Cape May County Zoo: A Great Day Trip From Home or The Shore

 

Kids love animals and there’s nothing better than a free New Jersey zoo to take them to visit and learn about different species and their habitats. That’s just one of the many reasons why the Cape May County Park and Zoo is one of our favorite FREE places to visit in New Jersey. Not only is it free, but it’s close to both home and our favorite vacation spot, the South Jersey Shore.

What You Need to Know about the Cape May County Zoo

• • The Zoo is open daily – (Close Christmas Day)

• • Spring/Summer Hours (Begins with Daylight Savings) 10 a.m. to 4:45 p.m.
  • Fall/Winter Hours (Begins when Daylight Savings ends) 10 a.m. to 3:45 p.m
• No food is permitted inside the zoo.
• The Cape May County Zoo is also smoke-free.
• Admission is free, but donations are encouraged.
• Two Snack Stands can be found inside the zoo selling drinks in souvenir cups, Philadelphia Water Ice, and popsicles.
• Tokens to ride the Carousel and Train can be purchased at Butterfly Junction. You will need 1 token for each ride.
  • • They are $3 each or 2 for $5.00
    • Rides are open
      • Daily 11:00am- 4:30pm in July & August
      • Weekends Only 11:00am- 4:30pm Spring & Fall
    • Ride operations are weather dependent.
• Strollers and Wheelchairs are available for rent.
  • Stroller and wheelchair rentals: $9/day
  • Motorized Scooter rentals: $26.75 for the first 3 hours,then $5.00 each additional hour.
• Cape May County Zoo Souvenir Pennies and a Photo Booth are also available.

 

What We Love About the Cape May Zoo

• It’s a FREE attraction, although donations are encouraged.
• The Cape May County Zoo is close to home in South Jersey and while vacationing at the shore, making it an easy day trip.
• There’s a large variety of animals from all over the world, including 550 animals representing 250 species.
• It’s hard to choose, but some of our favorite animals are the giraffes, zebras, otters and snow leopards. They even have a kookaburra!
• Each animal exhibit is labeled with a colorful and informational sign so visitors can learn more about them. Some are designated as part of Zoo Species Survival Plan (SSP) and let visitors know what the Zoo is doing to protect these endangered species.
• Signs at exhibits also clearly let you know what’s new at the zoo, including white-tailed deer fawns, baby snow leopards, Wallaby Joeys, Jilly (a Holstein calf), and Chinese alligators.
• Signs throughout the zoo also identify different types of plant life and trees.
• The zoo is the perfect size for a morning out with toddlers, but if you stop to read the displays and visit every area you can find enough to occupy your family for the day.
• The nearby playground is a great place for a picnic or to run off any excess energy the kids may have.