4.5Lincoln Park Zoo(5.938 reviews) - ZooLights delivers with even more lights this year! Saturday: 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM Spent 2-3 hours Zoos
Founded in 1868, the Lincoln Park Zoo is one of the country's last free-admission zoos. There are over 1,200 animal residents, self-guided tours, and interactive activities with seals, polar bears, and penguins—check the schedule for timings. Don’t miss the Regenstein Center for African Apes—a popular habitat showcasing cheeky chimpanzees and majestic gorillas. Navigating the zoo is a breeze with multiple points of entry and wide paths to boot. Check for early closures before visiting and arrive in the morning to cover the majority of the exhibits. – TripadvisorSee more..
4.5Brookfield Zoo(1.202 reviews) - nice way to spend an outdoor day...even during a pandemic Saturday: 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM Zoos
216-acre Zoo With Over 400 Species Of Animals.See more..
4.0Peoria Zoo(396 reviews) - Great zoo for a 90-minute trip Saturday: 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM Zoos
The Peoria Zoo is home to over 100 species of animals from around the world. From giraffes and rhinoceros to spider monkeys and sea lions, the Zoo is the wildest family place in town. The Peoria Zoo is open year round. Our Education Department offers programs for ages 2 and up. These include Home School classes, Zoo Tots, Jungle Jamboree, summer Zoo Camp and Zoo Teens volunteer program. During summer months we offer Giraffe Feeding in Africa and Budgie Feeding in the Aussie Walk About. From Memorial Day to Labor Day, scheduled Keeper Chats take place every day. Our two biggest events are the Easter Egg Hunt and Howl-Zoo-Ween. We offer a variety of birthday parties and Zoo Snoozes. Our Zambezi River Lodge is available for corporate events, wedding receptions, and special celebrations.See more..
4.5Miller Park Zoo(272 reviews)from $7.57 - Cutest little zoo ever! Saturday: 9:30 AM - 5:00 PM Spent 1-2 hours Zoos
Miller Park Zoo offers many exhibits and Zookeeper interaction opportunities that are enjoyed by the whole family. Some highlights include: reindeer, Sumatran tiger, greater flamingos, river otters, red pandas, lemurs, Galapagos tortoise, bald eagles, Pallas' cat, snow leopards, gibbons, and red wolves. The Zoo features many large indoor and outdoor exhibits such as a Tropical America Rainforest, ZooLab, Katthoefer Animal Building, Wallaby WalkAbout, Children's Zoo, and Animals of Asia.See more..
4.5Cosley Zoo(224 reviews) - A small zoo but a giant petting zoo Zoos
A great little zoo filled with loved and well cared for animals. There were Llamas, goats, sheep, ponies, mini donkies, cows, fox, coyotes, some chickens, guinea hogs, owls, rabbits and some birds. Place has excellent facilities you can also book for events. The Animals are friendly and expect to be petted. We went there for pumpkin Fest and there were some carnival rides for kids. This place is small but uncrowded. Very beautiful. People who go here wear masks when indoors and when there's a crowd. Very respectful people. There is also a Cafe and gift shop. You can bring your own food. Lots of benches and picnic places. Buy tickets online. We bought at the parking lot because there isn't much room for entry as it only gives you 15 minutes grace period in your timed entry. Plenty of parking.See more..
4.0Niabi Zoo(173 reviews) - A Great Zoo- 4th Largest in Illinois- A Hidden Gem Zoos
This is a Gem to find on a road trip. The Zoo is very impressive and the staff all volunteer are so knowledgeable and helpful. This is the 4th largest Zoo in Illinois and for the rpice hands down the best value you can find. They have animals of every kind so you will not be disappointed for sure. Make sure you take the train ride well worth the few dollars it cost to see the zoo before you begin the walking part to get your bearings. I would highly recommend this zoo to anyone wanting to have a moment with nature and family.See more..
