Reservations are not required or requested to visit ZooTampa at Lowry Park.
Reservations are available and recommended when attending limited-capacity events such as Creatures of the Night and Christmas in the Wild, as spaces tend to fill quickly.
Reservations are required for Signature Encounters. You may purchase tickets in advance online or at the ticket window upon entrance. However, we recommend purchasing Signature Encounter tickets in advance to ensure your spot, as these are limited-capacity experiences.
As a non-profit organization, your support is critical as we continue our mission to be a place where families can come, escape from daily lives, and connect with each other and wildlife. Visit our donate page to help.
Yes—a printed ticket is not necessary for admittance to ZooTampa. If you have access to the confirmation email with attached tickets on your phone, or if you have your ticket barcodes saved in a mobile wallet such as Apple Pay, Google Pay, or Samsung Pay, or the ZooTampa mobile app, we can scan your tickets directly from your phone.
If you’ve purchased tickets online and can’t find your confirmation email with your tickets, you have a few options.
First, please search your spam folder for “ZooTampa”. If you locate the email in spam, please mark the email as “Not Spam” so that you will receive all email communications in the future.
If you don’t find the email in your spam folder, simply visit the ticket window at ZooTampa and provide your order number (shown on the web page after completing your purchase), or if you don’t have the order number, you may also provide your name and photo ID. We will be able to look up your order at the ticket window with this information.
Yes — CityPASS® tickets save 54% on Zoo admission plus 4 more top Tampa Bay attractions. Purchase CityPASS® tickets online for instant mobile ticket delivery, then present your tickets at the main entrance.
Active duty military and veterans can get $4 off per ticket on up to 4 general admissions tickets. Bring a form of ID to verify your military status and purchase your tickets at the front gate ticket windows.
Senior citizens get a $2 off discount on their general admissions ticket when purchasing at the ticket window.
At this time, we do not offer any other discounts. This includes but is not limited to Florida residents, AARP, EBT, AAA, teachers, and students.
No—ZooTampa does not offer free birthday admission at this time.
For groups of 15 or more people, please visit our Group Tickets page to get more information and request a group rate quote.
To plan a school field trip, please visit our Field Trips page to register your class, order lunch, and plan your day.
Yes—ZooTampa at Lowry Park participates in AZA’s Reciprocal Admissions Program with more than 150 other zoos and aquariums throughout North America. Click here for more information about AZA’s Reciprocal Admissions Program and to see a list of participating zoos and aquariums. AZA discounted admission applies only to single-day tickets; ZooTampa Memberships and Pay For A Day Passes are not eligible for this discount.
General admission to ZooTampa is $47.95 for adults (ages 12 & up) and $37.95 for children (ages 3 to 11).
With a Pay for A Day Visit Rest of Year Free ticket, you get to come back again and again for the rest of the calendar year for the price of a single day’s admission. Blockout dates and other restrictions apply.
Become a ZooTampa member for more perks like the flexibility to bring your choice of free guest(s), free admission to seasonal events like Creatures of the Night and Christmas in the Wild, discounts on dining, merchandise, signature encounters, and much more! Pair memberships are just $129, Trio memberships are just $179, Quad memberships are just $229, and Family memberships are the best deal at just $259.
Membership perks vary slightly depending on what type of membership you’ve purchased (Pair, Trio, Quad or Family), but all ZooTampa Members receive the following benefits:
For more information, or to become a ZooTampa Member, please visit our Membership page.
Please note: Pay For A Day, Visit Rest of Year Free passes are not the same as Memberships and do not have the same benefits.
† Event capacity is limited and may require advance reservations and a nominal reimbursable reservation fee.
**A $5 reservation fee is required for each event ticket. This $5 fee will be reimbursed in the form of a voucher for use in the park at select dining and retail locations.
Yes — ZooTampa at Lowry Park participates in AZA’s Reciprocal Admissions Program with more than 150 other zoos and aquariums throughout North America. Click here for more information about AZA’s Reciprocal Admissions Program and to see a list of participating zoos and aquariums.
ZooTampa members receive free or discounted admission into the zoos and aquariums listed at the link above when they show their valid Zoo membership card. Extra fees or benefits, such as parking, special events, etc. are not included.
NOTE: This list is updated quarterly and is subject to change without notice. Members are admitted according to the membership rules of the other zoo or aquarium, not those of ZooTampa (for example, if their definition of a “family membership” limits the number of children to 4, then that is the number allowed in using your ZooTampa membership card). Reciprocal zoos that have free admission to the general public may offer free parking or other benefits; call them to confirm. Also, many of the listed facilities define a family as 2 Adults and 2 Children. Therefore, additional children may have to pay admission.
Due to the current modified operations and capacity limits, SWAPtember with The Florida Aquarium and the Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI) will not take place this year. We realize this may be disappointing news, but please know this decision was not made lightly. We invite you to also support our partners The Florida Aquarium and MOSI as they continue to provide a safe place for families to be entertained, educated, and inspired.
