Lincoln Park Zoo is free for everyone, open every day of the year, and needs no tickets or reservations for a regular daytime visit. As of October 2026, gates open at 8 a.m. and close at 5 p.m., with buildings open 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The main thing that costs money is parking, which runs $35 to $45 a day in the zoo lot, so taking the CTA is the easier move.
Hours and admission
| What | Hours (as of October 2026) |
|---|---|
| Zoo gates | 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily |
| Farm-in-the-Zoo | 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. |
| Animal buildings | 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. |
| Parking lot | 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. |
Admission is free, every day. The zoo was founded in 1868 and is open 365 days a year. Posted hours don’t include early closures for special events: on October 23 and 24, 2026, for example, the zoo closed to the public at 3:30 p.m. for the 21+ Zoo Brews event. Check the zoo’s events calendar before an afternoon visit, especially on Fridays and Saturdays.
Getting there
The zoo sits inside the park itself, east of Clark Street between roughly Armitage and Fullerton. The main East Gate and the paid lot are at 2400 N. Cannon Drive. Rideshares and taxis drop off and pick up at the West Gate, near Stockton Drive and Webster Avenue.
By CTA
- Bus: Routes 22 (Clark), 36 (Broadway), 151 (Sheridan) and 156 (LaSalle) stop along the zoo’s western edge. These are usually the closest option.
- Train: The Brown and Purple Lines stop at Armitage, and the Red Line stops at Fullerton. Both stations are accessible and about a mile west of the zoo, a pleasant walk through the neighborhood.
For more on transit, Divvy and driving in the area, see the getting around Lincoln Park page.
By bike
Bike racks are at the East, West, North and Café Brauer gates and along Cannon and Stockton drives, and several Divvy stations are nearby.
Parking
The zoo lot, entered at Fullerton Parkway and Cannon Drive, is free for the first half hour and then $35 to $45 per day, taxes included, as of October 2026. It’s card only, with no cash and no attendant at the exit. Zoo members get free or discounted parking.
Street parking in the surrounding blocks is limited and much of it falls under residential permit zones, so read every sign before leaving the car. The guide to Lincoln Park’s zoned parking explains how the zones work.
What to see
The zoo covers about 35 acres and is home to roughly 1,100 animals from about 200 species. Highlights by area:
- Pepper Family Wildlife Center: The renovated 1912 lion house, reopened in 2021, home to the zoo’s African lions.
- Regenstein African Journey: Giraffes, black rhinos, pygmy hippos, zebras, African painted dogs, aardvarks and meerkats.
- Regenstein Center for African Apes: Gorillas and chimpanzees.
- Walter Family Arctic Tundra: The bear habitat, opened in 2016.
- Robert and Mayari Pritzker Penguin Cove: African penguins.
- Regenstein Macaque Forest: Japanese macaques, often called snow monkeys.
- Kovler Seal Pool: Seals, with scheduled training and feeding demonstrations.
- Helen Brach Primate House, Regenstein Small Mammal-Reptile House and McCormick Bird House: Good indoor stops on cold or rainy days.
- Pritzker Family Children’s Zoo and Farm-in-the-Zoo: North American animals and farm animals, the best bets for young kids. More ideas in the kid-friendly Lincoln Park guide.
Best times to visit
Mornings are usually best for seeing animals out and active, a zoo spokesperson told the Chicago Sun-Times in July 2026. Mornings are cooler, and lions and African painted dogs are often fed then. Afternoons are a good time to catch the great apes building nests, and meerkats are often visible in African Journey. On very hot days, many animals choose to stay in their indoor habitats, so a summer midday visit can feel quiet.
Food and drink
Outside alcohol isn’t allowed. Dining options listed by the zoo include:
- Park Place Café: An indoor food hall in the center of the zoo with burgers, pizza and pasta, Mexican food, salads and ice cream. Open year-round.
- The Patio at Café Brauer: American food and cocktails overlooking the pond at Nature Boardwalk, open seasonally. See the Patio at Café Brauer listing.
