Â鶹APP

Santa Barbara Zoo: Everything You Need to Know Before Visiting The Zoo

The Santa Barbara Zoo is a zoo in Santa Barbara, California. It is located on nineteen acres of land near the ocean, and it has over two hundred species of animals including giraffes, tigers, and elephants.

The zoo was founded in 1922 by the Santa Barbara Zoological Society after a group of local citizens formed an organization to fund a zoo for their city. In its early years, visitors came by train from Los Angeles to visit but after World War II when people started driving cars more often instead of taking trains they began visiting local zoos more often than they had before.

Planning to visit the city soon? Here’s the Best Time to Visit Santa Barbara.

Today there are over fifty thousand visitors per year who come here to see the various exhibits and animals, and it is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Santa Barbara.

The zoo is also important because it helps to protect endangered animals by breeding them and providing homes for those that cannot be released into the wild. Today there are over two hundred species of animals including giraffes, tigers, and elephants, and it is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Santa Barbara.

1. What to Expect at Santa Barbara Zoo

Animals, obviously.

Photo by on

You can expect to see a wide variety of animals. The Santa Barbara Zoo is known for its large enclosures, which allow you to get up close and personal with your favourite animals. Many of these enclosures allow visitors to feed the animals!

Shows & Events

There are many shows and events at this zoo. You can watch some amazing animal performances during your visit, including bird shows (featuring parrots), sea lion shows (featuring seals), or even dog training demonstrations.

Train ride

, , via Wikimedia Commons

The short train ride down through the park is another fun way to explore all there is here – but don’t worry: there are plenty more things waiting for you when it comes time for lunch break because there are picnic areas throughout this park too!

This zoo has something for everyone. It is a great place to spend an afternoon with the family or even just by yourself. There are plenty of places to sit down and enjoy some shade while you wait for your favourite animal show.

2. How to Get to the Santa Barbara Zoo

How you get there is up to you. You can drive, take public transit or bike. The zoo has a small parking lot and several bike racks, but it’s best if you plan your trip by checking out the zoo’s website for maps of nearby bike routes and additional information on available rentals.

If you’re planning on parking at the zoo, be aware that there is no overnight parking allowed. You can find more information and a map of the zoo’s parking lot on its

Public transportation

The city’s public transit system; MTD (Metropolitan Transit District) operates buses in most parts of the city. These include the Santa Barbara Zoo. From downtown, take a bus heading to the Zoo or East Beach at any nearby MTD bus stop. Routes and schedules are subject to change, so check the MTD website just in case.

By car or taxi

Using a GPS or map, navigate your way to East Cabrillo Boulevard and Ninos Drive if you’re near the area. The Cabrillo Bike Trail offers a splendid route, and you enjoy the views as you cycle by. The city is bike-friendly, and the zoo has bike racks for parking.

By bike or on foot

Using a GPS or map, navigate your way to East Cabrillo Boulevard and Ninos Drive if you’re near the area. The Cabrillo Bike Trail offers a splendid route, and you enjoy the views as you cycle by. The city is bike-friendly, and the zoo has bike racks for parking.

3. Santa Barbara Zoo Hours and Prices

Image by from

Santa Barbara Zoo is open daily from 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The Santa Barbara Zoo is open from 10.30 am to 3.30 pm on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day.

Admission prices can vary depending on the day of your visit; however, general admission tickets are $14 for adults (ages 12+) and $11 for children (ages 3-11). Children under 3 years old are free when accompanied by an adult. Remember to make your online reservations on their website. 

Parking at the zoo goes for $ 11 per vehicle, and it’s free for one vehicle with membership. Disabled person and bicycle parking is free as well. Bicycle racks are on a first-come, first-served basis. Note that on weekends, the parking lot fills up early so consider parking outside the zoo.

4. Santa Barbara Zoo Food and Drinks on Offer

Image by from

Visitors are allowed to bring food and drink into the zoo, but there are some restrictions. The most important rule is that all food must be stored in a clear plastic bag (or other container), which will be inspected at the entrance gate. You can also purchase food from one of the vendors at the zoo.

