new animals and events, so you'll enjoy your visit! The people are always nice here and will help you any way they can. There are places to get you something to eat there, too. Go and visit, you'll have fun!

Really natural settings for the animals. Viewing is up close for the visitors. A hands-on raptor session was especially nice.

Needed an activity for my grandson while his mother coached at a local gymnastics meet. Conveniently located off the highway. Lot of construction going on as it was winter and only the gift shop open, but for a small zoo it was the perfect size to fill our time on a dry cold winter day. A few animals to see especially in the children’s zoo. Quite a few inside. Discount price was right.

Our family has had a membership to the zoo since moving to Knoxville a few years ago. We went last week to renew our membership and the new price structure means that the cost of membership for our family is over DOUBLE what we paid just last year. We have been members of many, many zoos over the last 20 years due to military moves and never have seen such a huge price increase at one time. If it's time to renew a membership and you have children over 13, you many want to do the math before you take your family back to Zoo Knoxville.

We always love seeing different zoos when we visit new places. The Knoxville zoo was a lot of fun. We visited during a time where they had almost all of their animals out (aside from the tortoises for the season — which was a bit of a bummer but understandable).

We made our trip in the middle of the week during the day, so it was fairly slow and we didn’t have to worry about too many people.

I would definitely recommend this, especially if you’re a monkey lover. They had the coolest monkey enclosures we have seen at nearly any of the zoos we’ve been to.

Knoxville Zoo is a fantastic place to take children and old folks alike. The variety of animals is unique for a small city and the entire place is clean and laid out so all can enjoy. I pushed a wheelchair around the whole day and it was fantastic.

A small zoo, mostly for kids, but adults like myself enjoyed it very much. Not too huge (like Brookfield zoo in Chicago) so it only takes an hour or so to see most everything.
The animals looked sad....I felt like opening their pens and letting them go.

Considering the size of Knoxville, this zoo is really big. The animals seem to be treated wonderfully in natural-setting enclosures. Plenty of good food and drink stops along the way, and there is always staff around to help if needed. Bring plenty of sunscreen!

We made an impromptu stop from Gatlinburg to Nashville and glad we did.

The chimps and gorilla exhibit were great. We really enjoyed seeing them active in the morning. The elephants took a while to come out but when they did they were active.
Some areas we noticed that animals were loners or on their own but overall the setup of this zoo was very nice.

Good time and good trip

Focused on families, this zoo mostly succeeds in educational and entertaining displays. The giraffe feeding is well done, and delightful. The scope of animals on display is somewhat limited. The large children's petting zoo is run very efficiently. Halloween decorations are fun, too.

This is a wonderful zoo. The exhibits are great, you actually get to see the animals (some up very close) and they seem happy. This is one of the best zoos that we have been to and I loved feeding the giraffe.

We had a great day out at the zoo the weather was terrific and the animals were up and moving around . The food is a little pricey but the money goes to a good cause. The employees are very nice and generally seem to care about the animals welfare. Overall a great place to visit and worth the trip.

Went to the boo at the zoo with my little girl who just turned 2 and my husband and his parents. It was fun, my daughter loved riding the “haunted” carousel she didn’t want to get off. She loved the train as well but along the candy trail there was this plague looking doctor/bird man person dressed up and he got really close in my barely 2year olds face and she freaked out bad, and the person continued to stay in my daughters face as she was clearly freaking out and he kept following us through the rest of the candy trail
(which is really weird in my opinion) but other than my daughter having nightmares and not being able to sleep after that for 2 nights.
It was fun.

The zoo was clean and well maintained. Much to see and do including a small train, carousel and animal feedings (giraffes, birds and goats). They are not Covid delusional like many places in KY and IL where we are from. Not many idiots in masks, so it is quite comfortable around there. It is great to be in America again! Would definitely take the kids again when in the area.

This Zoo is must see while visiting Eastern Tennessee.
80 acres of well kept paths.
Indoor & Outdoor animal displays make for easy viewing.
Plus, their knowledgeable staff and volunteers are always willing to share information on all the animals.

My family and I had lots of fun watching the animals eat, play and lounge around. The zoo is fairly large so be prepared to walk a couple of hours to get through everything! We unfortunately we're not able to see the tiger! Other than that we got to see just about everything within 3.5 hours!

Very impressed. The layout was easy to get around without a lot of places where the crowds could linger. The animals on display were more African and Asian but still very impressive. I didn't notice any insect section which was disappointing but nothing to complain about.

We were also impressed with the cleanliness of the zoo. We asked for a veterans discount and I was given free admittance.

The grandkids love to come here and see the animals. Very nice zoo for it’s size. Nice paths to walk or push stroller on. Lots of nice picnic area. We get season passes every year and sto by frequently on pleasant days. They get exercise while we enjoy the stroll.

Enjoyed the Knoxville Zoo, although it was extremely humid the park was great with misters spraying water to cool you down. Alot of the animals were resting in the shade but what do you expect. The elephants put on a nice showing. this will not be our only visit to the Knoxville Zoo, maybe when its cooler ..The zoo is set up for the kids enjoyment with splash pads and interactive thing to keep them interested.

We recently visited the Zoo Knoxville. It advertised four elephants but there was only one and it was so far back in the pen you could only see part of it. Same thing with the bears, supposedly more than one but only one was in the habitat and you could only see one of its' legs. That was the pattern all through the zoo. Very few animals and the ones that were there were so far back they were hard to see or you could only see a paw or nose or...Definitely a BIG WASTE of money and time. Extremely disappointed. We felt like asking for a refund.

Also, they don't allow reservations on scooters and when we arrived we were told there were several available. When we went to get one they told us they didn't have any but after complaining to the people at the gate they "found" the "last one".

The exit throught the gift shop was ridiculous. We decided not to buy souveniers as it felt like we were being forced to.

I wouldn't waste the time or money and would definitely not recommend it to anyone else.

There are too many other things to see and do in the area to waste time at this particular zoo.

We took our 15 month old grandchild with a target of the Wee Play area and were not disappointed. It might be a little better 2+ but still fun and interactive even for ours. Tunnels books appropriate height animal views. Very nice. We regret not doing much of the rest of the zoo as hot and ours a little fussy. But we did get a great talk up close and in person (in bird-son?) on their pet grey crown crane Dan.

Pretty good zoo with a good variety of animals. We enjoyed seeing the elephants, giraffes, rhinos, zebras, red pandas, reptiles, monkeys, & birds. Some exhibits need to be updated, which they are doing with the new ARC building. The "Bistro" snack bar was a poor experience...slow, expensive, and Covid guidelines not followed. Overall, a good experience.

As a grandma and mom of a 4 & 1 year old making an overnight stop in Knoxville, we chose to make an Am zoo stop before leaving town and SO Glad we did!
This zoo is VERY family and kid friendly: lots of shade, misting areas, splash pads with changing areas, and smooth paths for wagons & strollers.
And the animal areas are good too. A new baby giraffe was just born this week and the zoo is very clean.
With a 9 am opening, we bought tickets online and walked right in to maximize time.
Definitely make this a stop when you have time in Knoxville!!

