The 38 best places to go out in Columbus (2025)

Great zoo for the whole family. Lots of parking. Clean and well staffed. I saw EMS and security team members roaming the zoo.Many attractions have wheelchair access. Clean and kid’s friendly. Lots of customers but didn’t get overwhelming for me because the place was so large, everyone was well scattered.Lots of restrooms, small gift shops, drink and snack stands, and restaurants throughout the zoo. Lots to do. Lots to look at. Lots to buy.Affordable prices for foods, drinks, snacks and admission. Parking is $10 in addition to admission cost. Water park is also additional.Place is huge. Plan to stay a whole day or maybe even two days or else you’ll be rushing to get through the entire place.

Incredible zoo and water park! My family and I paid for two of the behind the scenes events (Jack Hanna and the Safari Ride) and these were so amazing we want to go back. We also fed the sting rays which was so fun. Very affordable considering everything we did that day. My only suggestion is to get there early or spend two days there in order to see everything. One of the best zoos I have ever been to. 🦓🦒🦚🦡🦛

Amazing Amazing experience. Got the chance to bathe an Elephant and learn about them. Our Zoo Educator Erin was amazing. Chris, the Elephant keeper, was also amazing. They were both very knowledgeable and awesome to be around. All the staff was amazing. The animals are well kept and taken care of. Lots of animals to see, great experience gaining knowledge from all the Zoo keepers. Well worth the travel and money. Wild Burger has a very tasty burger, customer service was on point.

The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium exceeded our very high expectations. Every exhibit was well themed, spacious, and full of activities for the animals. The pathways were well-marked and well-laod out. Water cups were available at all drink and food stands with fountain drink sales. The animals were allowed to choose whether to be in their outside or inside habitats.There were many species we had not seen in person before including sand cats, several reptiles, and polar bears. The reptile house was expansive and impressive. Personally, I have never seen a feline that I didn't love and the number of big (and small) cats at the zoo did not disappoint.I have only great things to say about this zoo. A couple of tips we discovered; definitely buy tickets and parking online, this makes entering so much faster; purchase a refillable drink mug and enjoy complimentary refills the day of purchase; ride the Dinosaur Boat Ride (additional $3 charge, worth it); and if possible, ride the zoo shuttle from the nearby Park-and-Ride for $3 tickets.Finally, the zoo has been collecting cards for Jack Hanna and his family. Jack Hanna spent his life educating people on animals via his TV appearances, shows, and the zoo itself. He is stricken with advanced Alzheimer's disease and no longer recognizes the zoo that he helped to shape. If anyone is so inclined, there is a small mailbox in the guest relations building, inside the zoo, next to the turnstiles where you can leave a card or note for him and his family.

My visit to the Columbus Zoo was truly incredible. The diversity of animals and their well-maintained habitats left me in awe. From playful penguins to majestic big cats, it's a wildlife enthusiast's dream. The staff's knowledge and passion shone through in their interactions, making it an enriching experience for all ages. It was a Halloween holiday, so seeing children in different costume was a plus. A must-visit for anyone in the area and nearby state.

Love the columbus zoo! The food was great, people were friendly, and the weather was mild so ALL the animals were out and active. North America is under construction so not too much to see there, but if you walk past all of that still has all of Africa and the North America bears to see. ❤️❤️

We got there at 8:30 on a Saturday morning (from out of state) no parking line or admission lines. The park started to get a lot busier around 11 but nothing that was too crazy. Every single exhibit was maintained amazingly. The animals have tons of room and their enclosures are perfect for them. (Designed well) The park and bathrooms are very clean. Free organic pads and tampons for women was another great thing. The construction made the park a little all over the place but for obvious reasons. It’s very kid friendly. My only complaint was the price of the food. (You are able to bring in your own lunches, which being from out of state we didn’t have lunches) It took us (4 adults 1 toddler) about 6 hours including lunch. I would highly recommend.

We went for a school field trip for my first grader. It was a gloomy day but the animals were still out and about. Saw lots of staff cleaning up inside and outside exhibits. The way this zoo is set up makes it super easy to get around. All of the staff I encountered were super friendly and very helpful. Train ride was only $2.00 a person! Really enjoyed our day here.

