Zoos for Kids Open
Riverbanks Zoo & Garden
4.7(21,358)4.7 out of 5 stars, 21358 reviews Charlotte, NC
About Riverbanks Zoo & Garden
Riverbanks Zoo & Garden offers a well-maintained environment with a diverse selection of animals, interactive exhibits, and beautiful landscaping, making it a delightful experience for families seeking both fun and education.
What parents should know
Summarized from real visitor reviews.
Best for: Families looking for a full day of activitiesEducational trips for children interested in animals and natureOutdoor enthusiasts who enjoy gardens and nature walksToddlers (2-4 years): Enjoy interactive areas like the children's zone and animal feeding experiences.Young children (5-10 years): Engaged by animal exhibits and activities like the ropes course.
Why families love it
- Clean and well-maintained facilities
- Friendly and helpful staff
- Diverse animal exhibits including koalas, rhinos, and tortoises
- Interactive experiences like feeding giraffes and walking with kangaroos
- Beautiful botanical gardens included in admission
- Giraffe feeding experience
Insider tips
- Buy tickets online to skip the ticket line.
- Arrive early to see popular exhibits like the giraffes before they run out of food.
- Wear good walking shoes as the zoo is large and requires a lot of walking.
- Consider visiting on overcast days for a more comfortable experience.
Good to know before you go
- Visiting during peak summer heat without proper hydration and sun protection
- Going late in the day when some animal exhibits may be closed or less active
- Some exhibits were closed or had no animals visible during visits
- High food prices reported
- Heat can make the later part of the day uncomfortable
- Crowds
- Less busy on overcast days; weekends and sunny days may attract larger crowds.
- Value
- Admission prices are not specified, but visitors report high food costs. The zoo offers good value with diverse experiences and included access to the botanical gardens.
- Food
- Food prices are noted to be high, but some food options like pizza were rated better than expected.
- Accessibility
- Electric scooters available for rent for those who need assistance with mobility.
- Safety
- Staff presence throughout the zoo for assistance and safety.
What parents say
"We visited Riverbanks Zoo today (for the 2nd time). I am always amazing at how clean this zoo is and how beautiful all the landscaping is throughout. It seems very well cared for. Parking was easy. We went on an overcast day in April that ended up drizzling towards the end, so it wasn't too busy. The staff was plentiful, so there was always someone nearby to ask any questions we had. The woman who sold us our tickets was very friendly! We loved their selection of animals. Our favorites were the koalas, rhinos, and tortoises. We took the walk across the bridge going over the river to get to "
a week ago
"Riverbanks Zoo is ALWAYS a good time! Kids love it, teens and adults can learn, and there's fun to have along with food to eat. It looks like they're working on cutting out the tram to the gardens and replacing it with a Skyway. Improvements, but wish the free tram was still an option. Anyway, most staff is incredibly friendly and helpful, and the whole family has a good time feeling more connected with nature they may never see naturally."
a week ago
"Lots of fun at the zoo! This is a very big place, you could easily spend a full day here. Buy tickets online to skip the ticket line. We saw some really amazing animals. I still feel guilty when visiting a zoo as I feel the animals should be free, and it makes me sad for many of them, but that is a discussion for elsewhere. At least this place is very well kept up and all the animals look healthy and taken care of. So much to see here! Wear good walking shoes! They have electric scooters for rent for those that need them too. Get there super early and go straight to the giraffes first if you w"
a week ago
Reviews sourced from public Google data.
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