Taking the kids to the zoo is a classic family pastime, and the Sacramento Zoo is no exception. We’ve been taking the kids to our local zoo for a few years now and we definitely have our routine and favorite spots.

The Sacramento Zoo is located inside the spacious William Land Park, alongside other kid attractions such as Fairytale Town and Funderland. Being that the zoo is so close to park hangout spots such as the Lily Pond and green grassy fields, you can really make a day of it and give the kids a full day of fun.

In this guide I outline the key attractions inside the Sacramento Zoo and provide you with insider tips to guarantee the best experience while visiting the zoo.

A Brief History on the Sacramento Zoo

The Sacramento Zoo opened in 1927, which means it’s coming up on its one hundred year anniversary. It was known as the little zoo in the park and started with a small collection of 40 animals on 4 acres. Over the years the park has expanded its number of animal residents to 500 and increased the square footage size to over 14 acres.

The Sacramento Zoo is Small

The first thing to note about the Sacramento Zoo is that it is much smaller than other zoos in metropolitan cities. I wanted to set expectations right off the bat and let you know that this zoo is best suited for small children.

I have read Yelp reviews complaining that the zoo is too small, and yes I would have to agree that it is on the smaller side. If you’ve been to world-class animal parks such as the zoo in San Diego, be prepared for a much more simple experience at the Sacramento Zoo.

Sacramento’s New Zoo in Elk Grove

Currently plans are in motion to construct a much bigger and modern zoo in the neighboring city of Elk Grove. As of right now, the new zoo is aiming to open its doors in Fall 2023. You can follow the progress of the new zoo here on the Elk Grove city website.

How Long Should You Plan for the Sacramento Zoo?

The Sacramento Zoo is only 14 acres, which is very small compared to other zoos. You generally don’t need more than 2 hours to walk through the entire grounds see everything in the zoo. Your kids may want to spend a little extra time on the playground or having a picnic lunch.

The zoo is inside William Land Park, and there’s plenty of walking trails and a big lily pond with ducks. If you want to extend your time outdoors, you can venture around the park a bit more before heading home.

Best Time of Year to Visit the Sacramento Zoo

The spring and the fall seasons have the best weather in Sacramento for outdoor activities with plenty of days of sunshine and mild temperatures. For optimal weather conditions you should visit during the spring months of March, April and early May, or fall months of late September, October and early November.

Visiting the zoo in the winter is not bad either if you bundle up with warm layers. This is the off-season and you’ll often avoid the crowds and have the place to yourself.

The summer weather is where it gets tricky. Sacramento has hot summers with temperatures often over 100 degrees. Although there’s many tall trees with shade inside the Sacramento Zoo, it still does get very hot inside the park. If you go during the summer, make sure to arrive first thing when they open and leave by 12noon when it really starts to heat up. And I recommend packing ice cold water for yourself and the kids.

Guide to the Sacramento Zoo in William Land Park - The giraffe exhibit. — The giraffe exhibit.

Is the Sacramento Zoo worth the price of admission?

If you book in advance online, tickets to the zoo cost about $20 per person on the weekends, and vary slightly on the week days going as low as $16 per person. To get the best possible price, you should always book online before arriving at the zoo.

If you pay for tickets at the door, you will mostly likely be paying the highest price. This is especially true on the weekends.

Babies under 2-years-old are free, but children and adults cost the same price for admission into the park.

To answer the question, is the zoo worth the admission price, I would say that $20 is the peak I would be willing to pay. As I mentioned earlier, the zoo is small and doesn’t have too many big attractions. But on a day with nice weather, it is a truly pleasant way to spend time outdoors as a family.

Pro Tip: On many major holidays the zoo will run a special on admission prices and you can get tickets as low as $10 per person. Sign up for their newsletter or follow them on social media to get notifications of sales on tickets.