By far my favorite zoo in Ohio. This is the first time we've gone this late in the year and it's beautiful with the leaves changing. Since it was cooler more of the animals were active which we loved!! The new underwater tunnel for the seals is awesome & one of our favorite things there this year. Wasn't crowded at all. The Zoo and bathrooms are very clean & the staff is super friendly, great with kids! They've added Adventure Cove since I visited last & it looked like it could be fun, but you can only ride a few rides with a Zoo admission ticket. We LOVE Sting Ray bay. The stingrays get super playful when you're feeding them!!

This was my first visit to the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, and I am sure it won't be the last. Even though the temperature was hot the park has several places to go inside for quick cool downs. The park is easy to navigate. The exhibits were informative and interactive. The animals were active or visible too. My son (10) had a blast in the stingray pool with several opportunities to see and touch them up close. Overall a great day and I look forward to returning.

We went here for the lights and they were absolutely gorgeous. Pictures didn't do them justice. Such an awesome zoo and pretty clean for the most part. I would suggest getting there early if you also plan on seeing the animals as most exhibit areas closed at 5 pm which we did not know and missed a ton of animals. It was also very crowded if you don't enjoy being shoulder to shoulder with people, the line to get in as we were leaving was all the way to the parking lot.

Our first time to the Columbus Zoo. It wasn't over crowded and we could walk around easily. If you're a Hot Chocolate fan I would highly recommend getting the souvenir cups that you can get free refills as you go throughout the night. Wait times at the food carts are not horrible either! And very nice staff members.

We went on a Saturday and it was somewhat crowded being Earth Day Weekend.The exhibits weren’t overly crowded. Had to wait at the more popular ones where animals were active (at most-2 minutes)ALOT of Construction on exhibits making them un-viewable.My only pet peeve is having only ONE first aide station at the very front of park.Food was super pricey. One med fountain drink and two- 2 piece chicken tender with fries was almost $35 😳You can get free cup of ice water anywhere, which is nice.Parking was pretty easy. Tram was not operating at the time.If not requiring any discount (ie military) I would get tickets online. I needed military discount along with Franklin county discount for daughter so we were able to get tickets for $22 each. So that was awesome. However, had to wait in line to purchase tickets. Only waited under 10 minutes. Ticket girl was very friendly.ADVICE:1. Get tickets online if possible2. Take picture of where you are parked3. Download Columbus Zoo App4. Make a plan to tour park so you aren’t going back and forth. (Only going wrong way once, my daughter and I still walked a 6.14 miles—this started at car and finished at car) so about 5 miles.5. Bring own food6. Bring empty water bottle to fill once in park. You may be able to bring full bottle (not sure) bottled water is $3-4

The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium never disappoints! We had a school field trip and the staff was kind and accommodating. There is so much to do. Currently there is a huge manatee that looks like it was harmed and is recouping at the zoo. It's beautiful. There are several places to have lunch. And the playgrounds are extremely nice and clean with padded ground. Plenty of picture opportunities! And seeing the sting rays and birds are a must as well. The only thing we missed was the fountain being on at the entrance.

Where to start? This is a giant zoo, and I mean massive. It takes around 5-6 hours to see everything maybe longer once the renovations are complete. Some of the areas, like the Africa exhibit or the polar bear, are amazing. Plenty of places to eat and water bottle filling stations throughout the park. We went on a Thursday and the park was quite empty. I think the heat played a big part.Would recommend and would come back in the future.

Had a fantastic time exploring the Columbus Zoo with my family! The zoo is massive, with a wide variety of animals from all over the world. We practically saw everything, from majestic tigers and playful penguins to fascinating reptiles and adorable koalas. The exhibits felt immersive, transporting us to different parts of the globe. The staff was knowledgeable and friendly, answering our questions and sharing interesting facts about the animals. It was a truly educational and fulfilling experience for the whole family!

