Planning a family day at the Nashville Zoo? Set on 188 acres of historic Grassmere farmland about six miles south of downtown, this AZA-accredited zoo pairs hands-on animal encounters with rides like a zip line and a 4D theater. Plan for at least half a day, book tickets online for the best price, and arrive early when the animals are most active.
Key Highlights
- Set at 3777 Nolensville Pike, about six miles south of downtown Nashville, the zoo covers 188 acres of historic Grassmere farmland and holds AZA accreditation.
- Typical hours run 9am to 6pm from early March through mid-October and 9am to 4pm the rest of the year; the zoo closes on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day.
- Admission uses date-based pricing listed at roughly $16 to $28 for adults and teens, less for youth ages 2 to 12, and free for children under 2; parking is about $10 per vehicle.
- Standout experiences include the Kangaroo Kickabout, Lorikeet Landing, Expedition Peru’s Andean bears, clouded leopards, giraffes, and the Soaring Eagle Zip Line.
- Arrive at the 9am opening, plan three to four hours at minimum, book tickets online for the lowest price, and note that outside food and drinks are allowed.
Getting There and Parking
Driving from Downtown Nashville
Driving is by far the easiest way to reach the zoo. From downtown Nashville, take I-65 South and follow Nolensville Pike south to 3777 Nolensville Pike, Nashville, TN 37211. The trip covers about six miles and usually takes around 15 minutes outside of rush hour. Rideshare pickups and drop-offs work well at the main entrance, and public transit options to this part of Nolensville Pike are limited, so a car is the practical choice for most visitors.
If you are flying in for a zoo trip and want to stay close, look at the south Nashville and Green Hills corridors along with downtown. Our guide to the best areas to stay in Nashville breaks down which neighborhoods put you within an easy drive of both the zoo and the Broadway honky-tonks.
Parking at the Zoo
The zoo has its own large on-site lot, and parking is listed at about $10 per vehicle, with free parking for members. On busy spring and summer weekends the lot fills steadily through the morning, which is one more reason to arrive near opening time. If the main lot is full, staff direct cars to overflow areas, and the walk from the far rows is still manageable for most visitors.
Best Time of Year to Visit
Spring and fall are the sweet spot for a zoo visit in Nashville. Temperatures are comfortable for walking the full 188 acres, and the animals tend to be active through the middle of the day. Summer mornings are also excellent if you arrive at the 9am opening, but by afternoon many species retreat to the shade and the Tennessee heat makes the long paths feel much longer.
Winter visits are quieter and the 9am to 4pm hours are shorter, yet cool-season days can be surprisingly good for viewing cold-tolerant species. One seasonal highlight: from November 13, 2026 through January 3, 2027, the zoo hosts Glow Wild, a nighttime holiday light experience with an 85-foot Christmas tree, select exhibits open after dark, and an outdoor ice skating rink. For help building the rest of your itinerary around the season you visit, see our visitor guide to the top things to do in Nashville.
For the smallest crowds, pick a weekday morning outside of school holidays. Weekends, spring break, and summer Saturdays draw the heaviest attendance, and timed-entry tickets can sell out on peak days.
Animals, Exhibits, and the Grassmere Story
From an 1810 Farm to a Modern Zoo
The zoo grounds are the historic Grassmere farm, and the farmhouse standing on the property dates to 1810. The Dunn family built the home, and their descendants, the Croft family, later deeded the land to the city in 1964 for use as a nature study area. A separate Nashville Zoo had been founded in Joelton in 1991, and in 1997 it relocated to Grassmere and merged with the wildlife park there, creating the combined institution visitors see today.
That layered history is part of what makes a visit here different from a standard zoo trip. You can walk from a modern habitat for clouded leopards or giraffes straight into a two-century-old farmstead in the same afternoon. If historic homes interest you, pair the zoo with Belle Meade Plantation, another landmark property that preserves an earlier era of Tennessee life.
Exhibits Worth Your Time
The zoo is home to thousands of animals across hundreds of species (published counts vary), and a few habitats stand clearly above the rest. Expedition Peru, which opened in 2019, is the showcase exhibit: a large Andean bear habitat with climbing structures and pools that let you watch these rare bears at close range. The Kangaroo Kickabout is a walk-through red kangaroo habitat where the animals roam an open yard around the path, and Lorikeet Landing is a walk-through aviary where you can feed lorikeets for a small fee.
Big-cat fans should head for the clouded leopards, a species the zoo works with closely, and the giraffe herd is a reliable crowd-pleaser at feeding times. Alligator Cove covers the reptile side of the collection. One thing to know before you go: the zoo relocated its elephants to The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee in 2015, so there is no elephant exhibit now. Do not plan the day around elephants, and the rest of the large-animal lineup will not disappoint.
Tickets and Prices
Admission uses date-based dynamic pricing, which means the exact ticket cost depends on the day you visit. According to nashvillezoo.org, adult and teen tickets are listed at roughly $16 to $28, youth ages 2 to 12 pay a few dollars less, and children under 2 are admitted free. Buying online in advance is the reliable way to get the lowest price for your date, since weekend and holiday pricing runs higher than weekday pricing.
Parking is listed at about $10 per vehicle and is free for members. Memberships pay for themselves quickly for local families: a household membership typically breaks even in just a few visits and adds perks like discounts on food, gifts, and special events. Because prices and hours can shift with the season and special events, always confirm the current figures for your visit date on nashvillezoo.org before you go.
