I really wanted to like this Zoo. This is the second time I've been at the Akron Zoo (two different seasons). In the lobby area is a map of other nature attractions like hiking, parks, and lakes in Summit County. Upon entry in the lobby area, the various Zoo attraction closures were posted. It's rather discouraging to walk through the Zoo and see closure after closure, renovation signs every few exhibits. We went with a group of friends and both of us brought our kids (elementary through high school) on Easter weekend. Exhibit transitions and renovations happen, but playgrounds were closed, various food areas closed, and many of our favorite Zoo animals nowhere to be found. It feels like many of the Zoo animals were an afterthought to be honest. Almost as if the zoo needed to quickly fill a space to showcase an animal. The Akron Zoo is a smaller scale zoo compared to Cleveland or Columbus, but need more animals that wow and draw people to the zoo. The Mini Melts (practically Dippin Dots) were for sale around the park for $6. The pictures in this review show the cafeteria in the Komado center including pricing. Inside the Komodo Center were the Galapagos Tortoises and a few fish aquariums. The aquariums showcased a couple of tanks similar to Nemo (clownfish) next to an aquarium with fish similar to Dory. read more

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We went here in the winter so not a lot of visitors which I always enjoy. They do have paper maps which is nice as to not drain my phone battery that I need for photos. The staff suggested a route that would take us by all the animals and not have us walk uphill which was nice for my knees. A lot of the exhibits had glass viewing which puts you very close to animals and allows for nice photos as well. I think the otter exhibit was my favorite, it has a child's slide that goes that goes through it. All the animals were active and appeared to be very cared for. Zoo was clean and beautiful. read more

Akron Zoo - Zoos Near Me - Akron, Ohio

Has so much fun here and the maps to everything are well put together, pathways give easy directions. The cafe is in fairly close proximity to any section he in, but closest to the entrance so great to feed the kids before you take them places. I especially loved the aquarium and the jellyfish! read more

Akron Zoo - Sleeping alpaca - Zoos Near Me - Akron, Ohio

A Great Local Zoo with Heart, History, and Fun for the Whole Family We've been Akron Zoo members for over 10 years, and it's one of our favorite places for a family outing. The zoo has grown and improved a lot over the years--adding new exhibits, animals, and events--but it still keeps that manageable, easy-to-navigate feel. Whether you want to spend a full day exploring or just pop in for a quick visit, it's the perfect size. There's a solid variety of animals here, and what really stands out is how active and engaged many of them are. It's not uncommon to see animals interacting with guests or just being generally playful, which makes each visit feel a little different. While around half the animals are birds (which is noticeable), there's still a good mix of mammals, reptiles, and more. Our kids always love coming here, and the zoo really goes above and beyond with its themed days, seasonal events, and educational programs. It's clear that a lot of thought and care goes into making the zoo both fun and enriching. Whether you're a local or visiting the area, the Akron Zoo is a great way to spend a few hours--especially if you're looking for something kid-friendly, affordable, and full of heart. read more

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Literally one of THE coolest/best zoos we have been to! My kids loved it here & so didn't I! Love this zoo! Go here. Smaller zoo, but so great. Not super spaced out and tiring like other larger zoos. Just perfect. All of the animals were out the day we were there, we arrived around 2 that day. Decent weather day. Sunshine & warm. All animals up, moving, & lively unless they were napping obvs but most weren't. They have things here we've not seen or experienced anywhere else. First arrival & entrance were huge dinosaur displays! Ticket buying is easy to find & do. Prices are decent, esp for the experience. I would personally buy a yearly pass or whatever is offered. Gift shop is next stop. You have to go through there to get into the zoo. (Not my favorite thing, due to littles and it being the FIRST part.. everyone wanting to grab things!) BUT they do offer snacks & cold drinks to prepare your tour with. We enjoyed those options. They do offer stroller rentals single, double, & a rideable animal it looked like. Pricing for a double stroller was okay. Nice plastic ride with shade visor. No where to really put a bag or anything, except on top of the shade part but if heavy & taller kids, will def be on their heads. Plenty of bathroom locations throughout the zoo. We needed more time than 3 hours!! They have tickets to purchase for a train ride & Merry Go Round. Eating place inside zoo. Dip & dot station. A Photo Booth. small playground equipment area. A splash area for summer days. (It was not on, our day) Our favorite enclosures were the TOP being the Otter. There is a slide that is above the water & takes you under the water & out at the bottom. The otter was swimming all around the kids inside the slide for quite a long time! The tiger was next, it came right up the glass & was face to face with us! Grizzly Bear was fed close to closing & we got to watch that, right up to the glass as well. The bats were neat! The "aquarium" part was super cool. Favorite in there was the octopus! Very active. Also another eating place inside there. Homeschoolers: MANY signs & things for learning, online watching for some animals you visit when you're not at the zoo. read more

