Santa Barbara Zoo Hours and Tickets
The Santa Barbara Zoo is open daily 9:30 AM – 5 PM, and 10 AM – 3:30 PM on Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, and Christmas. The Zoo closes early for some special events.
Tickets
Adults (13+) : $19.95
Children (2-12) : $14.95
Children Under 2 : Free
Parking
$11/vehicle (one free vehicle with SB Zoo Membership)
Disabled person parking is free with current placard or license plates. Bicycle parking is free; racks available on a first-come, first-served basis.
The Santa Barbara Zoo is a proud participant in the Museums for All program, offering discounted pricing for guests presenting an EBT card, SNAP benefits, and a valid form of photo ID. Get more info here.
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
Proper attire, including shoes, bottoms, and shirts, must be worn at all times. Providing a casual, child-friendly environment is an important part of the Santa Barbara Zoo experience. In that spirit, we ask you to use your discretion and common sense when it comes to attire while visiting the 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.
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
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.
