Staten Island Zoo
New York City, NY
Known as the “Biggest Little Zoo,” the Staten Island Zoo is located in the West New Brighton area of Staten Island. Spanning 8 acres (3.2 hectares), the zoo is home to around 1,000 animals from six continents and offers a variety of programs, including free weekend programs, special events, and educational programs for kids and adults.
The basics
It’s easy to visit the Staten Zoo independently or as part of a sightseeing pass like The New York Pass®. Explore more than a dozen different animal areas, habitats, and regions; in addition to wings covering Africa, the Sahara, Australia, and tropical forests, the zoo has an aquarium, aviary, honey bee apiary, reptile house, otter exhibit, and leopard habitat. Families with kids may want to check out the horse barn and Children's Center, admire the dinosaur temperate forest sculptures, and take a ride on the Conservation Carousel featuring 25 hand-carved animals.
Things to know before you go
- There’s an entrance fee for the zoo, with discounts for seniors and children 14 and under. Admission is free for children 2 and under.
- On-site facilities include a café, gift shop, and restrooms.
- Outside food is permitted inside the park. Outdoor tables, benches, a covered pavilion, and an indoor tent are available.
- The zoo offers accommodations for visitors with sensory processing needs.
How to get there
The Staten Island Zoo is on Clove Road in West New Brighton, Staten Island. Take the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge, Bayonne Bridge, Goethals Bridge, or Outerbridge Crossing to I-278 and the Slosson Avenue exit, and take Martling Avenue to Clove Road. Free parking is available. You can also ride the S53 bus from Brooklyn to the Broadway/Clove Road stop or the S48 bus from the Staten Island Ferry Terminal to the Forest Avenue/Clove Road stop.
When to get there
The Staten Island Zoo is open daily, usually from 10am to 4:45pm, with closures on Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day. Free admission is offered every Wednesday after 2pm. The paid carousel is open on Wednesdays, weekends, and school holidays, depending on the weather. Check the zoo calendar for special events throughout the year.
Family-friendly attractions nearby
Families can make a day of it around Staten Island’s North Shore. In addition to the Staten Island Zoo, families will find nature and outdoor recreation at nearby Clove Lakes Park or Silver Lake Park. Families with younger children may want to check out the public Mahoney Playground or the Just Kidding Playground; older kids, on the other hand, can enjoy go-karting, mini-golf, and batting cages at Staten Island FunPark.
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