Planning your visit to Oakland Zoo

About – A Little Intro

Oakland Zoo is a zoo located in the Grass Valley neighborhood of Oakland, California, United States. Established on June 6, 1922, it is managed by the Conservation Society of California, a non-profit organization dedicated to the conservation of wildlife both locally and globally. The zoo is home to more than 850 native and exotic animals and is a member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA).

Oakland Zoo is the recipient of numerous “Best of” awards, including 30 Best U.S. Zoos by U.S. News & World Report and “10 Best” by USA Today Reader’s Choice Awards. On July 12, 2018, the Oakland Zoo opened the California Trail, focusing on the state’s remarkable native wildlife—both past and present.

Glowfari

Every winter, the zoo organizes a lantern festival event called the “Glowfari“. Glowfari features larger-than-life lantern animals. The path is one mile long and features more than 100 animals and more than 800 additional light displays. Each lantern tells the story of the ongoing journey of wildlife, the importance of every species on our planet, and Oakland Zoo’s commitment to conservation.

Tickets Information

Tickets to the Glowfari event go on sale 28 days in advance on a rolling basis at 9:00am each day. A ticket for adult costs at $26USD and for child (2-14) or Seniors (65-75) costs 22$ USD per ticket. There is also a 10% discount if you are a member and for those under 2 years and over 76 years, tickets are free.

For more information on the ticketing and FAQs visit the zoo website.

There is also a Gondola ride which is included in the zoo admission ticket and the last ride up is 2.30 PM PST and the line to take the Gondola ride closes at 2PM PST.

Hours of operation

Monday – Friday & Weekends & Holidays
Zoo Hours:
10:00 am – 4:00 pm

Member Afternoons:
2:00 pm – 3:30 pm
(No reservations required)

General tickets admission is 24$ USD per adult and for seniors and kids its 20$ USD and it is free for children under 2.

Parking: Parking at the Zoo costs $12 per vehicle for General Admission guests when purchased in advance. Parking passes purchased at entry are $15. Parking is free for Oakland Zoo Members.

It is advised to purchase parking online, in advance, while purchasing admission tickets.

Dining: There are quite a few dining options in the zoo. For more information, visit https://www.oaklandzoo.org/dining

Animals

There are wide variety of animals including Black Bears, 2 Brown bears from Alaska, Giraffe, Mountain Lions, Condors, Bison and many other animals.

Physical Address

9777 Golf Links Road
Oakland, CA 94605

Phone: (510) 632-9525

How much time do you need

You will not need more than a day here. We bought tickets for the Glowfari event and this is an lantern festival which happens only at night. If you want to spend whole day at the zoo, you will have to buy tickets for the general admission along with tickets for the glowfari event.

Public Transportation

If you cannot drive to the zoo, there is also an option for public transport. However, the direct route to Oakland Zoo, Line 46, is temporarily suspended. Line 46L is available on weekdays only, which drops off right outside the Zoo on Mountain Blvd. & Golf Links Rd. This line stops outside Oakland Zoo hourly, roughly between 6:45am and 8:00pm. For exact times please visit the 46L Line schedule page on AC Transit’s website.

Important: If you take public transport, remember there is a half mile walk from the main gate to the entrance of the zoo.