Visiting the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium with our toddler was an absolute delight! The zoo offers a variety of engaging activities perfect for little ones, and our toddler especially loved the bird and animal feeding experiences. Watching our child feed the birds and interact with the animals up close was truly magical. The exhibits are well-maintained and designed with young visitors in mind, making it easy to navigate with a stroller. The staff was incredibly friendly and knowledgeable, enhancing our visit. It’s a wonderful place for families to enjoy and create unforgettable memories.

We went for the holiday lights and it was worth the 2 and a half hour drive for us. We also arrive close to opening time before it got flooded with people at sun set so that was a smart move.It felt like the entire zoo was ours. The downside was that half of the animals were gone but that’s completely understandable as no decent person would want animals to freeze for our entertainment. Regardless, we had a beautiful walk through the entire place twice. Once for animals and second time around for the lights.The huge LED Christmas tree is the star of the night as it is just a technology marvel to view.SO MUCH EYE CANDY!Follow me on maps for great photos and detailed reviews 😊

I hadn't been to the Columbus Zoo for a long time! So much bigger. The zoo and aquarium were absolutely amazing! Natural habitats we're well maintained. Animals seemed clean, well fed and mostly active. We all enjoyed the wonderful displays. Price was about $25 for the zoo and aquarium. They also had rides! I think you could pay per ride or maybe buy a ride pass bracelet (??). Also, they had a splash park! No info to give, just that I saw it as an extra part of the zoo area (need to buy a extra ticket for the water park). This attraction has a HUGE parking lot ($10 for parking...I highly recommend buying tickets online. Also, you should print your tickets before you go! You pay for parking at the same time). From the parking lot, there is a "tram" to get on to ride to the main zoo entrance. We had a great day!

We had a great day at the zoo. They have QR code that you can scan to have the map right on your phone or they offer paper maps as well. They had great signage too so it was easy to follow and find your way around. There were volunteers at a lot of the animal viewing areas that shared information about the animals we were seeing. They have plenty of seats throughout for breaks. You can take in drinks and snacks too which is a great way to save some money. They do have stands throughout for food and even offer Great Lakes draft beer. They have a great food court too. The outdoor area is covered with plants so you get plenty of shade. We saw a good amount of animals. We learned a lot we didn’t know about different species too. I would recommend you check it out.

This is by fair the biggest and best zoo I have ever been to. We went here on our way down from New York and it was a great decision. We spent 5 hours at the zoo saw plenty of animals. The zoo was very clean, staff was helpful and friendly and they had a lot of displays and beautiful landscaping.

Had a such fun day at the zoo! This is one of the better zoo in the country. Lots of animals and sea creatures to see and touch. Fun shows and cool rides. Loved the 4-D film, ticket was only $5. It is such a great place for the family to bring their young kids. Us adults also had a fantastic time!

This zoo is one of the best I've ever been too. The animals are excellently cared for. They have zoo ambassadors at the exhibits to answer questions about the animals. There are multiple shows and demonstrations. The zoo offers private tours and experiences for an additional charge. It is huge and beautifully designed. There is a water park right next to it that I haven't explored. I have visited this zoo twice and each time I left completely exhausted. You could easily spend a couple days here to really get to see and do everything. They have food, alcohol and dessert available for purchase. The entire campus is non-smoking. There is plenty of parking, and a train inside the zoo and a shuttle to ride if you are parked far. The zoo has a couple of little rides. It's perfect and designed well for families or whomever to enjoy!

One of the best days of our vacation was spent at this zoo! I would definitely come back again, this time maybe for The Wilds experience.We got there fairly early, not long after opening. FYI, there is a parking fee collected when you enter the lot, so be ready.We saw so many animals and had great views that allowed for some awesome pics. Definitely recommend spending the extra cash to feed the giraffes, too. I do this at any zoo that offers it and it never gets old. We covered most of the zoo in a very busy 3 hours, but if you want to take your time, you could easily spend a whole day.Oh, and I loved the Frosty cart, it was a great treat right before heading out. I haven't seen one like this anywhere else and it was a perfect ending to the day.Definitely recommend.

