Good place to explore with children in Aurora. It turns out to be a bigger place than it looks. Phillips Park Zoo is the highlight of this big public park and one of the best things about the city as well. Best thing is there's no admission price. This makes it even more worth it for looking around once, and you can come back as often as you want if planning to come more times. Even though it's kind of small, it feels there's a lot inside and you can be here awhile. It's got an interesting history. The beginnings of the zoo started when it was established in 1915, and a birdhouse was built the next year. Over the following few years the animal collection grew. There were birds, black bears, buffalo, deer, elk, foxes, monkeys, and wolves. In 1933 the birdhouse was destroyed in a hailstorm, and the following year the Brookfield Zoo opened. They chose to refocus on native animals after this. A few years after this, mastodon bones and tusks were found in the park. These were put on display in the zoo. In 1950 a barn was built. The following years included the addition of a water wheel. Farm animals such as goats, as well as birds like swans have their exhibits around these. The more recent additions include cougars, as well as improvements to exhibits for reptiles and wolves. Also the zoo has a few resources for education. The ZooCiety has various activities and programs. Have to say it's a good zoo for the city. It's located in the middle of the park. This is particularly a good one for young children, but it's open for everyone, so it's also okay for adults or whoever. read more

See all

If you're visiting Aurora when it's nicer weather, this is worth checking out. It's been a min since I was last here but I wanted to share some pictures and add another positive review. Admission is free. Parking is free and has more than adequate space available. The zoo is closed on Wednesdays. During the summer months, the hours are extended until 5 pm. Fall-Spring, the zoo is closed at 4 pm. Besides the zoo, they have a visitor center, sunken garden, veterans waterfall, etc. Inside the visitor center, they have mastodon bones along with information to read. They also have bathrooms that are clean and well kept. read more

See all

Free zoo that I visited on a girls trip and it was cute. A very small zoo that is very hilly. So if you're a wheelchair user or if you're pushing a stroller just beware. There's also a free trolly but you should rsvp online before you go because there were no open spots. We were going to wait 2 hours until the next spots opened but decided against it. read more

My first time attending and it was a great experience. We took the trolley around the park for the first 30 minutes. It was very nice and relaxing. You can tell they take great care of the landscaping and animals. The zoo is free which is a bonus! They have beautiful birds, cattle and reptiles. If you have kids there's even a splash pad near the front for them to enjoy! read more

See all

We were in town for a weekend, and stopped by here to do something free with the kids. We never made it to the zoo part since they loved the park so much! Very clean park and biffys!! Would highly recommend coming here to let the kids burn some energy. :) read more

Cute small free zoo! A great option to checkout if you are in the area. They have playgrounds, a small splash pad, and a garden at the entrance. It wasn't overcrowded and is a nice small stroll to look at a few animals. I liked that the animals seemed to have a good amount of space and seemed well taken care of. read more

It's always a great time at Phillips Park. The animals that you see it depends a lot on weather on what you can see that day. Check out the visitors center to learn about the history of phillips Park. Also, the reptile house is super cool to see, although we do miss the alligators that they used to have there. Check out the splash pad, sunken garden or the playgrounds. Ride the tram around also, so much fun to be had. read more

Phillips Park Zoo - Zoos Near Me - Aurora, Illinois

See all

Cute little zoo to visit if you don't have too much time. You could really spend a little or a lot of time there. Considering it was a cold & windy morning when we visited all of the animals were still out. We arrived right at 9 and the animals were all enjoying breakfast. The zoo was not crowded at all. Outside of the zoo premise there is a playground that may 2.5 year old really enjoyed (some of the steps are big though!). read more

Great place to stop by and visit. I wish the people were less trashy as to make messes around the park and leave their trash but oh well right? The park was clean, splash pad is a little too small for the amount of people that go there and the zoo part was actually nice for being free read more

This was the only 4-legged animal we saw today. We saw about 4 white turkeys and a brown one, a bald eagle, some hawks , a beautiful macaw and that's about it. The paths to the baboon was closed off as was the one to the amphibians. Very disappointing. I was here pre-covid and it had many more animals. I don't know the reason for what's happening now, but my grands and I were very disappointed. read more

