🐘Zoo🏠 Homeschool ProgramsPaid admission

Kansas City Zoo & Aquarium

6800 Zoo Drive

Closed now

About

The Kansas City Zoo & Aquarium spans over 200 acres in Swope Park, making it one of the largest zoological parks in the Midwest. Home to more than 1,700 animals across hundreds of species, the zoo offers immersive habitat areas including the Africa section (giraffes, lions, gorillas), the Australian area (kangaroos, wombats), and the newly opened Giraffe Crossing habitat. A standout feature is the Sobela Ocean Aquarium, which gives the zoo dual status as both a zoo and aquarium and brings marine life from seahorses and stingrays to sharks under one roof. The Helzberg Penguin Plaza is one of the most popular exhibits, offering viewing windows above and below water. Stingray Bay provides a touch-tank experience for visitors of all ages. The zoo operates a wide range of education programs. ZooED serves Jackson and Clay County schools with curriculum-aligned programming; the Zoomobile brings live animals to classrooms; and dedicated homeschool programs provide guided zoo experiences designed around homeschool learning objectives. Summer camps, school break camps, and overnight programs (both indoor and outdoor) are available for children and youth groups. The Kansas City Zoo is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and supported by the Kansas City Zoological District, which provides subsidized admission making it among the most affordable major zoo experiences in the country.

🏠 Homeschool Programs

Dedicated homeschool programs available with guided zoo experiences. Zoomobile outreach and ZooED school programming also available.

Subject Areas

🔬 Science🐾 Animals & Wildlife🌊 Marine & Ocean🌿 Nature & Environment

Best For

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 All Ages👨‍👩‍👧 Families🏫 School Groups👶 Early Childhood (0–5)🎒 Elementary (6–10)🧑 Tweens & Teens (11–17)

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Hours of Operation

Mon9:30 AM – 4 PM

Tue9:30 AM – 4 PM

Wed9:30 AM – 4 PM

Thu9:30 AM – 4 PM

Fri9:30 AM – 4 PM

Sat9:30 AM – 5 PM

Sun9:30 AM – 5 PM

Weekdays close at 4 p.m.; weekends close at 5 p.m. Hours may vary seasonally.

Hours change seasonally — verify before visiting.

Admission

Paid admission

Affordable admission subsidized by the KC Zoological District. Friends of the Zoo membership provides free year-round admission.

✓ Membership available

AZA

AZA Reciprocity Program

Some AZA-accredited zoos and aquariums offer reciprocal admission benefits to members of other participating institutions. Participation varies by institution.

Learn more →

32 other places in our directory accept this membership: