FAQ About John Ball Zoo

See more than 2,000 animals representing 220+ species in specially designed habitats, including an aquarium. Say hello to Hugo, an adorable baby hippo born here in September 2025, and Phil, a Magellanic penguin who earned the title of World’s Most Popular Penguin in the 2025 March of the Penguin Madness tournament. Take advantage of more interactive, hands-on animal experiences than any other zoo in Michigan, including behind-the-scenes encounters with penguins, pygmy hippos, red pandas and sloths. There are also a variety of fun adventures to explore, including a zipline, funicular, sky trails rope course, gem sluice, camel rides and virtual reality explorations of gorillas, dinosaurs, sharks, dolphins and Africa’s savannah.

Special events at John Ball Zoo in 2026 include the Grand Rapids Lantern Festival (April 8-June 14), which illuminates the Zoo with breathtaking handcrafted Asian lantern displays that tell the intersecting story of wildlife and Asian culture. Other annual events include monthly wildlife exploration days, social events and Zoo Goes Boo, just in time for Halloween. Check the Zoo’s Event Calendar for the most updated information.

It’s amazing for kids – a place to see and learn about animals up close and personal and get inspired to help conserve wildlife and the natural environment.

The 2026 season opens March 20 and runs through late November. The Zoo operates daily from 9am-6pm during the peaks summer season, while off-season days and hours vary. Please check the Zoo website for times and tickets.

You can avoid the biggest crowds by visiting early in the morning and just prior to closing. This is also when the animals are most active. School group visits are popular weekdays from March through May and during September.

You can see most of the Zoo in two to three hours, depending on your pace. 

Summer season pricing during the week (Monday-Thursday):

• $21.95 for adults (13-61) and $16.95 for seniors (62+), youth (3-12), college students with ID, and active and veteran U.S. Military personnel and their spouses with ID.
• Summer season pricing during the weekend (Friday-Sunday): $24.95 for adults and $17 for seniors, youth, college students with ID, and active and veteran U.S. Military personnel and their spouses with ID.
• Sept 30-Nov. 24 pricing:
• $19.95 for adults and $14.95 for seniors, youth, college students with ID, and active and veteran U.S. Military personnel and their spouses with ID.

Children 2 and under enter free. Some Zoo experiences, including the zip line, sky trails ropes course and camel rides, require additional fees. Certain special events may have different pricing. Prices are subject to change, please confirm with the Zoo.

The Zoo participates in the nationally recognized Museums for All program that provides reduced-price admission. Present your Michigan EBT Bridge Card, WIC card or out-of-state SNAP-EBT card, along with a valid form of photo ID, for $4 admission per person, for up to four people in your household. Note that the discount is not available on certain dates. Check the Zoo website for details.  

John Ball Zoo encourages visitors to purchase tickets online in advance. You can purchase tickets here. You may also purchase them on site at the ticket window.

The John Ball Zoo strives to be accessible for all visitors. Sensory kits are available for those with special needs and quiet areas are identified. Strollers and electric scooters are available for rental. Wheelchairs are provided free of charge. Portions of the Zoo are built into the side of a hill, so there are some elevation changes, but all paths are paved and wide. A universally designed playground in the park outside the Zoo is accessible to all guests and includes sensory features for the visually impaired. Visit the Accessible Grand Rapids page on Wheel the World for third party-verified accessibility information and scroll down for accessibility guidance developed by Disability Advocates of Kent County.

John Ball Zoo is located just off the 1-96 expressway and is a five-minute drive from downtown Grand Rapids. If you’re coming from downtown, you can take The Rapid Bus Route 12 – the Garfield Avenue station is a five-minute walk from the zoo.

Just around the corner from the Zoo, multiple West Fulton restaurants can package to-go food orders for you to enjoy at a picnic table in John Ball Park adjacent to the Zoo.

The Zoo is across the street from an entrance to Kent Trails, a 15-mile paved trail that winds through Millennium Park, which offers its own 18-mile trail network, a lakeside beach, boat rentals and more.

On-site paved parking is available for about 800 vehicles. Parking is free for Kent County residents and Zoo members, and $5 for all others.

Yes. The Monkey Island Café, the main eatery located in the heart of the zoo, offers lunch and snack items. Depot Snacks is located near the front entrance, making it the perfect first and last stop of the day. Tiger Paws Pizza,  Dippin Dots, Whistle Stop, Monkey Bar, Bird's Nest and Lion's Den are also open daily and located around the zoo. You cannot bring food into John Ball Zoo, but you can grab a meal before or after your visit at restaurants along West Fulton Street, around the corner from the Zoo, or in downtown GR, just five minutes away.

Yes, the John Ball Zoo gift shop is bursting with toys and stuffed animals, t-shirts and apparel, eco-friendly and fair trade items, gift bags and more.