San Francisco Zoo
4.4(13,269)4.4 out of 5 stars, 13269 reviews San Francisco, CA
About San Francisco Zoo
The San Francisco Zoo offers a peaceful, well-maintained environment with a variety of animal exhibits and activities, making it a great family outing, especially on quieter weekdays.
What parents should know
Summarized from real visitor reviews.
Best for: Families looking for a relaxed day outParents wanting to teach children about wildlifeThose seeking a scenic outdoor activityToddlers to young children (ages 2-8) enjoy animal viewing and the train rideOlder children (ages 8-12) can appreciate more detailed animal behaviors and educational aspects
Why families love it
- Clean and large animal enclosures
- Active and well-cared-for animals
- Beautiful location near the ocean
- Friendly ticket staff
- Easy navigation with directories
- Variety of animal exhibits including lemurs and giraffes
Insider tips
- Visit on weekdays for a quieter experience
- Check for exhibit closures before visiting
- Bring a printed map if possible due to confusing signage
- Arrive early to see animals active during morning hours
Good to know before you go
- Visiting during weekends or holidays when crowds are larger
- Times when construction may affect access
- Some animal exhibits were closed during visits
- Gorilla enclosure perceived as too small
- Confusing signage and lack of hard copy maps
- Crowds
- Best visited on Mondays or other weekdays to avoid crowds
- Value
- $30 for adult tickets provides full access to animal exhibits, but some may be closed; consider this compared to other local attractions with similar pricing.
- Food
- Food options are available on-site; no specific restrictions mentioned
- Accessibility
- The venue is generally accessible, though specific accommodations were not mentioned in reviews
- Safety
- Staff is friendly and attentive, though specific safety measures were not detailed
What parents say
"We had a fantastic experience here on a quiet sunny Friday. It took us around 3.5 hours to walk through the whole zoo taking our time at most exhibits. The enclosures are clean and large with visual sites of many enrichment activities for the animals inside. The animals themselves were active for the most part and look healthy, enriched and well fed. There are clear signs that they are very well taken care of. Highly recommend going to this zoo, especially during the weekdays when it may be quieter."
2 months ago
"This zoo is absolutely beautiful & peaceful. Right by the ocean is always a plus. Easy to get to but when I visited there was road construction right near a slightly hidden entrance. There were really no signs pointing to the driveway. I had to drive back around to get in. Plenty of parking. Easy walk to the entrance. Tickets seller was a sweet gentleman. Very impressed! The animals seemed well cared for although the gorilla enclosure seemed way too small. Most of the avian displays were closed...not a big deal. The vibe was easy breezy. Favorite part? The beautiful giraffes! The w"
a month ago
"It was convenient to get there. We took a mumi from downtown last stop was San Francisco zoo. It was quiet but enjoyable and walked around. We went in the morning , and we saw a lot of animals up and eating. Of course, some of them are still taking a nap. One thing I noticed 1/3 of the exhibits was closed. Some animals seem lonely and depress. The steam train was closed on the day we were there. Overall, it was good for us. If all the exhibitions are opening, that will be great. It was nice for family with kids to hang out and spend a day."
a month ago
Reviews sourced from public Google data.
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