The Minnesota Zoo in Apple Valley is a top family destination, featuring a wide range of animal exhibits and immersive habitats from around the world. With interactive experiences like Discovery Bay and Tropics Trail, visitors can get up close with wildlife while learning about conservation. Open year-round, the Minnesota Zoo offers fun and educational adventures for animal lovers of all ages.
Zoo
Minnesota Zoo
15848 Google Reviews
Where do I even start. This zoo is home to some of my fondest childhood memories. It’s a great place to wander around & learn about the animals we share this beautiful Earth with. Just learned from 1 of their maintenance guys that it’s in the Top 5 biggest zoos in the US. You will definitely get your steps in. Wear comfy shoes, eat beforehand, & dedicate a good 3-4 hours to exploration. Have a ball.
My family loves this zoo! We come here often and there are always new things to explore. They do a great job of keeping it fun and interactive for all ages. We especially love the outdoors trails and the tree top trail. There are indoor and outdoor experiences making it perfect year round. There are food options (including a few gluten free), multiple playgrounds and lots of shows to catch. We even love the adults only evenings. Staff and volunteers are always helpful and friendly, I have never had a bad experience here. I even lost a mitten here one time and their lost and found system is very organized!
Overall a great zoo. You won’t see a giraffe or zebra here, but you will see those animals that live in snowy environments. We saw a few animals we’ve never seen before and learned about those. There are plenty of restrooms available throughout the zoo. A few places to grab food/snacks.
Plan to spend a few hours to see everything, but could spend a half day if you take your time and walk around the skybridge as well.
Plan to spend a few hours to see everything, but could spend a half day if you take your time and walk around the skybridge as well.
Wonderful , well maintained , well designed zoo. Love the sky walk way around the zoo. Its a nice stroll. You can see the nice bird eye view see animals below. Very nice ambience. The staffs are friendly too. The birds show is fantastic, fun, and interactive. Ample parking. But i wish there are more food choices in the zoo.
Great park for children of all ages. Great docents and signage. Take your time, bring water. ADA compliant. Restrooms, paid parking. Special seasonal events to check out. Scooter rentals.
It’s a pretty good zoo. Decent variety of animals. Some really fun exhibits. The carousel was a big hit with my kids. A lot of variety of animals to pick on it. No lines for anything. The Treetop Trail was interesting… A fun idea to be above the zoo and animals. But it would have been a lot of fun if it was like a train that high to see everything. B/c it was hot and sunny up there. The splash pad area was fun. Recommend the bird show. It was really fun.
The best zoo I’ve been to and I’ve been going since childhood. I always praise them for their conservation efforts and size-able enclosures. My boyfriend hadn’t been to a zoo in years and he had so much fun walking around and seeing the beautiful creatures.
A magical experience for all ages! 🐾🌿
Minnesota Zoo is truly one of the best places to spend the day, whether you’re with family, friends, or just exploring on your own. The variety of animals is incredible — from majestic tigers 🐅 and playful bears 🐻 to exotic birds 🦜 and underwater wonders 🐠.
Minnesota Zoo is truly one of the best places to spend the day, whether you’re with family, friends, or just exploring on your own. The variety of animals is incredible — from majestic tigers 🐅 and playful bears 🐻 to exotic birds 🦜 and underwater wonders 🐠.
What I loved most was how spacious, clean, and well-designed the zoo is. Every section feels like its own little world — the Tropics Trail, the Northern Trail, the Discovery Bay… each one tells a story and brings you closer to nature. 🌍❤️
The staff were friendly and passionate, always happy to answer questions and help. The animals looked well cared for, and the environment felt safe, educational, and fun for everyone.
Perfect for a full-day adventure, with plenty of rest areas, food stands, and kid-friendly activities. Don’t miss the farm section — it’s a favorite! 🐐👧
Definitely a place I’ll return to — and highly recommend for anyone visiting Minnesota! 🎟️🦓