Our Favorite Animal Exhibits Inside the Sacramento Zoo

The Big Cats

Although the Sacramento Zoo is a bit small, they do have an excellent exhibit for the lions. There’s one male lion and one female lioness who bunk together in a large exhibit. There’s an entire wall of glass and they often come up to the glass so you can see them up close. I have heard several times the lions roar during feeding time and it’s quite a booming sound.

There’s also a sizable exhibit for the cheetahs, the jaguar and snow leopard.

Feeding the Giraffes

The giraffes have a large exhibit and they even recently had a baby born. You can sit comfortably on a bench and watch them or head up the ramp for a closer closer look.

Everyday between 10am - 2pm they offer a Giraffe Encounter experience where you can hand feed the giraffes their favorite leafy food. They are very friendly with long blue tongues that lick your fingers. My daughter really loves this, she wants to do it every we go. It does cost an additional $5 on top of your ticket price to feed them.

Walk Through the Reptile House

Both of my kids have an inexplicable fascination with turtles and lizards. The reptile house is all dark inside with the vivariums lit up so you can clearly see the reptiles, snakes, frogs, spiders and more crawling around inside. This is a fun one for small children in particular.

The Always Lively Meerkats

Often times when you visit the zoo, the animals are in a lazy mood and can be found sleeping the day away. Every time I’ve been to the zoo, the meerkats are the most lively animals, running around and putting on a show for visitors. They seem to have endless energy and can be counted on for some entertainment.

More Fun Things To Do Inside the Zoo

Ride the sac Zoo Express Choo Choo Train

There’s an adorable miniature train engine that rides through the park with passengers aboard, known as the Sac Zoo Express. It makes a quick loop through the park and returns back to the depot. Adults and children can both ride inside the train car. It costs an additional $4 to ride.

Guide to the Sacramento Zoo in William Land Park - Sac Zoo Express Train Ride. — Sac Zoo Express Train Ride.

Carousel Ride Inside the Zoo

The fun part about the zoo carousel is that instead of traditional horses, the kids can pick their favorite zoo animal to ride. There’s 32 unique wooden carved animals, made with great detail and care. It’s a very cute photo spot for parents to snap some pictures. Each ride costs an additional $3.

The Jungle Gym Play Structure for Kids

Next to the cheetah exhibit, there’s a brand new jungle gym play structure for the kids to enjoy. It has your typical slides and climbing setup, and additionally giant bugs that the kids can mount and climb upon. My kids always want to spend a good 20 minutes inside the playground.

Tips on Planning Your Picnic Inside the Sacramento Zoo

Outside food is allowed and I would always pack a toddler-friendly lunch with snacks for a picnic.

My daughter’s favorite picnic spot was on the benches across from the koi pond. This spot is shaded by a bamboo forest and you can watch the fish swim.
There’s also picnic tables with shade from umbrellas across from the okapi exhibit.
They do have 3 places inside the zoo to buy lunch and snacks. It’s a bit on the expensive side and the food isn’t necessarily the best quality. If you’re a member and you’re visiting often, you’ll want to start bringing your own food and drinks because it adds up quickly.

Guide to the Sacramento Zoo in William Land Park - Sac Zoo Carousel Ride. — Sac Zoo Carousel Ride.

Should you invest in a Sacramento Zoo Membership?

When my daughter was home with me full-time, I signed up for the zoo membership so we could go once a week to entertain her and beat boredom. It’s worth it if you will go at least twice a month. We paid $150 for unlimited zoo visits for our whole family, for one year. They offer cheaper and more expensive membership packages, depending on how many people you want to include.

There’s also night events exclusively for members, both for kids and adults.

Bring Your Stroller or Wagon for Young Kids

You are allowed to bring in your own wagon or strollers. I highly recommend them with young kids because it’s a lot of walking for little legs. They have stroller rentals available if you need them.

How Does Parking Work at the Sacramento Zoo?

Parking is free but you’ll have to find street parking in William Land Park. There’s no designated zoo parking and on weekends you might have to park a ways away because the park fills up with visitors. Be prepared to walk a bit to the entrance. Another good reason to bring a stroller or wagon for small kids.