Zoo Admissions & Revenue

The Little Rock Zoo has a rich history in providing the citizens of Arkansas with a quality recreational experience that educates children of all ages about the importance of wildlife conservation.  Through natural animal exhibition and educational programming, the Zoo serves as a hands-on classroom where learning is fun.  The Zoo is a proud department of the City of Little Rock and is committed to providing the highest quality care for its animals while striving to make every guest experience special.  As one of Arkansas’ most visited attractions, the Zoo also serves as a driving force for economic development.  That’s why the citizens of our community support its state’s largest and only accredited Zoo.  

Tracking visitation to the zoo helps us identify the impact of the zoo on quality of life and economic development in Little Rock. Most visitors to the zoo purchase tickets to enter, and ticket sales are our primary source of revenue. Admissions fees cover a wide variety of zoo operations, including feeding animals and maintaining exhibits. Tracking zoo visits serves as the foundation for setting future goals, measuring economic impact, and determining community impact and utilization. 

Admission is $12.95 for adults, $9.95 for children 3-12, and free for children under 3, with additional discount opportunities for military and senior guests. Group reservations such as field trips and birthday parties are also considered paid admissions. 

In addition to paid admissions, the zoo welcomes members and special event guests throughout the year. Members represent about 30% of all zoo visitors each year. The data below tracks the number and types of guests for the year so far, and provides previous year data to help predict and explain the admissions figures for a particular month. 

Additional information about visiting the Little Rock Zoo can be found on our website, www.littlerockzoo.com. 

Note: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Little Rock Zoo closed to the public on March 13th, 2020. During this time, the Zoo conducted daily interactive virtual keeper chats via social media, all of which are available to view on the Little Rock Zoo Facebook page. Ongoing updates to the Little Rock Zoo's opening and operations are available on the Little Rock Zoo website and social media platforms. Please also visit https://www.littlerock.gov/city-administration/mayors-office/covid-19-information/ to explore additional information about the City of Little Rock's COVID-19 response.

We are measuring the number of paid admissions to the Little Rock Zoo. This includes admissions for a single visit, visits by members who have purchased an annual pass, and discounted group admissions, such as school groups, birthday parties, and charity events. 

Measuring the number of guests at the Little Rock Zoo helps us determine how well we are succeeding as an educational and recreational resource. Tracking admissions helps us set future goals and identify additional opportunities for outreach. 

We note each person who visits the zoo at the front gate. At the end of each month, we compile the data from the point of sale system to gauge our monthly admissions.