U.S. Zoos with Evening Hours

Arizona Docent

Arizona Docent

Well-Known Member
15+ year member
Here's a new thread: I am interested to know which U.S. zoos are having evening hours this summer, even if it's only one day a week or once a month. I define "evening" as staying open until 7pm or 8pm or later. [I just added the earlier 7pm time by request]. Let's keep it to U.S. and Canadian zoos - overseas members may want to start a similar thread for their region.

So far I know:

Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum (Saturdays until 10pm)
Oklahoma City Zoo (Saturdays until 8pm)
San Diego Zoo & Wild Animal Park (daily until 9pm)
 
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Darn it, missed it by an hour. Zoo Boise is open until 7 on Mondays and Tuesdays.
 
Turtleback Zoo in NJ do a monthly night tour, starts at 8pm and is led by a volunteer rather than being free to roam. Its purpose is to highlight crepuscular and nocturnal animals
 
The idea of a zoo open past 5 is unheard of to me. I'm amazed. I do feel like for the most part zoos that have night hours are going to be 'warm weather' zoos. Or rather...zoos that don't get yearly amounts of snow in double digit feet.
 
In the summer the Cleveland Zoo is open until 7PM on weekend nights. They don't rush you off the grounds at all, and I have stayed until 8 before.

@tigertiger: In the summer time most zoos are open past 5 PM. Actually most warm weather zoos are not always open late. Lowry Park Zoo in Tampa is never open past 5PM and Miami Metrozoo is never open past 5:30PM. That is sort of misleading because the entire Amazon & Beyond Section is shut down before 5PM, and they really want everyone off the grounds 5:30.
 
BlackRhino said:
In the summer the Cleveland Zoo is open until 7PM on weekend nights. They don't rush you off the grounds at all, and I have stayed until 8 before.

@tigertiger: In the summer time most zoos are open past 5 PM. Actually most warm weather zoos are not always open late. Lowry Park Zoo in Tampa is never open past 5PM and Miami Metrozoo is never open past 5:30PM. That is sort of misleading because the entire Amazon & Beyond Section is shut down before 5PM, and they really want everyone off the grounds 5:30.
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I've never been to a zoo open past 6 in the summer (and most of those zoos that aren't Columbus and Cincinnati have closed at 5). I think it's pretty general for most zoos to close at 5 as I can't think of any (from personal experience or knowledge) that aren't 5 or 6.
 
BlackRhino said:
I think 8PM is too late, you should make it 7PM or later.
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Ok, 7pm it is.

I also forgot, now that Wildlife World Zoo has added their aquarium, that section of the zoo is open until 10pm - not just in summer, but year round! The upscale restaurant in the aquarium is actually open until 10:30pm.
 
tigertiger said:
The idea of a zoo open past 5 is unheard of to me. I'm amazed. I do feel like for the most part zoos that have night hours are going to be 'warm weather' zoos. Or rather...zoos that don't get yearly amounts of snow in double digit feet.
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If you've never been, you're missing out. Nighttime zoo is my favorite time - especially at San Diego. Also, northern zoos can do it in summer because it actually gets darker later there than in the southern zoos, especially with Daylight Savings Time (which we Arizonans do not participate in).
 
Here's a few more I found:

St Louis Zoo (7pm daily)
Bergen County Zoo (8pm Wednesday and Thursday)
Sacramento Zoo (7pm Tuesdays)
Houston Zoo (7pm daily)
Louisville Zoo (8pm Thursday, Friday, Saturday)
 
Fort Wayne closes the gates at 5 but guests can stay until 6 PM. This summer we will be open one Wednesday a month until 7 PM. I would guess that will mean guests can stay until 8 PM. We will also open at 8 AM for members during the month of July.
 
I just remembered, when I went to Living Desert State Park in New Mexico a few years ago, they were open until 8pm in summer. I assume they still are.
 
Two newly announced here in Arizona. However, you have to re-enter the zoo for evening (cannot stay all day into night).

Phoenix Zoo - Friday,Saturday 6pm-9pm (June thru early August)
Reid Park Zoo - Friday 6pm-9pm with outdoor movies (May thru June)
 
On special nights, Disney's Animal Kingdom is open until 8-9 for guests staying on site
 
I hate to be a prickly old so-and-so; but if this thread is supposed to be confined to North American zoos (as requested by its originator) then why is it not on the U.S. forum, rather than the General forum?
 
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