Great zoo
All of the staff are super friendly & I really enjoyed all of the habitats they have. The entire place was clean as well

Took our grandchildren & their parents to this zoo. It was great. The children loved it & we were all impressed at the variety of animals they had plus the cleanliness & orderliness of the place. It was easily navigated, too, so we had a splendid visit. We’ll go back.

The zoo is charging way too much for what they have. It only took us about an hr to go through there at $26 each. Was expecting a lot more for the money.

My husband and I visited the zoo on Saturday, 5/24. We enjoyed our visit. There were several viewing areas that were roped off due to coronavirus, but we appreciated the extra safety measures. The zoo has enough of the “big” animals to keep it exciting, but it’s not so huge that you feel overwhelmed. There was a lot of construction, but that clearly means that they are working on needed upgrades. The langar and gibbon exhibit was awesome, as well as the tigers!

The biggest disappointment for us was the rudeness of the staff that we encountered. Most were helpful, but once we got to the gorilla encounter we were interested in learning more about them than what was written on the board. My husband asked about how many gorillas were there, and was going to ask several other more specific questions than what was listed on the board of information. When he asked we were given a snarky look (as if to say duh, the board is right here)and a hand wave at the information board. She was also shooing certain people out of the viewing area (granted to make space for others to come in and see), but allowing others to stay longer without saying anything to them.

So, overall we enjoyed our visit, but I suggest that your keepers go out of their way to help us learn about the animals that are in your care rather than treating your customer rudely for asking questions. How else can we learn and contribute to conservation efforts?

The Knoxville Zoo is a gem for a city of this size. The heritage of the zoo is deep, reaching to the renowned Jack Hannah. Great variety of animals. This is a MUST for families & individuals!

So PROUD of Knoxville's Zoo! It doesn't get any better IMO. The River Otters were little show-offs, a true joy to watch!

My wife and I love zoos. So on our way to pick up our oldest child, we took our youngest to this one. Overall it was a nice zoo. We were there the day Peppa Pig was there. We waited in line for a few minutes, but decided we were better off leaving.
We just bribed our youngest with Dippin Dots, and she was fine. My youngest loved the splash pad. Unfortunately the day we were there, something happened and it had to close and didn't reopen before we left. She also enjoyed the Wee Play Adventure. The exhibits were nice. I especially liked how some of them allowed you to see the animals when they were inside or when they were outside. LOVED the baby Gorilla's. They also have the old fashioned wax machine molds. LOVED this as it took me back to my childhood. It also allowed me to extend my collection that I started when we visited the Toledo Zoo. Only animal we didn't get to see was the black bear...not sure where it was, but then again, just go stay in a cabin in Gatlinburg and you'll probably see one in the wild.

The zoo is hilly, but hey, it's great exercise. Also, we thought the parking was a little confusing as the small lot close to the entrance was full, and no one was around to direct people to the lot that is down the hill. So everyone was wasting time driving around the main upper parking area when it was full. Only other thing we didn't enjoy was the pizza inside of the Wee Play Adventure. It looked good, but didn't have any flavor to it.

Overall it was a nice zoo, and we'll definitely consider visiting again.

The zoo is large so plan to spend a good part of your day. All of the animals were out when we were there but the kids seemed to go bananas over the apes. We didn't see any of the shows so would like to come back for those.

We visited the zoo the other day. We were kind of bummed that the turtles weren't out. We understood because of the weather. A staff member was walking by and heard us talking about it. He took us in the back to see them! It was amazing. We will definitely be back in the future!

Excellent venue for kids. Lots of animals and activities. The zoo is laid very well. Should take about 4 or 5 hours. Lots of walking but very enjoyable.

We live near this zoo and choose to get annual passes. Day tickets are expensive. Food and drink charges are high. The zoo itself has spacious walkways, nice viewing spots and several kids areas. The splash pad, included in the price, is lots of fun. There is a play area and sandbox, and an indoor play area perfect to cool off/warm up or when it rains. One downside is that there are always areas under construction, ongoing for years now.

We arrived around lunch and the temperature outside was 95 deg. Hotter probably on concrete and asphalt. I went in thinking that i was going to be miserably hot but there is plenty of shade and they have mist stations. I would not worry about the heat. The zoo was clean and the staff was fantastic. It is a pleasure to go to an adventure and have the staff may you feel like you are really wanted. The Knoxville Zoo exceeded my expectations.

Adorable little zoo. About two hours with three teens. Plenty to do for younger children- petting zoo and playground.

Lots of animals. The Monkeys were entertaining and fun to watch.

Very, very slow customer service at the concession stand and pretty expensive--$3.25 for a bottle of water.

Ample parking.

So does this zoo have animals? I would say 80 percent of the exhibits were empty or it might have been that the animals were inside but what ever reason the kids were disappointed. The carousel was the best part along with the east play area and splash pad. Perhaps it is better in cooler weather?

My wife and I took my grandson (who is almost 3 yrs old) and had a grand time. We first went to see gibbons, otters, etc. Then headed back to the penguins and big game. He loved watching the chimps and gorillas wrestling in their pens. Also liked “hiding from Nana” in the caves. Finally we headed toward the front of the park where he played in the huge sand pit and slid on the tunnel slide. I think there is enough for a half-day of entertainment... even for an energetic kiddo!!

We have annual passes and our kids (3&5) absolutely love coming here! Even in the winter there’s enough in-doors to keep everyone entertained. Even after 50+ trips the kids ask weekly to come. The new exhibits are fantastic and there’s plenty of play areas for the kiddos. Lots of choices to eat and drink and most importantly restrooms located everywhere.

The new splash plan was a huge hit and with only one entrance/exit it was easy to keep an eye on the kids.

Staff are always very pleasant and professional and you can tell the animals are loved and taken care of.

Love this place and highly recommend !

We went on a Saturday morning at opening. Animals were very active, playing and eating, and helpful keepers were out with animals for kids to touch. The zoo was arranged well, habitats looked mostly natural, and there was a good selection of animals. Experiences like giraffe feeding and camel rides were reasonably priced. Cleanliness was not the absolute best, but I’m very picky and it was a busy Fall Break weekend. We would definitely go back to Zoo Knoxville!

Underwhelming. We got to the park at 1pm and assumed closing was at 5. Most animals were unavailable, or put away by 3. Seemed like we were there at closing time. Enclosures weren't top notch with limited living space. Kind of made us sad for the animals.

Zoo Knoxville is well worth a visit for anyone who likes zoos. We like zoos and have visited over 15 all over the U.S. This is not a large zoo, but for a smaller city is is quite nice. The property is very park like with lovely hills and fauna, it is clean, and the exhibits are well laid out. We were particularly impressed with the Gibbon exhibit and loved the Red Pandas.

During the winter months, fewer animals are on exhibit. However, there are reduced admission rates. There are new exhibits since our last visit a few years ago. The tiger exhibit is fairly new. We loved watching the 4 or 5 baby gorillas. They were very playful! There are several play areas for kids throughout the zoo. None of the eating places are open during winter hours.

