Sacramento Zoo

Advantages of the Sacramento Zoo for Preschoolers

The Sacramento Zoo is perfect for a preschooler. It’s relatively small, especially compared to the San Francisco and San Diego Zoos—perfect to give your preschooler a taste of the zoo without overwhelming them. 

There are three places to stop for food and drink. The Zoofari Market, the Zebra Ice Cream Station, and the Kampala Cafe. During good weather, there are also plenty of stands set up with juice, water and snacks such as popcorn. While the prices for food and drink are inflated, they’re not ridiculous. The Sacramento Zoo also offers kid friendly cups with spill-resistant tops for little children. The Kampala Cafe is inside (and air conditioned!), offering a place for preschoolers to rest and regroup. You can also bring in your own food and drink and with summers in Sacramento being as hot as they are, you should be carrying water with you.

There are strollers available to rent at the Zoofari market, and two spots for restrooms. One by the flamingos and one by the otters.  

If you’re a member, the member’s entrance can cut down the long admission lines that form on warm weekends. 

The Sacramento Zoo has animals your preschooler is likely to be familiar with, including giraffes, zebras, tigers and monkeys. 

Be Sure Not to Miss

The electric powered train. This train does not run on tracks and costs an additional fee for each person to ride. The line is long for the train, so be prepared to keep your preschooler distracted. It’s also difficult for adults to get in and out of. The train takes you on a small tour of about half the zoo, and takes less than five minutes. But your preschooler will likely love it, especially if they love trains.

The reptile house. There are snakes, frogs, turtles, lizards and even an alligator, perfect for reptile loving preschoolers.  

The Wildlife Stage Shows—shows, hours and dates change so be sure to check the website for more information. 

The playground, a perfect spot for your preschooler to run off some energy.

The cats exhibit, including a glass wall for an up close look at the tigers.

The gorilla exhibit. Preschoolers can easy spend a long time watching the gorillas climb their enclosure, swing on vines and play with toys.  

Disadvantages of the Sacramento Zoo for Preschoolers

The heat during the summer. While there is lots of shade from mature plantings, there are also some hot patches. In additon, many of the animals go into their air conditioned houses when it’s too hot. If it’s hot, be prepared with water and consider purchasing ice cream and popsicles from the Kampala Cafe and Zebra Ice Cream Station for your preschooler. Always wear sunscreen and consider hats and sunglasses. 

If you don’t have membership, the admission line can be quite long. 

The zoo can become very crowded on spring weekends, so consider going during the week, or earlier in the day.  The animals are more likely to be active earlier in the day too.   

General Information

Please remember hours and admission fees are subject to change without notice. For up-to-date information please go to www.saczoo.com.

Hours
Nov-Jan the zoo is open from 10am-4pm
Feb-Oct the zoo is open 9am-4pm
Guests may stay in the zoo for an hour past closing. The zoo is open every day except a few specific holidays. Check the website for specifics. 

Fees
Weekdays:
General: $7.50
Senior: $6.75
Children 3-12 $5.00
Under 2 Free
Weekends:
General $8.00
Seniors $7.25
Children 3-12 $5.50
Under 2 Free
Membership:
If you plan on going to the zoo more than two or three times a year, a membership may be your best bet. There’s a separate (and usually shorter) membership line, plus savings in the Zoofari Market, and coupons in the mail. In addition, if you have zoo membership and your preschooler melts down or gets too tired to walk around the entire zoo, it’s easy to come back another day without feeling like your money was wasted. Various packages range from $35-$105.
Combination Tickets:
If you plan on going to Fairytale Town (just across the street) and the Sacramento Zoo at the same time, ask for combination tickets to save some money. Check the website for prices.

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Hello! I'm Theresa Halvorsen, your Sacramento correspondent for PreschoolRock.com. I've lived in Sacramento most of my life and am enjoying raising my preschool-aged twins in this city. There's so many preschool-friendly places in Sacramento. If you have any preschool-friendly places you'd like me to review, please contact me. And, of course, if you have any questions or concerns about this site, please contact me.

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