16 zoos, aquariums and gardens with verified free admission. Lincoln Park Zoo, Saint Louis Zoo are free every day; the rest run scheduled free days — most with resident rules or reservation requirements worth knowing before you load the car.
| Zoo / aquarium | City | Free day | Who qualifies |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lincoln Park Zoo | Chicago, IL | Always free | Open to all, no restriction. |
| Saint Louis Zoo | St. Louis, MO | Always free | Open to everyone |
| Zoo / aquarium | City | Free day | Who qualifies |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minnesota Zoo | Apple Valley, MN | No regular free day | Minnesota residents currently receiving qualifying public-assistance benefits |
| Zoo Atlanta | Atlanta, GA | Announced in batches | Restricted to verified City of Atlanta/Fulton County residents |
| Brookfield Zoo Chicago | Brookfield, IL | Published dates | Open to all guests, no residency requirement stated for Free Days. |
| Shedd Aquarium | Chicago, IL | Tuesdays 5pm–9pm | Illinois residents. All adults |
| Denver Botanic Gardens | Denver, CO | Published dates | Open to everyone |
| Denver Zoo | Denver, CO | Published dates | Open to everyone |
| Fort Worth Zoo | Fort Worth, TX | No regular free day | Open to everyone |
| Chicago Botanic Garden | Glencoe, IL | Published dates | Illinois residents. |
| Houston Zoo | Houston, TX | 1st Tuesday monthly | Open to everyone |
| Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens | Los Angeles, CA | No regular free day | L.A. Public Library cardholders |
| Bronx Zoo | New York, NY | No regular free day | Wednesday reduced-admission tickets: anyone who books in time |
| Oregon Zoo | Portland, OR | No regular free day | Discounts: Oregon/Washington income-assistance participants |
| California Academy of Sciences | San Francisco, CA | No regular free day | EBT cardholders |
| Woodland Park Zoo | Seattle, WA | No regular free day | Varies by program — see freeText |
The AZA Reciprocal Admissions Program gets most zoo/aquarium members 50% off (sometimes free) at hundreds of other institutions — check our reciprocity checker for how it works and the traps.
↥ Check another museum → Browse all free museum & zoo days →
Lincoln Park Zoo (Chicago), Saint Louis Zoo (St. Louis) never charge general admission.
Usually general admission only — rides, feedings, special exhibits and parking typically still cost money. Each zoo's page here lists what's included and links the official source.
Often, via the AZA Reciprocal Admissions Program — typically 50% off (sometimes free) at participating zoos and aquariums. Check our reciprocity checker before you travel.