My husband and I along with our 22 and 18 year old daughters decided to visit the Knoxville zoo last week when our other plans fell through. I was less than excited about spending the day sweaty and looking at caged animals. We were more than pleasantly surprised. More than half of the zoo is shaded with very large mature trees or covered walkways and the areas that are in the sun are well covered with fans and misters. Of course, we got hot but it was not miserably so.

Also, the zoo does an excellent job of recreating to the best of their abilities, the natural habitats of the animals they house. There are also very good explanations with each area as to how the zoo is contributing to the health and repopulation of endangered or threatened species.

Our favorite areas were the giraffes (you can feed them at certain times for a small extra fee), the elephants and the tigers.

The only downside we experienced was it was past peak season, so not all concessions were open, it is pricey to eat there (not surprising) and it is very close to the interstate and at times the traffic noise is quite loud. They have done the best they can with this situation...you cannot see the highway but trees can only partially buffer noise.

Very enjoyable day overall.

If you haven't been in awhile, the newer exhibits like Otter Creek and the new reptile house are worth seeing. And some of the newer ones, like the Tiger house and the gibbons rope bridges, are great. And of course, red pandas!

Average zoo experience, came here often in my animal science curriculum at UT. Loved the Red Pandas and and new reptile exhibit. I volunteered here for Boo at the Zoo to hand out candy to children during the month of October, so a great place to bring small children around Halloween. Very clean, very knowledgeable staff. I’ve been to zoos all over the country, and besides the Red Panda conservation efforts there isn’t a lot of difference between most other zoos. The zoo itself is not in the nicest of areas in Knoxville, so be sure to follow the GPS when venturing to the zoo. My first trip in 2015 we took a wrong turn and did not feel the safest in the neighborhood we happened to drive into. If you are crunched for time in your visit to Knoxville I would skip this attraction as there are other things that would be a better use of your time like Market Square, of Ijams Nature Center. For kids, well it’s a zoo, a regular zoo with regular zoo animals.

My wife and I enjoy visiting different zoos when we travel. We were impressed by Zoo Knoxville. The two zoos close to us in Central Florida don’t have the variety of animals that Zoo Knoxville does. We were able to observe and photograph the gorillas and tigers through the glass observation windows and not chain link fencing or bars. The zoo seemed clean and well maintained. Food was mediocre but that is to be expected. Would definitely visit again.

We had such a great time at the zoo. I hadn’t been in about 2 years. The Zoo had an awesome tiger exhibit which was new to me also the rhino exhibit was up close. We were 15 feet from the rhinos which were in the mud. Thanks Knoxville Zoo. There is a lot more that I could say such as they now have a splash pad, fan misters to help you stay cool and many indoor exhibits and places to rest. Fun day!

We have 3 children ranging from 2 yrs-7 yrs old. Our whole family enjoys trips to the zoo. There is a splash pad to play in during the summer. There is also an outdoor & an indoor play area that all the kids can play in. They are continually upgrading the facilities & building new, more natural enclosures. We have family passes & definately get our money's worth every year

Absolutely disappointed with the Zoo Knoxville Staff today! After spending 15 mins in line to get in the gate, we were turned back to guest services desk, because our annual passes were printed wrong on July 2nd, which I questioned then, and the young lady working with us ensured us it would show up when they scanned it. We had no issues on 7/2, but today we were turned away. We had to stand in line 25 mins to get that fixed, this lady seemed to think it wasn’t a big deal, that someone else made a mistake, and didn’t fix it when questioned, and then stand in line to get in the line to get in, another 20 mins! Just as we were walking up to the Peppa pig line, a lady walked up and said they were cutting off the line. We had been trying to get there for an hour! And there was nothing that could be done. My special needs daughter was completely distraught, she was so excited to see Peppa pig, and didn’t understand because we were there in plenty of time. Arriving at 11:15, line was cut off at 12:30, Peppa was there till 2pm! So sad!

Also, handicap parking is VERY slim (only 24 spaces in the entire Zoo), this makes it very very difficult for special needs families to attend. Thank goodness that we had our daughters medics stroller and could ride the shuttle, but if we would have had her wheelchair. That would have been much more difficult to get from lower end parking lot, up the big incline to get threw to get to the zoo entrance. It would certainly be nice if one of the sections of closer parking lots could’ve turned into handicap parking as well! It would certainly make it a lot easier on families like ours.

There were few exhibits empty, and several that just looked run down. Even a tie out and log chain in an exhibit, not certain why any animal would be tied up in a zoo...Several nice new exhibits were there as well. But seems like the new exhibits have all the attention. We hope the next time we visit there, it is a much better experience.

My teenage daughter and I visited the Knoxville Zoo on 4-13-19. It’s honestly been a few years since we’ve visited and I was pleasantly surprised by the changes that have been made. We intend on returning later this month and taking more family members with us. We can’t wait to see Georgie, the gibbons monkey again 🤗

I would not recommend coming in March, very little animals were out; very expensive for what little you actually seen. Some of the enclosure’s were under construction and the ones that weren’t didn’t have a lot of animals in them. We were very disappointed.

It was senior day and we got ion free, otherwise would not pay the high price for a visit unless alot of updating completed. The animals looked tired and the walkways were unkempt. Parking not great for seniors with walking issues even with tram. We have been to similar city size zoos that were much more up to date and more enjoyable. Somewhat disappointed but in all fairness when construction is completed and new exhibits may give it one more try.

Visiting Knoxville and decided to take my 14 year old granddaughter to the zoo - just to hang out and visit. Pleasantly surprised by the variety of animals - - a little different from other zoos we have visited. The weather was nice and few animals were off display or just "hiding". Best of all, they were all fairly close - - - not far out in some field but easy to see. Will be returning with the rest of the family.

My wife and I decided to venture out from pigeon Forge, Tennessee, road to Knoxville and spent a good part of the afternoon at their zoo. A wonderful experience lots of interaction is available. Also got to see some great animals that you don’t normally get to see. Seem to be a lot of things for children to do. It would be a great family outing experience.

What beautiful renovations they have done lately. Lovely place to spend a day. We came on a deep discount day but would have been worth full price.

We have been to many zoos & this is one close to the top. Animals are all very clean as well as their habitats. You can tell a lot of thought has gone into making sure the animals feel as close as possible to their natural environment. Veterans get in 4 free w/ID. Wide array of animals. Party of 4 one being a teen, all we’re very pleased. Took us about 3hrs.

Wonderful Zoo. My kids loved it (4 and 5). They realllly loved the zip line! Great area in general. Knoxville is a lovely city

Visited Zoo Knoxville during a recent trip to the Smoky Moutain area. Used our zoo pass from our home zoo to get 50% off admission. Some great new exhibits and red pandas are always a hit. Animals look well cared for and content.

Visited with visiting family, adults, teenagers and kids. Something for everyone. I particularly liked the Mountain gorillas.

