Is Bearizona worth the trip? How to make the most of your visit to the wildlife park

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2 days ago

Bearizona is a 160-acre wild animal park tucked into the ponderosa pines of Williams, Arizona, — just 45 minutes south of the Grand Canyon.
This isn't your average zoo. At Bearizona, you'll drive your vehicle through a forested route where North American animals like bison, black bears, wolves and elk roam freely around your car. No fences, no cages — just your windows between you and the animals.
Think of it as a drive-through safari that feels like a National Geographic special — minus the jet lag.
After the drive, park your car and explore Fort Bearizona, where walk-through exhibits and soaring bird shows make the experience even wilder.
So if you're looking for a family-friendly destination with unforgettable wildlife encounters and scenic charm, Bearizona is waiting just off historic Route 66.
We talked with Dave O'Connell, Bearizona's chief operating officer, who said guests are welcome to drive through the animal enclosure as many times as they wish.
The drive-through portion is about 3 miles long and typically takes 45 minutes to 1 hour, depending on how busy the park is. After that, you could spend 2 hours or more exploring the exhibits, animal demonstrations, restaurants and gift shop in Fort Bearizona.
Yes. You can drive through Bearizona more than once during your visit.
'What's neat is that when you pay to get in, you can go through the drive-through as many times as you'd like. So if you go the first time and the wolves are sleeping, go through again later and you'll be able to see them up and around,' said O'Connell.
Guests can bring a picnic lunch and enjoy it in the designated picnic areas or grassy spaces. Alcohol is not permitted, and the umbrella tables are for those who buy food from the Bearizona Grille.
People looking for dining options have several choices at Bearizona.
'We also have lots of food with Canyonlands, which is a like a slot canyon, Grand Canyon themed restaurant,' said O'Connell. 'And we have the Bearizona Grill, which is kind of snack shack type food, hot dogs, chicken tenders.
"And then we have bars all over the place. So for people who like to drink Bloody Marys or beer, depending on the time of the day, there's drinks all over the place.'
Bearizona admission covers both the drive-through and walk-through areas of the park. Ticket prices vary by age and day of the week. Children 3 and younger are admitted free.
Monday-Friday prices: Adults (13-61): $30. Seniors (62 and older): $27. Children (4-12): $20.
Saturday-Sunday prices: Adults: $35. Seniors: $32. Children: $25.
Tickets can be purchased at the gate or in advance online.
Yes. Visitors drive their own enclosed vehicles through the wildlife area.
'Don't get out of your car. Stay in your vehicle at all times, because the unique thing about the drive-through is that you're in the animals' enclosure," O'Connell said.
"So if you were to get out, there's bears, there's wolves, there's deer, there's some big animals that are right next to you, and they can be very dangerous, even though unassuming ones like the deer. So don't get out of your vehicle.'
Vehicles must be completely enclosed and have operational windows. Prohibited vehicles include:
Motorcycles.
ATVs/all-terrain vehicles.
Open-top Jeeps or convertibles.
While extremely rare, minor vehicle damage can occur if guests don't follow park rules, including keeping windows closed and not feeding animals. Animals are wild, so there's always a small risk, but incidents are uncommon.
'Bearizona is enter at your own risk. The thing about our animals is that they are very well trained,' said O'Connell. 'We train these animals for voluntary blood draws, and we can move them around to different places by calling them and asking them to go.
"But the thing is that we don't control them completely. And people have tried to come through and put food in their vehicle to get the animals come up close, and those are the ones that tend to get in some trouble like that.'
Many of Bearizona's animals were rescued and deemed not releasable, so they retain wild instincts despite the managed environment. The park aims to let them live as naturally as possible.
'So there always could be damage. But generally it doesn't happen,' said O'Connell. 'I would say maybe one time a year, and it's not like severe damage. It's like a scratch. Like, one of our reindeer walked past the vehicle and his antlers touched one once.'
After the drive-through, guests can explore Fort Bearizona, a walk-through area featuring additional animals, educational shows, restaurants, bars and and a gift shop.
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Bearizona is open year-round; hours may vary by season. The busiest months are June and July, while January and February tend to be the quietest.
'When people are getting out of school, that's what we're seeing the most,' said O'Connell. 'But then also we see a lot of visitors in December, which is awesome. So if you were looking to come up at a not as busy time, August, September, October, the fall is a great season. The temperatures drop and you get to be in that cool, crisp weather, and the park is a little bit more slow compared to summer times.'
Bearizona is generally less crowded on weekdays, particularly from Monday through Thursday, with slightly lower admission prices compared to weekends. For the best wildlife viewing opportunities, arrive early in the morning when the animals are most active. This timing also helps avoid the peak afternoon crowds, especially during the summer months.
Bearizona features North American wildlife, including:
Black bears.
Bison.
Wolves.
Mountain goats.
Bighorn sheep.
Elk, deer and pronghorn.
Fort Bearizona, the walk-through part of the park, is similar to a traditional zoo and has foxes, porcupines, badgers, raccoons, jaguars and other animals. Bird demonstrations take place at 11:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. daily, where birds fly over guests' heads — a crowd favorite.
Yes. There are three grizzly bears at Bearizona. They had been orphaned in Montana and brought to Bearizona in 2020.
Guests are not allowed to feed the animals for safety and animal health reasons. Animal feeding is handled by trained staff.
Bearizona is 200 miles northwest of central Phoenix.
Address: 1500 E. Route 66, Williams.
Admission: From $30 for adults and $20 for ages 4-12.
Hours: 9 a.m.-4 p.m. daily.
Details: 928-635-2289, bearizona.com.
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Bearizona: Experience Arizona's drive-through wildlife park