**A $5 reservation fee is required for each event ticket. This $5 fee will be reimbursed in the form of a voucher for use in the park at select dining and retail locations.
11/24/23 through 11/26/23
12/26/23 through 12/31/23
3/9/24 through 3/17/24
11/29/24 through 12/1/24
12/26/24 through 12/31/24
Blockout dates only apply to repeat visitation. This means if you plan to purchase a Pay for A Day, Visit Rest of Year Free (“PFAD”) ticket, or have already purchased one online but haven’t used it yet, you may visit the Zoo on a blockout date as usual. Just bring your email confirmation to the entrance.
If you purchased your PFAD ticket previously and have already used it, you may still visit on a blockout date, you will just need to pay a small fee per person, or you can choose to upgrade to an annual membership. Some restrictions may apply to membership upgrades, based on when the ticket was originally purchased. Stop by the Zoo’s ticket windows on the date of your visit for details on both options.
Yes! You can purchase a Pay for a Day, Visit Rest of Year Free ticket for first-time use on a listed blockout date and have full access to the park on that day. Blockout dates apply to repeat visitation.
Bring a copy of your confirmation (or show on your mobile device) to expedite entry into the Zoo. At your convenience during your visit, you can stop by the Tours & Guest Services kiosk located inside the Zoo to obtain a printed physical pass. There’s no need to stand in line at the ticket windows—simply walk right in!
FREE! Parking at ZooTampa is free for all guests. Members receive preferred parking, subject to availability.
Wheelchair Accessibility & Pathway Texture
The pathways, facilities, and exhibits provide all visitors an enjoyable experience. Our front parking lot, entryway, and walkways are enhanced to provide easy navigation for all of our guests. Although some pathways feature some grades that are steeper than others, the zoo is wheelchair accessible.
Wheelchair, ECV, and Stroller Rentals
For rentals, please ask for assistance upon entering the Zoo or visit Nature’s Kingdom Gift Shop & Wheelchair Rentals at the front of the park. Rental fee plus a held photo ID as a deposit are required to rent a wheelchair, ECV, or stroller. Rental fees listed below include tax, and are subject to change without notice.
Our Lil’ Joey’s Family Stop, presented by TGH Muma Children’s Hospital, is located in our Australia realm and gives parents the perfect place to feed and change your little ones.
It depends. At ZooTampa we give our animals the free will to decide if they want to be touched. Therefore we don’t guarantee that you’ll have the opportunity to touch an animal during an encounter. For African penguin, southern white rhino, and giant tortoise encounters, you may touch the animals only if the animal is comfortable at the time and Zoo staff permits it. For all other encounters touching is not permitted for the safety of our animals and guests.
ZooTampa also has lorikeet feeding experiences where the animals may touch you.
It depends. We offer a few animal experiences that have a feeding component. Check our Encounters page for more information and to book.
Our animals are on specialized, monitored diets, so feeding any other animals at ZooTampa without the permission of Zoo staff is not permitted.
Yes—children under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a paying adult in order to participate in any Up-Close Signature Encounter. Most encounters require that a guest is at least 5 years of age to participate, but some do not have an age restriction.
All age restrictions and ticket requirements are elaborated upon on the encounters page and again in the webstore upon purchasing an encounter. Please read all requirements closely before making your purchase.
No—all rides, including Expedition Wild Africa and Roaring Springs, are free.
Yes—please see our Explore the Zoo for full details on age and height restrictions for each ride at ZooTampa.
Only ADA service animals are permitted inside ZooTampa at Lowry Park. This includes trained service animals and service animals-in-training, but does not include pets or emotional support animals (ESAs).
Service animals are limited to dogs and miniature horses that have been individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability. Service animals must remain harnessed or leashed at all times. If these devices interfere with the service animal’s work or the guest’s disability prevents them from using these devices, then the service animal must be under the guest’s complete control at all times.
We pride ourselves on providing broad access by service animals throughout our park, but because sensitivities can vary with our animals, guests with service animals are encouraged to check with Guest Relations on the day of visit to determine if access to any specific Zoo area is restricted on that day. Service animals are restricted from entering the Koala photo encounter area.
Guests are responsible for the clean-up and for controlling their service animal’s behavior. Guests will be asked to remove service animals if these guidelines are not followed.
ZooTampa does not offer pet boarding facilities.
ZooTampa is open rain or shine, with rare exceptions for extreme weather. If you’re unsure, please check the Hours section in the green bar near the top of most web pages or our ZooTampa Facebook page. If there are no special notices in either of those places regarding weather conditions, then we’re open for business.