I love zoos! Used my reciprocal zoo membership to get in for half price! Loved the elephants and girraffes

We love to visit zoos in different cities and this one didn’t disappoint! We felt like we were able to get pretty close to the bears and the tigers and there were turtles everywhere plus lots of elephants!

A nice zoo, well kept, Great red panda program, babies weren't on exhibit. Enjoyed the day, a little concerned about a red wolf and a painted dog...where are the rest of them?

We had a great time there. It was a little chilly and some animals have the ability to go inside but most places have a viewing area in case they are inside. The price was fair and the shuttle runs constantly to and from the parking lot. The food places must close during the winter as none were open so keep that in mind. There was no food or drinks available.

We visited on a 90 degree day so we only saw half the zoo before us old folks were worn out. We loved the fact that the exhibits were fairly close to each other and didnt have long treks between them. Although hot all the a animals were out and some were very playful including three young apes who played tag continuously. The white Rhinos were also a treat to see. Will definitely return on a cooler day.

The kids really had a good time. The animals were much more active in the cooler weather. My only dislike is that you must exit through the gift shop. You're not getting out without buying something for the kiddos.

So enjoyed our visit today. I had never been but my friend had. It was a coolish morning perfect for walking around. I must say there is a lot of construction going. I can only imagine what is coming next Spring. We sure enjoyed the gibbons & their antics. The river otters evaded us but we heard they are quite the delight to see. The Asian area was beautiful. Kudos to the landscapers here and also especially at the Lion areas. The camels were very shy and would peek out but this day not much into socializing with us. We saw elephants but no zebras. We loved the giraffes! Luckily we met a zoo employee while at the Lions area & got some great info. Friendly, outgoing & informative staff! The gorillas were amusing & heart warming with their blankets & toys. Chimpanzees were more interested in eating but still kept our rapt attention. We enjoyed all the native plants although we did see some non native. Fall is a lovely time to visit. We even checked out the kids zone and was impressed to see so many children having a great time. There is a lot to see. It is very engaging, informative & fun. There was plenty of parking and lots of spots to take a break.

I’m not sure if it was due to the time of day we visited or if they’ve had to make some cutbacks due to the pandemic but we were pretty disappointed. There were a lot of empty exhibits and the ones that weren’t empty were pretty uneventful. The majority of the concessions were closed too. We were hoping for more.

I grew up in Knoxville, but hadn't been to the zoo in years. It was such an amazing place to visit. The changes are so beautiful! We also had an excellent meal while we were resting and getting out of the heat. There was so much to do and to see.

When visit Gatlinburg annually we carve a 1/2 day out just to visit here, we and our kids love it. It is large, clean, has safe parking, is well maintained and laid out, has friendly informative staff, and is priced just right. Lots to see and do and enjoy and experience, highly recommend!

Let me start by saying thank you for the free visit my nephew received during hurricane Florence. However I paid full price. Which was a bit HIGH. But the little guy wanted to see the animals. I was so VERY disappointed. We arrived when it opened. The animals must of slept in or were still eating. It was a like a game of hide and seek.. Because we were seeking and the animals were hiding..
Dead ends everyturn. Not everyturn but ALOT.. More signs or better signs needed. Food was Way over priced.. ZOO WAS VERY CLEAN.

My 1.5 year old granddaughter had a good time, but the zoo’s current state is a bit pathetic for older kids and adults. Lots of exhibits roped off, lots of construction, minimal animals, glass barriers that were dirty and not easy to see through because of glare - were just some of the reasons that we gave it poor marks. And today it was really warm, almost hot, lots of visitors and most snack stands were closed. Lastly - this place isn’t cheap. 2 adults and a free toddler was over $40. I don’t mind to pay for quality, but I do mind paying for mediocrity.

Either shape up or close it down.

We took our 4 year old granddaughter to the Zoo Knoxville. We were disappointed. We arrived around 10:30 am and most of the animals were not out in their habitats. We stopped for lunch at the grill. Customer service was not present at all. We finally ordered our food. They were out of some of the items we asked about. Our food was definitely not worth what we paid for it. The hamburger buns were stale and the patties were very thin. We went to the Africa section and most of the shops/dipping dot stations were closed. The young ladies at the train ride were nice and were great with our granddaughter. She also enjoyed the splash pad but the girl on lifeguard duty was not attentive and looked like she was bored. As we were leaving, we stopped by the gift shop. They were out of toddler sized apparel. We asked about it and were told they were in mid season slump and that the items there were the only things available. We will not waste our money as time going back. We will go back to Riverbanks Zoo in SC.

My wife and I love this zoo. The new tiger exhibit and the other one is amazing. I highly recommend this place if you are in town.

There was a lot of construction going on so this may be part of it but I was disappointed. There was a lot of walking and not a lot to be seen. I tend to visit a lot of Zoos in my travels and this is definitely the lowest on my list. Hopefully the new features that they are working on will make this better. Parking was tight. I watched someone come within inches of backing into another car due to the undersized parking lot. I would pass this or at least wait until they are done with all the construction.

Zoo Knoxville is a non-profit conservation organization that is dedicated to saving species from extinction! As an avid animal lover I greatly appreciate the measures that are being taken to not only protect endangered species, but provide an essential path forward. Engaging and enriching indoor and outdoor naturalistic habitats provide an excellent quality atmosphere for each of the animal residents. With over fifty acres, a world-renowned red panda conservation program, accreditation by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) as well as multiple species survival plans this zoo is a complete package. We all must remember that a visit to a zoo, will not always provide us with the availability to see all of the many animals. A great deal of effort is put into the animals' habitats, which allows for them to gain refuge for their health and well-being. Animals have a wide range of emotional, behavioral and physical needs, which are always changing and evolving. A visit to the zoo now, will provide the opportunity to watch and appreciate the steller beauty of Tonka, the largest bull African Elephant in North America. He is preparing to leave the zoo as a senior elephant, living the remainder of his life in retirement at the Elephant Sanctuary in Hohenwald, Tennessee. There are so many amazing personalities at Zoo Knoxville we have bonded with. Georgie, a white-handed Gibbon is quite literally a star along with his mate, Malay. The Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Campus (ARC) houses some of the most endangered species on earth. Highlights include: a Linnaeus' two-toed Sloth named, Joe, who enjoys hanging around in a specialty designed tree. Just around the bend are a pair of Cuban Crocodiles, Miguel and Rose. The acrobatic powerhouses will not disappoint if you happen to get to view a feeding session during an animal encounter with them. Definitely check the daily schedule online through the zoo website. The important array of different animal species is varied and significantly large. Upon entering you will find North American Black Bears, North American River Otters, Malayan Tigers, Western Lowland Gorillas, the elegant White-naped Cranes, Silvered Leaf Langurs, African Lions, Hamadryas Baboons, Giraffes and Zebras, the endangered Chacoan Peccaries, Chimpanzees, the critically endangered Red Wolf, Ruby, the Yellow-backed Duiker, Dolly, a White Rhinoceros, who is fifty-five and living in her golden years, slow and steadfast. There are also different tortoise species, as well as different varieties of birds. Many animal residents at Zoo Knoxville are long-standing seniors. My family had the pleasure of meeting several well respected members of this community. Heather, a Park Ranger at the Zoo is extremely knowledgeable, compassionate and went out of her way to accommodate everyone she came in contact with. Naturally, with eager excitement and the power of positivity for the love and respect of animals and their well-being was always evident. She is an amazing asset to this zoo along with Trainers, Rebecca and Lisa! These three ladies were exceptional and spent much appreciated time bringing two spectacular species of birds out to visit with the zoo guests. We have such wonderful memories meeting two very unique and special Macaws. Opie, a Scarlet and Spencer, a Hyacinth Parrot, whom delighted and entertained the many who watched their amusing mannerisms. Thank you all for the valuable love and attention that is provided to every single animal within your care on a daily basis!
*The Derringer Family*

