Enzothephotographer
Well-Known Member
I was wondering what is the best time of the day to visit a zoo, aquarium, or museum so that you don't have to worry about traveling through massive crowds.
Best Time of Day to Visit an Institution
- Thread starter Enzothephotographer
- Start date
In my experience, visiting these places during the middle of the week can certainly help with crowd sizes. I am member to the LA Zoo as well as both San Diego Zoo & Safari Park which all 3 are amongst the most visited zoos here in the states. I avoid weekends like the plague unless there is an event I am in need of going.
Going in at opening time may seem hectic especially for the San Diego parks but it’s much easier since the crowds do take a bit to build up. What I try to do is visit the most visited exhibits/animals at the beginning of the day then go to more reclusive exhibits later in the day. For me, it’s panned out much better to avoid traffic jams in certain areas. That way you most likely can see ABC animals awake such as big cats or bears after just having breakfast then make your way to other areas.
Hamerton zoo is great later on in the day, practically everything makes a showing then
It’s best to be first through the door (metaphorically speaking as some zoos have turnstyles) and then go the opposite route to the crowds if that’s an option. Visitors will go the main/promoted route, so that’ll be busy all day (many people will also get there early); but at least this way, you’ll have part of the zoo to yourself for a while.
Some species are confined to their night quarters and are just being let out as the visitors arrive. There’s nothing better than uninterrupted viewing of a seldom seen species before crowds of screaming kids drive it into hiding for the day.
Given the widespread very narrow 10 am - 5 pm opening hours in the US, I would say there's no other choice than be there at 10.
I often try to literally try to be the first one through a zoo's gates - with varying degrees of success. Overall it's easier than you would expect, though.
Well depending on how big the zoo is. For some zoo's that can be seen in an hour or two an afternoon visit is definitely still possible. I honestly don't think there is a real right or wrong time of day to visit a zoo. For zoos I have never gone to before, I try to visit at opening time (or as close to it as possible), but when visiting more local institutions that I have visited many times before, I will often visit in the afternoon instead, which also leads to a nice visit.
Early morning.
Weekdays in general. Avoid Wednesday (Suggested Donation Day/Pay what you wish) and weekend in New York City zoos.
Time of week - workdays. Avoid holidays and special reduced fare days (if they exist),
In 95% of cases the best time of the day is immediately after opening. Fewer people, animals are naturally most active in the morning, keepers still finish feeding and cleaning which raises nocturnal animals, and shy individuals are not yet stressed by people. In the Sunday afternoon, sometimes almost no birds in an aviary are visible.
If a zoo is open very late, past 5. pm, it is the time when people leave zoos. Carnivores become most active at evening, but I guess this does not really apply to zoos in Florida with their early closing times.
In 95% of cases the best time of the day is immediately after opening. Fewer people, animals are naturally most active in the morning, keepers still finish feeding and cleaning which raises nocturnal animals, and shy individuals are not yet stressed by people. In the Sunday afternoon, sometimes almost no birds in an aviary are visible.
If a zoo is open very late, past 5. pm, it is the time when people leave zoos. Carnivores become most active at evening, but I guess this does not really apply to zoos in Florida with their early closing times.
Best are days with bad weather forecast. If you combine it with a weekday, you can get very pleasant visit.
If you must use a weekend, go very early or stay very late. But this is easier said than done if the zoo has short opening hours.
Look out for zoos with special actions/rules on their opening times. For example Zlin-Lesna offers a few Sundays during summer when one cashboot opens at 6am - this offer is meant for hardcore kiwi fans to visit their favourite animal active at daybreak, but it also allows you to stroll through the whole areal and have it to yourself (with maybe two dozen other early birds) for 3 hours before main gates open.
If you must use a weekend, go very early or stay very late. But this is easier said than done if the zoo has short opening hours.
Look out for zoos with special actions/rules on their opening times. For example Zlin-Lesna offers a few Sundays during summer when one cashboot opens at 6am - this offer is meant for hardcore kiwi fans to visit their favourite animal active at daybreak, but it also allows you to stroll through the whole areal and have it to yourself (with maybe two dozen other early birds) for 3 hours before main gates open.