Bronx Zoo Hours

To organise your visit to the Bronx Zoo in New York you will first need to know its opening hours - find out and decide when to visit!

Isabel Catalán

Isabel Catalán

4 min read

Bronx Zoo Hours

Entrance to the Bronx Zoo | ©Ingrid Richter

The Bronx Zoo is the largest zoo in the United States and a fantastic place to hang out with thousands of animals of 700 different species! A place like this requires time to see it, but when it comes to organising your visit, you're bound to wonder what the zoo's opening hours are, how long the visit lasts and what is the best time to enter, among other questions.

Don't worry, here are the opening hours of the Bronx Zoo in detail. Take note!

1. What are the Bronx Zoo's opening hours?

Tourists on the Zoo promenade| ©Shinya Suzuki
Tourists on the Zoo promenade| ©Shinya Suzuki

The Bronx Zoo is open daily at 10 AM from Monday to Sunday. However, depending on the winter or summer season, the zoo's opening hours may vary.

Bronx Zoo Summer Hours

Between the months of March and November you can visit the Bronx Zoo from Monday to Friday from 10 AM to 5 PM while on weekends and holidays the park is open half an hour longer, from 10 AM to 5:30 PM.

Bronx Zoo winter opening hours

If your trip to New York takes place between November and April, if you want to visit the Bronx Zoo you will have to go from Monday to Sunday from 10 AM to 4:30 PM, which is the opening hours during this time of the year.

What time can I make my last visit to the Bronx Zoo?

Considering the time of the year and the day of the week you visit the Bronx Zoo, the last entrance to the park is 45 minutes before closing time.

However, I don't advise you to be on a tight schedule because tickets to the Bronx Zoo are not very cheap and you won't have enough time to get the most out of your visit. Also, the animal exhibits close 30 minutes before the park closes, so you won't see much of this part of the visit either and it's not worth it.

I want my tickets for the Bronx Zoo

2. When does the Bronx Zoo close?

Ring-tailed lemur in the Madagascar section of the Bronx Zoo.| ©Javier Ignacio Acuña Ditzel
Ring-tailed lemur in the Madagascar section of the Bronx Zoo.| ©Javier Ignacio Acuña Ditzel

The Bronx Zoo is open every day of the year except Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's Day and Martin Luther King Day.

Keep these dates in mind when planning your trip to New York if you decide to spend some of your holiday time visiting the park.

3. How long are the tours and how long can I stay at the Bronx Zoo?

An autumn day with the Flamingos at the Bronx Zoo| ©Terry Ballard
An autumn day with the Flamingos at the Bronx Zoo| ©Terry Ballard

Normally a visit to the Bronx Zoo lasts 2-3 hours, but to see it in its entirety you'll need at least half a day. It is the largest urban zoo in the United States with 107 hectares, home to more than 6,000 animals. There are also permanent and temporary exhibits at the zoo so there is plenty to do here.

However, there is no time limit on how long you can stay! If you decide to buy tickets for the Bronx Zoo online you will have to choose a date and time to enter the park. The entry time indicates when you should arrive at the zoo.

For example, if you book at 10am as soon as the gates open you can arrive any time between 10am and 11am and once there you can stay as long as you like.

4. What is the best time to visit the Bronx Zoo and when is the best time?

Giraffes at the Bronx Zoo| ©Terry Ballard
Giraffes at the Bronx Zoo| ©Terry Ballard

In my opinion, the best time to visit the Bronx Zoo is at 10am when the park opens, as it is less crowded and you can stroll around the exhibits or look at the animals.

As for the best time to go to the Bronx Zoo, spring and summer is usually the favourite time for tourists as it's the best time to spend time outdoors and in the sun. However, autumn and winter is also a good time as the cooler temperatures mean that animals are more active. In addition, you will find less crowds there.

Is there a day when admission is free?

On Wednesdays you can enter the Bronx Zoo by making a donation of your choice. If you choose this day to visit the park, I recommend you go early as it is a very busy day and it gets very crowded, especially in summer and autumn.

5. Timetables of tourist attractions near the Bronx Zoo

Species at the Bronx Zoo in New York City| ©Terry Ballard
Species at the Bronx Zoo in New York City| ©Terry Ballard

After you visit Bronx Zoo you may want to take a walk around the area to see other places of interest nearby. Below, check out the opening hours of some of the most popular tourist attractions at the zoo.

  • New York Botanical Garden: Open Tuesday through Sunday from 10 AM to 6 PM. Closed on Mondays.

  • Edgar Allan Poe Cottage: Open Thursdays and Fridays from 10AM to 3PM. Saturdays from 10 AM to 4 PM and Sundays from 1 PM to 5 PM.

  • The Bronx Museum of the Arts: Open Wednesday through Sunday from 1 PM to 6 PM. Closed Mondays and Tuesdays.