Zoo Knoxville, Knoxville: Photos, Reviews & Location

Zookeepers give educational talks about animals & kids can go on mini-train & carousel rides.

At a glance

Rating breakdown

5 ★69%
4 ★19%
3 ★7%
2 ★2%
1 ★2%

What reviewers talk about

Share of 16 recent reviews that mention each topic.

Price & value50%
Waiting & crowds31%
Service & staff25%
View13%
Location6%
Cleanliness6%

3500 Knoxville Zoo Dr, Knoxville, TN 37914, United States

zooknoxville.org

+1 865-637-5331

Quick facts

What is the rating of Zoo Knoxville?: Zoo Knoxville is rated 4.5 out of 5 based on 21,886 reviews.
Where is Zoo Knoxville located?: 3500 Knoxville Zoo Dr, Knoxville, TN 37914, United States
What do visitors mention most about Zoo Knoxville?: Most often: price & value, waiting & crowds, service & staff (from 16 recent reviews).
How can I contact Zoo Knoxville?: Phone: +1 865-637-5331 · Website: zooknoxville.org

We absolutely love the zoo. The staff are beyond amazing! So informative and polite. The animals are almost always out and about. There is so much for kids to do also! Prices are good and atmosphere is outstanding. Love the misting fans in the summer also!!!

craig Lui 2024 Jul 06

Had a great time at Knoxville zoo today. We took advantage of BoA museum on us to get free tickets for every cardholder. Not too crowded, and kids played at splash pad. Loved there. It was fun to watch zoo keeper feeding bat fox with worms.

Brooke Cramer 2024 May 28

I went for the first time over this past weekend with my children who have previously been. I enjoyed myself as did the kids but we didn't get to see all of the animals with it being so busy, but we made the best of it. My favorite part was probably feeding the turtles, they were very cute and took the leaves so gently. We ate at the beatro which was good but pricey. It was a hot day and the mist fans were great. I'd definitely go again!

Sherlyn Springs 2024 May 18

We had a great time at the Zoo Knoxville. We went with three kids under 5 and three adults on a weekday morning. We did not have a wait to get tickets or enter the zoo. The zoo is very well laid out with easy to navigate paths and signs, with bathrooms / changing rooms always close by. There was something for everyone in our group with fun exhibits and explanations for all the fun and unique animals. We brought in our wagon and alternated from pushing our kids or letting them run along the paths to the next exhibit. The zoo has a variety of animals in exciting enclosures, a petting zoo, splash pads (not open when we went), a kids playground, and lots of photo opportunities.

There are many food stands, restaurants with indoor and outdoor eating areas, however many of them were not open when we were visiting.

The other unique set of displays in this zoo is their dinosaur exhibits where there are large robotic dinosaurs that move and make noise. My kids really loved those!

Overall the zoo took us about 2 hours to complete, which was the perfect time for short - attention spans and we ended right before lunch. I would definitely go again to explore the splash pad and playground areas as well as to see the well cared for animals again.

David McAndrews 2024 May 15

We love coming to the zoo. We first started our excursions because we were socializing our Service Dog and what better place to introduce distractions? The animals all loved our dog and made the trips more exciting. Now we enjoy coming with family, in particular our little niece and nephews. Well worth the price and time spent. Members get food and gift shop discounts, so that's a plus too!

Tiffany Phipps 2024 May 10

This was my first visit to the Knoxville Zoo, and I have to say that I was expecting a much better experience than the one I received. I'll start with the low points:
The animals seemed...sad. Most of them were sleeping or hiding. So, you don't get to see half of the animals that are advertised. And the ones that you do see (for the most part) seem exhausted and miserable. The glare on some of the exhibits make it nearly impossible to see in when the sun is out. Accessibility appears to be limited in some areas of the Zoo. Lastly, the gift shop isn't even worth visiting in my opinion, there's hardly anything related to the zoo itself.

My favorite and what I consider the best part of the zoo was the amphibian and reptiles exhibit. But beware, it can get very hot in there due to the humidity and crowding. So, I would avoid it if you have breathing issues. I really enjoyed it though. They have some cool snakes, lizards, turtles, and frogs. Plus that's where their sloth is located! Loved him. Would have totally stolen him if he wasn't so high up. The Gorillas are also amazing. I could have stood and watched them for hours. They have so much personality.

That's about all I have to say.

