The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium is open daily from 9 a.m. until 7 p.m. All Zoo visits (including Members) will require a dated, timed ticket to help ensure that social distancing and other precautions are followed appropriately. Members can visit without a reservation after 3 pm. See full details in this article before you plan your visit.
We love the Columbus Zoo and we get lots of questions about discounted Columbus Zoo & Aquarium tickets for the season and we post them when we see them. There are some discounts available year-round though, plus season passes are a great way to save money if you plan to go several times through the year. Read below for details, events, and free days at the Columbus Zoo!
credit: Grahm S. Jones, Columbus Zoo and Aquarium
The best way to find out about discounts to Columbus Zoo is to sign up for email updates from Columbus on the Cheap, and like our Facebook page. When we find new deals, we make sure our readers know about them.
Special Events and Discount Days at the Columbus Zoo
Annual Discount Days
There are quite a few free and discount days offered throughout the year, but the offers aren’t usually verified until a month or two prior. Here are posts from the prior year, but they aren’t guaranteed to be offered in subsequent years – click the link for the updates as the date gets closer for each!
- Free Admission for First Responders and Public Safety Officials (plus 5 guests): December 26, 2019 – January 5, 2020
- Half price winter admission 50% off regular admission January 6 through February 29, 2020. Extended through April 6. Indoor exhibits closed during coronavirus crisis.
- Free Admission to Columbus Zoo for MLK Jr. Day: January 20
- Free Admission at Columbus Zoo on President’s Day: February 17
- Free admission for moms on Mother’s Day: Zoo is CLOSED
- Free admission for dads on Father’s Day: tba (NOTE: discounted days are not being held at this time due to crowd size limitations and restrictions)
- Free admission to Columbus Zoo: Military Family Free Days: tba late June – early July (NOTE: discounted days may not held at this time due to crowd size limitations and restrictions)
- Free Admission to Columbus Zoo for Veterans and Families: Veterans Day, November 11
- Wildlights Stuff the Truck Food Drive: November 20, 2020. Free admission to each person bringing 5 non-perishable food items for the Mid-Ohio Foodbank.
- Free Columbus Zoo Admission for Jack Hanna’s Home for the Holidays: December 12, 2020
- Free admission for First Responder and Public Safety Workers: December 26, 2020 – January 3, 2021. All current and retired first responders and public safety personnel, plus 5 of their guests can enjoy free admission to the Columbus Zoo and Wildlights. A valid police/fire photo ID must be presented (showing proof of department of employment), or badges and credentials plus a photo ID.
Purchase tickets online
Save $1 or more per ticket by ordering online. Print your pass, or show the receipt on your smartphone.
From the Columbus Zoo website; prices subject to change
Remember, for the time being ALL visitors must make reservations for timed tickets online, including members. See full details here.
Regular Admission Franklin County Residents (proof required)
- Under 3 – Free
- Ages 3-9 – $11.99
- Ages 10-59 – $16.99
- Seniors over 60 – $11.99
- $3 discount for reservations made after 3 pm with the Late Day discount
- Parking per car – $10 (no cash starting June 2020)
Regular Admission for outside of Franklin County
- Under 3: Free
- Ages 3-9: $16.99
- Ages 10-59: $21.99
- Seniors 60+: $16.99
- $3 discount for reservations made after 3 pm with the Late Day discount
- Parking per car – $10 (no cash starting June 2020)
Zoo More Experience Package
**Best value package!** Includes Zoo admission PLUS all of the attractions in Jungle Jack’s Landing; 4-D Theater; Dinosaur Island; and carousel, train, camel and pony rides. UNLIMITED!!! NOTE: this package is not available after the reopening due to the possibility that attractions may be closed temporarily.
- Franklin County: $26.98 – $31.98
- Outside of Franklin County: $31.98 – $36.98
Columbus Zoo/Zoombezi Bay 2 Day ticket (admission to the Zoo and Zoombezi Bay for both days during Zoombezi Bay Operating Season) for Franklin County residents. Add $5 for non-residents. NOTE: This offer is currently unavailable.
- Ages 3 – 9 and 60+: $31.99
- Ages 10 and up: $43.99
Year Round Zoo Admission Specials
NOTE: These discounts are currently unavailable during reopening. Check this link to see whether they have reinstated these discounts.
Senior Days
- Tuesdays – Seniors (ages 60+) receive half price admission to the Zoo
Franklin County Days
- Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays Franklin County residents receive half price admission to the Zoo.
*Zoo Guests will be asked to provide a valid driver’s license, state-issued ID or a current utility bill to receive the Franklin County Days discount.
Military Discount
- Active and Non-active duty military personnel receive a $2 discount on up to 6 tickets when they show a valid military ID.
2020 COTA Bus Rider Discounts during the summer only
Ride the Cota ZooBus for $2 each way ($1 for seniors/kids over 48″, free for kids under 48″) and get a huge discount on admission. Admission to the Columbus Zoo is just $3 and admission to Zoombezi Bay is $10 off! Riders will receive a transfer/coupon from their driver to receive discounted admission. See details on schedule and fares. NOTE: You MUST make a reservation in advance to visit the Zoo in 2020. Reservations can be made by visiting ColumbusZoo.org or by calling (614) 645-3400.
