Pennsylvania Zoos and Aquariums: Complete Guide to Wildlife Attractions

Explore Pennsylvania's rich collection of zoos and aquariums featuring America's oldest zoo, world-class conservation centers, drive-through wildlife parks, and extensive animal rehabilitation facilities. Discover 8+ major zoos with over 15,000 animals across diverse species and habitats.

3

AZA-Accredited Zoos

1874

Philadelphia Zoo Founded

9,000+

Animals at Pittsburgh Zoo

52

Wildlife Sanctuaries

AZA-Accredited Facilities in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania is home to 3 facilities accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, maintaining the highest standards for animal care, conservation, veterinary services, safety, and education.

Philadelphia Zoo America's First Zoo

Founded: 1874 (chartered 1859)

The first true zoo in the United States, celebrating 50 years of AZA accreditation. Located on 42 acres with nearly 1,300 animals, many rare and endangered.

Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium AZA

Regained Accreditation: 2024

One of only six major zoo and aquarium hybrids in the United States. Features 9,000+ animals across 900 species on 77 acres, plus Pennsylvania's largest aquarium.

Clyde Peeling's Reptiland AZA

Accredited Through: September 2029

Specialized reptile and amphibian conservation facility in Allenwood, Pennsylvania.

Major Zoos in Pennsylvania

Philadelphia Zoo America's Oldest Zoo

Address: 3400 W Girard Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19104
Website: philadelphiazoo.org

Hours

Daily 9:30 AM - 5 PM (last admission 4 PM). Current entrance permitted until 2 PM with zoo closing at 3 PM (hours may vary seasonally).

Admission

  • PA/DE ACCESS Cardholders: $2 for up to four people
  • Purchase tickets in advance online or via QR code at guest services booth (credit card only, no cash accepted)

Highlights

  • History: Chartered March 21, 1859; opened July 1, 1874 after Civil War delay. Original admission: 25 cents for 1,000 animals
  • Size: 42 acres on west bank of Schuylkill River in Centennial District
  • Animals: Nearly 1,300 animals, many rare and endangered
  • Zoo360 Trail System: First-of-its-kind featuring five trails (Big Cat Crossing, Gorilla Treeway, Treetop Trail, Great Ape Trail, Meerkat Maze) with elevated mesh walkways
  • Big Cat Crossing: Opened May 2014; 300+ feet elevated walkway 14 feet above visitors for lions, tigers, pumas, snow leopards, jaguars ($2.3 million project)
  • KidZooU: Opened April 2013; Hamilton Family Children's Zoo with petting/feeding opportunities, educational games, first LEED-certified zoo exhibit

Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium 77 Acres

Address: 7370 Baker St, Pittsburgh, PA 15206
Website: pittsburghzoo.org
Phone: (412) 665-3640

Hours

  • In-Season (Apr 1 - Oct 31): 9:30 AM - 5:30 PM (last admission 4:30 PM)
  • Off-Season (Nov 1 - Mar 31): 9:30 AM - 4 PM (last admission 3 PM)
  • Open Every Day: Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's Day

Admission

  • Adults: $15
  • Seniors (60+): $14
  • Children (2-13): $14
  • Under 24 Months: Free (no ticket required)
  • Parking: Free on-site

Animals & Exhibits

  • Size: 77 acres in Highland Park
  • Animal Collection: 9,000+ animals representing 900 species, including 50 species of concern
  • PPG Aquarium: Pennsylvania's largest aquarium (45,000 sq ft, two-story) with numerous fresh and saltwater habitats
  • African Savanna: Large cats and African species
  • Forest Passage: Asian animals
  • Islands & Water's Edge: Coastal and arctic species
  • Notable Animals: Canadian lynx, gorillas, tigers, elephants

Conservation Programs

International Conservation Center (Somerset, PA): Nearly 1,000 acres focusing on breeding programs for African elephants and American bison. Male elephant Jackson tied to nearly 50% of North American births over past decade. Bison program partners with SAFE for pure genetic stock reintroduction to indigenous territories.

Additional Pennsylvania Zoos

Erie Zoo (100 Years in 2024)

Address: 423 W 38th St, Erie, PA
Hours: March 1 - Nov 30: Daily 10 AM - 5 PM (last admission 4:15 PM)
Admission: Adults $12, Seniors (62+) $10, Children (2-12) $8, Under 2 Free
Free Sundays: 3-5 PM

Features: 15 acres, 400+ animals, 600+ plant species. Seven main exhibits: Main Building, Kiboka Outpost, Wild Asia, Children's Adventure, Barn Area, Center Zoo, Safariland. Safariland Express train, 11 themed gardens.

