Zoo Visit Times

[Wurm]

Hi All,

I was hoping that perhaps some of the folks here who have firsthand experience could help me out with some estimated visit times for the following zoos. This will be me, my wife, and an easily-distracted 5 year-old walking at a reasonable pace (i.e. NOT eating lunch there, not catching a show, etc.). But we do plan on seeing every exhibit at a given zoo if possible.

Great Plains Zoo & Delbridge Museum
Minnesota Zoo
Como Park Zoo & Conservatory
Living Desert Zoo & Gardens State Park (Carlsbad, NM)
El Paso Zoo
Rio Grande Zoo & Aquarium

 

[snowleopard]

I have visited 3 out of the 6 zoos that you've listed, and if you aren't having lunch then that will knock off at least 30 minutes of your time. If you don't see any shows and just keep a steady pace with your wife and child then you can naturally tour zoos faster than someone who is alone and willing to sit by an exhibit for hours at a time. I know friends that speed through zoos in record time while others actually see the bigger zoos on multiple days just to fit it all in!

No lunch, no shows, average stops at each exhibit:

Minnesota Zoo - 5 hours (easily longer as this is a large, great zoo)
El Paso - 2.5 hours
Rio Grande Zoo - 3.5 hours (the aquarium is a 10 minute drive away and can be seen in about 45 minutes)

I haven't visited but from what I've heard:

Como Park Zoo - 2 hours
Living Desert (NM) - 1.5 hours
Great Plains - 2 hours