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Overall a pretty good zoo, there is a variety of animals and quite a few events throughout the year. Overall 8/1 (4.0 stars) (my review from Google Maps) read more

I want to love this place but it's ok. Pricing was $14 for adults and $12 for seniors - I guess if you're member then you're able to get in FREE. Unfortunately I didn't inquire about memberships and they didn't try to sell me any neither which I'm happy about. Parking is $5 - they go by honor system; basically asking if you parked onsite or not. Definitely recommend going in fall and/or winter where the animals are more active. Some were but 75% decided to stay in their enclosure since it was open access for them. I don't blame them. I enjoyed the fact the zoo had several shaded areas and seating - but beware about the incline to get some of the animals. Highly suggest working your way up and slowly view animals on the way back. They did have a nice cafe - didn't check it out since we had ate already and you're able to bring in water (even rollable coolers). It was a nice experience but probably won't return - it's a 3hr 30mins drive from Detroit. Lol! (You can understand that) Happy traveling!!! read more

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Wow - so many cool animals. Two hours' worth. Lemurs, vultures, emperor geese, a tiny bear-like, mindfully sloth-moving creature; bats, bald eagles, some colorful exotic spotted fluffy bird;, snow owls, gibbons, turtles, tortoises, naked mole rats, leaf cutter ants, giant prickly stick insects, octopus, a blowfish, a stingray, flamingos. It was fairly real and frightening seeing the grizzly bears, wolves, lions, a snow leopard, and a tiger so close up. I half expected them to jump over their enclosure and thin piece of electric fence wire and attack me. Really really fascinating and amazing to see such creatures so up close here. There's a little train, (buy tickets at the bottom of the hill before walking up) a carousel ($2), and a goat-feeding area ($1 for a single cracker). The snack bar only has junk like nachos and French fries. It's not clear that the 'cafe' building also has tons more animals inside, & I'd bet some people skip it by accident. Parking seems free if you claim to have walked there?... it wasn't clear. Security in the parking area is extreme - there is a car constantly circling, for hours - maybe something happened in the past?.... Thank you!! read more

Akron Zoo - Red pandas - Zoos Near Me - Akron, Ohio

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Smaller, quaint zoo. If you've been to larger zoos, you might be slightly disappointed. If your are looking for something for little kids, or a 2-ish hour excursion, this is a great stop. When we went, all the birds were out away due to the avian flu, so disappointing. We really wanted to see the penguins. The carrousel and most of the food was also closed. The animals are pretty close so it was easy to find/spot them. Lots of things for kids to do quickly like slides and tunnels. read more

Akron Zoo - Zoos Near Me - Akron, Ohio

Presidents' Day free admission We knew it would be busy but since the day was in the 50s perfect time to explore at the zoo. The zoo is a great size for young kids to walk around and enjoy before getting too tired. Lots to see and do. Some of the highlights were the otters swimming, penguins waddling, grizzly bear sleeping. Most of the extras were closed because it was off season like the train, slide and many of the food locations. The merry go round was open and cost $2 a rider. Plenty of parking in the lot for $3. I recommend packing a lunch so you can stop and eat wherever you are in the park when you get hungry. Lots of benches and tables throughout that make it easy to find a great picnic spot. read more

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Akron is a very nice zoo where you could see most of the animals and displays in just a few hours. In most of the exhibits there are Docents who will happily tell you more about the animals and habitats. It was a hot afternoon, so most of the animals were doing what anyone else would be doing on a hot afternoon and napping. I had a pleasant afternoon, and I would recommend it. There is a carousel, a cafeteria, and a lovely gift shop. Bonus points for the rental area where you can rent a manual wheelchair for FREE read more

