Visited by almost a million people each year, The Toledo Zoo & Aquarium is home to over 800 different animal species. Ranked as one of the Top 10 Zoos in the U.S. by FamilyFun Magazine in 2014, the zoo is also an ideal place for families to visit. Besides the many exhibits and unique WPA-era buildings, the zoo also has several rides that children are sure to enjoy, including an African animal carousel and a safari railway train. The Toledo Zoo & Aquarium is also known for its conservation efforts, and works in conjunction with the Species Survival Program to breed animals to ensure that they will still have a place in the future of the world.
Best and Worst Times to Visit the Toledo Zoo & Aquarium
The best time to visit the Toledo Zoo & Aquarium is from Memorial Day-Labor Day, because that is the period that the zoo stays open the longest, with the exception of the month of December. In December, the zoo stays open until late in the evening for the Lights Before Christmas program.
The worst time to visit the Toledo Zoo & Aquarium is from January-April, because the zoo closes early in the evenings on those days and winter weather could keep some animals from coming outside.
Must See/Do at the Toledo Zoo & Aquarium
The Aquarium portion of the zoo, which was renovated and reopened to the public in March 2015, is a must-see for visitors since it is home to over 3,000 aquatic animals, including electric eels, piranhas, and leopard sharks.
Visitors who take a walk around the Tembo Trail will have the chance to see Nile hippopotamuses in the famous Hippoquariam®, the first hippopotamus exhibit of its kind, along with a variety of other animals, including otters, African elephants, and meerkats.
The Arctic Encounter® exhibit is one of the zoo's most inclusive exhibits, where visitors can watch grey seals, harbor seals, and polar bears swim and play in their enclosures.
Admission to the Toledo Zoo &Aquarium
Admission to the Toledo Zoo & Aquarium ranges from $14-$17 during the months of January-October and $7-$8.50 from November-December. Tickets can be purchased upon arrival at the zoo or can also be purchased online for a $1 discount.
Children under the age of two are admitted to the zoo for free.
The zoo also offers discounts on admission for groups of 20 or more if the tickets are purchased in advance.
Parking at the Toledo Zoo & Aquarium
There is a fee for parking at the Toledo Zoo & Aquarium, but zoo members are able to park for free in a designated zoo member lot.
Those in large vehicles such as RVs or campers are charged a slightly higher parking fee and may be asked to park in the rear of the parking lot.
If the regular parking lot is at a high capacity, the zoo may run a parking shuttle service to take visitors to the entrance.
Public Transportation to the Toledo Zoo & Aquarium
Although the city of Toledo does have a busing system (TARTA), these buses do not run routes to the
Toledo Zoo & Aquarium.
If prospective zoo visitors have no other option but to take public transportation, the city does have a variety of taxi services to choose from.
Food at the Toledo Zoo & Aquarium
The Toledo Zoo & Aquarium has many concession stands and carts that are open during the summer, though some of the concession stands close during the winter and the carts are only brought out for special events during the winter months.
There are a variety of foods available at the zoo, with everything from bistro sandwiches and salads at The Beastro restaurant to grilled chicken and redskin potatoes at the Karamu BBQ concession stand.
There are also a variety of sweet treats available at the zoo, especially at the Timberline Bakery, which serves homemade baked goods and personalized pastries.
Insider Tip for Visitors to the Toledo Zoo & Aquarium
For those who smoke, it is important to note that smoking is not permitted on the zoo grounds. Those who need to smoke are able to exit the zoo to do so, but they must have their hand stamped at the ticket booth in order to come back on zoo grounds.
Miranda Roehler grew up in Northwest Ohio. She studied Creative Writing and History at The University of Findlay and has been published in multiple international journals.