Every time we travel to Pigeon forge I make the short trip over to visit. It is such a family friendly zoo with such happy animals. They have art work scattered around to make it just a little more enjoyable and pleasant on the eyes. Hopefully one day they bring back the Christmas zoo lights. They were extremally beautiful. Can't wait to go back.

We were there Tuesday for the day with our 4 year old grandson. We all enjoyed ourselves. My favorite was the Red Panda's. My grandson was so excited with each animal he seen. I love all the areas in the shade to take a break. The park is beautiful.

The animals at this zoo are the most interactive that I’ve ever seen. Georgie, a gibbon, would come right up to you and was very curious. The baboons, tiger, gorilla, wolves, and giraffe did the same thing. So many different animals interacted with the visitors. They appear to be very well taken care of. The enclosures were very large. This would be a great summer activity as there are plenty of shaded areas. They also have some heated rooms in the winter for visitors for viewing animals.

We were at the park 20 minutes after opening. The park didn’t display a welcoming atmosphere that early. Things perked up around 10:00. Very few animals compared to other zoos visited. The elephant was not out in the yard even when we left. Maybe we expected too much for an early April visit.

$6.00 hotdog near what was the Elephant building was discussing, very greasy.
Provide quality, neither my, 3 year old, Grandson or myself got past the first bite.
Maybe have a buyer who eats what they order for sale.

We’ve been several times but this is the first time in the summer. They have been working hard on adding new experiences and we love the new exhibits. Love the variety of animals and the enclosures are so cool to explore. I love how they have areas for little ones and our toddler loved exploring. We are NC Zoo/Aquarium members and we appreciate how they offer discounted admission to members through the reciprocity program. Parking is easy and the zoo is stroller friendly. Food options were yummy and we really appreciate the complimentary sunscreen stations. We also loved the bee exhibit.

If you're animal/conservation nerds like me and my friends please don't go here. If the repetitive pacing and lack of enrichment in their enclosures don't clue you on how depressed they are, the size of their enclosures and the sleeping all day sure will. The fact that the gift shop is 4x the size of the red panda enclosure is abhorrent and truly a testament to how much they care about these animals. I could write a book about the amount of issues we saw during our visit but for the sake of time please just take my advice and take your money somewhere where they actually care about their animals.

I loved this zoo. The newer part was definitely nice. The ape and gorillas habitat was my biggest let down but it could have been because that was the last place we went too. I liked how close you could get to the animal and all the different views they provided for you.

Knoxville has a great zoo! Many of the animals are in natural surroundings and not just cages. Plenty for little kids and adults to do & see. Just big enough to fill the day & see everything.

Great visit today and the animals were all out and about.
Saw Georgie the Gibbon entertaining everyone. Also love new baby Giraffe Bea..All employees so nice.
Very clean accommodations.

The addition of a splash park for the younger kids is perfect! When it gets hot just go there and cool off. The adults can just sit on the side while the kids get wet so bring swimwear for them.

A day at the zoo with my 9 year old granddaughter was awesome!
The environment was great, the staff was friendly, and the entire area was very well kept.
The gift shop had a lot of nice affordable Items to purchase.
The splash pad was awesome for the children to play in the water and cool off.
The food in the restaurant was good and at a fair price.
I can’t say enough about how awesome the Knoxville Zoo is.

A midtier zoo that ranks pretty highly compared to others of the same size. Several exhibits were closed for the winter, but it was still an enjoyable and worthwhile experience. Definitely a place that cares for their animals and tries to create an environment rather than imprison them.

Love the Knoxville Zoo. Visit many all over the states. This is one of my favorite! It is easy to walk around see lots of animals and very well taken care of.

It was a wonderful birthday! I hadn't been to the zoo since they added the splash pad so, that was a very nice experience for the super hot kiddos. It was during recycling days so, we each took something plastic to recycle and got in for $10. Like other fun days, even though you go when there is a special, it's still expensive. I was glad the kids were too tired to even ask for anything in the gift shop though you get a 10% off coupon on the back of your parking ticket. I was glad to see them enjoying the animals.

I’ve lived near Knoxville for 20 years now. And the Zoo is always the same. No animals to be seen!!!

Based on reading reviews on this site, I had low expectations for Zoo Knoxville. My 11 year old daughter and I went today and I was pleasantly surprised all day long. We loved it so much that we upgraded our tickets to an annual family pass. There were so many magnificent animals that we could see very clearly. My daughter loved riding the camel. Watching the elephants eat was so fun. We got to see young gorillas wrestling, swinging gibbons, baboons and SO much else. The zoo is well maintained, the volunteers are friendly and helpful, the misters and splash pad cooled us off and the cost is reasonable considering the upkeep on these animals. Good job Knoxville. We will be back.

My husband and I haven’t been in five or so years and it has really grown! We love the new exhibits and the closeness that you can get to the animals. Our favorites were the tiger exhibit and the gibbon exhibit. We also loved watching people feed the giraffes. Great couples day. We have visited a few bigger city zoos and our zoo is way better!! We highly recommend the Knoxville Zoo.

Got there around lunch time and stayed til closing 4pm. Never ran into any crowds staff was amazing! Best zoo experience we have had zoo was very clean!

As a parent with a toddler, I am always looking to get my child engaged outside of the home. Zoo Knoxville is always a great visit for the family and educational. The annual pass is a no brainer for those living in Knoxville or in the surrounding areas.

We took my three year old here on vacation. The animal exhibits were nice and kept well but the paddocks were small. The animals were not active so it was kind of boring. I know that’s not the zoos fault. The price for the wrist band to ride the train and carrousel was way over priced. Just buy the ticket when you get to that ride. Our favorite exhibit was the gibbons and monkeys.

We have year passes here we love it so much! It's not the largest zoo but they always seem to have fun activities all around. Random animal encounters such as spiders or owls or snakes are pretty common! You can actually feed a Giraffe and then watch baboons while kid play on the splash pad if you want to! Zoo Knoxville is always doing events to help the animals and you can tell they are well cared for and loved. Honestly it's great for family but also for an afternoon date or even by yourself! Walking around with some icecream just puts a smile on anyone's face.

