Looking for the perfect Saturday or summer afternoon activity? Whether you’re looking to stay local or hit the road for a small weekend adventure, we’ve got you covered with a guide to the best zoos in and around the Jupiter area!
This list was curated based on driving distance and location, as well as Yelp’s lists of the best zoos in Florida.
Lion Country Safari
LOCATION: 2003 Lion Country Safari Road, Loxahatchee
WHAT TO KNOW: Lion Country Safari is an amusement park and drive-thru safari that offers animal encounters, shows and learning opportunities. The safari is home to over 900 animals and also offers food and shopping experiences. In 2009, it was ranked by the USA Travel Guide as the third-best zoo in the nation.
ADMISSION COST: Ticket prices vary by season. The average cost for general admission is about $50 for ages 10 and older, $39 for ages 3 to 9 and free for children under 3.
HOURS: Daily from 9:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. The drive-thru safari ends at 4:30 p.m.
ANIMALS: Animals include various birds, monkeys, alpacas, porcupine, armadillos, sheep, alligators, snakes and a sloth.
Palm Beach Zoo & Conservation Society
LOCATION: 1301 Summit Blvd., West Palm Beach
WHAT TO KNOW: The Palm Beach Zoo is a nonprofit that is home to over 500 animals, many of which are endangered. The zoo offers plenty of interactive experiences for kids, like shows, animal encounters, a water fountain, a playground and food.
ADMISSION COST: Ticket prices vary by season. The average cost for general admission is about $29.95 for ages 13 to 59, $23.95 for ages 3 to 12 and free for children 2 and under.
HOURS: Daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
ANIMALS: Animals include panthers, tigers, reptiles, birds, otters, koalas, sloths and more.
Busch Wildlife Sanctuary
LOCATION: 17855 Rocky Pines Road, Jupiter
WHAT TO KNOW: Busch Wildlife is a nonprofit that works to protect and conserve Florida’s wildlife. The sanctuary offers environmental and animal education for children and adults, as well as animal encounters and experiences.
ADMISSION COST: Admission is by donation.
HOURS: Daily from 10 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
ANIMALS: Eagles, panthers, foxes, snakes, reptiles, bears, crocodiles and more.
Florida Madagascar Exotic Zoo and Sanctuary
LOCATION: 11381 Orange Grove Blvd., West Palm Beach
WHAT TO KNOW: The Florida Madagascar Exotic Zoo is an animal sanctuary that offers private tours, zoo events and hands-on animal encounters. It aims to promote conservation and animal welfare, as stated on its website. This is a great place to learn about exotic animals and conservation efforts. Visits are booked by tour and are limited to 12 people.
ADMISSION COST: The basic zoo tour experience is $35 per person for 30 minutes. This tour allows you to meet and feed lemurs, monkeys and reptiles.
HOURS: Daily from 9 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Check the website for tour hours and availability.
ANIMALS: Birds, capybaras, kinkajous, otters, lemurs, wallabies and more.
Wellington Conservation Center
LOCATION: 14990 Palm Beach Point Blvd., Wellington
WHAT TO KNOW: This conservation center offers a home to abandoned animals, including orphaned birds and mammals. The center also specializes in conserving animals threatened by habitat loss and provides a home to two endangered species. Wellington Conservation Center is available to visit by appointment only.
ADMISSION COST: For the guided tour, ages 10 and up are $30, ages 6 to 19 are $15 and ages 5 and under are $5. Check the website to view prices for animal encounters.
HOURS: Daily from 10:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. and guided tours are offered at 12:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m.
ANIMALS: Lemurs, sloths, hogs, foxes, birds, cattle, porcupines, capybaras, kinkajous and more.
Animal EDventure Park & Safari
LOCATION: 8545 US-441, Boynton Beach
WHAT TO KNOW: At its Boynton Beach location, this park offers only walk-through and guided safari tours. The classic one-hour walk-through tours take you through the private farm and offer sloth and kangaroo encounters, among other things. You can also add on experiences like the chance to hold a sloth and maybe even a monkey.
ADMISSION COST: The guided walking tour is $25 per person, adults aged 2 and older. Check the website to view add-on prices and VIP tours.
HOURS: Thursday to Sunday 10 a.m. – 6 p.m., and remember to check the website to view tour availability.
ANIMALS: Camels, kangaroos, foxes, deer, capybaras, farm animals and more.
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