Phillips Park Zoo - Timber Wolf - Zoos Near Me - Aurora, Illinois

I don't want to give away one of the best kept secrets in Aurora... But my daughter and I LOOOVVVVVEEE coming here. Its free, not huge and there's a lot of activities for smaller kids. The zoo isn't big by any means (at all, so even If this is a really cool place, set your expectations for very limited amount of animals) but it's very easy to walk with young kids and there's still a good variety. They also have a couple of HUGE playgrounds AS WELL as a splash pad. I'm not joking..whenever we come here, we spend at least 2 hours. Parking is free and pretty close to the zoo and there's a pretty garden upon entering. I love this place and especially recommend for people who are looking for something to do that's free. read more

This small zoo is a surprise in Aurora, dating back over 100 years It only takes about 30 minutes to see everything if you're on your own, probably an hour with small children. Easy for small children to navigate. They have elk, bald eagles, a turkey vulture, an owl, a handful of reptiles, a wolf, a cougar, tortoise, alpacas, goats, a red-tailed hawk and peacocks. There's also an indoor section near the front featuring Mastodon fossils found when the park was created. It continues to be upgraded and is well-maintained - and FREE to the public. read more

See all

It's FREE!!! This is a great activity for kids especially if you live in the area. My kids had a great time and it was nice not to have to fight a crowd to actually see the animals. We will definitely be back! read more

Phillips Park Zoo - Alligator's - Zoos Near Me - Aurora, Illinois

See all

This is a great zoo, free of charge. Also there's a nice park around it. Definitely recommended. read more

See all

Love rolling through the light show each year. One of the best in the area. Takes donations but no fee to enter. Keep up the great work Rotary Club. read more

See all

Phillips Park Zoo is a modest wildlife park that is a perfect outing for the kiddo's or a date out with your partner. They have a small reptile house with two alligators, turtles, frogs, snakes and a beautiful enormous Byrnes Python. My favorite! They house birds of pray that have been injured and are not able to be released; from Eagles, to owls and various hawks. They have two beautiful white wolves and a few other amazing animals to watch. It's a small park so you can do a lap for a second or third time. There's also a park next door for a picnic and a visitors center. This park is FREE to enter; however, you can easily give a donation through their website to support the animals in their care. read more

See all

This mini zoo is an interesting novelty in Aurora, hearkening back to an older time (founded in 1915) and nice if you don't want to haul it all the way to Brookfield or Lincoln Park. You won't really see lions, tigers and bears: the highlights were things like the peacocks (which you can hear screaming from all over the property!), elk, river otter, bald eagles, wolves, alpacas, and reptile house. I feel bad for some of the animals which seemed to have rather small spaces. Be sure to check out the Mastadon gallery featuring fossils found when they created this park (also a penny smashing machine in this building!) There's a lovely sunken garden and a big shady picnic area too. Best of all, it's free! A nice little half day adventure in Aurora. read more

See all

Phillips Park Zoo was the last of the Chicagoland free zoos that I wanted to hit up and finally got the chance a few weeks ago. I have mixed feelings on everything at Phillips Park Zoo. Some animals I felt had completely adequate habitats and plenty of space, whereas others I felt needed a bit more in their living arrangements. Upon first arriving at Phillips Park Zoo, I wasn't quite sure where to go. I was one of just two cars in a parking lot so didn't know if I was in the right place or not. The zoo is a bit out of the way and you have to just start walking through the grass & picnic tables to hit the entrance. There are a ton of picnic tables and I imagine it could be a nice place to pack a lunch for. The zoo is open 9am to 5pm each day with free admission. . A beautiful mute swan was the first animal I encountered at the zoo. This was one of the animals I felt needed some more space. Also, it's swimming area was a child's pool. I took a photograph but I felt so sad for this gorgeous creature. I go to nature preserves and see these beauties swim in pairs on ponds to themselves and just felt sad that his space to float around was a plastic kiddie pool. Other animals I saw seemed completely content - peacocks, adorable river otters, different kinds of chickens, bald eagles, hawks, owls, tortoises, iguanas, snakes, crocodiles & other lizards and truly magnificent gray wolves. My favorite little guys of the zoo were the river otters. They seemed the most happy in their little pair. They were playing in their area, chasing each other through the water and laid our sunbathing in the shine. Overall, I liked this zoo but didn't love it as much as the Cosley Zoo. I don't think I'll venture there again unless I happen to be in the area. read more

