Missouri Zoos and Wildlife Parks: A Family Guide
Missouri has two big-city zoos, a strong small zoo in Springfield, a huge wildlife museum and aquarium, and several places where kids can see eagles, wolves or bison up close. Some of the best are free. Here are ten zoos, aquariums and wildlife parks around the state, what each one is best for, and what to know before you go.
Details were checked in October 2026. Hours, prices and seasonal attractions change, so confirm with each place before you go.
Quick picks
| If you want… | Go here |
|---|---|
| A world-class zoo for free | Saint Louis Zoo |
| A zoo and a big aquarium on one ticket | Kansas City Zoo & Aquarium |
| Feeding giraffes on a smaller budget | Dickerson Park Zoo |
| A full rainy-day aquarium visit | Wonders of Wildlife or the St. Louis Aquarium |
| Baby goats, Clydesdales and free admission | Grant’s Farm |
| Bison and elk from your car | Lone Elk Park |
| A drive-thru safari near Branson | Promised Land Zoo |
1. Saint Louis Zoo
Best for: a full day of animals without paying admission.
General admission to the Saint Louis Zoo in Forest Park is free. Paid extras are sold together as an Adventure Pass: the Zooline Railroad, the Conservation Carousel, the sea lion show, the stingray touch area at Caribbean Cove and a 4D theater. Families on a budget can skip the extras and still spend a whole day here.
- Address: 1 Government Dr., St. Louis
- Good to know: From Oct. 8 through Dec. 31, 2026, hours are 9 a.m.–4 p.m. Summer hours run later. The Adventure Pass costs less online, and members park free.
2. Kansas City Zoo & Aquarium
Best for: families who want a zoo and a major aquarium in one day.
The zoo covers 202 acres in Swope Park. Its Sobela Ocean Aquarium opened in 2023 with sea otters, sharks, a sea turtle and a giant Pacific octopus, and it’s included in zoo admission. Kids also like walking among the kangaroos in the Australia area, Helzberg Penguin Plaza, Polar Bear Passage and the Orangutan Canopy. The tram, train, boat and sky ride need a separate ride pass.
- Address: 6800 Zoo Dr., Kansas City
- Good to know: Parking is free, online tickets cost less than at the gate, and Jackson and Clay County residents get a discount.
3. Dickerson Park Zoo (Springfield)
Best for: younger kids and a half-day visit.
This Springfield zoo has a paved loop of about 1.2 miles with animals grouped by region, plus a Missouri Habitats area with otters, wolves and black bears. Kids can feed giraffes from a raised deck (March through October), visit the Outback Corral petting area and ride a small train. The boardwalk along the North America exhibit reopened in spring 2026 after being closed for about five years.
- Address: 1401 W. Norton Rd., Springfield (417-864-1800)
- Good to know: Giraffe feeding and the petting area use tokens bought on site, so bring a few extra dollars.
4. Wonders of Wildlife National Museum & Aquarium (Springfield)
Best for: a big indoor day, rain or shine.
Wonders of Wildlife is a 350,000-square-foot museum and aquarium with more than 35,000 live animals and about 1.5 million gallons of water. One ticket covers the Wildlife Galleries, with life-size habitat scenes, and the Aquarium Adventure. It sits next to the original Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World, which has its own big fish tanks and is free to walk through.
- Address: 500 W. Sunshine St., Springfield
- Good to know: Plan on about four hours. It’s one of the pricier stops on this list, so buy tickets ahead and check for combo deals.
5. Grant’s Farm (St. Louis)
Best for: little kids who want to feed and pet animals.
General admission is free. A tram carries you through Deer Park, then kids can feed baby goats in the Tier Garten, ride the carousel, watch animal shows and visit the famous Clydesdales in their barn. You pay for parking, and it’s cheaper online.
- Address: 10501 Gravois Rd., St. Louis
- Good to know: Grant’s Farm is seasonal and has some tour-only days. Check the operating calendar, and arrive early, since trams stop 90 minutes before closing.
6. St. Louis Aquarium at Union Station
Best for: sharks, touch pools and an easy downtown day.
This aquarium inside historic Union Station has about a dozen shark species, a shark and ray touch pool and a shark nursery where kids can touch an egg case. The same building has the 200-foot St. Louis Wheel, mini golf, a carousel, a mirror maze and a ropes course, so you can turn it into a full day.
- Address: 201 S. 18th St., St. Louis
- Good to know: Each attraction is ticketed separately. Look at bundle tickets if you plan to do more than two.
7. Lone Elk Park and the World Bird Sanctuary (Valley Park)
Best for: native wildlife on a tiny budget.
These two sit side by side west of St. Louis. Lone Elk Park is a free St. Louis County park where elk, bison, deer and wild turkeys roam about 546 acres, and you watch them from a loop road. Next door, the World Bird Sanctuary has aviaries of owls, eagles, hawks and other birds along a walking path, plus trails and picnic areas. Its Taking Wing flight show, with birds of prey flying overhead, runs from early April through Labor Day weekend.
- Bird Sanctuary: 125 Bald Eagle Ridge Rd., Valley Park. Open daily 8 a.m.–5 p.m., $5 per person.
- Good to know: Stay in your car in Lone Elk’s bison area. Pets aren’t allowed at either place.
8. Endangered Wolf Center (Eureka)
Best for: older kids who like animal science.
About 20 miles southwest of St. Louis, this center works to save endangered wolves and other wild canids, including Mexican gray wolves and red wolves. Visits are by reservation, and tours explain how the center helps return animals to the wild.
- Address: 6750 Tyson Valley Rd., Eureka (636-938-5900)
- Good to know: Reservations are required, and the center is closed Tuesdays. Ask about age rules when you book.
9. Branson’s Promised Land Zoo
Best for: a drive-thru safari during a Branson trip.
General admission includes a two-mile drive-thru safari, a five-acre walking area, a petting zoo and a parakeet aviary. VIP and behind-the-scenes upgrades are available if your kids want a closer animal encounter.
- Address: 2751 Shepherd of the Hills Expy., Branson
- Good to know: It’s open daily 9 a.m.–5 p.m. most of the year (last admission at 4), but only on weekends from January to mid-February.
A note on Purina Farms
Purina Farms in Gray Summit was a popular free animal stop for families, but its visitor center has been closed since a tornado in March 2025. Check its website for any reopening news before you plan around it.
Tips for visiting Missouri zoos with kids
- Go early in summer. Animals are most active in the morning, before the heat.
- Set a budget for extras. Rides, feeding and shows add up fast, even at free zoos.
- Use spring and fall. Spring break and October weekdays are cooler and less crowded than July.
- Save the aquarium for bad weather. Wonders of Wildlife, the St. Louis Aquarium and the Sobela Ocean Aquarium are all indoors.
- Pack a picnic. Food inside zoos is pricey. Forest Park and Swope Park both have picnic spots nearby.
Free printable: Missouri Family Bucket List
25 Missouri adventures to do together, from Fritz’s trains to the Elephant Rocks boulders. Print it, stick it on the fridge and check them off.
