Santa Barbara Zoo Hours and Tickets
The Santa Barbara Zoo is open Monday–Thursday 9:30 AM – 5 PM, Friday–Sunday 9:30 AM – 7 PM, and 10 AM – 3:30 PM on Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, and Christmas. The Zoo closes early for some special events.
Admission and Tickets at Santa Barbara Zoo
Adults (13+) : $19.95
Children (2-12) : $11.95
Children Under 2 : Free
Parking at Santa Barbara Zoo:
$11/vehicle (one free vehicle with SB Zoo Membership)
Bicycle parking is free; racks available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Guest Services at Santa Barbara Zoo
Accessibility
At the Santa Barbara Zoo, everyone is welcome, and we strive to make every guest’s visit as fun and educational as possible. Please use the information on SB Zoo Accessibility page to help make your Zoo visit a safe, enjoyable, and memorable one.
Attire
For your safety, shirt, shoes, and bottoms are required when visiting the Santa Barbara Zoo.
Dining
The Ridley-Tree House Restaurant serves delicious grilled items, sandwiches, salads, and other tasty delights. Relax in our garden courtyard while you eat.
Enjoy sandwiches, kid-friendly meals, light snacks, or ice cream along with sweeping ocean and mountain views at our hilltop cafe, the Wave.
Beer and wine are available at both the Ridley-Tree House and the Wave.
There are also several specialty food carts (seasonal) and vending machines throughout SB Zoo.
Gifts and Souvenirs
There are plenty of places for you to get a little bit of the Santa Barbara Zoo to take home with you. SB Zoo’s main gift store is located near the entrance and is an exotic emporium of toys, books, and unique souvenirs. Stroller, wagon, and wheelchair rentals are available here.
The Explore Store, our eco-friendly shop, is located by the barnyard in the California Trails area of SB Zoo. Find gifts or buy food for the barnyard animals here.
We also offer themed merchandise at the train station, you can make your own “wild” animals from SB Zoo Workshop, or find something special at gift carts located around SB Zoo.
Lockers
Need a place to stash your stuff while you enjoy SB Zoo? Lockers are available for rent at the main Gift Shop for $6, $5 for SB Zoo Members.
Lodging Nearby Santa Barbara Zoo
If you are visiting Santa Barbara from out of town, consider staying at one of these fine hotels and hideaways.
Photography and Video
While visiting Santa Barbara Zoo, we encourage you to take photos and video for your own personal use. Commercial photography is allowed, but only with prior written permission. Please contact the marketing department for more information, or review our location filming policy. We may photograph visitors from time to time for promotional and educational purposes: entry to SB Zoo grants permission for us to use these images.
Smoking Policy
No smoking or vaping is permitted.
Strollers
The Santa Barbara Zoo welcomes strollers throughout the Zoo, but please be considerate to others when navigating in crowded viewing areas. Strollers and wagons are available for rent at the Gift Store:
Single stroller $7/$6 for SB Zoo Members
Double stroller $9/$8 for SB Zoo Members
Wagon $8/$7 for SB Zoo Members
Wheelchair/ECV Rental
Wheelchairs are available for rental on a first-come, first-served basis for $7/each, $6/each for Santa Barbara Zoo Members at the main gift store near SB Zoo’s entrance. You may also make a reservation for a wheelchair at (805) 962-5339, ext. 119.
Electric convenience vehicles (ECV) are available to rent for $30/ea., $25/ea. for SB Zoo Members, plus a $10 deposit. They may be rented at the main Gift Store. Our ECV supply is limited, so please call ahead for reservations or additional information: (805) 962-5339, ext. 119.
Upcoming Events at Santa Barbara Zoo
Nov 26
Open Thanksgiving Day
November 26, 2020 10:00 AM - 3:30 PM
Animal lovers are encouraged to get the kids out of the house this Thanksgiving and come to the Zoo for a smashin’ good time! Watch as the Zoo animals play and interact with pumpkins.
Fri 30
Spooky Zoo
October 30, 2020 9:30 AM - 7:00 PM
Grab your costumes and head to the Zoo for an outdoor Halloween spell-ebration! Discover frightfully fun decor and photo opps, all while visiting your favorite animals.
Sat 31
Spooky Zoo
October 31, 2020 9:30 AM - 7:00 PM
Grab your costumes and head to the Zoo for an outdoor Halloween spell-ebration! Discover frightfully fun decor and photo opps, all while visiting your favorite animals.
Nov 06
Outdoor Ed: Session 1 Ends
November 6, 2020 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Join our hands-on, experiential program for learners ages 3–15. Our interactive approach fulfills California standards by introducing age-specific content and developing research skills. Over each 8-week session, students explore as field biologists, recording observations, evaluating problems, and developing solutions.
Nov 09
Outdoor Ed: Session 2 Begins
November 9, 2020 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Join our hands-on, experiential program for learners ages 3–15. Our interactive approach fulfills California standards by introducing age-specific content and developing research skills. Over each 8-week session, students explore as field biologists, recording observations, evaluating problems, and developing solutions.
Directions and Parking at Santa Barbara Zoo
SB Zoo is located in Santa Barbara, CA, approximately 90 miles north of Los Angeles, 25 minutes north of Ventura, and 40 miles south of Solvang.
Zoo parking is $11 per vehicle (one free vehicle with SB Zoo Membership): however, on summer days and weekends the lot fills early. Auxiliary parking may be found outside SB Zoo. We do not allow sports equipment, balloons, barbeques, skateboards, roller skates, bicycles, or pets in SB Zoo. Barbeques, RV’s, and pets are not allowed in SB Zoo parking lot.
Alternate Transportation
Take the $.50 Waterfront shuttle at SB Zoo! Visit Santa Barbara’s MTD site for schedule. Amtrak also has a train station very close to SB Zoo, see their website for more information. Also, for local transportation discounts, visit Santa Barbara Car Free.
