Audubon Zoo
4.5(8,029)4.5 out of 5 stars, 8029 reviews New Orleans, LA
About Audubon Zoo
Audubon Zoo offers an exceptional family experience with unique open-air animal enclosures, dedicated interactive children's areas, and themed cultural sections. It stands out for its high-quality animal encounters and excellent accessibility, making it ideal for families seeking an immersive and educational day out, especially when leveraging money-saving bundle tickets with the aquarium.
What parents should know
Summarized from real visitor reviews.
Best for: Families seeking a full-day outing with diverse activities including animal viewing, interactive play, and water fun.Parents looking for a highly accessible venue for strollers, wheelchairs, or scooters.Budget-conscious families who can utilize bundle deals and bring their own refreshments.Families interested in unique educational experiences through animal encounters and cultural exhibits.Photography enthusiasts keen on capturing clear photos of animals in open enclosures.
Why families love it
- Mostly open enclosures for animals (excluding big cats), allowing for unobstructed viewing and great photos.
- Features a diverse collection of animals, including unique species not commonly found in other zoos (e.g., specific primates, aviary birds, swamplands animals, flamingos, white rhino).
- Children's interactive areas are sprinkled throughout the entire park, providing engaging activities for kids.
- Themed walking sections like Asia, Africa, and Swamp enhance the immersive experience.
- Includes a small optional water park with a lazy river, perfect for cooling off.
- Offers enriching animal encounter experiences, like meeting a white rhino, with knowledgeable and courteous staff.
Insider tips
- Consider purchasing the bundle ticket with the Audubon Aquarium; it costs only $8 more for the zoo entry.
- Arrive right when the zoo opens at 10 am to have enough time to see everything without feeling rushed (allow up to 5 hours for a full visit).
- Bring your own snacks and water to save money, as on-site food can be pricey.
- Bring a portable charger for your phone, especially if you plan on taking many photos.
- Call ahead to confirm if the splash pad/water park is open, as it can be closed seasonally (e.g., in March).
- Visit during off-peak times like 3-5 pm on a Thursday or on a Tuesday for fewer crowds.
Good to know before you go
- Visiting if your primary interest is only big cats in wide-open enclosures, as most are caged.
- Expecting the splash pad to be open if visiting outside of peak summer months without calling ahead.
- If you're on a very tight budget for food and forget to bring your own snacks/water, as on-site options are pricey.
- Big cats are mostly kept in traditional caged enclosures.
- On-site food and drinks can be pricey.
- Crowds
- Not crowded when visiting from 3-5 pm on a Thursday.
- Value
- Ticket prices are reasonable, and general entry is included with animal encounter purchases, providing good value. A bundle ticket combining zoo and aquarium access is significantly cheaper, with the zoo portion costing only $8 extra. On-site food and drink are noted as pricey, making bringing your own snacks and water a money-saving option.
- Food
- Outside snacks and water are explicitly allowed and recommended by reviewers to save money.
- Accessibility
- Completely wheelchair accessible.
- Safety
- Not explicitly mentioned in the reviews, beyond the implicit safety of well-cared for animals and well-maintained exhibits.
What parents say
"This zoo was the best zoo either of us had ever been to. I'm not a huge zoo enthusiast so maybe I'm just unaware but this was the first zoo that had so many open enclosures in that you could view these amazing animals and get great photos without having to do so between bars. Big cats were mostly caged but other animals had space where they could be viewed without obstructions. We were also able to view animals we have never seen living on the west side of the United States. We were pleasantly surprised by our experience. Definitely recommend! It's helpful to note that the zoo is a few miles a"
2 weeks ago
"Absolutely beautiful zoo. Easy free parking or paid premium parking at the front. Children's interactive areas sprinkled into the whole park. Themed walking sections such as Asia and Africa and Swamp, with mostly open air animal enclosures. There are plenty of kiosks for snacks and drinks. Without children, we completed the tour in 2 hours. Completely wheelchair, scooter, and stroller accessible. There is a small optional water park with a lazy river. Each gift shop has unique items. Pro tip: With aquarium ticket purchase, the zoo was only $8 more as a bundle ticket. We went from 3-5 pm on a T"
2 weeks ago
"This was an amazing zoo! I'm so glad that we were able to visit. The exhibits were beautiful, and the animals appeared very happy and cared for. I liked seeing some animals that I didn't get to see at my local zoo. My favorites were the primates, the aviary, the swamplands, and the beautiful flamingos."
a month ago
Reviews sourced from public Google data.
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