2026 might be the wildest year yet with discounts days for first responders, and enriching volunteer opportunities, and more!

 

 

NOW THROUGH SUNDAY, MARCH 1, 2026: OKC ZOO WINTER HOURS

Kick off the new year with a visit to the OKC Zoo and its miles of walking trails with water refill stations, sponsored by Shape Your Future. Please plan ahead, as the Zoo is closed to the public during the day on Tuesdays and Wednesdays through February 4, 2026.

  • Saturdays and Sundays: The OKC Zoo is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. with last entry at 4 p.m.
  • Weekdays: The Zoo opens at 10 a.m. and closes at 4:30 p.m.
  • Tuesdays and Wednesdays: The Zoo is closed to the public on these days, typically the lowest attendance days during the winter, through Wednesday, February 4, 2026.

 

Even when the temps are low, there are still plenty of activities to enjoy at the Zoo. Tickets can be purchased in advance online at http://www.okczoo.org/tickets or in the park. All rides and attractions are operational weather permitting and schedules are subject to change without notice. 

  • Children’s Zoo Barnyard: Free! Open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily.
  • Cassowary Feedings: 2:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday/Sunday at Sanctuary Asia. Cost is $5/person.
  • Elephant Presentation (Sanctuary Asia): These engaging presentations are a BIG hit and free to attend. Presentations occur Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays at 2 p.m.
  • Endangered Species Carousel: Rides available Fri./Sat./Sun. from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Open daily beginning Thursday, February 5. Cost is $4/person.
  • Explorikeet Feedings (Children’s Zoo): Open daily from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Cost is $4/person.
  • Flamingo Mingle: Flamingo Mingle feedings occur daily in the Children’s Zoo habitat from 11 to 11:30 a.m. daily and additional feeding Saturdays and Sundays from 3:30-4 p.m. Cost is $5/person. Children age 2 and under are not permitted.
  • Giraffe Feeding Platform: Greet the Zoo’s gentle giants! 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. feedings daily. Cost is $5 per person.
  • Gorilla Trek VR Experience and The Great Migration VR Experience (Great EscApe): View gorillas in the wild with the OKC Zoo’s all-new Gorilla Trek Virtual Reality (VR) experience featuring a 360-degree live action film with motion platform seating or immerse yourself in The Great Migration experience with more than two million animals as they move between Tanzania’s Serengeti and the Maasai Mara reserves in Kenya. Weekday hours from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily. Cost is $8 per person. Age and height requirements apply.
  • OKC Zoo Tram: Rides offered daily from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Cost is $6/person. Children two and under free.
  • Pachyderm Heights Adventure Tower: Free! Slide open daily. Rock wall open with staff availability.
  • Rhino Feedings: Feedings occur from 11:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday at Sanctuary Asia. Cost is $10/person. Children age 2 and under are not permitted.
  • Zoo Keys: Available at Guest Services, stroller window (Entry Plaza) and Explorikeet. Cost: $4/key
  • Scooter Pals! Take a ride on the wild side with the OKC Zoo’s Scooter Pals. This mobile entertainment opportunity is a fun way for guests 16 and older to explore the park. Scooter Pals are animal themed and available to rent daily weather permitting, located in the Zoo’s entry plaza. Cost is $5 activation fee, $0.35/minute.  

 

 

 

JANUARY THROUGH DECEMBER 2026: OKC ZOO HOSTS MONTHLY MEMBER APPRECIATION DAYS

Being an Oklahoma City Zoo ZOOfriend has its perks! The OKC Zoo is excited to celebrate its members with a variety of wild offers throughout the year. These exclusive offers will be held on select days January through December with each month presenting a special surprise for current members. Details about Member Appreciation Days will be posted on the Zoo’s socials and in the ZOOfriends office located in the Zoo’s Entry Plaza. ZOOfriends Passports give recipients unlimited access to the OKC Zoo during regular hours and 12 months of adventure. Prices start at $60 for single memberships, or all the way up to a membership for 10 for $299. Passport holders save on every visit with discounts on attractions, Wild Encounters, VIP tours, special events, food, and more. The savings even extend to discount admissions at hundreds of other Association of Zoos and Aquariums member facilities around the world! Not a ZOOfriend? Join today at www.okczoo.org/membership.