A day of wild fun at ZooTampa at Lowry Park is always guaranteed and now through the “ZooTampa Not-So-Perfect Weather Program” guests who purchase a ticket through one of our preferred resellers can get a free return visit if weather ruins their day of connecting with wildlife! The program, which is offered year-round, covers inclement weather defined as heavy rain and lightning lasting more than an hour, extreme heat index of 110+, and temperatures below 50 degrees. Eligible guests must visit the Zoo’s Guest Services kiosk on the same day of their visit and present their original ticket to request a return visit ticket which is valid for one admission within 30-days.
No—we do not have plastic bags, plastic straws, or plastic cup lids. This is for the safety of our animals and the environment.
Smoking and vaping is only permitted in designated areas. Ask a Zoo staff member for assistance in locating one of these areas. Smoking or vaping marijuana is strictly prohibited.
ZooTampa is committed to providing an environment that is safe and secure for guests, employees, volunteers and the animals in our care. ZooTampa prohibits any person from using or operating any drone or UAS on or above the Zoo campus, including parking facilities and back areas. Exceptions must receive written authorization by the Zoo’s management team and must follow all rules and regulations of both the Zoo and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
This policy applies to all persons on the ZooTampa campus including guests, employees, and volunteers, as well as individuals who are operating a drone outside of the Zoo property limits but flying over its campus.
Persons in violation of ZooTampa’s drone policy are identified as trespassers and will be referred to and dealt with accordingly by law enforcement officers, including but not limited to criminal charges and fines.
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Open today from:
9:30 AM – 5:00 PM
Please fill out the form below to sign up for the job fair.
To complete your camp registration, you must:
By clicking the registration button below, I confirm that I have read and agree to the Camp Waiver and Liability Release and Camp Handbook and will print, sign, and return the Camp Waiver and Liability Release to complete my registration.
Trustees of the Lowry Park Zoological Society, Directors of the Lowry Park Zoo Endowment Foundation, and the Employees and Volunteers of ZooTampa understand and appreciate the vital role of philanthropy to accomplish our work. That’s why we subscribe to the Donor Bill of Rights developed by the American Association of Fund Raising Counsel, Association for Healthcare Philanthropy, Council for Advancement and Support of Education, National Society of Fund Raising Executives:
“Philanthropy is based on voluntary action for the common good. It is a tradition of giving and sharing that is primary to the quality of life. To assure that philanthropy merits the respect and trust of the general public, and that donors and prospective donors can have full confidence in the not-for-profit organizations and causes that they are asked to support, we declare that all donors have these rights:
ZooTampa at Lowry Park is committed to protecting your privacy. We value the trust of our donors, volunteers, employees, and other supporters and recognize that maintaining this trust requires us to ensure the confidentiality of personal information that you share with us.
As a non-profit organization, ZooTampa relies on your support, depends on the support of generous contributors, and achieves ambitious fundraising objectives by communicating with and understanding donors. We know that it is essential to protect the privacy of that information. ZooTampa, the Lowry Park Zoological Society, and the Lowry Park Zoo Endowment Foundation will neither sell nor trade a donor’s personal information to any other entity without the written permission of the donor.
Lowry Park Zoological Society of Tampa, INC.: Registration No. CH140
Lowry Park Endowment Foundation, INC.: Registration No. CH20389
A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING TOLL-FREE WITHIN THE STATE. REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL, OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE.
Phone: (800) 435-7352
FloridaConsumerHelp.com
ZooTampa at Lowry Park offers a variety of delicious food for guests at several restaurants and concession stands throughout, but we understand that guests may need to bring outside food for special dietary needs. Acceptable and prohibited food items are listed below. For the convenience of our guests, there is a picnic area located outside the park near the main parking lot.
For the safety of our animals, guests and employees, the following items are not permitted to be brought into ZooTampa:
The following items are also prohibited to avoid blocking of walkways and/or trip hazards:
Please leave any unnecessary articles secured within your vehicle to expedite your entry into the park.
We reserve the right to deny entry to anyone not observing Zoo Rules.
With a new Pay For A Day, Rest of Year Free ticket – for a limited time – you get unlimited admission through December 31, 2024 including access to our seasonal event series. Some blockout dates apply — see below for details. Not valid with any other discounts.
When does my Pay For A Day ticket expire?
Pay for a Day Get the Rest of the Year Free tickets purchased in October, November, or December of 2023, are valid from the day of purchase until 12/31/2024. Any Pay For a Day Get the Rest of the Year Free tickets purchased prior to October 1, 2023 expire on 12/31/2023.
What are the blockout dates?
11/24/23 – 11/26/23
12/26/23 – 12/31/23
3/9/24 – 3/17/24
11/24/24 – 11/26/24
12/26/24 – 12/31/24
Blockout dates apply to admission before 4:00 PM on the above dates.
Can I purchase a Pay For A Day ticket on a blockout date?
Yes! You can purchase a Pay for a Day, Rest of Year Free ticket for first-time use on a listed blockout date and have full access to the park on that day. Blockout dates apply to repeat visitation.
