Things to do

Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo in Gulf Shores

The Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo has 118 species on Oak Road East in Gulf Shores, about 5 miles north of the beach. A ticket costs $23.95 for adults, $20.95 for seniors and military, and $15.95 for children 3 to 12, plus tax; toddlers get in free, and parking is free. It's open 9 am to 4 pm every day except three holidays. Feeding the giraffes costs $5 more, sloth and lemur encounters $24.95, and the keeper talks are included.

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Plan your visit

Checked November 5, 2026Adults $23.95Open 9 am to 4 pm

The short answer

The zoo in brief

Every animal has a name and a story. Time your arrival around the giraffe feedings at 10 am or 2 pm.

Sources: plan your visit, Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo, directions.

Where: 20499 Oak Road East, Gulf Shores, north of the Intracoastal bridge off Highway 59
Hours: 9 am–4 pm daily, last entry 3:30 pm
Closed: Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day; open as usual the day after
Adults: $23.95 plus tax
Animals: 118 species, 22 of them critically endangered
Parking: Free
Phone: 251-256-7008

Tickets

Which ticket you need

Prices are before tax. School groups of 15 or more get a lower rate with teachers and bus drivers free; daycare groups need at least 10. Both book ahead.

Sources: tickets, FAQ.

Adults 13–61: $23.95
Seniors 62+ and military with ID: $20.95
Children 3–12: $15.95
2 and under: Free
Baldwin County locals with ID: 10% off
Groups of 15 or more: 15% off, paid together, booked at least 48 hours ahead

Memberships

A membership runs a year from the day you redeem it and covers unlimited visits, 15% off tickets for up to four guests and 15% off in the gift shop. Encounters aren't included. Prices plus tax.

Source: memberships.

Individual
Price$65Who it coversOne named adult
Friendship
Price$120Who it coversOne named adult and a guest
Grandparents or military
Price$162Who it coversTwo adults and up to four children under 18
Family
Price$180Who it coversTwo adults and up to four children under 18
Friends and family
Price$285Who it coversUp to four adults and four children

Animal adventures

Feedings, encounters and rides

Encounters cost extra on top of admission and run only when the weather allows. Sloth adventure tickets are sold in the park on the day, and the sloths can't be held. At the tortoise feeding, you can touch a shell. The two premium experiences are on a few dates a month and need booking a week ahead.

Giraffe feeding, Twiga Station
Price$5 per person feedingWho can joinAll ages; up to 8 at a time; anyone who only watches or takes photos pays nothingWhen10–11 am and 2–3 pm; not in storms, rain or frost
Sulcata tortoise feeding, Coola Springs
Price$5 per personWho can joinAges 5+; up to 6When11:15 am–12:15 pm
South American Adventure (sloths)
Price$24.95 per personWho can joinAll ages; up to 6When20-minute slots, first come, first served
Destination Madagascar (lemurs)
Price$24.95 per personWho can joinAges 5+; up to 4When15-minute slots
Premium big cat experience
Price$350 for up to 4Who can joinAges 10+; behind a protective fence, no touchingWhen45 minutes on selected Thursdays; book a week ahead
Premium giraffe experience
Price$350 for up to 4Who can joinAll agesWhen45 minutes on selected Mondays; book a week ahead

Sources: animal adventures, giraffe feeding, tortoise feeding, South American Adventure, Destination Madagascar, premium experiences.

Rides

Rides cost extra, per ride.

Source: plan your visit.

Zip line: $15.95 single, $25 for two
Safari cars: $5.95
Carousel: $3.95
Kiddie train: $3.95

Included with your ticket

Keeper talks, every day and by weekday

The keeper talks are included in admission. Seven run every day, and Monday to Saturday each add their own.

9:15 am: Bird talk, South American Adventure
10:45 am: Animal walkabout
11 am: Keeper chat, a different animal each day
1 pm: South American bird talk
1:45 pm: Animal training tales
2:15 pm: Aviary feeding
2:45 pm: Barn chat

Monday: 10:15 am goat agility
Tuesday: 10 am bobcat chat, 3 pm baboon chat
Wednesday: 10:15 am goat agility, 2 pm big cat chat
Thursday: 9:30 am porcupine and giraffe chat, 2:45 pm bear chat
Friday: 10:15 am goat agility, 2 pm big cat chat
Saturday: 11:30 am capybara chat, 3 pm chickens in the garden

Food and rules

Food, kids, pets and rentals

Bring a picnic if you like; outside food is allowed.

Sources: FAQ, plan your visit, South American Adventure.

Rainy day ideas

Kids: Visitors 15 and under come with a paying guest aged 16 or older. In the sloth, lemur and tortoise adventures, under 10s need a paying adult
Food: You may bring your own. Inside: the Savanna restaurant (burgers, tacos, seafood), a self-serve micro market in The Manor by the lemurs, drink machines, Mini Melts and snow cones
Pets: Leave them at home, and not in the car; service dogs are allowed with precautions, but not in the sloth exhibit
Strollers and wheelchairs: Strollers, double strollers and wagons to rent; manual wheelchairs free while they last; mobility scooter $20
Not allowed: Smoking or vaping anywhere, and firearms
Gift shop: It's also the entrance and ticket desk; you can shop without a ticket

History

From Zooland to "The Little Zoo That Could"

The zoo began a mile from the beach. After Hurricane Ivan destroyed it in 2004, it later moved inland to the site you visit today.

Source: Zoo history.

1989: Joey Ward opens Zooland Animal Park on family land a mile from the beach
2000: The zoo is renamed the Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo
2004: Before Hurricane Ivan, director Patti Hall and her staff move more than 265 animals inland in 36 hours. The zoo ends up under 14 feet of water, but not one animal is lost, and Chuckie the alligator is found safe
2006: Animal Planet's "The Little Zoo That Could" premieres on February 15, and the zoo reopens 14 months after the storm
2007: A local family gives 25 acres four miles inland for a new, safer zoo
2016: The new zoo is being built at the inland site on Oak Road East, where it is today

Getting there

Driving to the zoo

The zoo is inland, north of the Intracoastal bridge. Two more stops sit close by: The Track is 2.9 miles away, about 8 minutes by car, and Waterville USA 4.7 miles, about 11 minutes.

More attractions

From Gulf Place, Gulf Shores: About 5.4 miles, 13 minutes
From The Wharf, Orange Beach: About 6.2 miles, 14 minutes
From The Lodge at Gulf State Park: About 6.6 miles, 16 minutes
From Cotton Bayou, Orange Beach: About 10.9 miles, 22 minutes
From I-10: Exit 44, then about 24 miles south on AL 59

Stay nearby

Hotels closest to the zoo

Miles by road from the zoo.

Gulf Shores Parkway
Staybridge Suites Gulf Shores
About 1.3 miles, 5 minutes; an outdoor pool, free parking.
Check prices
Gulf Shores Parkway
Courtyard Gulf Shores Craft Farms
About 1.7 miles, 6 minutes.
Check prices
Gulf Shores Parkway
Hampton Inn Gulf Shores
About 3.9 miles, 9 minutes; an outdoor pool, free parking, dogs and cats for $50 a stay.
Check prices

Gulf Shores vacation rentals on Vrbo

What people ask

Quick answers

Where is the zoo in Gulf Shores?

At 20499 Oak Road East. From the beach, take Highway 59 north for about 5 miles over the Intracoastal bridge, turn right on Oak Road East, and the driveway is about a quarter mile on the left.

Is the zoo in Foley or Gulf Shores?

In Gulf Shores, at 20499 Oak Road East, just off Highway 59 north of the Intracoastal bridge.