Smithsonian’s National Zoo

The Smithsonian's National Zoo opened in 1889 and covers 163 acres within Rock Creek Park, in the Woodley Park neighbourhood of north-west Washington. Its original plans were drawn up by Samuel Langley, William Temple Hornaday and the landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted, and the hilly, wooded setting still makes it feel more like a park than a city attraction.

Giant pandas are the best-known residents. Bao Li and Qing Bao arrived from China in October 2024 and made their public debut in January 2025, and they live on the Asia Trail, alongside sloth bears, red pandas and clouded leopards. Elsewhere, Elephant Trails is home to Asian elephants, Amazonia has electric eels, stingrays and the giant arapaima, and the Great Cats area houses African lions and Sumatran tigers. The Great Ape House is popular with families.

Entry is free, but every visitor, including infants, needs an entry pass booked in advance on the zoo's website. The grounds are open from 8am to 4pm, with last entry at 3pm, and the animal buildings open from 9am to 3:30pm. Some exhibits are under renovation: Africa Trail and a new Arabian leopard exhibit are being built, with the leopard area due to open in 2029. Check the website for short-term closures too, as individual buildings sometimes close for maintenance.

The zoo is laid out on a slope, so expect plenty of walking up and down hill. Strollers, wheelchairs and electric mobility vehicles can be hired on site. Mornings are the best time to see the animals active and to avoid the busiest part of the day.

It suits families above all, but also anyone who enjoys a long walk in green surroundings. Allow at least three hours to see the main areas without rushing. Bring water in summer, as the walking adds up quickly. Look at the map on the zoo website before you go and plan a route that starts with the pandas and the elephants.

The nearest Metro stations are Woodley Park and Cleveland Park. Parking is available for a fee and details are on the zoo's parking page. After a visit, the restaurants of Woodley Park and Cleveland Park are close by, and the trails of Rock Creek Park continue beyond the zoo.