COTA Bus Service and Discount for Columbus Zoo and Zoombezi Bay

You don’t have to fight traffic or pay for parking to enjoy the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium and Zoombezi Bay – and you can get a huge discount for Columbus Zoo and Zoombezi Bay.

The Columbus Zoo and COTA have again partnered to provide bus service from downtown Columbus, Dublin Park & Ride, and Griggs Dam Park & Ride to the Zoo, plus you’ll enjoy a huge discount on admission to the Columbus Zoo and Zoombezi Bay.

Discount for Columbus Zoo and Aquarium and Zoombezi Bay

Weekend and Holiday Zoo Bus service runs Saturday, May 11 – Monday, September 2, 2019, and weekday service runs Tuesday, May 28 – Friday, August 30. The fare is $1-$2 each way (free for under 48 inches), and you will receive a discount for Columbus Zoo, with admission for just $3 and Zoombezi Bay admission for $10 OFF per person (which includes access to the Zoo) with a transfer/coupon from the bus driver.  In addition to the Columbus Zoo discount, you’ll also avoid the $10 cost for Zoo parking.

Zoo Bus riders can board at the Statehouse Downtown stop (located on High Street between State Street and Broad Street). or other downtown stops, or leave their cars at the Griggs Dam Park & Ride (located at Riverside Drive & Nottingham Road) or Dublin Park and Ride to avoid paying for parking Downtown. Meters are typically free on Sundays in downtown Columbus.  There are 5 departure times to and from the Zoo, so you can spend as little or as much of your day at the Columbus Zoo and Zoombezi Bay.

COTA Zoo Bus Weekday schedule

See bus schedule here, time varies slightly on weekend

• From downtown, the Zoo Bus departs from the High Street stop at the Statehouse at 8:00 a.m., 9:30 a.m., 2:30 p.m., 6:00 p.m., and 7:30 p.m.
• From the Griggs Dam Park and Ride, the Zoo Bus departs at 8:19 a.m., 9:49 a.m., 2:48 p.m. 6:19 p.m. and 7:48 p.m.
• From the Dublin Park and Ride 8:30 a.m., 9:59 a.m., 2:59 p.m. 6:30 p.m. 7:59 p.m.

From the Zoo, the Zoo Bus departs at 8:45 a.m., 10:15 a.m., 3:15 p.m. 6:45 p.m., and 8:15 p.m. This route stops at the Griggs Dam Park & Ride and at select stops downtown before returning to the Statehouse.