Houston Zoo is free 1st Tuesday monthly. Free Zoo Days presented by ExxonMobil run on the first Tuesday of most months, open until closing. Online reservation is required for all non-member guests (no gate tickets); tickets frequently sell out well in advance. Excludes Zoo Lights, the carousel, giraffe feeding, and other paid attractions. Required online; tickets not available at the gate; not guaranteed due to demand Verified on Houston Zoo's own page, last checked 2026-09-04.
| Free day | 1st Tuesday monthly |
|---|---|
| Who qualifies | Open to everyone; online reservation required for non-members |
| Reservation | Required online; tickets not available at the gate; not guaranteed due to demand |
| What's included | General zoo admission |
| Regular adult price | Dynamic/flex pricing that varies by date (roughly $25-30 per adult per third-party sources); no single fixed adult price is published on the official site |
| Source | houstonzoo.org · checked 2026-09-04 |
Eligibility: Open to everyone; online reservation required for non-members. General zoo admission. Skipping the ticket window here saves Dynamic/flex pricing that varies by date (roughly $25-30 per adult per third-party sources); no single fixed adult price is published on the official site per adult.
Worth knowing: Free Zoo Days require an online reservation and regularly sell out over a month in advance — there is no walk-up option.
Children's Museum Houston (thursdays 5pm–8pm) · Houston Museum of Natural Science (tuesdays 5pm–8pm) · Menil Collection (always free) · Museum of Fine Arts, Houston (thursdays) — or see the full free museum days in Houston guide.
↥ Check another museum → Browse all free museum & zoo days →
Free Zoo Days presented by ExxonMobil run on the first Tuesday of most months, open until closing. Online reservation is required for all non-member guests (no gate tickets); tickets frequently sell out well in advance. Excludes Zoo Lights, the carousel, giraffe feeding, and other paid attractions.
Required online; tickets not available at the gate; not guaranteed due to demand
General zoo admission
Dynamic/flex pricing that varies by date (roughly $25-30 per adult per third-party sources); no single fixed adult price is published on the official site. That's what a well-timed visit saves you.