About Metro Richmond Zoo
Metro Richmond Zoo offers a unique, interactive experience with a wide variety of animals, allowing visitors to feed and engage with them, which is a standout feature compared to other zoos.
What parents should know
Summarized from real visitor reviews.
Best for: Family outings looking for an engaging dayAnimal lovers wanting close encounters with wildlifeParents seeking a fun and educational experience for their childrenToddlers: Enjoy animal encounters and interactive experiencesSchool-age children: Engage with diverse animals and participate in feeding activities
Why families love it
- Opportunity to feed giraffes and pet kangaroos
- Interactive experiences like zip lining and a cable car over exhibits
- Friendly and welcoming staff
- Healthy and happy animals in well-maintained enclosures
- Ongoing improvements and expansions to the zoo
- Interactive animal feeding opportunities
Insider tips
- Buy tickets online to avoid long wait times
- Visit on weekdays or earlier in the day to avoid crowds
- Check for special events or new exhibits before visiting
Good to know before you go
- Visiting during peak hours or weekends to reduce crowd levels
- Going when the zoo is closed for any maintenance or events
- Lack of elephants, which some visitors noted as a disappointment
- Concerns about the speed of staff driving golf carts near walking paths, posing a safety risk
- Limited collectible items in the gift shop
- Crowds
- Can get busy on weekends; visiting earlier in the day is recommended
- Value
- Tickets are reasonably priced, offering good value for the variety of experiences available. No specific pricing mentioned in reviews, but visitors felt it was worth the money compared to larger zoos.
- Food
- No specific food and drink rules mentioned, but parents should check for any restrictions before visiting
- Accessibility
- No specific accommodations mentioned, but the zoo is described as family-friendly
- Safety
- Friendly staff presence; however, concerns were raised about staff driving carts quickly near visitors
What parents say
"I thoroughly enjoyed my visit here--I am from Va Beach and I am most familiar with the Norfolk Zoo, but I try to visit the zoo in every state I go to--so I've been to plenty: Houston, DC, Chicago, Central FL, Animal Kingdom, and two drive through safari. This is by far the best experience I have had in a while and the zoo is so interactive. You can feed all the animals (including the giraffe) and there are many other things to do as well such as: zip linging, the cable car that goes over the zoo exibits! The beautiful roaming animals and the animals in the exhibits look healthy and happy. My o"
a week ago
"Wow!!! What an amazing zoo!!! I had only ever been to the one in DC and this zoo is hands down a thousand times better!! They are free range animals which is absolutely amazing! All of the animals were happy and playful which I've never seen at the zoo. They were well taken care of! There is so much to do and see!! And very reasonable prices!!! It was an amazing time with family I absolutely loved being able to feed the giraffes and I got to pet a kangaroo!! Please check this place out it's worth the money and time!!"
4 weeks ago
"Metro Richmond Zoo is a delightful spot that exceeded my expectations. Despite its modest size, the zoo boasts an impressive variety of animals, ensuring an engaging visit for all ages. The staff were incredibly friendly and added a welcoming touch to the experience. I was pleased to see that the animals appeared healthy and content, which speaks highly of the care provided. Additionally, it’s exciting to note that the zoo is actively making improvements—an encouraging sign of its commitment to growth and excellence. Whether you're visiting with family or simply looking to enjoy a pleasant aft"
3 weeks ago
Reviews sourced from public Google data.
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