- Bird’s Eye Bar & Grill: A seasonal open-air rooftop over the Main Mall.
- Eadie Levy’s Landmark Café: Seasonal quick bites next to the snow monkeys.
Most spots have vegetarian and gluten-free options, and members get 10% off. Seasonal locations may be closed in colder months.
Accessibility
All public buildings have at least one wheelchair-accessible entrance, though some paths are narrow, uneven or unpaved. At the Searle Visitor Center, wheelchairs (standard, pediatric and bariatric) are free with an ID or a $20 refundable deposit, and electric scooters (ECVs) rent for $30 plus a deposit, first come, first served. The zoo suggests wheelchair and ECV users enter at the East Gate. It is certified sensory inclusive by KultureCity, lends out free sensory bags with noise-reducing headphones, and has an adult changing table at the visitor center. Service animals are welcome, but pets are not. Accessibility questions go to 312-742-2067.
Seasonal events
Fall Fest runs through November 1, 2026, and is free. The biggest event of the year is ZooLights, the ticketed holiday lights festival, running November 20, 2026, through January 3, 2027, from 4:30 to 9 p.m. A sensory-friendly ZooLights night is scheduled for November 24. For dates, prices and the free Monday nights, see the ZooLights page and the full ZooLights 2026 guide. Other neighborhood happenings are on the events page.
Nearby
- Lincoln Park Conservatory (2391 N. Stockton Dr.): Free greenhouse gardens just north of the zoo, open Wednesday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., closed Mondays and Tuesdays, as of October 2026. Timed-entry tickets are free and booking ahead is recommended.
- Nature Boardwalk: About 12 acres of restored prairie and wetland around South Pond, at the south end of the zoo, with a boardwalk loop and a turtle shell-shaped pavilion by Studio Gang.
- Café Brauer: The 1908 Prairie School building by Dwight Perkins on South Pond, a Chicago Landmark.
- Alfred Caldwell Lily Pool and North Pond Nature Sanctuary: Quiet spots a short walk north.
The zoo pairs easily with other free outings; see free things to do in Lincoln Park and things to do in Lincoln Park, or the parks and lakefront overview.
Frequently asked questions
Is Lincoln Park Zoo really free?
Yes. Admission is free for everyone, every day, with no tickets or reservations needed for a daytime visit. Some special events, like ZooLights, and some programs require paid tickets.
What are Lincoln Park Zoo’s hours right now?
As of October 2026, gates are open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and buildings 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily. The zoo sometimes closes early for evening events, so check its calendar before going.
How much is parking at Lincoln Park Zoo?
The zoo lot at 2400 N. Cannon Drive is free for the first 30 minutes and then $35 to $45 per day, card only. Zoo members park free or at a discount.
What’s the closest CTA stop to Lincoln Park Zoo?
Buses 22, 36, 151 and 156 stop along the zoo’s western edge. The nearest trains are Armitage (Brown and Purple Lines) and Fullerton (Red Line), each about a mile west.
Do you need tickets for Lincoln Park Zoo?
Not for a regular daytime visit; just walk in through any gate. Tickets are required for ZooLights (including its free Monday nights, which need a reservation) and for some ticketed programs and adult events.
Is Lincoln Park Zoo open in winter?
Yes, it’s open every day of the year, and indoor houses like the primate, small mammal-reptile and bird houses make cold-weather visits easy. From late November through early January, ZooLights runs in the evenings. See Lincoln Park in winter for more seasonal ideas.
Sources: Lincoln Park Zoo: Hours and location, Lincoln Park Zoo: Plan your visit, Lincoln Park Zoo: Accessibility, Lincoln Park Zoo: Eat and drink, Lincoln Park Zoo: Exhibits, Lincoln Park Zoo: Events, Chicago Sun-Times (July 2026), Lincoln Park Conservancy: Plan a visit, Chicago Park District: Lincoln Park Conservatory, Wikipedia: Lincoln Park Zoo, Wikipedia: Café Brauer.