Smithsonian’s National Zoo

This zoo makes for a great afternoon with its unusual selection of animals. The zoo was constructed in a very hilly park , so prepare for a challenging walk through it. Great fun for kids !

The zoo is awesome! There are indoor and outdoor exhibits . The indoor ones close at 4:30 in the winter. Admission free, and we paid 22 dollars for parking . We made it through the zoo in about 4 hours.

ZooLights 2012 ... 500,000 lights, train rides, Santa Paws dancing in a giant, snow globe, an 8-foot LEGO model of the Smithsonian Castle , zoo tubing, glow sticks, hot cider and kettle corn . Yes!

I couldn't believe he zoo was free! We were amazed and delighted. Loved the sea lion tank and seeing them from the underwater glass view . Lions , elephants, apes, zebras, beavers, birds, reptiles etc.!

Zoo is free parking is not. Street parking can be found. Great to spend the afternoon with the kids but rather hilly.

From Bei Bei the panda to Moke the gorilla to Redd the orangoutang-- there is no shortness of CUTE at the zoo ! Admission is free, so come for a walk in the morning when the animals are most active.

If you have a toddler, bring the stroller. This zoo is twice the size of the one in Baltimore. Great place for kids and adults..if you want to save some money car pool...0-3 hrs is $16 for parking ...

We had a blast bringing in the holiday season with lights and festivities ! This was a fabulous FREE event . Fun winter themed snacks were overly expensive , but the rides were priced perfectly.

Pandas are the highlight, but the ape house, the cheetahs, ate also pretty cool. Be prepared for walking as the zoo is located on a hill . Best to try to park at the bottom of the hill .

Beautiful day! Not as crowded as I had expected. Bathrooms were clean and the animals all fairly active which was good. The Zoo map though is much to be desired. Great day with the kids overall!

Giant Zoo , easy to get lost without GPS, nothing beats free. even after it closes you can get in to some of the exhibits still. reptile exhibit smells like shit and elephant house is awesome

Discover why the National Zoo is even more fun during holiday season with Zoolights. The annual event is free of charge and includes live music , winter treats, and more than 500,000 festive lights.

One of the best zoos in the US. Free admission , very photogenic, and a lot to see! A fun activity on any day

Incredible zoo , such an inspirational and remarkable place. We're so lucky to have the Smithsonian institute to preserve and protect some of our most endangered species.

You've heard about the giant pandas , but did you know there are kid play areas by the farm animal and ground hog exhibits ? Powered by ParentsConnect.com

Amazing zoo with all the animals and birds which is very well maintained and you need a while day to see everything :)

Say goodbye to the pandas , Tian Tian (26), babymama Mei Xiang (25), and their 3-year-old Xiao Qi Ji are leaving for the China Wildlife Conservation Association earlier than planned, by mid-November 23

The latest baby panda at the National Zoo was born Aug. 23, 2013. It's a girl born to Tian Tian and Mei Xiang. Washington pandarazzi will have to wait four months for an in-person look at the cub. Read more

Woodley Park is the official Metro stop, but Cleveland Park , the next outbound station, is an easier downhill walk. Also, many restaurants in station area.

I love taking my kids to this zoo because it is a Day full of fun looking animals and spending time my family. Plus the zoo is huge and free

The food stand near seals and sea lions has sustainable seafood and healthy snacks (fruit cups and frozen grapes ). Just had a fantastic smoked tofu roll with pickled fennel .

Love love love this zoo ! Plan for lots of walking, and on some steep hills , particularly if you take the metro -- the most sensible way to go, since parking is 20+.

A fun and free activity, perfect for a date. A great zoo with lots of animals, but set up so there's lots of walking to see everything

Go for a few hours just for the Asia Trail to see the zoos biggest attraction

Parking is $22 per car and a decent walk, often no parking . If you can get here another way for less than that, might be worth it. Very nice zoo !

We started with the Asia path and it took us a while before we could locate an animal. I've been to many zoos and this one falls short on animals and the ability to view them.

No more pandas . It’s a free zoo but you should still register for online tickets. Good for families as it is very spacious with lots of animals to see

Terrific place to see all kinds of animals, and the giant pandas are the best!

Must arrive well before 1000 actually opens at 0800 unlike rest of Smthsonian

Simply known as the National Zoo , this is one of the oldest zoos in the U.S. Here, you’ll find features such as the Giant Panda Habitat, Great Ape House, and Lion/Tiger Hill . The best part? It’s free!

The zoo is one big hill , so don't park near the entrance, but drive to Lot D on the other side. This way you start exploring going uphill and then the walk back to the car will be a nice downhill.

Lions , and Tigers, and Pandas , OH MY! Don't forget, admission is FREE for everyone, every day. Great opportunity to pop in and out as needed.

Check out the world famous pandas , Asian elephants, Andean bears , and sea lions ! All for free! Avoid during school holidays and weekends if you can.

Not many food options once you get inside and there is lots of ground to cover. Pack a lunch (or pick one up) and find one of the many shady spits to enjoy it mid-visit.

Psst - the best place to kick back and watch the pandas is along the overlook at, naturally, the Panda Overlook Café . Don't tell anybody.

Go visit Rusty the red panda instead of the giant pandas nearby. Rusty will be doing tricks and practically tap dance for you while the giant pandas sleep in the corner.

Great zoo , but go when the weather is not too hot or cold. You don't see as many animals out during extreme temperatures.

The zoo is so huge and awesome! Lots of animals and exhibits . Make sure u come without a car though, parking os 35$+ ????????????????

Set up not very user friendly . Path is curvy line with a bunch of dead ends coming off of it. Have to walk all the way back up the hill to get to exit. Pandas are cute & a lot of food choices.

Spent half a day here and didn't even get through the entire place! They have a red panda and it's adorable.

Beautiful place! Love how the habitats are build to bring the best comfort to animals

If you like the zoo but hate the throngs, go early. Zoo grounds open at 6am, and many animals are active then, esp. in summer (See link). Indoor exhibits (and great cats) don't open until 10am though. Read more

Check out the Smithsonian Castle built with 45,000 Lego bricks. It's on display in the visitor center during ZooLights! Read more

What a wonderful zoo . Also it's totally free!! Buffalo were good to see. Favorite is the reptiles.

Start from the top side where the metro goes to and work your way down. Down at the hill you can catch a bus to Columbia heights

Don't go on warm summer weekends. The zoo is free and is beyond crowded . Parking can also run as much as $22, so park on the side streets for free.

Seriously awesome experience - Well worth the visit even over winter!!

Free entry, just pay to park . At christmas time there is a night time light display.

Such a lovely zoo ! Great place for a walk because it’s free admission as well .

What a great zoo and free admission ?! Must have been designed well , allows visitors to have a good look at the animals and actually in action.