We love close enough to go to the Zoo regularly and enjoy the beautiful grounds and education offered. The zoo doesn't remarkable job of encouraging conservation and understanding animal habitats.I am adding a review of the WildLights for 2023. The sheer volume of work that goes into this endeavor demonstrates the sense of bringing community together. It was awe inspiring - packed for sure. Things seemed to run orderly and for trip the weather was cooperative. If you haven't gone go- parking is $10 and then of course the price of your ticket worth it for a family outing to see lights and enjoy the sights...side note most all the exhibits close at 5PM.....so don't expect to see the animals..just the lights.

Fun, fun, fun!!! We spent 5 1/2 hours, and still could have a little bit more time! The boys had fun, seeing some cool animals that they didn't get to see very often. Lions where very active, gorillas where fun to watch run around, Elephants wherebout and walking, and the sting a ray bay, was a must! So so cool to touch them!

Decent sized zoo with a variety of animals from lots of different regions. Our zoo experience was fair at best. The layout is somewhat confusing, even with a map the paths are not marked in the best way. Perhaps more coloured blazing on the paths themselves would make things clearer. There are a few food options listed however only one was open at the time leading to a hungry visit for a lot of people especially as you didn't know food options were closed until making it to the destination. Notifications of major closures at the front gate would allow better planning for future visits.

Prepare to walk 3 miles!(I walked 2.6 miles and didn't see everything. I skipped a couple aviaries and all the stuff to the left as you walk in. I have health problems, so this was a LOT of physical activity for me).What can I possibly add? Great zoo. The first hour they open is absolutely wonderful, especially with so many talkative members of staff! Tons of facilities and animals. Really beautiful enclosures with multiple viewing options to allow you to see the animals from different angles. Very well-designed and maintained zoo. But absolutely huge.

This is truly a gem that we have here in Franklin County. I loved going here as a kid, and I continue to love to bring my own kids here. The zoo does an excellent job with the many habitats and exhibits, as well as educating visitors about the animals. It's obvious they truly care about the animals and our earth here. We are members, which is worth it for us to go a couple times each year. I'm honestly shocked at how expensive it is to visit without a membership, and the food prices are outrageous, but I guess that's how most places are these days.

We went during the last part of March, and it was still cool enough that some of the animals were off exhibit. What animals were out, were great to see, and very active! The amount of walking g between exhibits is a bit tiring and the exhibits that were closed for the season looks like they had not been touched since last year, they looked like an abandoned part of the zoo.

Definitely a larger zoo compared to Cleveland and Akron with more animals to visit. Habitats were clean and cooled and the animals seemed well cared for. For one person I walked about 6 miles to see just about everything minus the rides and the upcoming dinosaur exhibit. Another key difference between each of the zoos is that this one requires $10 parking which I highly recommend be pre-purchased but considering the size of the park it's still a good value for your money as long as you plan appropriately.

Lovely place! It was our first time at this zoo and I don't have many complaints, if any. The process for obtaining the discounted family membership was simple enough, and the man who helped us was very kind. The rides were mostly not running (there were a few that were though!) Ride ticket prices were not too bad. The zoo itself was great, I loved it and so did my son.

Had a really great time here with my wife. We came to Columbus specifically for the zoo and aquarium and were not disappointed. Not only is the property huge but they have a huge amount of exhibits. One of our favorites was being able to feed the stingrays at the stingray exhibit. Plan on spending for 5 hours here if you want to be able to see everything. Although it is fairly expensive it is definitely worth it. Highly recommend!

My boyfriend and I took our three kids (ages 5, 3 and 1) and we had a nice time. Definitely recommend a stroller or wagon if you have kiddos because there is a lot of walking (we spent 5 hours here walking and didn't cover the entire Zoo) and the food is kinda expensive, so plan accordingly. There's plenty of benches along the trails to rest and multiple bathrooms. We paid for our tickets and parking pass online and it really sped the process of checking in up; I really recommend going early because parking fills up quick. Overall, it’s a really nice experience for the family!

We enjoyed everything except the train ride. We were really hoping for a bigger and better ride. Even more so a destination train to help with walking. There is so much to see the children and adults were all exhausted by the time we left and that was without the amusement park being open.