I want to start off by saying that I think it's nice that they let EBT card holders get in for three dollars, and also allow them to bring three guests that also only have to pay three dollars. That being said the last 5 times I've been there, there have not been much on display animal wise and the animals that are on display are either sleeping or to where you can barely see them. This is definitely a place to get your steps in if you're trying to stay or get fit. It is nice and clean and all of the employees are very nice, friendly, and helpful. The woman at the Bald Eagle exhibit was specifically nice and went out of her way to help us locate the hidden one in the bushes. She deserves a pat on the back or maybe a little raise. Overall a nice place to go and walk around and see nature. read more

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We went here with my cousin and her toddler daughter. My kids are both under 3 and this zoo was really geared toward that age! There were a lot of activities and play places for little kids; an indoor soft gym; an otter slide; a train ride to see lions, etc It's a very walkable and nice sized zoo The food was really good as well and large portions read more

Kinda crappy not going to lie. Saw maybe two animals the entire time. Most were sleeping or not out at all. The dinosaurs were the best thing here and even those had failing speakers... there were maybe two maps posted around the entire park. We were almost hit by a car due to horribly designed parking and cross walks. We will likely never return to this zoo. Admission price was ridiculous for such a crappy experience. So you are still paying for two. Cleveland zoo is much better and will get a 5 star. read more

Medium sized zoo that took 2 hours to go through. Only a couple exhibits were closed for renovations etc. You paid for parking inside and it was kinda pointless since you didn't put the receipt in your car so it was just free money for them unless you left and came back. There were staff at the popular exhibits to give facts and teach about the animals. There was a good amount of shade at viewing areas and then the aquatic animals so it wasn't too miserable in the sun. The gardens were out of bloom but had potential to be beautiful in the summer. Plenty of seating and random exercise posts in the park I saw one family doing. Extra money is needed to feed goats (($1 a cracker) and ride the train. read more

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What a nice little zoo. Really clean and great staff. They have a lot of unique animals that you don't often see in other zoos. They also have a carousel and a miniature train ride. They do a lot of school programs. It only takes about two hours to see all the exhibits and you can get some terrific pictures. read more

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Yelpers, This zoo is very nice and fun to explore. In addition to the awesome animals, they have an amazing crew who enjoy not only interacting with everyone but informing us about the animals. They are extremely helpful and willing to adjust their plans to make their customers happy. The animals look to be well cared for and at home. They play with us at the glass at times and some of them just chill probably thinking who are these aliens looking at us. But I love them anyway! Thank you Akron Zoo for the amazing time I had with you all and the animals! read more

Small cages for the animals. No place to interact with any of them. Expensive and unfriendly. We have stopped getting membership as it's simply not worth it. read more

Have been to several zoos this year. Liked the size. Needs more animals but understand the price problem.

The Akron zoo had very few animals on exhibit, the landscaping was full of weeds. There is no train, the petting zoo is gone, and there is no playground. read more

I've been here more times than i can remember over the last 10+ years and for a couple of years bought the season passes. But then it got a little mundane so we quit renewing. But now they've a whole new section up top thats great. The lions roaring with the live microphones is really cool. And they are building another new section! Innovation and new exhibits is definitely how you get the crowds to keep coming back, so glad they are continuously improving! Its a great zoo considering its a smaller Market than others zoo serve. Looking forward to coming back for the Christmas season with craft beers and all the decorations! read more

Akron Zoo - Lemur - Zoos Near Me - Akron, Ohio

I have a membership to the Cleveland zoo and came here on a whim since I was able to get 50% off tickets with my Cleveland membership. I wasn't really expecting much from such a small zoo, but the moment I entered I was BEYOND impressed. You can tell that the animals are very well taken care of and happy. The exhibits are unique and really seem to mimic their natural environment. My only complaint is that the jaguar exhibit was really small and the jaguar seemed stressed as he was pacing back and forth. I'm not sure if he was there for a special reason but it was a bit disturbing and sad to witness. We also saw a pair of sunglasses at the bottom of the penguin's pool. I appreciated the fact that most exhibits have employees stationed to make sure that people are respecting the animals - something that I never see at the Cleveland zoo. The woman at the lion exhibit was so sweet and knowledgeable about the lions and even took the time to show us some pictures of them on her phone. Every employee we saw seemed genuinely happy to be there. We also saw a few employees actively cleaning the exhibits which was neat. I was happy to see the bald eagle walking around his spacious enclosure. The one at the Cleveland zoo is usually just sitting on a perch looking sad so it was really nice to see one that was well taken care of. Overall I was really impressed with this zoo. It was the perfect size and we got through it in about two hours. There is a lot of uphill walking but the exhibits are close together so there's a lot to look at if you need to rest. I definitely plan to return! read more

