Plan Your Visit

The Zoo is located inside Forest Park. We recommend using GPS address 293 Sumner Ave, Springfield to find us. Inputting any other address into your GPS may lead to a locked gate.

Forest Park, its entrances and the parking fee are managed by the City of Springfield. 

Parking is managed by the City of Springfield and not included in admission. Parking is $3/in-state and $5/out-of-state plate, cash only. There is a $15 fee for buses and large vans. 

Parking is free for vehicles with a handicap placard. 

The Zoo's ticket booth accepts cash, debit/credit, ApplePay, GooglePay and Cash App.

Our outdoor gift shop also accepts all of the above payment methods.

Last admission to The Zoo is always sold at 3:30 p.m.

The Zoo is open daily through Sept. 13. 

From Sept. 20-Nov. 1, The Zoo will be open Saturday and Sundays only from 10-4 p.m., with last admission at 3:30. 

The Zoo does not sell food. Outside food is not allowed inside of The Zoo for the safety of our animals. Guests are welcome to eat a packed lunch at the many picnic tables around the park outside of The Zoo.

A comprehensive list of The Zoo's animals can be found here. Depending on the season and weather, some animals may not be on exhibit at the time of your visit.

All animals are provided with both outdoor and indoor, covered space that they have the ability to move freely between. If you cannot find an animal in its enclosure, we encourage you to pause and take a moment to look around or find a keeper and ask if they can find the animal. Our keepers tend to know all the good hiding spots!

Grain cones to feed our hoofstock animals are available for purchase in the ticket booth.

Grain cones can be fed to the goats, sheep, alpacas, camel, miniature horses, miniature donkeys and our Poitou donkeys. 

Nothing other than these grain cones should be fed to our animals. This includes plants found at the zoo as some plants are toxic to different species.

Pets are not allowed inside The Zoo. Service animals are allowed.