Zoos to visit with your kids in Northern Illinois, Chicago and Beyond
Photo via Randall Oaks Zoo
Free & Affordable [Small] Zoos
Randall Oaks Zoo
1180 N Randall Rd
West Dundee IL 60118
One of our favorite zoos to visit as a family, Randall Oaks Zoo has a lot of animals to see, a fun goat encounter and a play area for the kids... all for just $6! There are also special events throughout the year, including an evening of campfires and s’mores, an overnight campout and a winterfest around the holidays. Stay tuned for the new animal building they’re building!
Phillips Park Zoo
1000 Ray Moses Dr
Aurora IL 60505
Operated by the city of Aurora, Phillips Park Zoo is FREE for all guests and encourages a safe environment where all visitors can gain a better understanding of the animal world and its environment. Exhibits at the zoo include bald eagles, wolves, mountain lions, foxes, otters, elk, goats, llamas, turkeys and peacocks.
Cosley Zoo
1356 N Gary Ave
Wheaton IL 60187
All kids 17yo and under are FREE at Cosley Zoo, in addition to all residents of Wheaton! All non-resident adults are just $9-$10 [depending on age]. The zoo is on five acres and houses both farm animals and native wildlife, such as a red fox, Blanding’s turtles, a coyote and a white-tailed deer.
Lords Park Zoo
207 Grand Blvd
Elgin IL 60120
Another FREE zoo, Lords Park Zoo is operated by the city of Elgin and located in Lords Park. All year round, you can see bison, elk and white tail deer in the outdoor fenced area. During the summertime, the zoo has an opportunity to rent animals from local farms, that can include, goats, llamas, pigs, calves, turkeys and donkeys.
Widely Popular Zoos
Lincoln Park Zoo
Fullerton Pkwy & Cannon Dr
Chicago IL 60614
Located in the city of Chicago, Lincoln Park Zoo is another FREE zoo, enjoyed by 3.5 million visitors every year. Exhibits include big cats, polar bears, penguins, gorillas, reptiles, monkeys and other species totaling about 1,100 animals from some 200 species. Activities onsite are a carousel and kiddie train ride.
Brookfield Zoo
8400 31st St
Brookfield IL 60513
Home to more than 3,400 animals of over 500 species from around the globe, Brookfield Zoo also has Interactive experiences include feeding giraffes, petting goats and sheep and exploring the Treetop Canopy Climbing Adventure.
Zoos Outside of Chicagoland
Summerfield Zoo
3088 Flora Rd
Belvidere IL 61008
Located near Rockford, Summerfield Zoo is home to may exotic animals, including mountain lions, lemurs, wolves alligators and even reindeer! Additional experiences are available at the petting zoo and bottles for baby goats. During the holidays, there is a very unique experience with live reindeer, Santa and elves.
Racine Zoo
2131 N Main St
Racine WI 53402
The Racine Zoo is a nonprofit organization that houses 75 different species and over 300 individual animals, including endangered wildlife such as African penguins, Asian elephants, black rhinos and whooping cranes. I personally love visiting this zoo because it sits on the beautiful shores of Lake Michigan.
Milwaukee County Zoo
10001 W Bluemound Rd
Milwaukee WI 53226
The Milwaukee County Zoo started as a miniature mammal and bird display back in 1892. Due to the popularity of this attraction, by the turn of the century, the zoo had more than 800 animals on 23 acres of land. Today, the zoo sits on 190 acres with over 2100 animals and 314 species.
Miller Park Zoo
1020 S Morris Ave
Bloomington IL 61701
Featuring large indoor and outdoor habitats, Miller Park Zoo has animals such as the Sumatran tiger, red pandas, Galapagos Tortoises, bald eagles and snow leopards. The zoo also offers zookeeper interaction experiences and there’s a Children’s Zoo and a carousel that is loved by all kids.
Where are your favorite zoos? Let me know in the comments!
For those with older kids, sometimes they want more than a small aquatic center and swimming pool, and that’s ok! Good thing is, we have some very thrilling water amusement parks near us, that can feed those adventure-seekers of yours!