See all

There's a zoo in Aurora? I had no idea until I googled "Things to do in Aurora" and saw it listed in the search results. It's free and open daily year round 9a-5p! There's a Reptile House that is open from 9:30 am to 4:30 pm daily. There's a nice garden as you walk towards the entrance of the zoo filled with flowers and statues. The first few exhibits are the peacocks, sea otter and bald eagles. Unfortunately, there were no sea otters in the exhibit when I was there. Other animals in the zoo includes Red Tailed Hawk, Great Horned Owls, Barred Owl, Cooper's Hawk, Peregrine Falcon, Gray Wolves, Mountain Lions, Elk herd, Turkeys, and a Muted Swan. The mountain lion was paces back and forth in the cage for a while before retiring to lay on one of the roof tops looking forlorn. I didn't really get to see the swan because it was sitting under the deck out of sight. The reptile house is nice and warm and has 2 huge alligators in it. They were just sitting there in their cage like statues. I didn't see them move once. All along the walls are various frogs, snakes, an iguana and turtles. There are no food/beverage vendors and they have portable bathrooms. read more

See all

Such a nice little zoo! The environment here is beautiful, plenty of parking space and little playgrounds around the park for children. The animals here are limited, but thats what you expect from a free of charge neighborhood zoo. Definitely check out the reptile house! read more

See all

Kinda a quiet place to take family or just to walk and relax around the day.good place for kids.

A nice small free zoo! Plenty of places for kids to play and explore. Don't forget to make a small donation to support the animals

Clean, organized and well kept zoo! Family friendly, and there's plenty of parking as well. I love it

Accidentally stumbled upon Phillips Park yesterday when I was looking for a nearby fenced in dog park to take my pup Stella. Finally the weather was nice, but of course there was rain in the forecast for the following few days so we had to get out and enjoy the sunshine! Since living in Aurora, I had taken her to a nearby dog park just once. When I typed in dog park in google maps (only because they aren't all on Yelp yet...I'll fix that!), Phillips Park popped up as being 10 minutes from my house. Assuming this was the one I went to last time, I was on my way. Side note: If you don't know me, my sense of direction is less than stellar and I rely heavily on Google maps. As we're pulling up I realized, huh! This is definitely not where I was last time. But it was awesome! Phillips park has everything -- a zoo, trails, playground, fenced in dog area, sand volleyball, a golf course, the works. Then I saw the pool and realized I had in fact been here years back when I was a nanny, I just didn't know there was so much more to Phillips Park! This review is mostly for our experience at the dog park though. So here goes... We got there about 5:30 pm, just enough time to enjoy the last of the sunlight for the day. Parking was easy. They have spaces and side street parking, so we were able to pull right up. There were about 7 other dogs there with their owners/families. It's a pretty big fenced in area - about 3 acres. They have a smaller "time-out" fenced in entrance for dogs to calm down if they get too excited, or to ease them in to all the commotion. Stella is a social butterfly though, so she jumped right in to all the fun. Luckily they have doggie bags and a garbage can for your pup as well, because she definitely did her business. Overall this park is a great space for dogs to get exercise and socialize. It's nice knowing they are free to run and roam around without running off. I would suggest bringing some water for your dog because there aren't any bowls available! My only bug-a-boo would have to be the fact that the fenced in area is for all sized dogs. It would be nice if they could separate it into two play areas for small and large dogs. With 3 acres of land, there's plenty of room. Although she was totally fine, I got a little nervous when some of the bigger dogs started rough housing, since Stella is just a little puggle. There were a couple other small pups that were even too afraid to come in. read more

Good place to take young ones. It isn't overly large so don't expect to make a full day trip, it's good for an hour or two. Free admission so it is very appreciative. The kids love the reptile house they have. That is probably the main attraction. The have a number of outside birds, bald eagles which is neat, otters, wolves, peacocks, and I'm sure a few more I'm forgetting. Large play park within walking distance for the kids to play is a bonus. We visit at least once a year, recommend! read more

