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Zoo & aquarium · Admission from $21.95 · 9 verified savings
Photo from the venue's own site
Admission from $21.95.
Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens in Sanford features over 350 animals representing more than 200 species, including giraffes, Indian rhinoceroses, macaws, and amur leopards. Visitors encounter animals during twice-daily keeper chats included in admission, ride the Champion Miniature Train for five dollars, or book paid encounters with tortoises or rhinos. The Wild Explorer VR Experience offers virtual reality exploration, while the botanical gardens provide grounds to explore. The zoo operates daily with last admission at 3:30 p.m. and publishes its admission prices online. Military members and teachers receive 20% off daily admission; healthcare workers, college students, law enforcement, first responders, and hotel guests receive 10%. SNAP EBT or WIC cardholders qualify for four-dollar daytime admission through the Museums for All program. Members of participating AZA-accredited zoos and aquariums receive 50% off admission for up to two adults and six children. Tickets are sold online at the venue's site, and all discount details appear at centralfloridazoo.org.
See who pays what, then book on Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens’s own ticket page. You choose and pay there, not here.
These are Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens’s own prices. You choose and pay on Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens’s ticket page, not here.
Prices from Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens’s own ticket page. Fees, if any, are shown at checkout. The checkout shows today’s prices.
Fancy going together?
Hours: Daily 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., open to 5 p.m. on select days
Buy tickets on shop.centralfloridazoo.org →Prices quoted from centralfloridazoo.org. Prices can change — the link above goes to the page they came from.
5 reasons to go, each in the venue’s own words, with the date we checked it.
Oct 10Event
Kids ages 5–12 enjoy a hands-on evening at the Zoo learning about misunderstood animals. The night begins at 6:30 p.m. in the Discovery Center with animal meetings, a flashlight tour, games, crafts, and a snack.
Check event details and ticket requirements with the venue.
“Date: October 10, 2026 Time: 6:30 – 10:00 p.m.”
Oct 17 – 18Event
Ghosts, goblins and ghouls celebrate Halloween at the Zoo Boo Bash. Families enjoy the zoo during daytime hours with Halloween festivities.
Check event details and ticket requirements with the venue.
“17 & 18Oct. Zoo Boo Bash – October 17th & 18th Ghosts, goblins and ghouls of all kinds will gear up to celebrate Halloween at the fan-favorite Zoo Boo Bash!”
Oct 24 – 25Event
Ghosts, goblins and ghouls celebrate Halloween at the Zoo Boo Bash. Families enjoy the zoo during daytime hours with Halloween festivities.
Check event details and ticket requirements with the venue.
“24 & 25Oct. Zoo Boo Bash – October 24th & 25th Ghosts, goblins and ghouls of all kinds will gear up to celebrate Halloween at the fan-favorite Zoo Boo Bash!”
Oct 31Event
Ghosts, goblins and ghouls celebrate Halloween at the Zoo Boo Bash. Families enjoy the zoo during daytime hours with Halloween festivities.
Check event details and ticket requirements with the venue.
“31Oct. Zoo Boo Bash – October 31st Ghosts, goblins and ghouls of all kinds will gear up to celebrate Halloween at the fan-favorite Zoo Boo Bash!”
Nov 13, 2026 – Jan 17, 2027Season
The zoo transforms at night into the Asian Lantern Festival. Families wander a path filled with larger-than-life lanterns inspired by North American wildlife, space, the Polar experience, and Chinese folklore.
Check event details and ticket requirements with the venue.
“Asian Lantern Festival: Into the Wild, presented by Publix, returns November 13–January 17. Wander a path filled with larger-than-life lanterns inspired by North American wildlife, space, the Polar experience, and Chinese folklore.”
10% off single day general admission
“Receive 10% off single day general admission. Must show”
20% off general admission
“teachers) receive 20% off general admission. Must provide”
50% off admission for up to 2 adults and 6 children with participating AZA membership card
“We offer 50% off admission for up to two (2) adults and six (6) children listed on a participating AZA zoo or aquarium's membership card”
$4 daytime general admission per person (up to 6 tickets)
“show you valid SNAP EBT card to receive $4 daytime general admission per person in your party (up to 6 total tickets)”
10% off general admission for yourself and entire party
“Receive 10% off general admission for yourself and entire party. Must show proper I.D.”
20% off daily admission for service member and entire party
“Receive 20% off daily admission for service member and entire party”
10% off general admission for yourself and entire party
“Receive 10% off general admission for yourself and entire party”
10% off single-day admission for hotel guests and their entire party with hotel key card.
“Local hotel guests receive 10 percent off single-day admission for their entire party when they show their hotel key card.”
10% off single day admission for entire party
“Show your hotel key card to receive 10% off single day admission for your entire party”
3 miSanford
Daily, morning, afternoon, and sunset departures
2 miSanford
Sunday-Thursday 10:00am-9:00pm, Friday-Saturday 10:00am-10:00pm
6 miSanford
3 miSanford
Mon–Thu: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM; Fri: 9:00 AM – 7:30 PM; Sat: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM; Sun: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Hours via Google Maps
6 miSanford
Mon: Closed; Tue–Fri: 5:30 – 9:00 PM; Sat: 2:00 – 9:00 PM; Sun: Closed
Hours via Google Maps
4 miSanford
Monday: Noon - Midnight, Tuesday: Noon - Midnight, Wednesday: Noon - Midnight, Thursday: Noon - Midnight, Friday: 10AM - Midnight, Saturday: 10AM - Midnight, Sunday: 10AM - 10PM
Sanford
Tue - Fri 9:00 AM — 7:00 PM Sat 10:00 AM —7:00 PM Sun - Mon CLOSED
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