If you’d like to save money by packing your lunch, here’s a list of what not to bring:

• No glass containers or bottles
• No alcohol (even if it’s just in a water bottle)

Once inside Santa Barbara Zoo, there are plenty of options for purchasing meals and drinks:

The Ridley-Tree House restaurant is located in the courtyard near the Zoo entrance. It serves burgers, sandwiches, salads and more light food options. For drinks, check-in at the Buzz, located at the Kallman Family Play Area right across the Zoo Station. You’ll also find several food carts throughout the zoo, offering hot dogs, popcorn, and assorted snacks.

Here’s more on 15 Places for Delicious Burgers in Santa Barbara.

You can bring drinks with you into the zoo (in a plastic bag), but there are plenty of places to purchase cold beverages once inside: At the entrance gate, you can buy lemonade and other drinks from one of two vendors.

The Zoo Kiosk offers packaged snacks and drinks such as bottled water, soda, and beer. There are also several food carts throughout the zoo that sell hot dogs, popcorn, and other snacks.

20 Best Restaurants to Try in Santa Barbara.

If you’re looking for a place to relax with your lunch or snack, head to the picnic tables near the entrance of the Zoo.

There are also covered picnic areas near the penguin exhibit and at the back of the zoo near the giraffe enclosure. If it’s hot outside, you might want to grab some shade under one of the many trees throughout Santa Barbara Zoo.

When it comes to restrooms, there are plenty of options: The zoo has two large family restrooms near the entrance gate. There are also several portable toilets scattered throughout the park.

5. Santa Barbara Zoo ADA Parking and Accessibility Information

Image by from

Santa Barbara Zoo parking for disabled visitors is in the zoo lot. There is a special parking space for disabled visitors and it’s located at the main entrance of the zoo. The parking lot is open from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, and 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. There are no fees for disabled parking at this location!

If you want to take advantage of this service, make sure that you bring your state-issued placard with you so that we can identify it as valid when you arrive at our facility.

Additionally, please note that we do not offer any discounts on admission prices based on disability status; however, if your condition prevents you from walking long distances or standing in line then we recommend purchasing Fast Track tickets (available online reservation only) which allow access directly into exhibits without waiting in line like everyone else!

If these options aren’t available then try visiting during off-peak hours such as mid-morning or early afternoon rather than later ones where crowds tend to grow larger due primarily due to demand levels being higher during peak times throughout each year.”

6. There are many things to do at the zoo, it’s a great place for families!

Photo by on

The Santa Barbara Zoo is a great place for families, couples, kids, and seniors. It’s also the perfect place for groups of all sizes. If you’re traveling solo or with friends then this zoo will be an amazing experience for you!

You’ll get to see some amazing animals in their natural habitat (or at least as close as possible). If bird watching is your thing then this is the place for you! The bird sanctuary has hundreds of birds from all over the world including flamingos and toucans! They also have other animals such as giraffes and elephants.

If nature is more up your alley then head over to the botanical gardens which have many plants native to California along with some exotic flowers too! This area also allows visitors access to their insectarium where they can see live spiders & bugs up close.

The zoo has a lot of different activities for visitors of all ages including pony rides, a carousel & train. There are also several playgrounds throughout the park where kids can run around and have fun.

There are also several gift shops throughout the park where you can buy souvenirs or snacks. The zoo has many different food options and you can bring your own food to enjoy in any of the picnic areas available.  If you’re looking for a fun day out with friends or family then head over to Oakland Zoo!

Read more on The 10 Most Romantic Things to do in Santa Barbara for Couples.

The Santa Barbara Zoo is an amazing place to visit. It’s fun for the whole family and there are plenty of things to do here. You can see some of the most exotic animals from around the world, as well as learn more about them through educational exhibits and tours.

There are also many opportunities for kids and little ones who love animals because they have special events such as birthday parties where they can celebrate with their friends while learning about conservation efforts being made by zoos worldwide!

We hope this guide and review have given you a good idea of what kind of experiences await when visiting Santa Barbara Zoo so go ahead and plan your next trip today!