Dallas Area Trip

[USZOOfan42]

Hello! I am in Dallas currently, and I plan to on Sunday to visit the Dallas World Aquarium and one of the two zoos within a single day. I am more interested to visit Fort Worth Zoo, but at Dallas it’s a lot closer and easier to do, and their Africa and reptile house seem phenomenal. I’m pretty sure I’ll visit the Fort Worth zoo but it may be wiser to do Dallas. Thoughts?

 

[Moebelle]

I was actually disappointed in Dallas, I thought there would be more to it and with the reputation it has as a major zoo, it felt relatively outdated outside of Giants of the Savanna. Fort Worth is so much better. In fact, soon I plan on going back to Dallas for 3 days - Fort Worth for one, DWA for 2, and skipping the Dallas Zoo entirely.

 

[zoosnbrews]

I enjoyed both Fort Worth and Dallas zoo but if you're interested in reptiles Dallas zoo's herpitarium is closed and Fort Worth Zoo's MOLA is world class so I would lean towards Fort Worth Zoo, DWA is amazing!

 

[ZooFan1]

I was actually disappointed in Dallas, I thought there would be more to it and with the reputation it has as a major zoo, it felt relatively outdated outside of Giants of the Savanna. Fort Worth is so much better. In fact, soon I plan on going back to Dallas for 3 days - Fort Worth for one, DWA for 2, and skipping the Dallas Zoo entirely.

I kind of disagree about the Dallas Zoo being disappointing and outdated, I still think it's a good zoo and has potential, and yeah, Fort Worth is admittedly better, it's just that Covid has been slowing them down and they do have a solid collection of animals, and they also rely too much on the seasonal dinosaur exhibit instead of making more new exhibits, they do plan on to start working on the Safari Trail soon after the parking garage is completed, I hope that puts the Dallas Zoo a step in the right direction and that they can work on more future exhibits

 

[SusScrofa]

I visited Dallas a couple of weeks ago myself .

I visited DWA and DZ on the same day and that would be my advice to you. You could even also add the small but surprisingly nice Dallas Children's Aquarium (and/or the skippable Texas Discovery Gardens) if you're really dedicated and start early enough.

I did visit Fort Worth Zoo on a later date and consider it the biggest and best zoo of the bunch, but its gonna require close to a full day to truly appreciate imo. You only have one day and combined with the near 1 hour drive from Dallas to Fort Worth, thats a real time crunch.

If you have any other questions feel free to PM me and I can try answering them.

I enjoyed both Fort Worth and Dallas zoo but if you're interested in reptiles Dallas zoo's herpitarium is closed and Fort Worth Zoo's MOLA is world class so I would lean towards Fort Worth Zoo, DWA is amazing!

The herpetarium has (mostly) reopened. I think just the pool exhibit is closed now as they are expanding the area. Tuatara, Perentie and zoochatters usual highlights were seen on my visit.

 

[USZOOfan42]

I have decided to do DWA at opening in the morning then going to Fort Worth once finished. It will be tight but I know it’s possible. The drive isn’t too much of a concern, it’s just depends on how packed / how long I take at DWA, I’m guessing 2-3 hours and rest at Fort Worth. Thanks for the responses!