Gorgeous zoo. The giraffes in particular had an amazing setup, along with the lions. I loved Stumpy and his other manatee friends. This is also the closest I have ever been to a tiger. Also, the discovery zones were very cool. Petting a sting ray is a once in a lifetime kind of thing.The tram from the back of the zoo to the front was very welcome (but the hours of operation seemed strange). Many parts of the zoo were under construction. I would love to see it once it is finished.Plan for a full day and wear comfortable shoes. We were there 6 hours and saw most of the animals, but still missed some exhibits and did not go on any rides.

I was surprised to not see entrance lanes for pre-paid parking since the website encourages prepayment. Otherwise, my visit today far exceeded my expectations. ALL of the animal spaces were spotless! The park is well staffed with attentive team members from docents to trainers! The flow of the park is easy to follow. The experience also provides transitions between indoor and outdoor experiences. Signs and exhibits are clear and informative. I wish I had more time to spend in this amazing space!

The Columbus Zoo is second to none!!! No physical maps free. However, go to the gift shop after entering the zoo and get one for a $1.00. You won't be sorry. If you prefer, you can follow the zoo layout on your phone at no charge. We visited during Grandparent Week. The animals are well kept with amazing enclosures. All animals had food and plenty of water. Feeding the stingrays was a highlight (cost $3.00 for 3 fish pieces). The gorillas were a ton of fun, I could have watched all day. Asia and South America are under construction and should be ready by 2025. Check with the zoo for construction completion. The boat ride was $4 without a ride arm band and worth the trip. The dinosaur animations on the boat are amazing. I could go on and on, but why take the mystery from this fabulous zoo. I can't wait for a return trip.

Christmas lights was one of the best displays I have seen bar none. Worth the trip for sure.If you are going to see animals go earlier in the day because a lot of displays of animals end about 5. The one bad thing I will say is if you go,plan on being stuck in parking lot for at least 2 hours or just camp in parking lot all night. No traffic direction to exit so therefore all night traffic jam

The Manatee and Stingray habitats are awesome…Very large parking lot. I was in awe of the size of the parking lot. The zoo employees were very friendly and polite. The zoo itself was cool but if I’m honest, I thought it would be a lot better. Very muddy, lots of construction I couldn’t find anywhere for my son to get a snack, a lot of things were closed or broken. This was on a Thursday, 70 degree day, in March. Maybe bad timing to visit but I wasn’t impressed. I will visit again in the summer to compare experiences but I am weary of what the large parking lot means for crowds in the summertime.

I absolutely love the Columbus zoo, I recommend purchasing the souvenir drink cup passes (it's so worth it and you can refill as much as you want)My kids love going to the zoo, wear good walking shoes and if you are wanting to keep yourself on a budget pack a cooler with snacks and lunch.Also only one complaint - there was a lot of construction going on and seemed like it made a lot of the animals anxious so they were either hiding or not out at all.Still it's definitely worth a visit

Great variety of animals. I like the way they divide the park up. Staff is friendly and helpful. Would recommend going from 4pm-6pm (close) as it is usually a lot calmer and less people. Also would recommend getting the membership as you have unlimited visits. In my experience, it doesn’t get repetitive or boring seeing the animals again. To me the animals are as majestic as they were the first time I came.

The zoo has lost its spark under new ownership. $90 for a family of 3 to eat at the African Restaurant is absurd for the food quality. $20 salad, $16 chicken tenders and fries weren’t included… definitely pack your lunch!! The giraffe feeding is worth the price, and the train ride is a must.My grandpa worked for the Zoo for decades and retired from here. As a kid we would come a few times a year. They would pride themselves in a clean safe park… I went back for the first time in 8 years, the zoo had multiple exhibits closed for renovation, this could’ve been taking away from the spark. There use to be enough employees you’d see them everywhere. We hardly saw any. People were filling up their water bottles with pop rather than using the souvenir cups, people were SMOKING and vaping all throughout the park. Walking around without shirts, banging on the glass of the animal exhibits. It’s really sad to see the condition it was in. The animals seemed stressed too. The sloth bears were pacing crazy in their enclosure.Praying once they finish the renovations things will get back to normal!