Rides and Attractions
Soaring Eagle Zip Line
The Soaring Eagle Zip Line is the headline thrill ride at the zoo. Riders climb to a launch platform about 110 feet up and fly a course at roughly 28 mph, with views over the treetops and habitats below. The minimum height requirement is 42 inches, so smaller children will need to sit this one out. Lines build through the afternoon, so ride early if it is on your must-do list.
Family Favorites
The Wilderness Express Train gives a relaxed loop around the grounds and is a good breather for tired legs. The Wild Animal Carousel and the Adventure 4D Theater round out the paid attractions, along with the 66,000-square-foot Jungle Gym playground. Families routinely spend an hour or more at the Jungle Gym alone, so treat it as a scheduled stop rather than a quick detour.
Ride pricing is separate from admission unless you hold a membership with ride perks. If your group plans to do the zip line, train, carousel, and theater, compare the cost of individual ride tickets against any bundled options the zoo lists for your date.
Conservation Work
The zoo puts real resources into conservation, both locally and internationally. Local projects include work with eastern hellbender salamanders, Puerto Rican crested toads, and native Nashville crayfish, species most visitors have never heard of but that depend on the clean waterways of Middle Tennessee. Internationally, the zoo supports giraffe conservation in South Africa.
As an AZA-accredited institution, the zoo also participates in cooperative breeding programs that manage endangered species across accredited zoos. Keeper talks and scheduled feedings are the best way to hear about this work directly: check the daily schedule board near the entrance when you arrive and plan your route around the talks that interest you most.
Practical Tips for Your Visit
Arrive at the 9am opening. This is the single best tip for any zoo, and it matters more in Nashville summers, when the cool morning hours are when the animals are most active and the paths are most comfortable. Plan three to four hours at a minimum for the animal habitats, and a full day if you want the rides and the Jungle Gym too.
Pack smart. Outside food and drinks are allowed, so bring a picnic and refillable water bottles, especially on hot days. Wear walking shoes with real support: the grounds are large and you will cover several miles. Sunscreen and hats are essential from May through September, and a light rain jacket is worth packing in spring.
Finally, book tickets online before you go. Timed-entry tickets can sell out on peak days, and advance purchase usually means the lowest price. First-time visitors building a full Nashville trip should also check our Nashville bucket list for first-time visitors to line up the zoo with the essential Broadway, music, and food stops.
Things to Do Near the Zoo
The zoo sits south of downtown, which puts a few strong half-day pairings within easy reach. Centennial Park is about a 15-minute drive north and is home to the Parthenon, Nashville’s full-scale replica of the ancient Greek temple and one of the city’s most photographed landmarks. A zoo morning followed by a Parthenon afternoon makes a well-balanced day.
Art lovers can continue into downtown afterward. The Frist Art Museum, housed in a landmark former post office building, runs rotating exhibitions that change several times a year, and its art deco architecture is worth the visit on its own. Pairing an outdoor zoo day with an indoor museum stop also gives you a weather-proof backup plan.
Food options cluster along Nolensville Pike near the zoo, including some of the city’s best international restaurants, and the 12South and Green Hills neighborhoods are a short drive away for an evening out after the zoo closes.
My recommendation: go on a weekday morning in spring or fall, arrive at opening, and give the zoo a full half day. Then check the day’s ticket price and hours on nashvillezoo.org and book online before you head out.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do Nashville Zoo tickets cost?
Ticket prices use date-based dynamic pricing, so the exact cost depends on the day you visit. Adults and teens are listed at roughly $16 to $28, youth ages 2 to 12 pay a few dollars less, and children under 2 get in free. Booking online in advance usually unlocks the lowest price for your date. Parking is about $10 per vehicle and is free for members. Always confirm current pricing for your visit date on nashvillezoo.org before you go.
What are the Nashville Zoo’s hours?
The zoo is generally open from 9am to 6pm from early March through mid-October, and from 9am to 4pm during the rest of the year. It is closed on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day. Hours can shift for special events, so check nashvillezoo.org for the schedule on your exact visit date. Arriving at opening time gives you the coolest part of the day, when most animals are active.
How long should I plan to spend at the zoo?
Plan for three to four hours at a minimum to see the main exhibits without rushing. If you want to add the zip line, train, carousel, and 4D theater, a full day is the better plan. Families with young children often pair the animal habitats with the 66,000-square-foot Jungle Gym playground, which easily fills an extra hour on its own.
Can I bring my own food and drinks to the zoo?
Yes. The zoo allows outside food and drinks, so you can pack a picnic and save money on concessions. There are picnic-friendly spots around the grounds, and bringing refillable water bottles is smart on hot Tennessee afternoons. The zoo also has its own food outlets if you prefer to buy lunch there, including options near the main entrance.
Does the Nashville Zoo have elephants?
No. The zoo relocated its elephants to The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee in 2015, and there is currently no elephant exhibit on the grounds. Do not plan your visit around seeing elephants. The zoo’s large-animal highlights now include giraffes, Andean bears in the Expedition Peru habitat, and clouded leopards.
What is the best day and time to visit the zoo?
Weekday mornings are the sweet spot: smaller crowds and the most active animals. Arrive at the 9am opening, especially in summer, because many species retreat to shade during the heat of the afternoon. Spring and fall offer the most comfortable weather for walking the full 188 acres. Weekends and school holidays draw the biggest crowds, so buy tickets online ahead of time.