Absolutely great. Come here every year and own a membership, and it keeps getting better. They always have projects going on and improvements. This is one of the best zoos I've been to. 5 stars. read more

Well-organized, small, manageable zoo. Not too spread out. Good variety of well-kept enclosures. I had been here in college, but not since then. I think it has only improved over the years. Beautiful well-cared for animals. Reasonable admission. My niece and nephew really enjoyed our visit. read more

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A small zoo; probably the smallest zoo I've been to, but well kept and organized in a nice layout. It isn't overwhelming like some of the larger zoos in Cleveland and Columbus. Ideal for families with small children who don't want to spend too many hours at the zoo, but would like to see a few variety of animals. They don't get overly busy and you aren't crowded out by adults and children alike, missing the opportunity for a quiet day with the animals. We had a lovely time on our visit and would certainly visit again. I would allow 3 hours for a visit here. read more

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A lovely little zoo that's well taken care of and is always clean. They have a lot of the most popular animals you'd want to see at a zoo and they do a lot to education patrons on conservation and taking care of the planet. This zoo is perfect for those who don't want to do a ton of walking or for those who are trying to avoid the crowds you'll see at larger zoos, like Cleveland. read more

Recently a family member and I woke up bright and early to make the trek from Pittsburgh to the Akron zoo on a Sunday morning. Why? Well, because this place had two baby snow leopards on display during Sunday mornings. I love my Pittsburgh zoo but they don't have those! We may have made the trip specifically to see the very adorable fluff-balls but of course once we were there we took the time to enjoy the entire zoo. It was a small and cute place, for sure. What this zoo lacks in size it definitely made up for, partly with its awesome appearance - the paths were paved but the park was built around (and filled with) natural greenery and rock formations, so you really got the sense that you were walking through a piece of nature. That said it was admittedly a little disorienting at times walking through the greenery, but they do give you a map, which helps. Now for the most important part: the animals. While it isn't the most exotic zoo ever I do really did enjoy seeing the animals here. Naturally the snow leopards were the big attraction during my visit - there were also a range of wild cats, small primates, birds, aquatic animals, reptiles and more. I really enjoyed ducking into the bat house, seeing the biggest octopus I've ever seen in their aquarium, and hearing the Bald Eagles screeching. Other things worth mentioning are the child-friendly play areas, beautiful gardens, and hands-on experiences held throughout the zoo and in the aquarium - all make for nice additions to the zoo. Final opinion: while I think a little more space could allow for some improvements this zoo seems to be doing a good job with what they have. It's a cool little zoo that I'd check out again if I'm in the area - or if any new adorable babies join their lineup! read more

Akron Zoo - Grizzly under water! - Zoos Near Me - Akron, Ohio

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This is a beautiful zoo! The staff was super friendly and the zoo educators were helpful and knowledgeable. Some animals were sleeping but the ones who were up were playful and fun! The zoo overall is exceptionally clean and well decorated. The atmosphere doesn't make you feel rushed and the animals are fun to observe. We went when one of the major exhibits was undergoing renovation, this included the red pandas: however we brought an almost 2 year old and he loved it! Will be back soon! read more

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If you are going to have almost half the place under construction, might be WISE (fair) to charge 1/2. Plus paying for parking unnecessary! read more

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Went to Akron Zoo Saturday with total of 7 people! Three from NC FOT A VISIT! It sure was hot. Akron Zoo is a great place for a shorter visit and easier on younger children and old folks that cannot handle longer walks! The wife prefers winter at the zoo. The animals are more active! If I go winter I am stumping my feet to keep trim freezing! I rate it 4 Stars because they eliminated several animals to replace them with carnival rides. Bad idea! Still a good zoo, but lost some fun animals! read more

We LOVE the Akron Zoo! They do such a great job being intentional in a smaller city space. What they're doing for red wolf conservation is amazing! read more

