Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo is on St. George’s Island, east of Calgary’s downtown core, with animal habitats, gardens and family facilities across its grounds. This guide covers opening hours, ticket planning, transit and parking so you can shape a visit around the areas that matter to you.
- Location: 210 St. George’s Drive NE, Calgary, AB T2E 7V6.
- General hours: Open daily
- Transit: Take the CTrain Northeast Line, Route 202 (Blue Line), to Zoo Station; the North Gate is less than a five-minute walk away.
- Tickets: Day-admission prices vary by day, and booking farther ahead is more likely to offer lower rates.
What to expect at the Calgary Zoo
The Calgary Zoo brings together animal habitats, gardens and visitor areas on St. George’s Island. The zoo says it is home to more than 4,000 animals from over 100 species, with areas including Wild Canada, Imagine Asia, Destination Africa, Penguin Plunge, the ENMAX Conservatory and Butterflies, Dorothy Harvie Gardens, and Prehistoric Park.
In Imagine Asia, you can see Bactrian camels, Komodo dragons, white-handed gibbons, Malayan tapirs, Amur tigers and Pallas’s cats. Its first redevelopment chapter, Asian Highlands, includes snow leopards, Sichuan takin and red pandas. This gives you a clear option if you want to focus on a particular habitat rather than trying to cover every area in one visit.
For a seasonal evening outing, ZOOLIGHTS is a recurring event. It changes the focus from daytime animal habitats to an evening visit, so check the zoo’s event details when planning around it.
Hours, tickets and seasonal exhibits
The zoo’s general schedule is 9 a.m.–5:30 p.m., with last entry at 4:30 p.m.; it is closed on December 25. Some animal habitats close earlier: Wild Canada closes at 5 p.m., while Destination Africa, Imagine Asia, the ENMAX Conservatory and Penguin Plunge close at 5:15 p.m.
Gorilla Amphitheatre and Land of Lemurs close at 4 p.m. These differences make an early arrival useful if you have particular habitats in mind.
Opening hours
- Monday to Sunday: 9:00–17:00
Last checked November 2026. Hours can change on holidays and for special events.
Day-admission prices vary by day, and the zoo says booking farther in advance is more likely to offer lower rates. Check the official site before you go for the ticket calendar and current hours. If Prehistoric Park is on your list, confirm its availability for your visit as seasonal offerings can change.
ZOOLIGHTS takes place seasonally. Its evening schedule and admission arrangements differ from a daytime visit, and animal buildings are closed to the public during the event. Check the zoo’s official event information before planning a visit around it.
How do you get to the Calgary Zoo by transit or car?
The CTrain is a direct transit option: take the Northeast Line, Route 202 (Blue Line), to Zoo Station, then walk less than five minutes from the station to the North Gate. If you’re starting from a motel in Calgary, plan your connection to the CTrain from your starting point.
By car, reach St. George’s Drive from Memorial Drive, approaching from either the east or west, and follow the road signs to the gate. The North Lot is the primary year-round parking lot, between the North Entrance and TELUS Spark Science Centre.
Parking there costs a flat $14 per day. Payment is managed through ParkPlus by the Calgary Parking Authority, using the ParkPlus app or lot payment machines; parking is valid for 24 hours from entry.
For trip planning from the Chinook area, Calgary public transport options can help you connect to the zoo’s CTrain route.
The West Lot, off Zoo Road NE at the west end of St. George’s Island, charges $2.50 per 30 minutes up to a maximum of $14. However, the West Gate is closed, so the West Lot does not provide zoo entry. Use the North Gate instead.
If you’re arriving by bicycle or scooter, the zoo is just off the Bow River Pathway. Follow the pathway to Jayman BUILT Plaza and the North Gate, where monitored bike and scooter racks are available.
Planning a visit with children
Children have two playgrounds to choose from: the Brawn Family Foundation Bugtopia playground in Canadian Wilds and the Calgary Co-op Kids Zone in Imagine Asia.
Bugtopia is designed for children of all ages, particularly ages 7–12, and has select accessible and inclusive play features. The Kids Zone is designed with toddlers in mind. Both are open from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
The Wildlife Carousel is another family activity. For non-members, a single ride costs $3 or an all-day ride costs $8; an all-day ride for members costs $5. Its hours are Saturday and Sunday, 11 a.m.–4 p.m., subject to weather and other conditions.
Washrooms across the grounds have diaper-changing facilities. A caregiving room at Kitamba Cafe has a universal change table, infant change table, sink and chairs. You can also borrow sensory bags free from the North Gift Shop; they include fidget and tactile items and over-the-ear noise-cancelling headphones, and must be returned by 5 p.m.
Children’s wagons can be rented at the North Gift Shop for $14.99 plus GST. Rentals are limited, first come, first served, and cannot be reserved.
Wheelchairs and power chairs are also available to rent at the North Admissions Windows or North Gift Shop: wheelchairs cost $14.99 and power chairs cost $25. These rentals are limited, first come, first served, and cannot be reserved.
How much time should you allow for the grounds?
The zoo recommends allowing at least two hours for a daytime visit. That gives you a starting point for planning, but the grounds include several habitat areas, gardens and family facilities, so choose your priorities before you arrive if you have a limited window.
One practical sequence is to enter through the North Gate, start with the animal habitats you most want to see, then fit in a playground or garden as time allows.
Keep the earlier closing times in mind for Wild Canada, the animal buildings and the primate areas. If you want to visit a habitat with a shorter schedule, plan that stop before areas that remain open later.
For a city itinerary that also includes music and cultural attractions, Studio Bell and the National Music Centre can be part of a separate Calgary outing. The zoo itself is east of the downtown core, on St. George’s Island.
FAQs
What is the Calgary Zoo’s address?
The visitor address is 210 St. George’s Drive NE, Calgary, AB T2E 7V6. The zoo is on St. George’s Island, east of Calgary’s downtown core.
Which CTrain should you take to the Calgary Zoo?
Take the CTrain Northeast Line, Route 202 (Blue Line), to Zoo Station. The North Gate is less than a five-minute walk from the station.
Can you visit the zoo during ZOOLIGHTS?
ZOOLIGHTS is a recurring seasonal event with a separate evening schedule. Animal buildings are closed to the public during the event, so check the zoo’s event details before planning around it.
Are there accessible and sensory facilities at the zoo?
Bugtopia has select accessible and inclusive play features, and sensory bags are available to borrow free at the North Gift Shop. Wheelchairs and power chairs can be rented at the North Admissions Windows or North Gift Shop, subject to availability.