Zoos Near Orlando: Sanford, Brevard and Tampa Compared (Plus Holiday Lights)

The closest zoo to Orlando is the Central Florida Zoo and Botanical Gardens in Sanford, about 30 minutes north of downtown. Orlando doesn't have one big city zoo, but Brevard Zoo in Melbourne (about 1 hour 10 minutes away) and ZooTampa at Lowry Park (about 1 hour 25 minutes) are both an easy day. Here's how they compare, including the holiday light nights running this season.

The quick pick

• Closest real zoo: Central Florida Zoo and Botanical Gardens, Sanford
• Best overall zoo: Brevard Zoo, Melbourne (you can kayak past giraffes)
• Biggest: ZooTampa at Lowry Park
• Gators only: Gatorland
• Zoo plus theme park: Disney's Animal Kingdom

Central Florida Zoo and Botanical Gardens (Sanford)

• Where: 3755 W. Seminole Blvd., Sanford, about 30 minutes north of downtown Orlando
• Hours: 9 AM to 4 PM, last admission 3:30 PM
• Tickets: priced by day. On regular days, listed in November 2026 at $21.95 for adults and $16.95 for kids 3 to 12 online, or $26.95 and $18.95 at the gate; weekends and other peak days are $23.95 and $17.95 online.

It's a compact, shady zoo you can see in two or three hours, which makes it great with little kids.

Asian Lantern Festival: Into the Wild runs on select nights from November 13, 2026 to January 17, 2027. It's a three-quarter-mile walk past giant lit lanterns, with entry at 6, 7 or 8 PM. Tickets are on sale now, online only and separate from zoo admission; prices are shown in the zoo's ticket store.

Brevard Zoo (Melbourne)

• Where: 8225 N. Wickham Rd., Melbourne, about 1 hour 10 minutes from downtown Orlando
• Hours: 9:30 AM to 5 PM, last admission 4:15 PM; closed Thanksgiving and Christmas Day
• Tickets (online / at the gate): adults $34.95 / $36.95, kids 3 to 11 $22.95 / $24.95, under 3 free
• Parking: free

Brevard Zoo is the one locals drive for. The highlight is kayaking through the Africa exhibit on a guided tour ($15), past giraffes and rhinos, from about 10:30 AM to 3:30 PM, ages 5 and up. You buy kayak tickets at the zoo.

Holiday Lights is new this year: select nights November 20 to January 2, 6 to 9 PM. Standard tickets are $32 for adults and $24 for kids, and a day plus night combo is $57 for adults and $37 for kids.

Pair it with the beach: Melbourne and Cocoa Beach are close.

ZooTampa at Lowry Park

• Where: 1101 W. Sligh Ave., Tampa, about 1 hour 25 minutes from downtown Orlando
• Hours: 9:30 AM to 5 PM
• Tickets: $50.95 for adults and $40.95 for kids 3 to 11 in advance, a few dollars more at the gate
• Parking: listed at $10 a day in November 2026 for non-members, paid through ParkMobile

ZooTampa is the biggest of the three, known for its manatee hospital and Florida wildlife areas. Christmas in the Wild runs on select nights from Friday, November 27 through Wednesday, December 30, 2026, with after 4 PM event admission listed at $34.95 in November 2026 and free entry for members and Zoo Fun ticket holders. ZooTampa labels November 27 a member preview night, and tickets were still marked on sale soon when we checked, so look before you plan around it.

Animal parks in Orlando

• Gatorland: 110 acres of alligators, crocodiles, birds and shows, about 25 minutes from downtown, with free parking. Florida residents get half price through November 30.
• Disney's Animal Kingdom: a real zoo inside a theme park, with a safari ride. Ticket prices change by date.
• SeaWorld Orlando: marine animals plus rides. Prices change by date too.

Hands-on with animals

Zoos are for looking. If your kids want to touch, Mini Moo Land in Kissimmee lets families pet, hand-feed and cuddle highland cows, and the VIP bottle feeding lets kids feed a baby calf. It's inside Boggy Creek Airboat Adventures, so you can add an airboat ride to look for wild gators. Our links take 10% off. More in baby highland cows near Orlando.

More with kids

• Things to do in Orlando with kids (that aren't Disney)
• Orlando with toddlers
• Where to see manatees near Orlando

Parking and what it really costs at the gate

• Central Florida Zoo: parking is free, and the lot is open 8 AM to 5 PM. Online orders carry a $3 fee per order, not per ticket, and online tickets are good for a year, per the tickets page. Last admission is 3:30 PM.
• Brevard Zoo: parking is free, per its visit page.
• ZooTampa: non-members pay for parking through ParkMobile, listed at $10 a day in November 2026 on the visit page. Advance tickets save $3 a person but aren't valid on the day you buy them.

Discounts at all three are window only. The Central Florida Zoo's discount page lists 20% off for military and teachers, 10% off for first responders, healthcare workers, college students and local hotel guests, and $4 tickets for SNAP EBT cardholders, up to six people. Brevard Zoo sells its military, SNAP EBT or WIC and reciprocal zoo discounts on site with photo ID.

Food, strollers and wheelchairs

None of the three wants a cooler coming through the gate.

• Central Florida Zoo: no outside food or coolers, and no cups with disposable lids or straws. Paths are pavement and boardwalk. The accessibility page lists manual wheelchairs at $12, electric scooters at $35 and wagons at $14.99 plus tax in November 2026, first come, first served.
• Brevard Zoo: no outside food. Each guest can bring one non-alcoholic drink, with the lid and straw removed. Its visit tips list wheelchairs at $12.72, single strollers at $10.60, doubles at $12.72 and electric scooters at $31.80, tax included.
• ZooTampa: bags are inspected at the gate. Outside food is for special dietary needs only, and there's a picnic area outside the park by the main lot.

The Central Florida Zoo and Brevard Zoo both lend free KultureCity sensory bags with noise canceling headphones, and all three allow service animals only.

Before you book a lights night

The evening events are separate tickets with their own rules.

• Asian Lantern Festival (Sanford): tickets are on sale and online only. The last entry is 9:15 PM and you can stay until 10 PM whatever your entry time. The festival page lists sensory nights on December 1 and January 12 and adults-only nights on December 10 and January 5.
• Holiday Lights (Brevard): online only and date specific, with last admission at 8 PM and no re-entry, per the event page. A daytime ticket doesn't cover it.
• Christmas in the Wild (Tampa): ZooTampa's event page lists select nights from November 27 through December 30, with after 4 PM admission at $34.95 in November 2026.

All three run rain or shine, with no refunds.