I love the Knoxville Zoo! The lions are my favorite and I've enjoyed seeing the lion cubs that were born last year. I also love the red pandas and the gorillas are so fun to watch. One of my favorite zoos I have been to.

We like visiting the local zoos as we travel. We were not impressed. Management should have the exhibits cleaned and sanitized prior to opening the gates as it was still 11:00 am and we still didn’t see the elephants as the staff was still cleaning. Many of the other exhibits were the same. If your going to open the doors at 9:00 then visitors should see the animals in the exhibits not the staff cleaning. Hopefully the elephants were on display later that day. We will not be returning to this zoo any time soon. Very disappointed.

We visited the Zoo Knoxville on August 31, 2019, and thoroughly enjoyed it. The exhibits were neat, clean, and the animals appeared to be well cared for. All the staff that we interacted with were very friendly and courteous. I highly recommend it!

Wonderful place to visit. The zoo was clean with no trash all over the ground like must of the other Zoo's I visited in other states. The staff stood out for me. I brought my daughter to the zoo. We brought our stroller. It was a challenge for me to push the empty stroller around since my daughter just wanted to walk on her own. A staff member stored my personal stroller for me while we enjoyed the rest of the zoo. To me, this was above and beyond. The zoo rents strollers (single, double and bigger) so they did not have to store mine. I was grateful for this. This zoo offers discounts for Veterans and seniors. Now that I live close to the zoo. I am now an annual pass holder/member and will soon be a volunteer and contributor to the zoo. If you are in the area you must visit. My daughters favorite animal is the Red Panda. I have been here 4 times. We go about 3-4 times a month. The Zoo is always making changes and improvements.

Young. Old. Middle aged. It doesn’t matter! You must visit this beautiful zoo. We are not natives to the area, but we visits lots of zoos. This one is up there on our list! There is ample shade, cooling stations, and snack areas to keep everyone safe and well on hot days. And they have a splash area for kids (old and young). The tigers and gorillas were the superstars of the day!

Just an ok zoo. Paid for our tickets and parking online in advance then when get there nobody charging for parking so they made a $5 profit off of us. Not happy with that. The zoo was just ok...no elephants, no zebras, no hippos. Only two small giraffes etc. The rhinos were neat to see. It is very spread out and hilly. It is very convenient from the interstate...its right next to it so easy to jump on and off. We didn't eat any food. Gift shop was just ok. We just weren't that impressed. Memphis and Atlanta zoos are a lot better.

Spent the day at zoo with teenage grandchildren, everyone had a good time. Small zoo, took about 1 1/2 hour to walk around. Well layout and friendly staff.
Appreciated that military had free access, Thank you.

Took the kiddos. They/We had the best time! It was very hot - thank goodness for the splash pad. It definitely saved the day! Very clean and educational Zoo. Thank you

The Knoxville Zoo has a great selection of animals in nice habitats, with a good layout. The signage is sometimes lacking - some animals had no signs at all (we think we saw a large red-tailed hawk in an enclosure with no sign at all, and there was an animal like a donkey or duiker in the enclosure with the zebras and giraffes that we couldn’t find any sign for), some signs are just wrong.

We really enjoyed our visit. Some things were closed because of Covid, but they have a nice selection of animals to see.

My wife and I became annual pass-holders and really enjoy going often. We have a 2-year-old daughter who loves the animals and many activities for young children as well. They have a giant sandbox, multiple playgrounds (one outdoor and one indoor), and even a splash pad in the summer. Those don’t even include the activities that you pay extra for like the train ride, the carousel, and the camel rides. The facilities are well maintained, the animals are happy and well taken care of, and the staff is friendly and informative! Definitely check out this zoo and, if you live in the area, purchase annual passes. They have such value!

Amazing place with so many beautiful animals! We spent 6 hours there and my kids loved it ;) we will definitely go back next time we are in Tennessee

Whenever my family travels to other states, we like to visit the local zoo. Zoo Knoxville is pretty amazing. The exhibits are set in such a way that you can see the animals from various angles. There are playgrounds throughout which made it more entertaining for our young child. The splash zone is super fun! With the size of the zoo, if you do get wet with the kids, you will be dry by the time you see everything. This is the first zoo we have visited that has plastic molding machines. You can watch the machine mold your little plastic animal souvenir. They are a bit more pricey than a pressed penny, but it was fun making them. A visit to this zoo is definitely worth the time.

Very Nice experience at the Feast with the Beast event the was held at the zoo. Very clean and plenty of areas to rest your tired feet. Beware: If taking an Uber, their directions will send them to the back gate. Let the driver know in the comments that you are at the front gate so they can adjust their directions. Other than that...it was a great time.

We were so disappointed with the Knoxville Zoo. My family has visited Toledo, Columbus, and Cleveland, Tampa, Binder, and Detroit Zoo and this was our least favorite.

Several animals were not on exhibit and there was no sign stating this.

The zoo grounds were terrible. Overgrown and unkept.

Not as many animals as I hoped for.

Most exhibits had double pane glass and depending on the position of the sun it made it hard to see the exhibit. The glass was also covered in condensation which was an added difficulties.

This was a great zoo. They had wonderful caring keepers. This is the first time we ever saw a bull elephant respond so we'll to his keepers. Totally enjoyable. There grill. Had the best chicken fingers ever.

Do you like animals? Of course you do, you're not a monster! It's a zoo, they have animals, more animals, and a lot more animals! There's plenty of opportunity to see all of the wonderful creatures of the earth, (including some Eastern Tennessee folk that'll be sure to amaze and "WOW" you! Like, who even wears some of the things that these people wear in public? Sheesh!)

But yeah, there's no way you wont have a fantastic time!

What a wonderful time we had!!! All the animals were out so we could see them. The staff was very attentive to any questions we had. Food and drinks are a little pricey but it was worth the money we spent. The park is very well maintained and it was a velvet enjoyable time for us. From feeding the giraffe June Bug to riding the camel.

Trim paved walking trails . watch the ducks in the water splashing around and just chill. Great place to have some fun.

November is 99 cents and a can of dog food for admission. Two cans are better right? The weather is still nice, the staff is awesome and the animals are waiting to see you. It is an A to Z place that will keep you entertained. Kids will have a blast!

Upon entering, we were directed into a line for school pickup and we were not there for that particular event. So we sat in the parking lot for about an hour, as there was no way out. Seriously, I guess the people at this zoo do not understand what signs are for. Horrible place.

My family and I went with our young daughter and we enjoyed ourselves very much. They opened the new tiger area and it was beautiful. Everyone that worked there was incredible and so friendly and knowledgeable.
Downside was there is a lot of construction I’m assuming for new animals. And the lions paced a lot they seemed unhappy, but all the other animals were well taken care of and looked happy.
We will definitely be back we had a great time and it’s definitely kid friendly.

Tonight my husband and our 10 months daughter experience Boo at the Zoo for the first time. It was also our daughter Abigail's first Halloween experience so it will always hold a special place in my heart thank you for making tonight so amazing.
Also your staff we're so friendly. We had such a good time. I think this might have to be an annual thing we do every year.