John Green 2024 Mar 14

Went to the Knoxville zoo today with my kids. We went up to get our tickets and the girl charged me for my two year old who should have been free. After I corrected that she also charged $5.00 for parking. The lot was so full we had to park over by Muse and we still got charged for parking. So for four of us we paid $80.85. That's kind of steep for a zoo this size. Once inside we realized many of the animals were not outside. Many enclosures had nothing to view and several people were commenting on it. Also couldn't help but notice lots of the concessions stands were closed as well. It's spring break and it was very crowded. My kids rode the train and the merry go round and both were an additional $4 per kid per ride. They did however enjoy both. What animals we were able to see my kids enjoyed. They also loved the dinosaur a lot. The petting zoo was a favorite of the kids as well. I gave three stars because my kids did enjoy the experience. My girl and I were somewhat disappointed and probably had a two star experience. They need more animals and more viewing opportunities for the animals they do have. The kids were entertained and I guess that's all that counts. Being forced to exit through the gift shop with kids felt like a final cash grab. Water for $3.50 in the vending machine with all the water fountains off was frustrating. I would reluctantly recommend a visit but not really enthusiastically. We wished we had a better time but we're just being honest.

Lena Mazur 2024 Mar 12

Have been to many of the zoo's throughout the US and this has become our favorite! At the end of our 1st visit we bought memberships and going back regularly. Love the layout of the animals and allows you to feel like you are up close and personal. The animals all look so healthy and happy with their unique enclosures. Even on a cooler cloudy day, the zoo is a great place to visit and enjoy a walk. A must go for everyone, it won't disappoint.

Elizabeth Wood 2023 Nov 22

It was cold and some of the animals didn't want to come out but we still had fun. The electric bear and cheetah that hold up to 450 pounds a piece was great to ride around on thru the park. Kids and adults both loved them...lol. there a little pricey at 26 bucks for an hr or .35 cents a min, but having them was nice. All in all a good day.

Sheryl D. 2023 Oct 29

Nice little Zoo. (I'm from San Diego, and our Zoo is very large and more than one park, which is why I said little Zoo.) They do a nice job with the enclosures. Fun outing to take the Grandkids for the day! They're doing a little remodeling, so there were a few interruptions to the flow around the park. They have the natural habitat type of enclosures, which I appreciate. Lovely weather, we had a lot of fun! I also appreciate the fact that they have free admission for Veterans! Good job!!

Matt Hill 2023 Oct 14

The Knoxville Zoo is a fantastic place to visit. With a diverse range of animals and well-maintained habitats, it provides an enjoyable and educational experience for all ages. The staff is knowledgeable and passionate about conservation, and they offer informative talks and feeding sessions. The zoo's layout is easy to navigate, and there are plenty of shaded areas to take a break. It's a great destination for families, animal lovers, and anyone looking to support wildlife preservation. Don't miss the red pandas and the reptile exhibits – they are a real highlight!

Happy Unions Weddings by The Trusty Notary 2023 Oct 12

We love the Zoo! We are season pass holders if you are a family and plan on going more than once get the pass it’s totally worthy it. They have great events (Boo at the Zoo) and you can even get married there! I’ve officiated 3 weddings there. The staff is always friendly and willing to help you. They also have a great kids area with a sand pit, a little water feature (not together) and an aviary that you can going and touch the birds!

Angela Terry 2023 Sep 07

Great time. Good displays. Good fun.
Membership is well worth it. We like their special offerings throughout the year. Just took in the dinosaur display, which is now extinct. Visited at the very end. Thankful for the area Chick-fil-As who sponsored the dinosaurs. Wide variety of toys and memorabilia in a variety of colors in gift store.

Kim Hatfield 2023 Aug 27

It was a wonderful day with my son, their Uncle Wesley, and 2 & 3 yr old granddaughters. Their parents were on a BD and Anniversary get away. It was miserably hot so the misters were nice to walk through. All the animals were out and we seen them all but the Bears. We actually noticed how Healthy all the animals looked too. We are so very proud of Knoxville Zoo. The moving and roaring Dino's throughout was exciting. I wish we had known more about the Dino Eggs while we were actually there. But my 3 yr old found them anyway. The old Safari Jeep was a perfect idea for kids to play in. It was truly a wonderful day to spend with my grown son and our little ones.

Megan Fletcher 2023 Jul 29

I live about 45 minutes away from Knoxville and yearly we get memberships to the zoo. I highly recommend doing so if you live in the area! The zoo is smaller than many zoos, but still has a lot to do and see for kids of all ages. They’ve recently renovated their habitat for reptiles and it looks great! They host seasonal events and activities (Boo at the Zoo, dinosaur takeover, etc.). The splash pad is great, the petting zoo and play area are cute, and the food at the restaurants are (expectedly) overpriced, but good quality. They do well in their maintenance and cleanliness and it seems like the animals are well cared for.