4.5Phillips Park Zoo(172 reviews) - Small zoo - great for small children Saturday: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM Zoos
This small zoo is a surprise in Aurora, dating back over 100 years It only takes about 30 minutes to see everything if you're on your own, probably an hour with small children. Easy for small children to navigate. They have elk, bald eagles, a turkey vulture, an owl, a handful of reptiles, a wolf, a cougar, tortoise, alpacas, goats, a red-tailed hawk and peacocks. There's also an indoor section near the front featuring Mastodon fossils found when the park was created. It continues to be upgraded and is well-maintained - and FREE to the public.See more..
4.5Scovill Zoo(154 reviews) - Great little zoo that won't break the bank Saturday: 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM Zoos
This was part of our trip home from Springfield. We went on Mothers Day so wife got in free. For me and kids 4,7,14 it cost $44 and package included tickets for 3 sno cones, 8 train ride tix, and 4 carousel ride tix. Parking is free. Pony rides $4. Small zoo but not crowded and unlike some bigger zoos... The animals were actually out. If you are expecting St. Louis zoo then you will be disappointed, but if looking to spend some quality family time and not feel you got robbed then this is the place. Zoo is extremely clean and everyone was friendly. Huge playground for kids to exhaust themselves before ride home.See more..
More than 300 animals from Africa, Asia, Australia, North and South America call this popular zoo home.See more..
5.0Aikman Wildlife Adventure(118 reviews) - Unexpected Animal Exhibit in Central Illinois Saturday: 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM Spent 1-2 hours Nature & Wildlife Areas • Zoos
Zebras in the midwest??!! YES!! Aikman Wildlife Adventure is a wildlife sanctuary located in Arcola, Illinois. Our mission is to provide the highest quality of life possible to all wildlife in need, while maintaining a family friendly environment through interaction, education, conservation and by creating an experience of a lifetime for all our guests. Come out to enjoy 200 animals and 75 different species! Drive through our park in your own vehicle to see all of our bigger animals, then take a stroll in our Walk-Thru to visit our small animals, predators, and petting zoo. If you love animals and are ready for an adventure of a lifetime, come out and see for yourself why our place is so unique and special! Hours vary depending on weather.See more..
Great place to spend time outside! Property was very well maintained and easy to navigate. For not being a city zoo they have a large variety of animals and the enclosures are well maintained. We spent about a hour walking around the zoo. Plenty of parking and admission won’t break the bank. See more..
This "zoo" is completely sickening! The animals look suicidal and are kept in very poor conditions. The owners are very rude and came off very racist to a group of foreigners who were taking a tour and even went as far as telling them to speak English and stop speaking their "gibberish". The whole trip was depressing. We don't recommend anyone wasting their time on such a disgusting place.See more..
4.5Lords Park(14 reviews) - Revisited the Park and the Zoo Zoos • Parks • Playgrounds
I went to Lord's Park for the first time in 50 years and it was nice and it was amazing and how well they kept it up and for all those years and when you go through the zoo and it takes you about 10 minutes to go through the zoo. I liked the bison over there and the donkeys. So there's a little museum next to the zoo and I was going to go there and there was one lady and that just walked over there and she told me that it wasn't open so I didn't not take my nephew there and he liked it so much and that he wants to go there again.See more..
5.0Randall Oaks Zoo(5 reviews) - Great afternoon activity for kids Saturday: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM Spent 2-3 hours Zoos
Randall Oaks Zoo is a great place visit for an afternoon of fun for the kids and is budget-conscience. See more..
I've gone to the Rainbow Ranch almost every year for the past 20 years. It is a farm that has been in the same family for over 150 years. The historic old barn is something to see, with the hand-hewn beams. Alan, the owner is the Dr. Dolittle of Rainbow Ranch, and the animals love him, and follow him everywhere. I've taken my son to the Ranch since he was a toddler, and he asks to go back every year. There is an amazing assortment of animals, and all are well cared for and obviously loved. This is a unique working farm, and a great place to bring the family. I highly recommend a visit to the Rainbow Ranch for a pleasant day trip that will be memorable for sure.See more..
