Santa Barbara Zoo Hours and Tickets

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. No outside alcohol is allowed.

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.