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 cheap admission to the Columbus Zoo and Zoombezi Bay. The Columbus Zoo and COTA have again partnered to provide bus service from downtown Columbus and Griggs Dam Park & Ride to the Zoo, plus you’ll enjoy a huge discount on admission to the Columbus Zoo and Zoombezi Bay.
Weekend and Holiday Zoo Bus service runs Saturday, May 12 – Monday, September 3, 2018, and weekday service runs Tuesday, May 29 – Friday, August 31. The fare is $2 each way, and you will receive Columbus Zoo admission for $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 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, though 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.
The complete Zoo Bus schedule is available is available at COTA.com.
*COTA discount pass holders (Seniors and Key ID Cards) and children 48” tall and over through 12 years of age is just $1. Children under 48” tall are FREE. Limit three children with adult. Does not include groups. Those ages 17 & younger qualify for the Summer Youth Pass, just $62 for unlimited riding. Click here for more information.
Starting on May 27 the Zoo will be open daily 9 a.m.-7 p.m. (closes at 5 pm before 5/26), except on June 16, when the Zoo closes at 3 p.m. for Zoofari. Zoombezi Bay will be open from 10:30 a.m. to 7 or 8 p.m. depending on the month; please check ZoombeziBay.com for details.
For more information about general admission and park attractions, please visit ColumbusZoo.org or ZoombeziBay.com. For more information about COTA Zoo Bus service, visit COTA.com/ZooBus or call (614) 228-1776.
Columbus Zoo and Aquarium
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