A solid 1/3 of the animals just seemed to not be around. I understand we’re early in the season but we paid full price for probably 1/2 of the attractions being available.No line control at the entrance so people were just all crowded up against the gates to enter with people just cutting and shifting into lanes after already standing in line an hour before getting to this point. 2 lines that just turned into a chaotic blob.The Unextinct after hours exhibit was a much better experience than the daytime zoo visit. I would do that again.

I love going to the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium. They have so many great animals to see. I especially enjoy the Pallas' cats, the bears, the sea lions and seals, the reptile house, the penguins, the tiger, and the manatees. The property is well kept, and the habitats for the animals are nice and spacious. It's a great place to take kids or to just spend an afternoon. You'll want to allow yourself plenty of time to see everything, though, as it's a large zoo! Definitely worth a visit, or several!

This is the most kid-friendly zoo I have ever been to. It's extremely large yet the entire zoo has exhibits geared toward children. Eleanor and Josh especially enjoyed learning to be copilots. You can get very close to the animals, which is unusual.

Very well layed-out zoo! They had such a wide variety of animals, restrooms everywhere, many different food options placed all over the park, plenty of shaded zones to take a break from the heat. My son and I saw every animal exhibit, rode the train, and did the 4D theater and it took us 7 hours to see everything. The Dinosaur water ride was shut down for repairs, so that was the only negative. The food is extremely high priced which is unfortunate.....I paid $52 for two cheeseburgers, fries and drinks.

Always a fun time visiting the zoo! Definitely buy tickets online so you don't have to wait as long, and get there as early as you can. Parking fills up fast! Also stay hydrated in summertime heat- be prepared to spend a lot of money on food and drinks, especially if you don't bring in your own water. (No outside food or drink in Zoombezi Bay though). I recommend bringing an umbrella for portable shade if the sun is extra intense. Be aware if you have young kids that can't walk far before they get tired that you will need to bring a stroller or cart as the zoo is huge. Some animals may not be out, but they have plenty to see and will be a good time for all ages!

First ever time here, absolutely stunning experience. I like how all the animals/fish are all delegated to their country of origin, it made walking around the park super fun and it felt like a journey the entire time. All the animals they had were very fun to look at, however some we could not see, but that’s no big deal. Overall was a super fun experience and I hope to visit again soon

We came to do the Frankie Experience; a behind the scenes visit with Frankie and his mom Phoebe. We were able to feed Frankie and help bathe both of them. We even got to touch Phoebe’s foot. We learned a lot during this visit. We highly recommend doing the Frankie experience. It was a lot of fun.

It's pretty much always a good experience here. The membership is a great value if you live in the area. The free parking for members is huge.The zoo fits a lot into the space. It's not as sprawling as the Cleveland Zoo, but it has a good selection of animals and habitats. There are some fun, unique areas like walking with the kangaroos and the tunnel going through the seal area. The boat ride through the Dinosaur Island area is a hit with the kids.The zoo does get extremely busy on weekends and during summer, and traffic shuts down the city during Zoo Lights in the winter.

Beautiful zoo!!! Whenever I go I have a great time. Very kid friendly! They are always moving things around and keeping the place in a great condition. They are making new attractions and expanding the North America side. Also a thumbs up on remodeling all bathroom. 👍 👍

I was really looking forward to seeing a lot of the animals but was disappointed to find out that most of them were sleeping/ out of sight. Heard also that sometimes they sedate the animals in the morning so they sleep off the cool. I don’t know. But other than the animals posted in the attached photos, there were pretty much no other animals in sight. The cheetahs, bears, wolves, polar bears, gorillas, orangutans, monkeys, none were there :(. However it is a nice zoo to walk around and what not. Make sure you come with a good breakfast/ meal and stamina cause there are some slightly uphill paths which will tire you out! Also make sure you bring a fan and lots of cold drinks for babies/ kids. Seen a lot get tired super easily.

7/08/2024. We arrived when they opened at 9 am. No, wait, we went right in. It does cost $10 to park. All the staff were extremely friendly and knowledgeable of the animals. Very clean and well maintained zoo. Enclosures were bigger than most zoos, and the animals had plenty of enrichment activities. They are adding on to the zoo, so some areas were under construction. I would highly recommend visiting the Columbus Zoo.