I spent an afternoon at the Phillips Park Zoo with my son and we totally enjoyed ourselves. This zoo is no-frills, but a nearby playground and splash pad are sure to keep the kids entertained for hours - and you don't have to spend a dime. The entrance to the zoo is pretty neat. There's a board displaying the rules of the zoo, then a totally random, but still cute, painted dinosaur. Now, I'll be the first to admit, that animal sightseeing outdoors was pretty difficult. There are some cages for birds like eagles, hawks, and owls; as well as wolves, goats and llamas, but we had trouble finding the outdoor animals. The elk, however, had a huge, gorgeous setting to call home and we were able to see them just fine chilling under the bridge. There's a large elk statue that offers a great place for a photo op though! But by far, my son's favorite exhibit at Phillips Park Zoo was the reptile house! It was very warm in there, but seeing the alligators, snakes and turtles so close was a real treat! Once we finished up at the reptile house, sadly we saw the exit - BUT there was a huge playground off in the distance. The playground was so fun and we spent a good chunk of time there. My son loved the giant pirate ship. So many of the kids there were so into it. Thankfully, there was a large, shaded picnic area nearby for us to have our lunch on. As we were making our way back to the car, I noticed that we completely missed the visitor's center on the way in with the giant mastodon statue in front. Another nice photo op spot, and the visitor's center is full of information on the animals at the zoo, and lots of educational exhibits and displays. There are also restrooms, vending machines, and drinking fountains at the visitor's center. There's also a splash pad nearby, but we didn't stop by on our last visit. Now that most pools and splash pads are open for the season, we're going to have to make our way back here! read more

See all

Just left after driving through the Festival of Lights. My 2 year old LOVED it. Had him in my lap (someone else was driving) and we had the windows open so he could see. He was going nuts and the added Christmas music station they had for it was nice. Admission is free but they do take donations online which I'll be doing as soon as I get home. We would've done another loop around but the weather sucks and the snow is coming hard so we wanted to get back on the road. Everyone drives slow and takes it in. It was quick (15 minutes tops) so don't expect to spend a long time here but it's a great detour to get into the Christmas spirit. As for the 2 year old he had a meltdown when it was time to go back in his seat and say goodbye to the lights soooo bring snacks or binkies to throw at ornery toddlers at the end. read more

Phillips Park Zoo - Here is my subpar photo to show case the magic and wonderment - Zoos Near Me - Aurora, Illinois

This is an interesting little place. It is a free zoo located in Aurora. I went there today. I was amazed that they have a sunken garden right outside the zoo's entrance. The garden was done in the 1920's. Mom made a remark about the age because of the hairstyle on the statues. Amazing tulips of all colors were in full bloom. There are some animals, but this is not a huge zoo. It has a very nice reptile house. Some animals featured here are the peacock, eagle, turkey, goat and fox. I was annoyed to see this man calling to the fox to get up and do something. Poor fox it was hot out. It is situated near a nice lake, and cool, shady trees. So you could back a picnic. It is a great value because it is free. Check it out and see for yourself. http://www.aurora-il.org/parksandrecreation/municipalparks/phillipsparkzoo/ read more

Phillips Park Zoo - Zoos Near Me - Aurora, Illinois

We love Phillips Park Zoo!! Always a great time. Last time went around lunch time and got to see the animals eating! read more

This is a very well-hidden zoo - I had a heck of a time finding it; there were no signs. People I asked weren't sure where it was or how to direct me there. But once there, I was pleasantly surprised; there are not only otters,there is a small herd of elk, peacocks in a pen (and the males were on full display when I went there) and other birds like a red tailed hawk and bald eagles - there are four wolves--and at least two mountain lions. Now, THAT IS RARE - neither Brookfield Zoo or the Lincoln Park Zoo have mountain lions. I'm a photographer looking to take photos of the animals that make them look like they're in their own habitat; At the bigger more well funded zoos, that task is easier. This is an old-fashioned tiny zoo that has large mesh type fencing that makes it virtually impossible to take photos without getting the fencing in the picture. The viewing area for the wolves and the mountain lions that is unobstructed doesn't give way to clear photographs, either. I saw many young families there, and the kids were all having a ball and were very interested in what they were looking at. It gives young families something interesting to do that doesn't cost an arm and a leg to get to, or for an entry fee. I would pay to get into this zoo...Ii think it's very nice. read more

