Grant Park’s Zoo Atlanta brings animal habitats and conservation exhibits together in a year-round attraction near downtown. Its African Savanna and Ford African Rain Forest, along with ticket options, parking and average visit length, can help shape your plans.
- Location: 800 Cherokee Avenue SE, Atlanta, GA 30315.
- Hotel: Rodeway Inn Jonesboro - Atlanta South in Forest Park.
- Opening pattern: Open daily
- Visit length: around three hours on average.
Where is Zoo Atlanta, and how do you get there?
Zoo Atlanta is at 800 Cherokee Avenue SE in Grant Park, near downtown Atlanta. The zoo opened in 1889 and remains on its present site in the park.
From Rodeway Inn Jonesboro - Atlanta South, Forest Park city centre is about 7 minutes away by car. You can pair time there with a wider Atlanta outing; the one-day Atlanta itinerary from Forest Park offers ideas for planning the day.
For directions to the zoo itself, use its address as your destination and check current route options before setting out.
Zoo Atlanta tickets, hours and seasonal changes
Zoo Atlanta is open throughout the year, with closures on Thanksgiving and Christmas. Daily hours can vary, so check the official site before you go.
Opening hours
- Monday to Thursday: 9 AM–3:30 PM
- Friday: 10:30 AM–3:30 PM
- Saturday and Sunday: 9 AM–4:30 PM
Last checked November 2026. Hours can change on holidays and for special events.
Zoo Atlanta’s Select Your Date daytime admission prices vary by entry date rather than having one fixed price. A date reservation is required for that ticket type. Admission is free for children under three; the zoo groups child tickets as ages three to eleven and adult tickets as ages twelve and older.
Active-duty, reserve, veteran and retired U.S. Armed Forces members receive a 10% daytime admission discount, along with up to three accompanying people. The discount is available in person at Zoo Admissions. Add-on activities, including giraffe feedings, Wild Encounters and rides, are purchased separately.
How should you plan time around the zoo?
Plan around an average visit of about three hours, then allow for the timing of animal viewing and food. Some animals begin moving indoors a half hour before closing, while food stands close an hour before the grounds.
The Ford African Rain Forest is home to four social groups of western lowland gorillas, and the African Savanna has animal habitats to explore. The schedule of daily talks and activities can change without notice, so check the zoo’s official site for current details if a particular activity matters to your plans.
Where can you park, and what are the transit options?
Zoo Atlanta’s two listed public parking locations are the Cherokee Avenue lot at 800 Cherokee Avenue SE and the Grant Park Gateway facility at 759 Boulevard SE, Atlanta, GA 30312. Parking in the City of Atlanta public lots on Cherokee Avenue and Boulevard costs $3 per hour, up to $12 per day.
The zoo encourages guests to consider MARTA, rideshares, biking, walking or carpooling. A Relay Bike Share hub is on Cherokee Avenue in front of the zoo. For MARTA, check the agency’s current route availability and real-time service information before traveling. If you’re heading to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, the Forest Park airport transportation guide covers the trip.
What visitor rules and accessibility options should you know?
Zoo Atlanta rents manual wheelchairs for $14 plus tax per day and electric scooters for $33 plus tax per day. Scooter rentals are limited and offered first-come, first-served, without reservations; renters must be at least 18. Scooter rentals are not available at 21+ events.
Service dogs and miniature horses trained to perform a specific task for a person with a disability are admitted. Emotional support animals and other animals are not permitted on zoo grounds.
Prohibited items include weapons except as permitted by law, alcoholic beverages, balloons, scooters and skateboards. Review the zoo’s current visitor policies before packing.
FAQs
How long does a visit to Zoo Atlanta take?
The zoo estimates that an average visit takes around three hours. Add-on activities are purchased separately.
Do you need to reserve Zoo Atlanta tickets for a date?
A date reservation is required for the Select Your Date General Daytime Admission ticket. Ticket prices vary by entry date.
Is Zoo Atlanta open every day?
Open daily. Zoo Atlanta says it is open year-round and closes only on Thanksgiving and Christmas. Daily hours can vary, so check the zoo’s official site before you go.
What else can you plan around a Forest Park stay?
The Forest Park neighborhood guide covers the area where the hotel is located.
Airport travel is another consideration when planning a stay in Forest Park.