 

 

ENROLLMENT OPEN FOR OKC ZOO’S SCHOOLS OUT DAY CAMP FOR SPRING BREAK 2026

Sign your young animal enthusiasts up for a week of enrichment, learning, and togetherness during the OKC Zoo’s Spring Break Camp 2026. Enrollment is already open for this week-long camp experience focusing on Wild & Wonderful Oklahoma, which boasts more biodiversity than almost anywhere else in the country! The OKC Zoo’s education department offers students a week packed full of educational activities, in-park exploration, up-close animal ambassador visits and more. Spring break camps are set for Monday, March 16, through Friday, March 20, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. (pick up goes to 4:30 p.m.) each day at the Rosser Conservation Education Center. Spring Break camp is for students from Kindergarten through 6th grade, with classes divided by grade brackets. The cost is $300 per camper (or $270 per camper for ZOOfriends members). Campers must bring their lunch, a water bottle, and snacks. Space is limited and advance registration is required. To register, visit okczoo.org/spring-break or call (405) 425-0218.

 

 

OKC ZOO FREE DAILY CARETAKER CHATS

Learn more about the Oklahoma City Zoo’s animal family from the people who know them best, the caretakers. These free daily caretaker chats highlight a variety of animals and are a great way to connect with the Zoo’s animal experts. The schedule includes:

• African Hoofstock* (Rotates among giraffe, red river hog, and other hoofstock at Expedition Africa), daily at 10 a.m.

• Dwarf Mongoose (Inside Love’s Pachyderm Building), Friday-Sunday at 11 a.m.

• Lungfish (Inside Love’s Pachyderm Building at Expedition Africa), Thursday-Monday at 1:30 p.m.

• Primate (At the Chimpanzee Interpretive Center), daily at 2:30 p.m.

• Vet Talk (Inside the Joan Kirkpatrick Animal Hospital), daily at 11:30 a.m.

*These chats are outdoors and will occur if temps are 45 degrees or warmer.

 

 

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 1 THROUGH SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 14: HEALTHCARE WORKERS & EMERGENCY RESPONDERS DISCOUNT DAYS

The Oklahoma City Zoo is giving back to the people who take care of us all and honoring all healthcare workers and emergency responders with free general Zoo admission from Sunday,  February 1 through Saturday, February 14, 2026. Note: The Zoo will be closed on Tuesday, February 3 and Wednesday, February 4 for winter hours. Healthcare workers and emergency responders will also receive $10 general Zoo admissions for a max of four guests on date of visit. Qualifying guests must present a valid work ID or badge at the OKC Zoo’s ticket windows upon arrival to receive complimentary admission for themselves and discounts for up to four accompanying guests. Advance reservations are not required. Healthcare workers and emergency responders will enjoy additional discounts while in the park, with proof of a valid work ID or badge, including 10% off concessions at Zoo restaurants and cafés, 10% off merchandise at the Zoo’s Safari Gifts, and even $10 off an annual ZOOfriends membership so they can enjoy the fun all year round. Learn more at www.okczoo.org.

 

 

TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 17 AND 18, 2026: VOLUNTEER INFORMATION SESSION

Take your love for the OKC Zoo to the next level and join us for a Volunteer Information Session on Tuesday and Wednesday, February 17 and 18 from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. in the auditorium at the Rosser Conservation Education Center. This quarterly recruitment event is open to the public, giving new and returning volunteers a chance to learn more about which opportunities are available and complete placement forms for next steps. Visit this link for more information.

 

 

MARCH 6, 2026: ROARING SOON, DINOSAUR EXPEDITION AT THE OKC ZOO!

Dinosaur Expedition is coming soon to the OKC Zoo. Featuring more than 60 animatronic dinosaurs, this additional exhibit will have guests engaging with and learning about dinosaurs through signs and activities. In addition to life-sized dinosaurs, visitors can experience dino skulls and skeletons, rides, dig pits, and photo ops. Purchase an Adventure Ticket and save! Adventure Tickets include admission plus all-day access to Dinosaur Expedition, lorikeet feeding, and carousel rides. Priced at $30 for children and seniors and $33 For adults ($10 for ZOOfriends members). Tickets will go on sale at okczoo.org on Friday, January 23, 2026.

 

 

Make the holidays wild with OKC ZOO SAFARI LIGHTS, open nightly through Sunday, January 4, 2026. Reserve your tickets to OKC’s newest winter tradition at okczoo.org/safarilights.

 

Established in 1902, the Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden inspires more than a million visitors annually to take action to conserve wildlife and wild places. From education programs to scientific research, the OKC Zoo is working to save species regionally and worldwide. The OKC Zoo is located at the crossroads of I-44 and I-35 and a proud member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, the American Alliance of Museums, and Oklahoma City’s Adventure District. 

 

During the OKC Zoo’s Winter Hours, now through Sunday, March 1, 2026, park hours will be open 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday/Sunday with last entry at 4 p.m. The park will be closed to guests during the day on Tuesdays and Wednesdays through Wednesday, February 4, 2026. Purchase Zoo admission in advance at okczoo.org/tickets to avoid the entry lines. For more Zoo information, connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, Linktree, TikTok, and by visiting our blog stories.