Elmwood Park Zoo (Norristown) AZA

Address: 1661 Harding Blvd, Norristown, PA 19401
Hours: Wed-Sun 10 AM - 4 PM (some sources indicate 7 days, 10 AM - 5 PM)
Free for Norristown Residents: First Sunday of each month from 2 PM

Features: Established 1924. Dozens of wild species including jaguars, red pandas, zebras, giraffes. Free parking.

Lehigh Valley Zoo (Schnecksville) AZA

Address: 5150 Game Preserve Rd, Schnecksville, PA 18078
Phone: (610) 799-4171
Hours: Apr-Oct: 10 AM - 4 PM; Nov-Mar: 10 AM - 3 PM

Features: 300+ animals representing 100+ species. Located in 1,100-acre Trexler Nature Preserve. AZA-accredited since March 2006. Animals include otters, zebras, camels, peacocks, porcupines, wolves, giraffes.

ZooAmerica (Hershey)

Address: 201 Park Ave, Hershey, PA 17033
Hours: Mon-Sun 10 AM - 4:30 PM (closed Thanksgiving, Christmas)
Admission: Ages 9-61: $16.50; Ages 3-8 & 62+: $14.50; Under 2: Free

Features: 11-acre North American wildlife park with 200+ animals. Five regional exhibits. Included with Hersheypark admission. Takes about 1 hour to walk through. Free parking.

Drive-Through & Interactive Wildlife Parks

Lake Tobias Wildlife Park (Halifax)

Address: 760 Tobias Rd, Halifax, PA 17032
Website: laketobias.com

Features

  • Size: 150 acres in Central Pennsylvania (25 miles north of Harrisburg)
  • Animals: 500+ animals including elk, bison, deer, antelope, giraffes, tigers, zebras, baboons, ostriches, gibbons, kangaroos, lions
  • Drive-Through Safari: $9 per person. Self-guided in spring/fall; open-air bus with tour guide in summer. Hand-feed bison, water buffalo, yak, eland, Watusi
  • Pricing: Zoo Exhibits + Safari Tour $19/person; Zoo Exhibits Only $10/person
  • Military/Veterans: Complimentary park access with military ID
  • Parking: Free. Children 2 and under: Free

Claws 'N' Paws Wild Animal Park (Poconos)

Address: 1475 Ledgedale Rd, Lake Ariel, PA
Website: clawsnpaws.com
Hours: 7 days a week, 10 AM - 6 PM (including weekends and holidays)

Features

  • History: Family-owned for over 40 years
  • Animals: 120 species in wooded setting including rare white tigers, wolves, bears, snow leopards, monkeys, otters, reptiles, tropical birds, birds of prey
  • Petting Zoo: Tame deer, farm animals, goats, sheep, llamas. Walk-in tortoise area. Feed cups available for purchase
  • Interactive Experiences: Hand-feeding lories and giraffes, scheduled animal shows throughout day
  • Dinosaur Outpost: Fossil hunts and gemstone panning
  • Time Needed: 2-3 hours average visit

Specialty Facilities

National Aviary (Pittsburgh) AZA

Address: 700 Arch Street, Pittsburgh, PA (Allegheny Commons Park)
Website: aviary.org
Hours: Daily 10 AM - 5 PM (CLOSED Tuesdays)

Admission

  • Adults: $20.95
  • Seniors (60+): $18.95
  • Children (2-12): $17.95
  • Under 2: Free
  • Members: Free
  • CMU Students: Free
  • Parking: $7 flat rate (first-come, first-served)

About

  • Designation: America's only nationally-designated indoor, non-profit zoo dedicated to birds (designated October 27, 1993 by U.S. Congress, signed by President Clinton November 8, 1993)
  • Animals: 500+ birds and other animals representing 150+ species, many threatened or endangered
  • Founded: 1952 as Pittsburgh Aviary-Conservatory
  • Conservation: Leading AZA SAFE program for African Penguins. Rare species include Andean condors and Critically Endangered Vietnam pheasant (not seen in wild since 2000)

Wildlife Rehabilitation Centers

Pennsylvania is home to 52 wildlife sanctuaries and refuges providing professional rehabilitation services for sick, injured, and orphaned native wildlife.

Red Creek Wildlife Center

Annual Intake: 4,000+ animals since 1991

Mission to offer second chance to distressed Pennsylvania wildlife from tiny hummingbirds to largest eagles, chipmunks to deer. Provides training for wildlife rehabilitators.

Website: redcreekwildlifecenter.com

Humane Animal Rescue Wildlife Center

Founded: 1997

Fully licensed rehabilitation clinic with year-round staff of 14 plus large volunteer team and 35 annual interns. Specializes in injured, orphaned, and ill native Pennsylvania wildlife.

Website: humaneanimalrescue.org

Aark Wildlife Rehabilitation and Education Center

Annual Care: 5,000+ birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians

Goal to return animals to natural environment as quickly as possible.

