If you’re seeing more of the city, the best way to save on San Francisco Zoo tickets is a sightseeing pass like Go City or CityPASS, which bundle the zoo with other San Francisco attractions at a significant discount. If the zoo is your only stop, go on a weekday. Buy at the ticket window, which skips the online fee and is where Muni riders get their discount.
Why visit? San Francisco Zoo & Gardens is a 100-acre accredited zoo home to more than 250 species, including endangered and rescued wildlife. It’s located in the southwest corner of San Francisco, adjacent to the Pacific Ocean and Lake Merced, and accessible by public transportation. It’s been a family destination since it opened here in 1929.
Which Ticket Is Right for You?
| # | Your Situation | The Payoff |
|---|---|---|
| – | Visiting just the zoo General admission on a weekday | Weekday rate |
| 1 | Seeing several SF attractions A Go City sightseeing pass | Up to 50% off |
| 2 | Picking four big stops San Francisco CityPASS | Up to 45% off |
| 3 | A San Francisco resident The resident rate, plus free first Wednesdays | Free days |
| 4 | Military, a student, or a guest with a disability The resident rate | Lower price |
| 5 | An EBT/SNAP cardholder Up to four tickets, bought in person | EBT price |
| 6 | A local library cardholder A free Discover & Go pass | Free entry |
| 7 | Coming by Muni Show your same-day Muni receipt or pass at the window | $1 off |
| 8 | A group of 15 or more A reservation three weeks ahead | Group rate |
| 9 | Coming back often A zoo membership | Unlimited visits |
| 9 | A member of another zoo Half off general admission, if your zoo is a partner | Half off |
Where
Sloat Blvd at The Great Highway
Time Needed
Half a day to a full day
Parking
Paid lot or free on Sloat Blvd.
Best Time
When it opens
San Francisco Zoo Ticket Prices
Prices depend on the day you visit and on whether you qualify for the resident rate.
| Ticket | Weekdays | Weekends & Holidays |
|---|---|---|
| Adult (12–64) | $32 | $34 |
| Adult, resident rate | $29 | $31 |
| Senior (65+) | $25 | $27 |
| Senior, resident rate | $21 | $23 |
| Child (2–11) | $22 | $24 |
| Child, resident rate | $19 | $21 |
| Under 2 | Free | Free |
| EBT/SNAP card, up to 4 tickets | $5 | $5 |
| SF resident with EBT/SNAP or Medi-Cal, up to 4 | $3 | $3 |
| Parking, per car | $15 | $20 |
Ways to Buy
| Way to Buy | What You Get | Best For | At a Glance |
|---|---|---|---|
| General admission | One day at the zoo, bought online or at the main gate | A single visit | 1 day |
| Resident rate | The lower price for SF residents, military, students, and guests with disabilities | Visitors who qualify | 4 groups qualify |
| Go City San Francisco | The zoo on all three passes, plus up to 24 other attractions | Several stops | 3 passes |
| San Francisco CityPASS | The zoo plus three more of eight attractions | Four big stops | 4 of 8 · 9 days |
| Zoo membership | A year of unlimited visits plus member discounts | Repeat visits | Pays off in 3 visits |
CityPASS is the simpler buy when four of its eight attractions are already on your list and you can fit them into nine days. Go City suits a trip with more stops.
1. Go City San Francisco Pass
All three Go City San Francisco passes include the zoo, so a pass can cover it along with other San Francisco attractions. Go City says you can save up to 50%, depending on the pass you choose, and the three differ in how many attractions you get and how long you have to use them.
- Go City Essentials: three attractions from a list of nine, including the zoo and the Exploratorium, within 30 days of your first attraction
- Go City Explorer: two to five attractions from all 25, including the zoo and the California Academy of Sciences, within 30 days of your first attraction
- Go City All-Inclusive: as many of the 25 attractions as you can fit into one to five days in a row
Check which attractions each pass covers, then buy yours in advance on Go City’s site. Passes you haven’t activated can be refunded within 90 days of purchase. At the zoo, you scan in with the Go City app or a downloaded or printed PDF, and Go City says showing your pass also gets you a free Zoo Key, the plastic key that plays the zoo’s Storybook recordings.
