Conservation Education and Science
VISITING THE DALLAS ZOO

WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT YOUR VISIT

Bring Learning to Life at The Dallas Zoo! Encompassing 106 developed acres, The Dallas Zoo is the largest zoological experience in Texas! Now, we've grown even larger with the addition of our Giants of the Savanna exhibit, featuring expansive habitats for elephants, giraffes, lions, cheetahs, and more. We offer a wide variety of educational programs and experiences utilizing wildlife and the environment as a living classroom. At the zoo - stroll through the Savanna, hike through Africa, lunch with flamingos, learn about creepy crawly adaptations at Bug U, and visit with a troupe of gorillas at our gorilla habitat and conservation station.

This page will help you finalize your plans, prepare for your day and ensure a safe and educational visit for your group. Enjoy your day at the Dallas Zoo!

Zoo Reservation Form (PDF)

  • Make the most of your visit by scheduling an interactive On-site Education Program or one of our instructor-led guided Tours.
  • Ride the Monorail Safari Tour for an up-close look at several African habitats where animals roam freely (open seasonally).
  • Stand eye to eye with a giraffe in the Giants of the Savanna!
  • Explore the Lacerte Family Children's Zoo and meet the animals UP CLOSE!
  • Take a spin around the world on the Endangered Species Carousel.
  • Relax and enjoy lunch while watching the flamingos from the Zoofari Food Court.

FEES

Field trips including a classroom program, instructor-led program, or guided tour must be paid in full, for the total number of students requested, at least one (1) week prior to the scheduled date. Self-guided field trips and Monorail Safari tours may be paid in full prior to the scheduled date or on the day of the visit. Please note that pre-payment may expedite your entry into the zoo or aquarium. Please prepare one form of payment for the entire group. Major credit cards, school checks, or cash (large bills preferred) are accepted. Chaperones or parents arriving separately will be charged the full admission price. Refunds cannot be processed at the gate. Memberships cannot be applied to school group rates.

Dallas ISD schools with ArtsPartners Funding: An ArtsPartners voucher number and approval code is considered a guarantee of payment but your school may still owe a balance if the total reservation cost is not covered by ArtsPartners.

CHAPERONE POLICIES

Chaperones are important. They help make field trips safe, fun and educational for everyone. We require one adult (21 years or older) chaperone for every 10 students. Chaperones and their assigned students must stay together the entire day. Teachers and chaperones will be held responsible for student conduct. Any behavior that endangers the safety of our animals, staff or other visitors will result in your group being expelled from our facility. Undisciplined or un-chaperoned students may cause the entire group to be expelled from the Zoo.

Assign chaperones to their group before you leave school. Be sure students know their chaperones. Please make sure each chaperone understands the following:

  • Chaperones must remain with their assigned students at all times. Any behavior that endangers the safety of our animals, staff or other visitors will result in your group being expelled from our facility.
  • Inform your chaperones of times and locations for arrival, any scheduled programs, lunch, and departure times.
  • First aid is available in our Administration Building, also known as Station One and in the Lacerte Family Children’s Zoo.
  • Lost children are taken to our Administration Building, also known as Station One.
  • Lost and Found is located at the Information Booth near the carousel.
  • On busy days, the zoo uses 2 separate parking lots and entrances. Share your mobile phone number in case you are separated from your group.
  • Dress for the weather and for lots of walking.
  • Please discourage chaperones from bringing additional children with them on the visit.

ZOO RULES

Please review these rules with your students and chaperones before arriving at the Zoo. Failure to follow the rules may result in the expulsion of your entire group from the Zoo.

  • Have students wear nametags that include their name, school, and teacher’s name (no safety pins)
  • DO stay with their assigned chaperones at all times.
  • DO understand that animals, like us, need rest and privacy. If an animal is not visible, check back later.
  • DO pick up your trash. Please dispose of garbage in trash or recycling bins.
  • DO stay on pathways.
  • DO walk, not run.
  • DO use quiet voices.
  • DO be patient and look all around the exhibit. Animals are adapted to blend in with their surroundings. They may be resting nearby.
  • DON’T feed animals. They are on a carefully balanced diet.
  • DON’T climb on rocks, walls, or fences.
  • DON’T deface zoo or aquarium property.
  • DON’T pick plants or flowers.
  • DON’T tap on exhibit glass, scream, spit and/or throw objects of any kind into exhibits. This behavior is disrespectful and will not be tolerated.

ON-SITE PROGRAM RULES

Pre-scheduled education programs must be paid in full at least one week prior to the scheduled program date. Refunds will not be given for cancellations made within two weeks of the scheduled date.

  • Please plan on arriving at least 10 minutes prior to the program’s start time.
  • Programs begin promptly at the scheduled time. We will do our best to accommodate late arrivals, but we reserve the right to cancel or adjust programs as needed.
  • Class size is strictly limited to 30 students.
  • A teacher must be present at all times during the program.

MONORAIL SAFARI TOUR RULES

  • We require one adult (21 years or older) chaperone for every 7 students. For safety reasons, exceptions cannot be made.
  • Each car seats 8 people and must be filled. Please divide into groups of 1 chaperone and 7 students.
  • Plan on arriving at least 10 minutes prior to your scheduled departure time. We will do our best to accommodate late arrivals, but cannot make any guarantees.
  • Your receipt is your boarding pass. You must check in at the Monorail cashier booth to receive a receipt prior to proceeding to the Monorail platform.
  • Only the exact number scheduled for the tour can be accommodated. Additional group members may have to wait for the next available opening.
  • There is no eating, drinking, or smoking allowed on the Monorail Safari Tour.

EMERGENGIES, LOST & FOUND, and FIRST AID

  • First aid is available in our Administration Building, also known as Station One and in the Lacerte Family Children’s Zoo.
  • Lost children are taken to our Administration Building, also known as Station One.
  • Lost and Found is located at the Information Booth between the carousel and Zoofari Market (gift shop).

RESCHEDULING AND CANCELLATIONS

Your reservation may be rescheduled once without penalty. Reschedule dates should be at least two (2) weeks in advance. Additional reschedules will be charged $25 per instance. Cancellations must be received at least one (1) week prior to the date of your visit. Refunds will not be issued for any amount under $20, for cancellations made within one (1) week of the scheduled date, or for no-show groups. Your school (and/or Big Thought/ArtsPartners if using AP funding) will be invoiced for the total reservation cost if you fail to show for your field trip/program or cancel within one (1) week of the scheduled date.

INCLEMENT WEATHER

The Dallas Zoo and Children's Aquarium at Fair Park are open rain or shine. Field trips and programs will be cancelled if DISD is closed due to inclement weather. Please contact Education Reservations as soon as possible if cancelling or rescheduling due to severe or inclement weather. Rescheduling fees due to DISD closure will be waived.

MAPS AND DIRECTIONS

The Dallas Zoo is located just south of downtown Dallas off I-35E, at 650 South R.L. Thornton Freeway.

Take the Marsalis exit off Interstate 35E, go north on the service road and turn right at the 67-foot giraffe into the parking lot.

Map to the Dallas Zoo

Please check with the Zoo parking station attendant for specific parking instructions.

QUESTIONS

Questions? Call our Scheduling line at 469-554-7300. Also, please feel free to email us at education@dallaszoo.com if you have any additional questions.

We look forward to seeing you at the Dallas Zoo!