Tips for visiting the zoo on a budget
18 Aug
What family with kids doesn’t want to go to the zoo at least once? When we considered a trip to our local zoo, we were surprised at how much it was going to cost. A trip to the Maryland Zoo on a weekend would cost us $52 ($15 x 2 adults + $11 x 2 kids). You can save a little by going during the week, or by purchasing your tickets ahead of time online. Parking is free.
A family membership at the Maryland Zoo costs $87. This gives us a year of admission and several other benefits. If we planned to visit the Maryland Zoo more than once in a year, it’s definitely worth the price of membership.
But wait, there’s another option.
The National Zoo in Washington D.C. offers free admission, as part of the Smithsonian Institution. However, it does cost to park at the National Zoo ($20 for 3+ hours). And, the National Zoo offers memberships, just like other zoos. You’re probably wondering why I would suggest paying to get into a FREE zoo, right? Well, here’s the bonus: a $60 family membership at the National Zoo gets your in FREE to tons of other zoos in the country (and offers discounted rates at even more). Plus, you get FREE parking at the National Zoo and a host of other benefits.
So, I opted for a family membership to the National Zoo. It cost just $8 more than the cost of one trip (for a family of 4) to the Maryland Zoo, but offered a whole year of FREE zoo visits at the Maryland Zoo, the National Zoo, and many others. (As an added bonus, the membership got us a double stroller at the National Zoo for $4 instead of the normal $11. Plus, have your kids wear their Club button to receive free animal cookies at the Zoo.)
Side note… if you have never visited the National Zoo in DC, it’s definitely worth the trip! You could easily spend several days trying to see all the animals. Enjoy!
No comments yet