2. San Francisco CityPASS
San Francisco CityPASS covers four attractions you pick from a list of eight, and the zoo is one of them. CityPASS says it saves up to 45%. Tickets are good for nine consecutive days, starting with the first attraction you visit, and CityPASS adds a small processing fee to each ticket.
- California Academy of Sciences
- Blue & Gold Fleet San Francisco Bay Cruise
- Aquarium of the Bay
- The Walt Disney Family Museum
- Exploratorium
- San Francisco Zoo & Gardens
- San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA)
- de Young Museum + Legion of Honor
Two other CityPASS tickets also include the zoo as a choice. The C3 covers three attractions instead of four, and San Francisco CityPASS + Alcatraz pairs the Alcatraz day tour with three more.
3. San Francisco Resident Rates and Free Days
San Francisco residents pay the resident rate in the table above, year-round. Bring proof of residency, such as a valid driver’s license or government-issued ID, or a utility or phone bill with your name and current address along with a photo ID.
Residents also get in free on SF Resident Free Days. The zoo’s ticket page lists them as the first Wednesday of every month, and each one is posted on the zoo’s calendar. On a free day, bring a government-issued ID to the gate where tickets are scanned. The zoo gives one free admission for each ID that shows San Francisco residency.
4. Military, Student, and Disability Discounts
The zoo charges the resident rate to three more groups:
- Retired and active-duty military. Show a valid military ID at the ticket window. Military tickets are also sold online, and you still need to show valid ID.
- Students ages 12 through college.
- Guests with disabilities, who also park free in the zoo’s lot with a valid placard.
The free first Wednesdays are for San Francisco residents only.
5. EBT/SNAP and Medi-Cal Discounts (Museums for All)
Through the Museums for All program, EBT/SNAP cardholders can buy up to four admission tickets for a fraction of general admission (see the table above). The named cardholder needs a matching photo ID, and these tickets are sold only in person at the zoo’s ticket windows.
San Francisco residents pay even less, and they can use an EBT/SNAP or Medi-Cal card. Bring the card and proof of San Francisco residency, such as a driver’s license, student or college ID, library card, or current utility bill.
P-EBT, SUN Bucks, and WIC cards do not qualify, and neither does Medi-Cal for non-residents. The zoo’s ticket page says Medi-Cal is accepted for San Francisco residents, but its general FAQ page lists Medi-Cal as not accepted, so bring an EBT/SNAP card too if you have one.
6. Free Zoo Pass From the Library
With a card from the San Francisco Public Library or another local library, you can check out a free zoo pass through the Discover & Go program. Check availability on Discover & Go.
7. Muni Rider Discount
The zoo encourages guests to arrive by public transportation. Show your same-day Muni receipt, transfer, or monthly pass at the ticket window for a discount on admission.
From within San Francisco, the Muni L Taraval line runs outbound to the zoo, and bus lines 23 and 18 stop there too. Plan your route with the SFMTA Trip Planner.
8. Group Prices
Groups of 15 or more who enter together qualify for the zoo’s group rate, and on weekdays the adult group rate is less than half the price of general admission. Weekend and holiday rates may be higher.
Request a reservation at least three weeks ahead by emailing Guest Services at Reservations@sfzoo.org. Groups need one adult for every five children, and you pay on the day of your visit by cash, credit, or debit card. Without a reservation, a group pays regular admission. The zoo’s group visits page has the details.
9. San Francisco Zoo Membership
If you’re local or visit SF often, a San Francisco Zoo membership pays for itself quickly. The zoo says it takes just three visits, and membership includes:
- 365 days of unlimited admission, with expedited entry that skips the ticket line
- Member Mornings, when members get in an hour early on the first Saturday of every month
- A later last entry, half an hour after general admission
- A discount on extra admission tickets for your guests, plus discounts at the zoo’s shops, cafes, rides, and parking
- Reciprocal admission discounts at partner zoos and aquariums
Memberships run from a senior level for two people to a level that admits up to three adults and six children. Seniors, teachers, students, military, and guests with disabilities can get a discount on several levels by buying on site, and the details for each level are on the zoo’s membership page.
Already a member at another zoo? If it’s one of San Francisco Zoo’s reciprocal partners, current members get 50% off general admission for the named adults and two children under 18 on the membership. The zoo’s reciprocity chart shows whether yours is on the list. Buy these tickets at the ticket windows, with your membership card and another form of ID.