I still have sticker shock from the price of admission to our sweet little zoo. ( I guess tigers gotta eat $$$) It had been years since I visited but I wanted to take my babygirl to see the tigers. The exhibits are fine, a little squished from everyone squeezing in and hogging the view. The reptiles were closed and that was disappointing since my girl is snake crazed. Stopped in for a quick bite during the visit and my group’s food was great. Wish I could remember the name of where we ate but it was roomy and a good variety, even for my vegetarian buddy. The otters and large turtles are adorable but it was challenging to get a spot up close on this moderately crowded day. My girl did get a great glimpse of a tiger and it thrilled her. We climbed up the giraffe feeding area but skipped feeding the giraffe- will do when she is a little older. I want to mention The splash pad was crowded with preteens and just not a safe place for a 19 month old with unsteady footing.
In addition to this visit, my family attended a wedding at the zoo one evening a year or two ago. It was really fabulous. The ceremony was by the elephants and the reception was under a large tent. Transportation was available for anyone needing a lift across the zoo and made the bride and groom’s older family members have a better time all around from not being exhausted.
I’ll go back next year but we will not be attending regularly. $20 per person adds up fast. I’ll wait until my daughter can get a better view of the animals. Hopeful that future renovations will make the zoo more child friendly.

A hilly walk of about 4 hrs. If you have young children bring a 'wet set' of clothes, as they have a splash pad area. The Giraffe area has ability to buy food, climb up high and fee the giraffe face-to-face (way cool).
Overall pretty good. Season pass is the way to go if you live near by and have little ones (note splash pad).

I grew up in St. Louis, home to one of the best zoos in the world (free admission), so The Knoxville Zoo looks pretty small scale and expensive to me. In retrospect, my grandkids really enjoy it. There are some great large animal displays, bird shows, play areas and a spray park. If you've got kids it's worth a visit, though kind of pricey. I especially recommend it for those living in the area. Get a season pass and go often for the best value. If your time is quite limited, however, save your pennies for a visit to a major urban zoo.

We decided to visit Zoo Knoxville while spending some time in the area. It was a cool morning and we arrived just after it opened. Parking was easy and close. I had purchased tickets and parking online. This made entry easy but I'm not sure if anyone would have checked the parking charge if I didn't have it. It would probably be easier to make this part of the entry fee.

Most of the displays were open although some of the animals were not visible, which was disappointing. The elephants, giraffes, and gorillas were active. Most of the exhibits are outside and there weren't crowds so safety was not a concern.

There's quite a bit of construction taking place. It appears that several new exhibits are being added.

While visiting and staying in Gatlinburg we drove to Zoo Knoxville. We brought our 2 1/2 year old grandson with us. It was a great day! There is a wide varitey of animals and most of them were out and moving around. We saw elephants, camels, all kind of primates and many others. The tiger display was amazing. We were there about 5 hours. There is a lot of construction going on right now but once it is finished there will be some great improvements overall. Since it is winter most of the foodservice places were closed. It makes for a great day with children

A high quality animal environment. Outstanding for a city the size of Knoxville. There are several new and/or improved exhibitions and new state of the art structures. Very child friendly. The only down side is the improvements are continuing, therefore some areas of the zoo are closed or are still under construction.
Definitely worth a visit.

We weren't that impressed and had a kiddo leave really unhappy. When we went most of the animals were either hiding or put up (for whatever) reason. We may have seen 10-12 animals at most. We didn't know that it was so hilly. They were out of electric scooter and purchased a wheelchair. It was not easy pushing my mother up and down these hills. We were not told about the hills. Also we looked up the hours and the site I looked at had a different set of hours (which was my fault) but we got there a hour before closing. No one warned us but after being there 30 min we were hot and ready to go

We went while we were vacationing in Pigeon Forge last week. We were slightly disappointed that the tigers weren’t out, but as we sat in their indoor viewing area two came out and walked right up to the glass in front of us! It was an amazing experience! We also weren’t expecting the giraffes to be out because they had a new calf, but they too made an appearance while we were near their enclosure. We have made multiple trips to the Nashville Zoo, but this one was a lot better in our opinion. There were three adults, a twelve year old, an eleven year old, and an eight year old in our group. The kids also enjoyed the splash pad. It was about a 35 mile drive from where we were staying, but it was well worth the trip.

very nice zoo to visit. large assortment of animals and exhibits to see. reasonably priced tickets. and excellent parking.

We took the family to the Knoxville Zoo on a cold Saturday in November. It had been a long time since any of us had been to the zoo. Since it was cold that day, some of the animals were kept inside but despite that we had a really good time. If you asked any of us (there were 8 of us) what our favorite exhibit was you would get different answers. The Asian Tiger exhibit was cool as well as the monkeys, lions, giraffes, rhinos,elephants, and penguins. There was so much to see and do. It took us about 3 hours to go through it. There is plenty of things for the kids to do also such as a petting zoo and a splash pad (both closed when we were there due to the cold weather) and a carousel which costs extra but our granddaughter loved it. We are looking forward to going back during the summer so we can take advantage of all it has to offer. All in all we had a wonderful family day and I would recommend it.

Just your average zoo. A lot of the pens you couldn’t see the animals cause they were inside. I don’t think it’s worth the money. The drinks are ridiculously high priced highly suggest you pack your own drinks and snacks. Don’t go on a hot day as there isn’t really any shade or indoor things to escape the heat for a bit.

I enjoyed this Zoo. I was impressed with the amount of shade trees which made for a comfortable day at the Zoo. Most zoo's aren't this shaded.

The walkways were comfortable to push a transport chair as well.

The animals looked very healthy, and it was fun to ride a camel.

The property was very clean as well.

Didn't purchase anything to eat or drink, prices were a little too high.

An overall great zoo!

Absolutely the best spot on the planet! my family and I loved every moment we spent here. We will absolutely be back again and again.

Smaller zoo, but animals looked cared for. Animals needing bigger area seem to have them. Took about 3 hrs to go through the zoo.

I always love visiting Zoo Knoxville! There are always new and exciting things to see! I especially love the new Asian Trek, The new "Langar Landing and Gibbon Trails" are so interesting. I can even picture myself enjoying the tunnels and overhead passes.
I also enjoy feeding the Giraffes and watching the zoo staff train the giant elephants.
The Gorillas and Chimpanzees have a beautiful area to live and play in.
If you come during the summer, a must is to visit the bird show. Einstein the parrot is the star and has to be the smartest bird in the world. (He's evidently been on most all of the talk TV shows.) And, they now have a new restaurant that I want to try called the "Bistro Cafe" I believe.

