Minnesota Zoo has no regular free day right now — here's what exists instead. No general-public free day. The 'Free to Explore' Zoo Admission Program (ZAP) provides free daytime admission year-round, but only to Minnesota residents enrolled in qualifying public-assistance programs (TANF, MFIP, SNAP, MFAP, General Assistance, MSA, Medical Assistance/MinnesotaCare, WIC, MN Head Start, FDPIR, Housing Support, disabled veterans, or Sun Bucks EBT in July-Aug) plus their dependent children under 18. Requires proof of ID, MN residency, and program enrollment, plus an advance reservation (up to 15 people online, larger groups by phone/email). Parking ($10/car) is not included, nor are special programs/events/exhibits. Required in advance online (groups up to 15) or by phone/email (larger groups) Verified on Minnesota Zoo's own page, last checked 2026-09-04.
| Free day | No regular free day |
|---|---|
| Who qualifies | Minnesota residents currently receiving qualifying public-assistance benefits (see freeText), plus their dependent children under 18 |
| Reservation | Required in advance online (groups up to 15) or by phone/email (larger groups) |
| What's included | Free daytime admission during regular zoo hours |
| Regular adult price | $25.95 adult (ages 13-64) |
| Source | mnzoo.org · checked 2026-09-04 |
The baseline without a free day: $25.95 adult (ages 13-64), which puts a couple at $51.90 and four adults at $103.80 before extras. That's why the alternative routes below matter more here than at museums with a real free day.
No upcoming free dates are published right now. Minnesota Zoo announces free days on its official page — that's the place to watch.
Regular tickets ($25.95 adult (ages 13-64)) are on mnzoo.org; buying direct means no reseller markup. A membership card from another city's museum or zoo might work here too — the reciprocity lookup answers it in one search.
Minneapolis Institute of Art (always free) · Walker Art Center (thursdays) — or see the full free museum days in Minneapolis guide.
A single monthly email covering Minneapolis's free days — every date checked against the official pages first.
↥ Check another museum → Browse all free museum & zoo days →
No general-public free day. The 'Free to Explore' Zoo Admission Program (ZAP) provides free daytime admission year-round, but only to Minnesota residents enrolled in qualifying public-assistance programs (TANF, MFIP, SNAP, MFAP, General Assistance, MSA, Medical Assistance/MinnesotaCare, WIC, MN Head Start, FDPIR, Housing Support, disabled veterans, or Sun Bucks EBT in July-Aug) plus their dependent children under 18. Requires proof of ID, MN residency, and program enrollment, plus an advance reservation (up to 15 people online, larger groups by phone/email). Parking ($10/car) is not included, nor are special programs/events/exhibits.
Required in advance online (groups up to 15) or by phone/email (larger groups)
The free days are for Minnesota residents currently receiving qualifying public-assistance benefits (see freeText), plus their dependent children under 18 — typically with ID or proof of residency. Visitors pay regular admission ($25.95 adult (ages 13-64)).
Free daytime admission during regular zoo hours
$25.95 adult (ages 13-64). A free-day visit puts that back in your pocket.
At $25.95 per adult, two adults keep $51.90 and a group of four paying adult prices keeps up to $103.80 per visit — before parking and extras.