Zoo Miami
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Our take
By Matt Spaulding, Founder and writer
Zoo Miami covers 740 acres, about 346 of them developed, and its own pages give the walkway total as anywhere from three to four miles. That distance is the whole planning problem. Exhibits are grouped by geographic region, among them Asia, Africa, Amazon & Beyond, Florida: Mission Everglades and the Wings of Asia aviary. The zoo's FAQ puts the average visit at four to five hours with some guests using the entire eight-hour day. Then there's the heat. As of August 2026 Zoo Miami's visitor page carried a heat advisory warning that animals may be brought into or given access to their night enclosures. Drive out there, walk three miles, find the habitat empty: it happens. Arriving at the 10 a.m. opening is the zoo's own advice and the best defense. The Zoofari monorail that used to solve the distance problem ran from 1982 until it was decommissioned in 2022. What you get instead is a narrated Safari Tram tour of the Asia and Africa walkway, ticketed separately at a booth near the Conservation Action Center, plus Safari Cycle, stroller and wheelchair rentals that the zoo warns sell out on weekends.
Quick facts
- How long
- Four to five hours is the zoo's own stated average, and it notes some guests use the full eight-hour day.
- Hours
- Daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Last ticket sold at 4 p.m., and some animals start heading in around 4:30 p.m.
- Parking
- Guest lots on the east and west sides of the site. Zoo Miami does not publish a parking rate on its own pages.
- Getting there
- 12400 SW 152 St in south Miami-Dade, well outside the city core and the beaches. Driving is the practical option.
- Included
- Admission covers the exhibits. The narrated Safari Tram tour, Safari Cycles, strollers, wheelchairs and electric convenience vehicles are all billed separately, and the zoo says rentals sell out on weekends and holidays.
- Season
- Summer runs into Miami's heat index. As of August 2026 the zoo carried a heat advisory warning that animals may be given access to their night enclosures, so some habitats read empty.
Where it is
12400 SW 152 St, Miami, FL 33177 (south Miami-Dade)
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How long does it take to see Zoo Miami?
Zoo Miami's own FAQ says the average guest spends four to five hours, and that some visitors use the entire day. The site runs 740 acres with three to four miles of walkways, depending on which of the zoo's pages you read, so distance limits you more than the number of exhibits does. With only half a day, pick two of the geographic regions and let the rest go.
Is there still a monorail at Zoo Miami?
No. The Zoofari monorail operated from 1982 until Zoo Miami decommissioned it in 2022, after the original manufacturer went out of business and replacement parts stopped being available. Zoo Miami points visitors instead to a narrated Safari Tram tour of the Asia and Africa walkway, ticketed separately at a booth near the Conservation Action Center, plus Safari Cycle rentals if you want to cut down the walking.
Where do you park at Zoo Miami?
Zoo Miami does not publish a parking rate anywhere on its own site, so we will not tell you either way. There are guest lots on the east and west sides of the property. What we can say is that the narrated Safari Tram tour and the various rentals are charged on top of admission, so budget for those.
What time should you arrive?
Zoo Miami recommends arriving when it opens at 10 a.m., and given the walking distances that is worth doing. The last ticket is sold at 4 p.m. and the zoo closes at 5 p.m., so a late-afternoon arrival gives you an hour or two against a site that takes four to five. Mornings also land you there before the worst of the afternoon heat.
What is the best time of year to visit?
Winter and early spring are far easier on a visitor than midsummer. As of August 2026 Zoo Miami's visitor page carried a heat advisory warning that animals may be brought into or given access to their night enclosures, so a July afternoon can cost you several of the animals you drove out to see.
Do you need a car to get to Zoo Miami?
Practically, yes. The zoo sits at 12400 SW 152 St in south Miami-Dade, a long way from downtown Miami and the beaches, and there is no rail station at the gate. The public bus reaches the entrance at weekends only. If you are already renting a car for the Everglades or a Keys run, that is the day to pair it with.