Visit the Smithsonian National Zoo in Washington, DC
The giant pandas as the Smithsonian National Zoo in Washington, DC, are kind of a big deal. They’re one of the more popular animals who call that place home. But this zoo has so much more than Tian Tian, Mei Xiang and Xiao Qi Ji. There are animals of all shapes, species and sizes.
The National Zoo is a great place to spend several hours exploring and learning. And like most of the museums and activities in the nation’s capital… it’s free.
Here’s a rundown on what you’ll find at the national zoo and other tips to help you plan your visit.
How to get to the National Zoo
Like many of the museums around DC, the National Zoo has no admission charge. It’s free! It’s open daily from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., but between March 15 and September 15 it’s open until 6 p.m. They stop accepting new visitors one hour before the park closes.
You are required to snag an entry pass in advance of your visit. You can do so online, and the pass is good for the day you plan to visit, so you don’t need to reserve an entry time.
If you plan to park a vehicle at the zoo, you’ll need to purchase a $30 parking pass. When you arrive in your vehicle, your entry passes will be scanned at the gate. Then you can choose a parking spot in any one of the five parking lots.
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The metro in Washington, DC, is pretty easy and makes it easy to get around the city. That said, the two metro stops in the area of the zoo still leave a walking gap. Catch the Red Line toward Derwood. You’ll want to exit the metro at either Woodley Park-Zoo/Adams Morgan (then head north) OR Cleveland Park (then head south).
The walk is about a half mile from the metro stop to the entrance of the Smithsonian National Zoo. Follow the pathways behind the Zoo sign (as pictured in the selfie above) to the entry gate. Have your entry passes printed or up on your phone so they can be scanned in.
Animals in the Upper Zoo Section
The National Zoo is divided into three sections – Upper, Lower and Valley. Each area offers a different variety of animals.
One of the more popular animals at the National Zoo are the giant pandas. You’ll find all three of them along the Asia Trail. Mei Xiang (may-SHONG) is the female and Tian Tian (t-YEN t-YEN) is the adult male. Both of them were born in 1998 and 1997 respectively. Their son, Xiao Qi Ji (SHIAU-chi-ji), was born Aug. 21, 2020. It was fun to watch them eating bamboo leaves or a special frozen treat. Spend a few minutes exploring the Panda House as well to learn more about the fantastic creatures.
But don’t miss out on all the other animals along the Asia Trail, including a red panda, sloth bear, Asian small-clawed otter, a clouded leopard, fishing cat and a northern snakehead fish.
The upper section also has an area dedicated to Cheetah Conservation Station, where you’ll find a few cheetahs and other animals, like an Abyssinian ground hornbill, lesser kudu or a sitatunga.
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As you make your way further into the zoo, you’ll pass by the Bison enclosure. Two female American bison, named “Lucy” and “Gally,” call this place home.
And the final exhibit area of the upper zoo is the elephants. There are seven elephants in this exhibit area, including two who were born in November 2022 – Trong Nhi and Nhi Linh. The oldest elephant, Spike, was born in 1981, so he’s just one year younger than I am. Although I think he’s a little bit bigger than me. 😉
Discover the Lower Zoo Section
As you continue along the main path, you’ll enter the lower zoo section. You’ll first see a Mongolian wild horse known as Przewalski’s horse. Barbie and her son Cooper are a rare and endangered horse native to the steppes of central Asia.
The small mammals building is up next. It would be challenging to list all of the animals housed inside, because there are 35 species. Some of the animals include a black-footed ferret, a red-ruffed lemur, a screaming hairy armadillo and a green aracari. Many of the animals are in enclosures that are reminiscent of their native habitats.
Next up is the Think Tank, which is a place to learn more about primates – Orangutans and Western Lowland Gorillas. You can participate in a tug-of-war with an orangutan at the orangutan rope-pull and test arm strength. The apes are able to push buttons that cause a water mister to shower guests – so be on the lookout. And if you notice a rope stretching from the Think Tank to another building, maybe you’ll be lucky enough to see one of the Orangutans making their way overhead to the Great Ape House.
