Smithsonian National Zoo Help with Getting Around the National Zoo

Austin the Sengi

Austin the Sengi

Well-Known Member
5+ year member
Later this month, I will finally visit the Smithsonian National Zoo once again for the first time since my last visit way back in 2012. However, while I usually don’t have much trouble in terms of planning an easy to follow course for a typical zoo visit. I have been rather uncertain on choosing a course that would ideally cover most of the major attractions. To put it simply, I just wanted to make sure if there is a possible route that will be effective enough to maximize a successful visit; especially when it comes to certain areas that I missed way back then.

Yes, I have done plenty of research leading up to this moment, but as an out of state visitor who has not visited this zoo in eleven years. I will happily accept any feedback or advice from those who visit this zoo on a regular basis. In the meantime, I have listed below several questions that are currently on my mind when it comes to this zoo:

(1) Will there be any parts of the zoo that will be crowded the most as the day goes on?

(2) I hope that I will catch a daily demonstration or two during my visit; of which (in your opinion) is the most enjoyable to watch?

(3) Will there be any animals that would be off-display due to the cold temperatures? If so, which animals would I unfortunately miss?

(4) What would be the best way to easily get around from having to go up any steep inclines?

(5) Are there any exhibits or animals that are very easy to miss if you don’t know where to look?

(6) What are the best places in the zoo to stop for a food or drink; and of those places, which one has the best quality food?

(7) Will there be certain animals that are moved inside at an earlier time, especially if my visit happens to begin later in the day?

(8) With the absence of their famous Giant Pandas, what are the most notable rarities that I should keep an eye out for?
 
(1) Will there be any parts of the zoo that will be crowded the most as the day goes on?

The buildings will feel the most crowded as the day progresses. With the Giant Pandas gone, the outdoor exhibits should be fine to navigate.

(2) I hope that I will catch a daily demonstration or two during my visit; of which (in your opinion) is the most enjoyable to watch?

I am not sure if the zoo has any demonstrations this time of year, but their website can point you in the right direction.

(3) Will there be any animals that would be off-display due to the cold temperatures? If so, which animals would I unfortunately miss?

Some warmer climate animals may not be visible in Asia Trail - sloth bears, clouded leopard, and ironically, the red pandas who just like to stay inside a lot. The red wolves in American Trails are also good at hiding in their exhibit.

(4) What would be the best way to easily get around from having to go up any steep inclines?

There is no easy way around it. The entrance to the bottom of the zoo is downhill. You have to trek up hill anyway you go to get back to the entrance at the end of your visit. I would suggest visiting some of the buildings on the way back to delay your walk up in phases.

(5) Are there any exhibits or animals that are very easy to miss if you don’t know where to look?

Go behind the prairie dogs, across from the Big Cats hill in order to see the Claws and Paws trail (North American porcupine, Pallas's Cat, Binturong, and Bobcat). Behind the Reptile House is a trail with some animals back there, like the Komodo Dragon.

(6) What are the best places in the zoo to stop for a food or drink; and of those places, which one has the best quality food?

I don't eat much there, but I tend to go the the Big Cats Cafe at the bottom of the zoo.

(7) Will there be certain animals that are moved inside at an earlier time, especially if my visit happens to begin later in the day?

Some may access to their indoor areas, like the sloth bears. The ones who would go in during the afternoons were the Giant Pandas in the past.

(8) With the absence of their famous Giant Pandas, what are the most notable rarities that I should keep an eye out for?[/QUOTE]

Some rarities in the Reptile and Small Mammal House. The website should have a list of all most of their animals.
 
You have to do the steep incline no matter what unfortunately, either at the start or end (depending on where you access the zoo). I always park by the cheetahs (my favorite) and start with Asia trail, by 9am, when the zoo is less busy and the Asian animals are first being let out; I always seen all of the species, barring one or two occasionally, if I do it that way. This is the main area where the animals tend to not be out later in the day. Then I work my way down, sticking to the right, so doing birds while it's still not busy yet (haven't been since it opened though), skipping the elephant building and going to north america (note the path that goes to the left of the otters and up behind it, to the raven exhibit and above the beavers), then Amazonia and around to the children's zoo and back up. I do all of the other buildings including elephants on my way up, so that I have plenty of stops on the incline. Make sure to go behind each of the three buildings for more animals, too.

