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Wild Encounters: A Guide to Central Park Zoo 

  • Things To Do
  • Silas Smith
  • 6 minutes

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Hidden in the heart of New York City, the Central Park Zoo is known for its massive diversity of animals and birds. Wildlife Conservation Society owns and operates this zoo, four other zoos, and an aquarium. You can enter the facility through Central Park, and there is an entrance through 5th Avenue. 

Central Park Zoo houses more than 160 species of animals and birds on its 6.5 acres of campus. Every year more than 4 million people visit the zoo and its surroundings. Apart from the main zoo, there is a separate children’s zoo and a 4-D theatre in the destination. 

Save more on city parking with Way.com

Are you visiting the zoo anytime soon? We have created a basic guide with location, address, features, and Central Park Zoo parking information. 

Central Park Zoo location 

Central Park Zoo New York is at East 64th Street, New York, NY 10021. Walking 125 feet through 5th Avenue from Central Park, you can reach the zoo. Other popular attractions nearby include the Wollman Ice skating rink, Heckscher playground, Gapstow bridge, and Sheep Meadow Park.  

The Central Park Zoo hours will range from 10 am to 5:30 pm daily, depending on the month. During holidays and weekends, the zoo will close only at 5:30 pm. Depending on the changing seasons working hours will also vary. Also, the last entry is allowed until half hour before the closing time. 

How to get to Central Park Zoo? 

If you wish to drive to the zoo, directions from some popular parts of New York are below. 

From Downtown Brooklyn: The zoo is more than 7 miles from central Brooklyn. You can drive via FDR Drive, the fastest way to reach this destination. You will cover 7.9 miles and take nearly 18 minutes to complete the drive. Another longer alternative is to cover more than 10 miles through I-278 East to get here in 21 minutes. 

From Upper Manhattan: To reach the zoo, you must cover more than 4.5 miles through 5th Avenue. It will take nearly 18 minutes to complete the drive, depending on live traffic conditions. 

From Lower Manhattan: You can choose three routes to the zoo. The fastest is via 3rd Avenue; you will need 17 minutes to arrive. On the other hand, you can drive 7.2 miles through FDR Drive and reach the zoo in 18 minutes. You can also drive through Madison Avenue, but it will take more than 20 minutes to complete the journey, depending on the traffic conditions. 

Subways stations at Fifth Avenue/ 59th Street and 68th Street/Hunter College Station can get you within walking distance from the zoo. You can board trains N, R, W, and Lexington Avenue #6. Similarly, some buses have stops between 59 and 65 Streets, including M66, M4, M3, M5, and others.  

Central Park Zoo features 

The zoo has different sections like Central Garden, Tropic Zone, and Temperate Territory. The gift shop and Dancing Crane Cafe are near the administrative building.  Tisch Children’s Zoo is a separate section across 65th Street that features a variety of animals, including cattle, fish, and the Acorn Theater. 

Most days, the zoo schedule includes different feeding sessions that visitors can watch closely. The penguin and sea lion feeding is fun to watch, and the staff will help you answer any questions about the beautiful animals. Additionally, the 4-D Theater at the zoo is primarily focusing on kids. Along with the 3-D visuals, you can experience various sensory effects at the theatre along with your family. 

Central Park Zoo tickets 

You can get entrance to the Main Zoo, the Tisch Children’s Zoo, and the 4-D Theater by getting an admission ticket. The rate of tickets for children aged between 3 and 12 is $14.95. For adults between ages 13 and above, the charges are closer to $20. Similarly, senior tickets are available for nearly $17 for ages 65 and over. Kids 2 and under are allowed to enter the zoo for free, along with an adult. All tickets are date-specific, and you must arrive within one hour of your chosen entry time. 

Another kind of ticket includes the limited admission variety, which gives you access to Main Zoo and Tisch Children’s Zoo but not the 4-D Theater. Also, those who are members can just reserve a ticket free of charge. For more details about tickets and to purchase them visit the official website.

Central Park Zoo parking 

The zoo has no official parking facilities, so you must look into other options. Street parking is usually the first choice for most visitors. But for first-time visitors, parking regulations like alternate side parking and street cleaning can be a hassle. Parking on the streets without knowing about these is asking for trouble. You will receive tickets and hefty fines for parking violations once you return from the zoo. 

Some common locations where you can find street parking are 64th Street, 62nd Street, 5th Avenue, 63rd Street, and more. Some of them offer free parking but for a limited time, while others are metered spots. If you want your car to be safe during your visit, look for private parking garages near Central Park Zoo.  

Off-site parking

Private garages are one of the best ways to save money and get safe spaces near Central Park Zoo. Most of these are within walking distance from the zoo, and you can conveniently locate them using the Way mobile app. You can get hourly charges for lower rates than other options at these off-site garages. Also, valet parking, accessible spaces, and other notable features are available, and you do not have to pay any extra charges. 

To ensure the safety of your vehicles at the facility, they also provide 24-hour security personnel and camera surveillance. To find and book parking at off-site facilities, use Way.com and Way app. You will get special deals on the charges at these garages by using Way.com.

58 W 58th St Garage

If you are anywhere near Central Park and need affordable parking, this is the place you should be. The 58 W 58th St Garage is operated by Icon Parking, which is open 24×7. You can find the entrance to this commercial parking facility at Tower 58 at 58 West 58th Street between 5th and 6th Avenues. 

By booking a spot at this lot, you can get hourly covered parking charges as low as $15 for each car. Apart from hourly spots, monthly spaces also have premium features like contactless parking. In addition, there is a safety measure to keep your ride safe while you visit Central Park and the zoo. 

Some of the popular attractions near this facility are the New York City Center and the Museum of Modern Art. You can park here and take a 0.3-mile walk to the Central Park Zoo.  

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