This Season at the San Francisco Zoo
These events and exhibits run on their own dates, and some need a separate ticket, so check each page before you go.
ZooLights
ZooLights, the zoo’s winter light show, runs from November 6, 2026, through January 3, 2027, on Wednesday through Sunday evenings (closed Mondays and Tuesdays). It needs a separate evening ticket, which also covers Dinos Rule!, and members get a discount. Details are on the ZooLights page.
Dinos Rule!
Dinos Rule!, an outdoor exhibit of 21 animatronic dinosaurs, runs through January 3, 2027. It costs extra on top of general admission, children under 2 are free, and members pay less. Details are on the Dinos Rule! page.
Boo at the Zoo
Boo at the Zoo, the zoo’s Halloween day with a costume parade and contest, is on October 31, 2026. It’s free with daytime admission or a membership. Details are on the event page.
San Francisco Zoo Hours, Parking & Directions
Hours
The zoo is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day of the year, including holidays. Last entry is an hour before closing for general admission and half an hour before closing for members.
Parking
Parking in the zoo’s lot is paid on site on the day of your visit, first come, first served. Rates are in the ticket table above, members pay less, and guests with a valid disabled placard park free. The lot has no in-and-out privileges.
There are two parking lot entrances. One is off the Great Highway (for guests driving from the East Bay and South Bay), and the other is off Sloat Boulevard at 47th Avenue (for guests from the North Bay).
You can avoid parking fees by finding free street parking along Sloat Boulevard. Rideshares and taxis drop off and pick up on Sloat Boulevard at 47th Avenue, outside the paid lot.
Directions
Address: Sloat Blvd at The Great Highway, San Francisco, CA 94132
Driving directions from various Bay Area starting points and public transportation options are on the zoo’s directions page.
FAQs About SF Zoo Tickets and Your Visit
What is SF Zoo’s rainy day policy?
The zoo stays open rain or shine, though bad weather can occasionally close it early. If you’d rather not visit in the rain, you can use prepaid tickets for up to 30 days after your original visit date. Bring your original reservation to the ticket windows to redeem them. The Little Puffer train doesn’t run in wet weather.
Is the San Francisco Zoo still free on the first Wednesday of every month?
For San Francisco residents, yes. The zoo’s ticket page lists SF Resident Free Days as the first Wednesday of every month. Residents get in free by showing a government-issued ID with a San Francisco address where tickets are scanned.
Check the zoo’s calendar to see when the next Free Day is scheduled.
What other San Francisco Zoo discounts are available?
SF Zoo members receive a 10% discount at all zoo shops, cafes, and carts. Subscribe to the zoo’s email list for occasional promo codes and early access to special events.
One of the easiest ways to save money at SF Zoo is to bring your own food and drinks. Glass containers and alcohol are prohibited.
Do kids get in free at the San Francisco Zoo?
Children under 2 always get in free. In June 2026, the zoo also let children 11 and under in free on weekdays, up to five per paying adult, so check the zoo’s news page each spring to see whether it returns.
What are the latest SF Zoo promo codes?
The zoo doesn’t publish promo codes on its ticket pages. To pay less for the zoo alone, look at the resident, military, student, and EBT pricing above. A Go City San Francisco pass or San Francisco CityPASS may be a better fit if you’re seeing other San Francisco attractions.
Are there in and out privileges?
Yes, on the same day. Before you walk out, get a re-entry hand stamp at the Gatehouse. Parking is different, because the zoo’s lot has no in-and-out privileges.
How long does it take to go through the San Francisco Zoo?
A full day gives you plenty of time, but half a day works if your schedule is tight. How long you spend depends on whether you want to catch keeper talks and animal feedings, ride the carousel and train, or grab a meal.
How big is the San Francisco Zoo?
The SF Zoo is 100 acres of animal habitats and gardens set along the Pacific coast.
What are the San Francisco Zoo’s hours?
The zoo is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day of the year, including holidays, with last entry at 4 p.m. for general admission and 4:30 p.m. for members. The animals are most active in the morning, so I recommend going when it opens.
More Zoo and Aquarium Ticket Guides
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Does the San Francisco Zoo aRes Discount tickets work for weekends as well?
Hi! Yes thanks for asking. The aRes Travel San Francisco Zoo tickets do work on weekends. They’re good any day the zoo is open (except for any special tickets events that would normally require additional admission).