What to know about Indiana's zoos in Indianapolis, Fort Wayne, Michigan City, South Bend, Lafayette and Evansville

Indianapolis Star

10-07-2025

If you're looking for something fun to do this summer, we have not one, not two but six zoos in several cities across the state. Each one with different activities and animals.
Whether you're looking for monkeys, meerkats, giraffes, penguins, bears, reptiles or even goats, these Indiana zoos have something for everyone.
Here's what you need to know about each of the six zoos on our list.
The Indianapolis Zoo is located at 1200 W Washington St, Indianapolis, IN 46222.
The Indianapolis Zoo near White River State Park is one of the largest privately funded zoos in the country, and the largest in the state, so be sure to wear comfortable shoes. At 67 acres, the zoo is home to more than 1,400 animals. This includes lions and tigers and bears (oh my), baby elephants, giraffes, chimpanzees, pythons, alligators, kangaroos, dolphins and 3,000-pound walruses.
Reviews on TripAdvisor say the Indianapolis Zoo can be walked at a leisurely pace in roughly 2-3 hours.
The Indianapolis Zoo is open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Mon-Thu, and 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Fri-Sun for regular admission. Hours can fluctuate during holidays and other special events, so visit IndianapolisZoo.com and check the schedule for updates.
Tickets to the Indianapolis Zoo range from $15-$35 general admission when you purchase them online in advance. It's more expensive at the gate, so it pays to visit the zoo's official website for a detailed list of ticket packages. Children younger than 2 get in free.
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The Potawatomi Zoo is located at 500 S Greenlawn Ave, South Bend, IN 46615.
Opened in 1902, the Potawatomi Zoo is the oldest zoo in Indiana. It's currently home to nearly 400 animals, zoo officials said, which include giraffes, capybaras, tigers, jackals, okapis, reptiles, red foxes and sloths. Animal encounters allow a more up-close look at some of your favorite critters, such as hand-feeding a bison or touching a rhino.
At roughly 23 acres in size, people who gave reviews on Tripadvisor called the Potawatomi Zoo a good smaller-sized zoo families can walk in roughly 90 minutes to 2 hours.
The zoo is open March 29 to Nov. 24 and its hours change depending on the season. Guests can visit the Potawatomi Zoo from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. spring and fall, and 10 a.m.-8 p.m. June 1 to Aug. 31 in the summer. Holidays and special events can affect hours. Visit PotawatomiZoo.org for updates.
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Tickets are $12-$14 general admission when you purchase them online in advance. Children younger than 2 get in free. Visit the Potawatomi Zoo's website for a detailed list of ticket prices. Tickets to ride the train, carousel or feed the giraffes cost $3 each.
The address for the Fort Wayne Children's Zoo is 3411 Sherman Blvd, Fort Wayne, IN 46808.
Yes, the Fort Wayne Children's Zoo is home to the Hoffmann's two-toed sloth, according to its website.
The 40-acre facility has among its list of roughly 1,600 critters, penguins, binturongs, sharks, dingoes, Flemish giant rabbits, servals, tree frogs, capuchin monkeys, moon jellyfish, pythons and orangutans.
The Fort Wayne Children's Zoo opened in 1965 and USA TODAY ranked its red panda exhibit among the top ten in the nation. Reviews on TripAdvisor are overwhelmingly positive and say the zoo can be walked in roughly three hours.
The Fort Wayne Children's Zoo is open 9 a.m.-6 p.m. April 27 to Nov. 3., and 9 a.m.-8 p.m. on Wednesdays from May through July.
Tickets are $16-$22, depending on the day you visit and whether you buy your tickets at the gate or online in advance (psst, paying online is cheaper). Children younger than 2 get in free. Visit the Fort Wayne Children's Zoo's official website for more details at KidsZoo.org.
The Columbian Park Zoo is in Lafayette located at 1915 Scott St.
The Columbian Park Zoo opened in 1908 and is one of Indiana's smaller zoos, but that doesn't mean you should skip it. The six-acre park has roughly 190 animals to see, which include bald eagles, porcupines, otters, emus and laughing kookaburras.
Reviews on TripAdvisor say you can walk the park in roughly 1-2 hours, but the fun doesn't stop there. When you're done with the penguins, check out the pedal boats you can maneuver around the lagoon. There's also train rides and a variety of native and North American butterflies to observe at the zoo's butterfly garden.
Peak season hours for the Columbian Park Zoo are 10 a.m.-7 p.m. May 24 - Aug. 10. The zoo is open 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. April 12 - May 23, and Aug. 11 - Oct. 4 during its off-peak season. The zoo is closed Oct. 5 - mid-April.
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If you're on a tight budget but want to treat your kids to a fun zoo trip, Lafayette is your best option. Tickets to the Columbia Park Zoo are $3 for anyone age 3 and older. Children age 2 and younger get in free. Visit the zoo's official website at ColumbianParkZoo.org for more information.
The Mesker Park Zoo is located at 1545 Mesker Park Dr, Evansville, IN 47720.
Yes, the zoo has red pandas, an ocelot and a troop of Francois Langur monkeys at the Mesker Park Zoo's Discovery Center.
Where else but Evansville can you meet a cute anteater named "Mr. Pickles?" Opened in 1928, the Mesker Park Zoo & Botanic Garden has around 700 animals. Its themed exhibits include Amazonia and the Children's Enchanted Forest. In addition to "Mr. Pickles," animals at Mesker Zoo include porcupines, Komodo dragons, greater kudus, tigers and takins. TripAdvisor lists the 45-acre zoo as one of the top 5 attractions in Evansville.
The Mesker Park Zoo is open 9 a.m.-4 p.m. year-round. Visitors can explore the zoo until 5 p.m., but admittance is closed after 4 p.m.
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Admission rates vary between season but range $8-$12. From November to February, Adults pay $9 and children age 3 and older are charged $8. From March to October, Adults pay $11 and children age 3 and older pay $10. Children younger than 2 get in free. Vanderburgh County residents can receive a $2 discount off the cost of admission. Visit MeskerParkZoo.com for more information.
Washington Park Zoo in Indiana is located at 115 Lake Shore Drive in Michigan City.
There are roughly 90 species of animals you can discover walking the tree-lined pathways at the Washington Park Zoo. Its animals include Bengal tigers, grizzly bears, grey wolves, ring-tailed lemurs, tamarins and alligators. Opened in 1928, the zoo's humble beginnings started out with a retired circus bear along with other surrendered exotic pets.
The Washington Park Zoo is a fun place to take the kids if you need a break from the Lake Michigan shoreline. Of note, there's a 70-foot tall observation tower and a castle-like structure — a replica of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers official insignia built during the Great Depression — housing some of the zoo's smaller mammals, birds and other reptiles. Reviews on TripAdvisor say you can walk the 15-acre zoo at a gingerly pace in roughly an hour or less.
The zoo's hours change seasonally.
Tickets to the zoo cost $8-$10. Adults (age 12-61) pay $10. Seniors age 62 and up pay $9, Children ages 3-11 pay $8. Children younger than 2 get in free. Michigan City residents can receive a discount off the cost of admission with proof of ID. Visit the zoo's official website at WashingtonParkZoo.com for more information.
There's a separate charge for parking because the zoo shares a lot with the beach, splash park and Washington Park. If you don't have an annual parking sticker, the cost is $20 for all-day parking.
John Tufts covers trending news for IndyStar and Midwest Connect. Send him a news tip at [e-mail]. Follow him on Twitter at JTuftsReports.