I would do Asia first no matter what if you want to see those animals, then go to the small mammals and herps if those are a big priority for you vs doing the best route for walking.

Since it's winter, the indoor restaurant by the big cats will be the only one open; maybe the sbarro by the pandas, too. I prefer sbarro (and the outdoor seating) but either is decent. Nothing amazing. The best gift shop is the one by the cheetahs at the top of the zoo.
 
TinoPup said:
You have to do the steep incline no matter what unfortunately, either at the start or end (depending on where you access the zoo). I always park by the cheetahs (my favorite) and start with Asia trail, by 9am, when the zoo is less busy and the Asian animals are first being let out; I always seen all of the species, barring one or two occasionally, if I do it that way. This is the main area where the animals tend to not be out later in the day. Then I work my way down, sticking to the right, so doing birds while it's still not busy yet (haven't been since it opened though), skipping the elephant building and going to north america (note the path that goes to the left of the otters and up behind it, to the raven exhibit and above the beavers), then Amazonia and around to the children's zoo and back up. I do all of the other buildings including elephants on my way up, so that I have plenty of stops on the incline. Make sure to go behind each of the three buildings for more animals, too.

I would do Asia first no matter what if you want to see those animals, then go to the small mammals and herps if those are a big priority for you vs doing the best route for walking.

Since it's winter, the indoor restaurant by the big cats will be the only one open; maybe the sbarro by the pandas, too. I prefer sbarro (and the outdoor seating) but either is decent. Nothing amazing. The best gift shop is the one by the cheetahs at the top of the zoo.
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Based on your suggestions, this definitely sounds like a feasible route that I would come up with when I go. However, I do not have any intention to visit both the Africa Trail (par the gift shop you recommended) and the Kids Farm; and in the case of the latter, is it possible to backtrack the same path to and from Amazonia, and to access the lower areas via past the splash pad / Lemur Island?

Also, regarding the route through the American Trail. Say that I do take the path left and above the otters, will it be a faster route to go through than to take the opposite path, or vice versa?
 
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Austin the Sengi said:
Based on your suggestions, this definitely sounds like a feasible route that I would come up with when I go. However, I do not have any intention to visit both the Africa Trail (par the gift shop you recommended) and the Kids Farm; and in the case of the latter, is it possible to backtrack the same path to and from Amazonia, and to access the lower areas via past the splash pad / Lemur Island?

Also, regarding the route through the American Trail. Say that I do take the path left and above the otters, will it be a faster route to go through than to take the opposite path, or vice versa?
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If you plan on doing Amazonia, it's definitely quicker to just go through the kids farm vs backtrack. The kids farm is small, and the other side of it is right next to the restaurant.

The path above the otters is an additional tiny loop, it is quicker to keep going straight on the main path, but you'll miss the raven exhibit.
 
(1) Will there be any parts of the zoo that will be crowded the most as the day goes on?
The ape house and small mammal house often get pretty crowded. There is a baby gorilla right now and lines were quite long to see her on my last visit.

(2) I hope that I will catch a daily demonstration or two during my visit; of which (in your opinion) is the most enjoyable to watch?
Most of these are fairly casual. The sea lions have a lot of seating around their exhibit, so even though it's not a formal 'show' like at sea world, it's one of the most equipped for guests. My personal favorite animals at the zoo right now are the juvenile Andean bears (see my profile pic). I'm not sure if they'll be out in December, though the weather forecasts are pretty mild this month, but it's REALLY fun to watch the keepers throw fruit to them and watch them scamper around the enclosure. I also got a real hoot out of watching the sloth feeding in the small mammal house. It happened in such slow motion!