Some animals were not out and half of the place was under construction which we shouldn't have been charged full price..but then again if I would have Checked the yelp reviews I would have known that so I'll do my research next time. read more

Akron Zoo - Zoos Near Me - Akron, Ohio

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Brew at the Zoo is a must-do in Akron. Admission is extremely reasonable for what you get - after-hours admission to the entire zoo, 8 local beer and wine tastings, and souvenirs (we got coasters, 2 koozies and won a Christmas ornament for guessing a trivia question correctly). Tonight's theme was "Christmas in July" and many of the breweries brought samples of their Christmas ales. There was a Santa Clause character, Christmas music and some of the animal exhibits had presents inside for the animals with curious minds :) There were also three food trucks - Swensons, the Pierogi Lady and the Stone Pelican Rolling Cafe. All were surrounded by music and even a few Christmas songs to complement the theme. I had read in some other reviews that Zoo visitors need to pay for parking, but it was free for this event. I'll definitely do this again! One thing to note - ticket buying is extremely slow. Unbelievably slow in fact. I'd advise buying them online. read more

The most perfect zoo for little ones. We have a zoo pass and I enjoy taking my son once every week or so and letting him run his little heart out. It takes around three hours to get through the whole zoo, including stops to feed goats and ride the train. Zoo animals are usually napping 10-noon, but I've been 3-5pm and seen the animals more active than ever before. The otter slide is the highlight of Grizzly Ridge, but parents be careful. The slide is fast and you go down quick. The new Curious Creature exhibit is refreshing and fun, which is what I believe the zoo strives to accomplish -- fun with splashes of learn. read more

A well executed zoo. Not very big so you can get through it quickly. Missing some of the traditional greatest zoo hits (e.g., giraffes) but acceptable variety. Admission price is pretty high for the quantity of material but I realize that it is pretty expensive to run a zoo. This is not a destination zoo, but young kids will enjoy it. read more

A great smaller zoo for kids! We come here a few times each summer, prices are great and it's just enough for the kids. The carousel is nice and we always have lunch here too! I love the penguins! One of my favorite places at the zoo is the garden. It's so beautiful when read more

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This is a small, but outstandingly planned, zoo! We spent 3.5 hours here on a zoo reciprocal from the Philadelphia Zoo. (50 percent off). The zoo is clean, well-designed and has fun exhibits. There's a small playground in the middle, shady picnic benches and a prairie village (2 play houses). If you have American girl or Little House fans, you could bring them dressed up and read a book for a while as they played. The kids loved the leaf-eating ants, the bear, the river otter slide (A plus!!) and the bats! (Why wasn't the person cleaning the bat change wearing a mask like at other zoos?). My only thought for improvement is that there should be water bottle fillers or more water fountains. read more

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We visited the Akron Zoo for the first time for Wild Lights. It was a fun and safe family outing and a great way to celebrate the season. They had some striking animal-themed light displays and played holiday music throughout the area. This is a smaller zoo that is manageable for small kids. There are some hills on the easy to follow path, but nothing crazy. Since it is a smaller zoo, there are no elephants or giraffes. You can see many animals up close, though, including otters and grizzly bears. The indoor section (Komodo Kingdom) housed some fun species of frogs, fish, and insects. Prices were reasonable ($14 for adult admission, $3 parking, $2 for hot chocolate, free carousel ride, etc.) The employees were all super friendly and helpful. read more

This is a very intimate zoo. You get up close and personal, (with a glass buffer zone), with the animals. It's a very easy to walk zoo, and has a great variety of animals. The park is also well designed: those with kids will appreciate the way that playground areas are dispersed among the exhibits to give a bit of a sitting break as the kids play. The education provided at the exhibits are also really nice. Though not immersive, they are interactive. For example, I stood on a scale that told me I weigh as much as a salmon, which feeds a grizzly bear for about 2 days. Good to know that if I get eaten by a bear in the wild that I could keep him powered for 48 hours! I'd classify this as a "small, but mighty" zoo. It makes the most of the space, gets you a great look at the animals, and is easily traversed in under 4 hours. Wonderful zoo if you're not a fan of massive hordes of people. read more

Great zoo and great staff. I have been going here for the last 8 years. I would highly recommend go to the zoo.