Website: aark.org

Philadelphia Metro Wildlife Center

Service Area: Philadelphia, Montgomery, Chester, Delaware counties

Rescues, rehabilitates, and releases Pennsylvania's injured and orphaned wild animals. Education to coexist with wildlife.

Website: phillywildlife.org

The Wilderz at Pocono Wildlife

Founded: 1983

Annual Intake: 4,000+ animals. PA Certified & Licensed. Promotes humane treatment of all species.

Website: poconowildlife.com

West Shore Wildlife Center

Location: Dover, PA near Gifford Pinchot State Park

Wildlife rescue, rehabilitation, conflict resolution, education services to South-Central PA. Not open to public; admissions by appointment only.

Website: westshorewildlife.org

Frequently Asked Questions

The Philadelphia Zoo is the first true zoo in the United States. It was chartered by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania on March 21, 1859, but its opening was delayed by the Civil War until July 1, 1874. The zoo opened with 1,000 animals and an admission price of 25 cents. Today it spans 42 acres and houses nearly 1,300 animals, many rare and endangered, featuring the innovative Zoo360 trail system with elevated walkways for big cats, primates, and other species.

Pennsylvania has 3 AZA-accredited facilities: Philadelphia Zoo (celebrating 50 years of AZA accreditation), Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium (regained accreditation in 2024 after previously losing it in 2015), and Clyde Peeling's Reptiland (accredited through September 2029). These facilities meet rigorous standards for animal welfare, veterinary care, conservation, and education established by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.

Zoo360 is a first-of-its-kind animal trail system featuring five trails: Big Cat Crossing, Gorilla Treeway, Treetop Trail, Great Ape Trail, and Meerkat Maze. These suspended and ground-level mesh structures allow animals to travel throughout parts of the zoo. The Big Cat Crossing, opened in May 2014, is a $2.3 million elevated walkway spanning 300+ feet at 14 feet above visitors, where lions, tigers, pumas, snow leopards, and jaguars can stretch their legs and gaze down at people below. This innovative system promotes animal rotation, letting animals experience new stimuli while visitors encounter them in unexpected places.

Lake Tobias Wildlife Park in Halifax offers a drive-through safari experience across 150 acres with over 500 animals including elk, bison, deer, giraffes, tigers, zebras, baboons, ostriches, gibbons, kangaroos, and lions. The safari costs $9 per person and allows visitors to hand-feed animals like bison, water buffalo, yak, eland, and Watusi. Self-guided safaris are available in spring and fall; during summer, an open-air bus with tour guide provides the experience. The park is located 25 miles north of Harrisburg with free parking. Military and veterans receive complimentary access with ID.

The International Conservation Center in Somerset, PA spans nearly 1,000 acres and focuses on breeding programs for threatened species. The center leads African elephant conservation with male Jackson tied to nearly 50% of births in North America over the past decade. A new American bison breeding program partners with SAFE (Saving Animals From Extinction) to reintroduce pure genetic stock bison to indigenous territories. The facility received four bison representing the purest stock in North America from American Prairie, Montana in 2024. The center earned the American Humane Certified seal for exceptional animal welfare.

Yes, several Pennsylvania zoos offer free admission opportunities. The Erie Zoo provides free admission every Sunday from 3 PM to 5 PM. Elmwood Park Zoo offers free admission to Norristown Borough residents on the first Sunday of each month beginning at 2 PM. Philadelphia Zoo offers discounted $2 admission for PA or DE ACCESS cardholders for up to four people. Lake Tobias Wildlife Park provides complimentary access to active duty military and veterans with military ID. Children under 2 are free at most Pennsylvania zoos.

The National Aviary is America's only nationally-designated indoor, non-profit zoo dedicated to birds, located at 700 Arch Street in Pittsburgh's Allegheny Commons Park. It was designated with honorary national status by the U.S. Congress on October 27, 1993 and signed by President Bill Clinton on November 8, 1993. The facility houses 500+ birds and other animals representing 150+ species, many threatened or endangered. It leads the AZA SAFE program for African Penguins and features rare species like Andean condors and the Critically Endangered Vietnam pheasant. Admission is $20.95 for adults with the facility open daily 10 AM - 5 PM (closed Tuesdays).

The Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium features Pennsylvania's largest aquarium, the PPG Aquarium. This 45,000 square foot, two-story facility showcases numerous fresh and saltwater habitats. The Pittsburgh Zoo is one of only six major zoo and aquarium hybrids in the United States, spanning 77 acres with over 9,000 animals representing 900 species. The zoo is divided into sections including African Savanna (large cats), Forest Passage (Asian animals), and Islands & Water's Edge (coastal and arctic species). Admission starts at $15 for adults with free on-site parking.

Last updated on November 27, 2025