(3) Will there be any animals that would be off-display due to the cold temperatures? If so, which animals would I unfortunately miss?
Hard to predict, but I can tell you that the weather forecast for late December is actually pretty nice. Temperatures are in the 50's for most of this week. In my experience, that's often a great temperature for seeing several of the zoo animals. The Great Apes are

(4) What would be the best way to easily get around from having to go up any steep inclines?
It's hilly no matter what, but if you want to avoid hills toward the end of the day when you're tired, you could enter from the bottom of the zoo (pedestrian entrance only on Harvard Street), make your way up, and then turn around at the top of the zoo after Asia Trail and make your way back downhill again toward the Harvard Street exit. Maybe you could do all the right-hand attractions and "main road" attractions on your way up (lions/tigers, lemurs, animal houses, Przewalski's horse, bison, Africa trail) and the left hand/ more tucked-away attractions on the way back down (Asia Trail, bird house, elephants, America Trail, Amazonia, claws and paws.)

(5) Are there any exhibits or animals that are very easy to miss if you don’t know where to look?
I previously mentioned the Andean bears. They are tucked away between Amazonia and the American trail and many people don't even know they're there but they're so much fun to watch. The Claws and Paws pathway behind the prairie dogs is another one a lot of people don't know about. It's small but I personally really enjoy the binturong and Pallas cats. Finally, I've been going to this zoo for 30 years and i literally just found out that there are outdoor exhibits behind the reptile and small mammals houses. Somehow I just never realized.

(6) What are the best places in the zoo to stop for a food or drink; and of those places, which one has the best quality food?
Some of their food trucks and kiosks are seasonal, so I don't know if this will be operational in December, but I was very pleasantly surprised with the BBQ truck on my most recent visit. It was very overpriced of course, but my friend and I both loved our brisket sandwiches. They sometimes have little coffee/hot cocoa carts, which is very pleasant in the winter. Another fun thing to do would be to get a bite in the surrounding zoo neighborhoods. Duke's Counter is right across the street from the zoo and is a popular choice. I used to recommend Amsterdam Falafelshop to everyone, but that place sadly closed earlier this year. I really enjoy Open City, an upscale diner right near the Woodley Park metro, And LiLLies, on the walk to the zoo still serves up Panda Pancakes at brunch despite the zoo no longer having pandas.

(7) Will there be certain animals that are moved inside at an earlier time, especially if my visit happens to begin later in the day?
The animal houses often close earlier.

(8) With the absence of their famous Giant Pandas, what are the most notable rarities that I should keep an eye out for?
Not sure if this truly counts as a rarity in terms of zoo population representation, but the Przewalski's horses are cool to see because of their 'extinct in the wild' status. As mentioned, there are some more unusual small animals in the small mammal and reptile houses, but what's actually on display does change rather frequently. One that I know is fairly rare is the sand cat.
 
TheGytrash said:
(8) With the absence of their famous Giant Pandas, what are the most notable rarities that I should keep an eye out for?
Not sure if this truly counts as a rarity in terms of zoo population representation, but the Przewalski's horses are cool to see because of their 'extinct in the wild' status. As mentioned, there are some more unusual small animals in the small mammal and reptile houses, but what's actually on display does change rather frequently. One that I know is fairly rare is the sand cat.
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They came off the EW list in 2008, and moved from CR to EN in 2011 :)
 
Sorry, I did know that but I meant their formerly extinct in the wild status. Similarly, there are also black-footed ferrets in the small mammal house-- I always found their story so interesting!
 
As a good reminder to everyone who replied to the thread, I just want to thank you all for your help; and thus, my visit to the zoo this past Saturday was a very successful one.

In addition, the trip also ended up being the last zoo that I visited in 2023; and thought that this was a good facility to close out the year.
 
Well for starters, some of my biggest animal highlights of the trip include the following:

• One, I pretty much saw almost every cat awake and active and, which was a nice change of pace for me.

• The Asian small-clawed otters and red panda were also very active, especially since the former were marking their territory like crazy.

• While I wasn’t exactly the biggest fan of the Bird House. I suppose it was cool to get up close to a decent variety of migratory birds indoors; along with the native/exotic hodgepodge of larger birds outdoors.

• Standing on the elephant bridge above their bull Spike was very cool to watch as he was being transferred to the outdoor yard that the bridge goes over. Plus, seeing the females coming out of their barn for a brief moment was also fun to see.

• While I had no luck in seeing their black-footed ferrets; I was glad that seeing both an active brush-tailed bettong and two pygmy slow lorises for the first time ever, was enough to make up for the loss.

