Zoos with outrageous parking fees

Arizona Docent

Arizona Docent

Well-Known Member
15+ year member
I was just looking at the Smithsonian National Zoo, which has free admission but the most expensive parking fee I have seen. Since every zoo and aquarium and museum in my state of Arizona has free parking, this was quite a shock. I think all zoos should have free parking. My goal here is not to list EVERY zoo that has paid parking, but only those that are unusually expensive. For the sake of definition, I will say those that are at least ten dollars or ten euros (or equivalent in other currency).
 
Smithsonian National Zoo (USA): $30
San Diego Safari Park (USA): $15
San Francisco Zoo (USA): $11 weekday, $13 weekend/holiday
Oakland Zoo (USA): $10
Florida Aquarium (USA): $10
Georgia Aquarium (USA): $12 prepaid, $17 at gate
 
This is something that I hadn't considered when travelling around some mainland European zoos three years ago. Some of the prices then were equivalent to what you quote above.
 
Prague zoo has the most expensive parking fee among Czech zoos and while it charges "only" $9,20 (at current enchange rate), you must consider that average purchasing power of locals is approximately 3,5x weaker than of an US American. It thus hurts our pockets in equivalent of over $30.
 
Saint Louis, another free to enter zoo, has an entrance fee of $15 per vehicle. Milwaukee is not free to enter and has the same fee. Other than those I think every zoo I've been to has free parking.
 
Arizona Docent said:
I was just looking at the Smithsonian National Zoo, which has free admission but the most expensive parking fee I have seen.
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birdsandbats said:
Saint Louis, another free to enter zoo, has an entrance fee of $15 per vehicle.
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Black Footed Beast said:
I'd say Lincoln Park Zoo fits in here, the website says $35
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Funny enough, I've been to all three of these zoos and had no idea the parking fees were that high for any of them :p I've never driven to Smithsonian or Lincoln Park, as both zoos are a manageable distance away from a metro stop (~0.4 miles for the former, ~0.8 miles for the latter) which I generally use to get around DC and Chicago anyway; they have bus stops even closer than that. As for Saint Louis, I've never parked in one of the zoo parking lots myself; the surrounding Forest Park has free street parking and I've never had to go even 0.25 miles away for a spot.

Arizona Docent said:
I think all zoos should have free parking.
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I disagree, especially for zoos in dense urban areas accessible by public transit. Charging suburban visitors (the bulk of driving zoo visitors) for parking in order to subsidize the cost of admission or (in the case of Saint Louis and Lincoln Park) make up for no admission fees is a pretty good trade IMO. Additionally, construction and maintenance of parking areas costs money and it makes sense to charge the people who use them rather than simply tacking on those expenses to admission tickets or other charges.

I understand the frustration more with a zoo like Columbus, which charges $10 for parking when they have an enormous parking lot, public transit options are far more limited (if present), and there doesn't appear to be any street parking within walking distance. However, even then it's possible that if you carpool with others it may be more cost-effective for visitors than tacking on more to each admission ticket.
 
birdsandbats said:
Saint Louis, another free to enter zoo, has an entrance fee of $15 per vehicle. Milwaukee is not free to enter and has the same fee. Other than those I think every zoo I've been to has free parking.
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Black Footed Beast said:
I'd say Lincoln Park Zoo fits in here, the website says $35
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Both have nearby street parking, however, and I'm not sure about Lincoln Park but I know parking in Forest Park at St. Louis is free.
 
Coelacanth18 said:
It has a narrow parking area stretching along the entire east side of the zoo. It may be a lot for the entire park as well.

It actually says the fee varies between $20-$35 per day; it's at the higher end this weekend because of an air show.
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ChunkyMunky pengopus said:
Both have nearby street parking, however, and I'm not sure about Lincoln Park but I know parking in Forest Park at St. Louis is free.
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There's free parking throughout much of Lincoln Park and the surrounding area.
 
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I'd like to add Shedd Aquarium and Cincinnati Zoo to this list, both have parking fees that can reach $20 and the museum campus where Shedd is has Valet parking for $26. I don't think either has convenient free parking nearby.
 
Arizona Docent said:
Smithsonian National Zoo (USA): $30
San Diego Safari Park (USA): $15
San Francisco Zoo (USA): $11 weekday, $13 weekend/holiday
Oakland Zoo (USA): $10
Florida Aquarium (USA): $10
Georgia Aquarium (USA): $12 prepaid, $17 at gate
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$30 dollars parking? and free entry..OK, lol. Why exactly a parking fee? is your vehicle protected from all crime?
 
Pootle said:
$30 dollars parking? and free entry..OK, lol. Why exactly a parking fee? is your vehicle protected from all crime?
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No, it just means you get to park in one of their parking lots.
ChunkyMunky pengopus said:
I'd like to add Shedd Aquarium and Cincinnati Zoo to this list, both have parking fees that can reach $20 and the museum campus where Shedd is has Valet parking for $26. I don't think either has convenient free parking nearby.
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Shedd Aquarium can get expensive. I'm used to getting there on public transport, so I didn't really think about the parking fees, but yeah, that on top of the admission prices adds up quickly.
 
Keep in mind where Smithsonian is, though. It costs them a ton to keep those parking lots from being turned into other things, there are no other lots anywhere nearby. You can still take the metro or try to find parking on the street further away. It's expensive but I see it as wrapped into an entrance fee, basically.

Bronx is $17, on top of a $40 entrance fee. Their lot is much larger than Smithsonian's couple of lots.

NY Aquarium has an entrance fee of $27/$30, with parking being $18 for up to 3 hours, $25 for 3-4, and $40 for 4+ hours.

Philly Zoo parking is $17, with a $24 ticket. It's the reason I keep my membership there, since it includes free parking.

Dallas, DWA, and Columbus are all $10.
 
Lincoln Park Zoo has a $35 lot and free street parking. The caveat being the street parking is first come first serve and much too small for the entire zoo patronage to use. However, if you are willing to wait half an hour you can get a spot for free there.
 
Monterey Bay Aquarium is another, parking I think was $10 (on top of the $50 entrance fee, equivalent to San Diego Zoo) but it was for all day parking. You could easily tie in a visit with shopping and dining along the waterfront at Cannery Row if you wished.

(Though really, $50 is a bit steep given you can see the place in about 3 hours tops, with there being relatively few large animals.)
 
Great Argus said:
Monterey Bay Aquarium is another, parking I think was $10 (on top of the $50 entrance fee, equivalent to San Diego Zoo) but it was for all day parking. You could easily tie in a visit with shopping and dining along the waterfront at Cannery Row if you wished.

(Though really, $50 is a bit steep given you can see the place in about 3 hours tops, with there being relatively few large animals.)
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As I recall, Monterey Bay Aquarium does not have its own parking lot. You have to park in one of the city lots. (You still have to pay as you say).
 
Parking fees cannot be high enough for all zoos and aquariums that are easily accessible by public transport. The zoos could make the largest part of these revenues available for conservation projects. An unattended parking lot causes only minimal maintenance costs.
 
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