Zoo Miami (also known as the Miami-Dade Zoological Park and Garden) is home to over 3,000 animals, including mammals, birds, fish, amphibians, and reptiles. The Florida: Mission Everglades habitat also allows visitors to explore a local ecosystem and see animals like the roseate spoonbill, the Florida panther, black bears, burrowing owls, gopher tortoises, bald eagles, crocodiles, alligators, and Florida box turtles.
For an overview of the park, hop on the monorail or join a narrated Zoo Miami tour via tram or golf cart. Then, learn about animal welfare and environmental conservation through hands-on activities at Zoo Miami’s Conservation Action Center (CAC) and Animal Fun Factory. Visitors can also feed the giraffes and rhinos through animal encounter experiences, and attend talks and presentations.
The zoo is handicap accessible, and service animals are allowed.
Visitors typically spend about four hours exploring the zoo.
Expect to do a bit of walking, as the zoo is quite large, and the distance between animal habitats is often great. You can also rent a safari cycle, take a tram tour, or ride the monorail to get around.
Strategically-placed benches and shaded gazebos provide convenient rest stops.
Miami sightseeing passes, such as the Explorer Pass and the Go Miami card, include the zoo among their attractions.
Zoo Miami is about 45 minutes south of the city center. To get here, take US-1 south, then turn right on SW 152nd Street and follow signs to the zoo entrance. If you’re coming from the Florida Turnpike, take exit 16. You can also reach the park via bus route 252; a bus stop is located at the zoo entrance.
The zoo is open from mid-morning through early evening, and animals begin to head to their sleeping enclosures in the late afternoon. The zoo also hosts some evening events that allow you to see the animals in their nocturnal state; check the schedule for details. If you’re looking to see a specific critter at the zoo, call ahead to make sure they are on the exhibit; weather conditions, maintenance, and health issues can all affect the animals’ activity.
Another family-friendly attraction, the Miami Children's Museum lets kids engage in real-life activities like food shopping and banking through interactive exhibits. There are also special programs geared toward infants and toddlers and toward children with autism spectrum disorder, sensory processing disorders, and developmental delays. Visit to make some art, learn some skills, and enjoy some play time, then check out the museum’s classes and educational programs.