• I too managed to see the sloth move around and eat in the Small Mammal House; which was unexpected, but very fascinating to watch.

• I did manage to go through the Claws and Paws area, and while the North American Porcupine and Binturong were off-exhibit. I was able to see and photograph the cutest bobcat cuddle pile that I’ve ever seen.

•While this next one isn’t exactly a live animal; I was very ecstatic to find out that they have a rideable elephant shrew on the Conservation Carousel (which is rather ironic since they no longer display the species).

• @TheGytrash to answer your question if the juvenile Andean bears will be out in December. I can confirm that both of them, along with their mother, were out on habitat during my visit.

• I also managed to catch a beaver demonstration near the end of my visit, which was quite entertaining to watch as I observed the beavers feeding on a palette of keeper-given treats. However, since it was getting quite crowded around the exhibit where the demo was taking place; I did not stick around to watch the entire presentation.


Overall, thanks to everyone’s advice, I had a great time with my family when it came to visiting this zoo once again; and although I never managed to see their giant pandas prior to their departure. At the very least, the highlights that I have noted above definitely made up for their absence.
 
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Austin the Sengi said:
Well for starters, some of my biggest animal highlights of the trip include the following:

• One, I pretty much saw almost every cat awake and active and, which was a nice change of pace for me.

• The Asian small-clawed otters and red panda were also very active, especially since the former were marking their territory like crazy.

• While I wasn’t exactly the biggest fan of the Bird House. I suppose it was cool to get up close to a decent variety of migratory birds indoors; along with the native/exotic hodgepodge of larger birds outdoors.

• Standing on the elephant bridge above their bull Spike was very cool to watch as he was being transferred to the outdoor yard that the bridge goes over. Plus, seeing the females coming out their barn for a brief moment was also fun to see.

• While I had no luck in seeing their black-footed ferrets; I was glad that seeing both an active brush-tailed bettong and two pygmy slow lorises for the first time ever, was enough to make up for the loss.

• I too managed to see the sloth move around and eat in the Small Mammal House; which was unexpected, but very fascinating to watch.

• I did manage to go through the Claws and Paws area, and while the North American Porcupine and Binturong were off-exhibit. I was able to see and photograph the cutest bobcat cuddle pile that I’ve ever seen.

•While this next one isn’t exactly a live animal; I was very ecstatic to find out that they have a rideable elephant shrew on the Conservation Carousel (which is rather ironic since they no longer display the species).

• @TheGytrash to answer your question if the juvenile Andean bears will be out in December. I can confirm that both of them, along with their mother, were out on habitat during my visit.

• I also managed to catch a beaver demonstration near the end of my visit, which was quite entertaining to watch as I observed the beavers feeding on a palette of keeper-given treats. However, since it was getting quite crowded around the exhibit where the demo was taking place; I did not stick around to watch the entire presentation.


Overall, thanks to everyone’s advice, I had a great time with my family when it came to visiting this zoo once again; and although I never managed to their giant pandas prior to their departure. At the very least, the highlights that I have noted above definitely made up for their absence.
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I'm glad you had such a great time! Now, what was your path around the zoo? ;)

I didn't know about the elephant shrew on the carousel, that's really neat. I'll have to stop and look for it next visit. Those cost hundreds, if not thousands, to have made, so certainly not something the zoo would replace when they no longer have the species.
 
While I did stick through with the original route for both the Asia Trail and the Bird House. I ended up going through the opposite way for the rest of the trip, which turned out to be more helpful than I expected; especially since the zoo became much more crowded later in the afternoon than I thought.
 
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Austin the Sengi said:
While I did stick through with the original route for both the Asia Trail and the Bird House. I ended up going through the opposite way for the rest of the trip, which turned out to be more helpful than I expected, especially since the zoo became much more crowded later in the afternoon than I thought.
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I'm glad it worked out so well for you :)
 
Sounds like a great visit and I'm taking note of some of these tips for when I get back! Do you plan to write a full review or anything? :)
 
I do not plan on doing a full review of the facility anytime soon. However, I do have plans to upload at least 40+ images into the zoo’s gallery later this weekend.
 
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