See all

Honestly, this place was a major piece of my childhood. The amount of animals has increased significantly! You still do get to see really cool animals, but mainly birds and reptiles. And your typical barn animals. I do believe that they take in injured / animals unfit for the wild which gives it 5/5 stars regardless of the lack of animals. And it's FREE. read more

First and most important: it's a very small zoo. There are not many animals there like at a typical zoo. There is free admission and free parking. The animals are in good shape and are those that they take in that were hurt or injured and no longer able to survive in the wild on their own. I give them credit for that. They have a cougar, two eagles, some owls, a hawk, falcon, turkey, goat, otter, two alligators, and an iguana, tortoise, a bunch of snakes and turtles and fish in the reptile house. You might just need an hour to see them all, or up to two if you walk slowly. It's stroller friendly and the zoo is kept in good shape. There is a visitor center next to it with a sunken garden that is worth seeing, so you can see all of that in one trip and it would be a least 2-3 hours worth to see. read more

A very nice and well kept park! They have the park divided into age appropriate sections, which was great for us since our one-year-old can't move as fast as 4-5 years olds. read more

Great free zoo. My husband and I go here a lot in the nice weather. I have brought a lot of different family members here as well. Everyone always loves it. read more

You can't hate on a free zoo. It's free. What kind of monster are you? This place is a little gem - it features a small selection of animals from bald eagles to tortoises to otters. There's a terrifying mountain lion, some wolves, and lots of falcons and owls. Each habitat has info as to why the animal is there. For instance, one of the bald eagles was rescued from the jaws of a great white shark. He lost an eyeball and broke his wing, so have a little sympathy! Jesus. Some tips for the trip: bathroom situation is not so great. Let me repeat that it is a free zoo and just deal with it. Or do what I do and limit liquids before the visit. Plan for an afternoon there with the kidz because even though the zoo is small and you'll go through it in less than an hour, there is a sweet park with a ton of playground equipment adjacent to the zoo. read more

To open I'd like to say this is a very small, FREE public zoo. That said, it a very cool place, not just for the kids, but for adults, too. The cool thing is they get to see real wildlife up close and personal, while learning that communities can rescue animals that would otherwise not be able to survive and help them to live out their lives in relative comfort. There is information on each of the animals posted at their habitats--where they came from, how they got to be in the zoo, along with their species, their usual habitats in the wild, etc. surrounding the zone is a beautiful park with lots of recreation available to the public, including a water park, golf course, nature walk and plenty of areas for a picnic. This truly is a gem in the City of Lights. read more

I took my grand-nephews to the zoo, which is FREE. They loved it. It is always just the right size to stay a longtime learning about the animals. You have to see the Mastodon Gallery also. After we enjoyed a picnic. I remember taking my twins from the ages of 3-8. read more

If you are 33, like me, then this area is nice. The zoo itself is small and appears like it could use a makeover, but the animals are welcoming and available for viewing. The bald eagles are particularly cool. If you are 2, like my daughter, then this place is awesome. A great place to have a snack and go on the 'baby' swings. Plus, you love any zoo that has ducks. Or any kind of animal that looks like a duck- like chickens. Even the giant turkey elicited a "DUCK!!!" read more

A beautiful area in Aurora that has a small zoo with some animals like Peacocks, Wolves, Bald Eagles and a cougar. More than just the animals it's the whole surrounding area around the zoo that makes this place so nice to visit and to top it all off it is all 100% FREE which is a great option for families with kids that are looking for something to do fun during the weekend even if you are short on money. This is a new discovery for me and my family but one that we will be back many times to visit. read more

This zoo was great! It is a small zoo but they are constantly improving. I love that they have some native animals that cannot be released. Their reptile house was AMAZING. Their Alligators were so cool, I have never seen one so close up before! The gators have a rigging system on the ceiling with jolly balls for them to play with, wish I could be there to see that! All their animals look great! The keeper staff were hard at work and clearly are passionate about their animals! An amazing, little free zoo! read more