We were kind of disappointed with this zoo. It made us appreciate our tiny little zoo a lot more. Didn't see the variety of animals we thought we would for the price of admission, though the big african and asian animals were great. A lot of the exhibits were closed off or didn't have animals in them at all due to "cold weather". It's April it's like 80+ degrees outside. One large section was closed off for members only - also disappointing. I asked for a map at the entrance and was told they don't hand them out anymore. Not so great for people who have never been there before. We got turned around at the tiger exhibit, no signs directing which way to go, and almost missed the reptile and avian section. A map would have been nice, on paper or on display in key locations. The zoo needs serious landscaping (grass along pathway is overgrown, weeds and dead plants in the flower beds), needs a coat of paint, and just general housekeeping in some areas. An update on the signage would be nice, to let you know which buildings you can enter and which ways lead nowhere etc. There were some signs yes but not in every instance. I feel like we probably missed some exhibits just because it didn't look like it was okay to enter, like the red owl barn for instance. The positive? Most of the animals seemed to have decent sized exhibits for their needs compared to other zoos.

Knoxville zoo has really turned into a top notch zoo with the addition of the tiger and monkey exhibits!! We have always enjoyed the zoo but are now yearly zoo membership holders!!

We went at the end of a day with an almost 2 year old. The animals were hot and tired, I'm sure the staff was also. But you couldn't tell. They were so great with her and us. A volunteer spotted us trying to take a selfie and gracisously offered to take a photo for us. We chatted with several of the employees who were all so nice and accommodating. She feed the giraffe but after one bite he got bored and left, they immediately gave us a refund! We had a great day and would recommend to anyone with tiny kiddos!

My family always enjoys going to the zoo, and this is one of our favorites. The size is perfect- not too big but not too small. It makes for a perfect day out with the family. The exhibits are beautiful and the animals all seem very happy. The staff is very friendly and are always happy to help answer any questions from animal care to zoo navigation. This is a zoo we visit often and plan to continue visiting for years so come.

Family of 5. 7 year old 6 year old and 8 month old and 2 adults. We went on a Sunday with their .70 ticket deal. Obviously was very packed however, we were still able to have a great time. The park was clean and has designated smoking spots which is appreciated for someone like myself. I know few will disagree. They are in little cut off areas to keep away from people who dont smoke and children. We will be returning. We always do.

This is the best zoo I have been to. I take my kids atleast once a year. It's absolutely beautiful and has a wide variety of animals. Great for families with children of all ages.

I visited Zoo Knoxville as part of a business trip, where we had a social event at the ARC Centre. The staff were extremely helpful, and everything looked extremely professional. The Zoo clearly does a lot of important conservation work, and I’m upset I didn’t get more time to explore the rest of the zoo.

It was cold and rainy. Although there were a ton of cars there, we never felt crowded or rushed. We took our time seeing everything. They had cool wax machines tgat made animal figures. About 45 min from Gatlinburg. Loved it!

The zoo is beautiful, the staff friendly, and the endangered animals that they are showcasing and caring for are stunning!

Zoo Knoxville is designed so that the closest proximity to the animals there is possible. Many walled open air enclaves have overlook areas that allow excellent for viewing. Many areas have staff giving educational information about the animals they care for. An overall good varied selection of animals.

Took my grandson’s to the Knoxville Zoo. They had a great time. Camel ride was closed due to rain. All exhibits were very good except the bird and reptiles area. The baboons were great and very active. Also, the chimpanzees and gorillas were very active. We had a great. I would go back.

This was definitely the worst zoo I’ve ever been to. In some pictures you could see the ribs of the animals they all looked sad. More than half of the exhibits were closed. 🤦🏻‍♀️ 95% of the exhibits that were open the animals were stuck in small cages with their heads against the walls missing big chunks of hair when looking at the monkeys you could actually see tears in their eyes 😞 😢 at one point one of them had there but bloody Rall and was dragging around a blanket to sit on the animals were not properly taken care of the whole day at the zoo they were locked in cages all these animals were not allowed outside. They advertise zebras but there weren’t any the elephants were stuck in small small spaces that you couldn’t even see them more than 75% of the exhibits your unable too see the animals! This was definitely the worst experience never mind wasting $25 a person it might’ve been worth it to get this place closed these animals need to go to a loving zoo with people that care about them!!!!!! Highly recommend not going to this place boycotting it and allowing the animals to go somewhere where they will be taken care of the lion was crying the whole time!

This small zoo is quaint and I enjoyed the outdoor animal exhibits. I did find some animals I’d not seen in other zoos and enjoyed it in an hours’ time before getting on to another city.

I was quite pleased with this zoo! It was hot when we were there but several exhibits have access to their dens and living areas. It was nice being able to see some of the animals even though they weren't out in their exhibits. Staff was super friendly and helpful. Also, patrons are allowed to bring in food and drinks. That's helpful when trying to save money.

Wonderful easily walkable zoo with all the major attractions including tigers, elephants, gorillas, bears, red pandas. Fun for kids.

Easy to navigate zoo without a lot of excess walking, clean bathrooms, good food, easy to park and reasonably priced admissions

Went with my wife, my daughter and my grandchildren. Lots of fun! Plenty to see. Could easily spend a whole day there. Snack bar is a little pricey but nice to have for the convenience.

It was very fun, the whole family enjoyed it. Animals were unique, perfect for my unique family. Fabulous, would go again

Great place for the family to go and see some great looking animals. Fun for everyone and not just for the kids.

We were really excited to attend "Boo at the Zoo" this year in our new state. We have been to other excellent zoos who executed this event so well. Boo at the zoo was a total bust. if you have children its basically a good event to let them get excited about running in a wide open space. Decorations were extremely low budget (minus extreme fog machines every 100 ft). There was only one animal out throughout the whole park (a donkey), and the vendors handing out candy would give the kids one piece of singular candy..

as stated above, if your child needs to run out some energy, its a good place to do it OR just save $15 and use your back yard :).

Our family visited the Knoxville Zoo on a Saturday afternoon. We were able to get 50% off admission since we are members of our local zoo. I had visited before but not in many years. The zoo isn’t tiny but isn’t so large that you would need a full day to visit. We visited every site and particularly enjoyed the African section and the treehouse area.

I love the fact that the zoo is always clean, nice workers, the animals are well taken care of. It is a great place for families and great for parties of all sizes. The zoo needs support to keep it's doors open. I hope people go visit it. They won't be disappointed.

Fantastic location with alot of animal varieties. So glad we went and it was the highlight of the kids' trip

Zoo Knoxville is a neat little zoo with interesting and some different animal exhibits. I say little because we were used to the zoo in St Louis and the zoo in Atlanta. However, don't let the size fool you! We love the African Elephants and the Red Pandas. Feeding the Giraffe is extra awesome! Zoo Knoxville is definitely a great way to spend the day.

Imo this zoo needs more animals. But it was the best fun we had in Knoxville so definitely check it out.

We visited on our way into Knoxville for work training. Arrived shortly after opening. We were happy to discover that we got a discount on the admission price due to our membership at our local zoo.

We spent four hours at the zoo. We had a great time. Almost all of the animals were out; I’m sure some had gone to inside enclosures due to the heat. We had lunch at the BBQ place and enjoyed that as well.

The zoo is laid out in a way that is easy to follow. Plenty of shady spots to get a break from the sun.

We thought the zoo was worth our time and money and would go again.