But before you explore the Great Ape House, you’ll want to step into the Reptile Discovery Center. You’re able to see so many different reptiles, including a green anaconda, Panamanian golden frog, banded rock snake and an African plated lizard.
The last exhibit area is the Great Cats enclosure where you’ll see lions and tigers. Not bears. 😉
What You’ll Find in the Valley Section
If your visit goes like mine, you’ll continue heading down the main path through both the Upper and Lower sections. After completing the Lower Section, you’re ready to make your way back toward the main entrance through the Valley Section.
The exhibit furthest from the entrance is the Kid’s Farm. You can probably take a guess at the animals in the farm, but for clarification, I’ll list them: cows, goats, chickens, miniature donkeys and alpacas. While wandering through the boardwalk, barns and chicken coops, don’t forget to stop and feed the channel catfish and Japanese koi swimming in the lake. You may also find a few of the animals going for a guided walk along the pathways so you can stop and say hello.
As you follow the trail back toward the entrance, stop into the Amazonia building. There are lots of unique animals to the Amazon River area to see. This includes frogs, hawk headed parrots, green aracari and corals and sea anemones. And don’t miss the Guinea Pig exhibit on your way through the building.
On the final area of the Valley Section, you’ll want to take the little spur paths to check out the Andean bears, or walk through the sea lion exhibit. As you can see from the photo above, there’s a viewing area to let you see into the tank to watch them zoom through the water.
Other animals on the American Trail include a bald eagle, beavers, an eastern screech owl, a gray seal and more.
Dining Options and Activities in the National Zoo
There are multiple activities and dining options spread throughout the national zoo. If you want to grab a souvenir, there are a few shops throughout the zoo you can visit, including one at Panda Plaza, Great Cats Gift Shop and at the Visitor Center.
Here’s a rundown on some that you should take advantage of… or at least be aware of so you can make your plans.
ACTIVITIES
Speedwell Conservation Carousel. Take a ride on the carousel located near the Great Cats exhibit. It’s a classic wooden carousel, however, this one is solar powered. It’s open year round and the $4 tickets can be purchased at the carousel itself.
Me and the Bee Playground. Visitors of all ages can shrink down to the size of a bee and enjoy slides, walkways and more. It’s located at Conservation Pavillion near the Great Cats exhibit. There is no cost to play on the playground.
Squirt Zone. On a hot day, venture to the American Trail near the sea lions exhibit to cool off. It’s a great place for kids to run around, get wet and just have fun. There’s no cost to run through the Squirt Zone, but it’s only open during the summer, and when temperatures are above 70 degrees.
DINING
Elevation Burger at Mane Grill. If you need a bite to eat, the far-end of the park has a few options, including this place. Grab hamburgers, chicken sandwiches, vegetarian burgers, vegan burgers, hot dogs, grilled cheese, chicken tenders, fries and milkshakes.
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Sbarro. Looking for some pizza? Check out Panda Plaza to grab a slice, or another item like stromboli, hot dogs, chicken tenders, salads and soft drinks.
Auntie Anne’s + Carvel Ice Cream. Grab a small snack or frozen treat from these two vendors at the Panda Overlook.
Food Trucks. Looking for classic food truck dishes? You may spot a food truck during your visit, including Ben & Jerry’s, Bootheel Bar B Que, Dippin’ Dots, Dolci Gelati, Popcorn Wagon and Vintage Views.
The Details
Address: 3001 Connecticut Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20008
How long to spend: About 2-6 hours
Cost: There is no cost to visit the Smithsonian National Zoo. However, you do need to make advanced reservations online.
Hours: Open daily from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. during the winter months (Sept 15-March 15). During the summer months (March 15-Sept 15), it’s open daily from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Last admittance is one hour before closing time.
Website: https://nationalzoo.si.edu/
Phone: (202) 633-2614
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