Zoo Bus service is offered from Friday, July 3, 2020 through Labor Day, Monday, September 7, 2020.
Zoo Memberships
If you are going to go to the Zoo more frequently in a season, you will want to consider buying a season pass. You’ll get free parking (normally $10 a car), as well as other member benefits, like free preview nights for special events. There are discounts on season passes throughout the year.
Online Price for Franklin County residents ($3-$5 more if purchased at the Zoo; ). Non-Franklin County residents pay $5-$20 more per membership.
- Individual Membership – starting at $44 Admits one named adult
- Individual Plus One Membership – starting at $74 Admits one named adult and one unnamed guest
- Family Membership – starting out $114 Admits up to two primary named adult members within the same household plus either dependent children OR grandchildren up to age 21 (not both) to the Columbus Zoo.
- Family Plus Membership – starting at $144 Admits up to two primary named adult members within the same household plus either dependent children OR grandchildren up to age 21 (not both) to the Columbus Zoo. This membership also includes up to two named* or unnamed* guests.
- Gold Individual Membership – starting at $144.99 This individual pass gives you access to the Zoo and Zoombezi Bay, FREE Zoo rides* (including Jungle Jack’s Landing) and FREE admission to Stingray Bay and 4-D Theater.
Zoombezi Bay Season Pass – $69.99 – $144.99
Just want to enjoy the water at Zoombezi Bay? Surf into the wildest water park ever and get a special discount on your Zoombezi Bay season pass through our online store. These make a great gift!
Note for Zoombezi Bay reopening 2020: All Zoombezi Bay visits will now require a dated, timed ticket, including all Season Pass Holders and Gold Members. Members can visit after 3 pm without a reservation.
Reciprocal Discount Member Benefit
As a Columbus Zoo and Aquarium member, you can save $3 on general admission to select Columbus museums and attractions through the Columbus Member Advantage program. No coupon is necessary. Simply show your valid Columbus Zoo membership card each time you visit! Limited to 4 discounts per membership per day; can’t be combined with other discounts. Columbus Zoo members receive discounted or FREE admission to the AZA accredited Zoos in the list below
NOTE: Contact the attraction that you wish to attend to ensure they are honoring the Columbus Member Advantage discounts during the reopening phases.
Columbus Member Advantage partners for 2020
- LEGOLAND® Discovery Center Columbus
- Columbus Museum of Art
- COSI
- Columbus Zoo and Aquarium
- Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens
- National Veterans Memorial and Museum
- Ohio History Center & Ohio Village
- Pizzuti Collection
- Wexner Center for the Arts
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- What’s open in Ohio: Reopening phases and what you need to know
- Drive in Theatres in Ohio
- Fun and Tasty Adventure Trails in Ohio
- Ultimate guide to Columbus restaurants with pickup and delivery
- Food freebies, delivery, and cheap eats in Columbus
- Farmers Markets in Columbus (and the changes for 2020)
- Farm delivery and CSA’s in Columbus for local produce, meat, and dairy
- Freebies for healthcare workers and frontline employees
- Senior shopping hours in Columbus stores
- Skip the stores: Grocery pickup and delivery in Columbus
- The most beautiful public gardens in Columbus
- Planetariums and Astronomy: Best places to see the stars in Ohio
- Walking labyrinths in Columbus and Central Ohio
- Caverns, animals, and more at Olentangy Indian Caverns
- Easton Drive-in Movies Sunset Series
- Explore the Magical Fairy Trail in Granville
- Details about Splash Pads in Columbus for 2020
They only offer that during the summer months.
Hello guys,
Can anyone let me know if they still have the ‘Park & Ride’ Zoo bus during Wild Lights?
I appreciate your help in advance
It can be expensive for families, but we have lots of discounts listed that can make it more affordable. Some Wendy’s locations still have coupons available at the counter as well. As far as the discount for Franklin County residents, that was put into place due to the tax levy that Franklin County homeowners pay for the Zoo. When prices increased for Zoo admission, they chose to leave the Franklin County residents admission the same since they are already supporting the Zoo through the levy.
I’m sad that the zoo is so expensive for families! If you’re not from Franklin County (and why a discount for them, as opposed to new visitors?). We’ll have to skip this event in Columbus. Too bad. We would have loved to have seen the Columbus Zoo!
If you’re Franklin County residents, the Franklin County Day would be your best bet – or you could ride the COTA from one of the park and rides and get in for $3. Details in the post – have fun!
Im needing 3 tickets for my autistic daughters birthday from any day from the 29th of August tell 9-7-2018 please could you help on fix income would be for one adult and 2 kids 8 year olds
I’m planning a trip for 2 or 3 adults and 3 to 5 kids all under the age of 10. Are there anywhere to get a discount coupon. We are traveling from Pennsylvania
Discounts are listed in the article. We don’t know of any coupons at this time.
How can I get discounts or coupons
I am looking to get zoo tickets for 2 adults and 3 kids