three elephants are in a pool; two in the background standing and one in the foreground submerged up to its eyes three elephants are in a pool; two in the background standing and one in the foreground submerged up to its eyes
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Chendra, Rose-Tu and Samudra enjoy the cool water of the Elephant Lands Pool at the Oregon Zoo.
Credit: ©Oregon Zoo / photo by Kathy Street

Oregon Zoo

Located near downtown Portland in Washington Park, the Oregon Zoo is home to more than 2,000 animals from 165 species and subspecies.

7 min read Washington Park
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Know Before You Go

Oregon Zoo capacity is timed and limited. Online advance-purchase tickets are required — they can be purchased on the Oregon Zoo’s website.

The oldest zoo west of the Mississippi is just minutes from downtown Portland via the MAX Light Rail in Washington Park. The Oregon Zoo is home to more than 2,000 animals from 165 species — you’ll also find an awesome insect zoo, a collection of exotic plants, a historic railway and more. Much of the zoo has been renovated in recent years, including room for rhinos, prime real estate for primates and a new elephant expanse.

Explore the Oregon Zoo

How long does it take to see everything at the Oregon Zoo?

Most people spend two to three hours at the zoo. Allow extra time if you plan to ride the zoo railway or stop for a snack.

How much does it cost to park at the zoo?

Parking at the zoo costs $2.40 per hour, with a $9.60 maximum per day. Rates may differ during special events. Parking is very limited, especially on warm days and weekends — consider carpooling or taking public transportation instead.

How much does it cost to visit the zoo?

Ticket prices are as follows:

  • $26 for people 12 and older
  • $21 for children 2-11 years old
  • Infants under 2 years old may visit for free

Details are subject to change; please check the Oregon Zoo’s website for current information.

Are advance tickets required?

The Oregon Zoo requires guests to buy tickets online in advance before visiting.

What options are available for people with accessibility needs?

The zoo is accessible to people of all abilities. Wheelchairs and electric scooters are available for rent at the gift shop. The majority of the zoo’s 64 acres (25.9 ha) — including pathways, exhibits, restaurants, restrooms and more — are ADA accessible. The zoo train and carousel can both accommodate wheelchairs and other mobility aids. Other accessibility features include a wheelchair loading and unloading zone, complementary sensory kits and complementary tickets for one-to-one support people. Full accessibility information can be found on the Oregon Zoo’s website.

Are there places to eat at the zoo?

Options for a snack or a meal at the Oregon Zoo include the following, among others: grab-and-go food at Cascade Cafe or Trailhead Snacks, sweets from Elephant Ears or Scoop and Swirl, or a meal at Aviary Cafe, which serves chicken tenders, hot dogs, cheeseburgers and shoestring fries, in addition to fresh salads and wraps. A variety of adult beverages are also available.

Visit the Oregon Zoo’s website for more information.

Has it always been called the Oregon Zoo?

The zoo was originally established as the Portland Zoo, then renamed the Washington Park Zoo in 1976. It became the Oregon Zoo in 1998.

What animals are at the Oregon Zoo?

The Oregon Zoo has more than 2,000 animals from 165 species and subspecies, including river otters, black bears, penguins, tigers, chimpanzees, Asian elephants, lions, insects, lemurs, naked mole rats, giraffes, flamingos and fruit bats.

Where is the Oregon Zoo?

The Oregon Zoo is located in Washington Park near downtown Portland, Oregon. Its address is 4001 SW Canyon Rd, Portland, OR 97221.

How big is the Oregon Zoo?

The Oregon Zoo has a 64-acre (25.9 ha) footprint and houses more than 2,000 animals from 165 species and subspecies.

What time does the Oregon Zoo open?

Opening hours vary by season; in the spring and summer, the Zoo typically opens at 9 a.m. and in the fall and winter, the Zoo typicallys opens at 9:30 a.m. Please check the Oregon Zoo website for up-do-date information for your visit.

Elephants (and Condors!) on Parade

The Oregon Zoo is recognized worldwide for its Asian elephant care program, which has spanned more than 60 years. Elephant Lands, completed in 2015, accounts for nearly one-tenth of the zoo’s 64-acre (25.9 ha) footprint, stretching around much of the eastern side. The area was designed to promote elephant well-being and socialization, with large, outdoor areas linked to one of the world’s largest indoor elephant spaces — plus a 160,000-gallon pool where the whole herd can cool off.

Another major attraction is Condors of the Columbia, which houses critically endangered California condors. Though once native to Oregon and known as “thunderbirds” that populated the Columbia River during Lewis and Clark’s journey, these pterodactyl-sized scavengers haven’t been seen wild in the region in more than 100 years. The Oregon Zoo hopes to change that; they breed condors for wild release at an off-site facility and provide a naturalistic environment at the zoo for birds in their condor recovery program that cannot be released in the wild. Two covered viewing areas (including an elevated watching post) give visitors the opportunity for a rare face-to-beak encounter with these gregarious giants.

The Polar Passage gives visitors an exciting new look into polar bear behavoir and supports conservation science.

New Polar Bear Exhibit

In 2021, the Oregon Zoo’s polar bears moved into a new space with deep saltwater pools, panoramic views and its own ice machine. The Polar Passage gives visitors an exciting new look into polar bear behavior and supports scientific research.

a child in a hoodie and ponytail holds a hand against the glass of a seal habitat, behind which a blue-gray seal swims, its nose near the child's hand
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The whole family can get up close and personal with harbor seals and other wildlife at the Oregon Zoo's Steller Cove.
Credit: © Oregon Zoo / photo by Michael Durham
two children sitting on a train, one dressed like a train conductor
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The historic Zoo Railway at the Oregon Zoo is the most fun way to travel between exhibits with kids.
Credit: Stuart Mullenberg
two shaggy white mountain goat kids stand on a ledge halfway up a rocky outcropping
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See mountain goats go for a climb in the Oregon Zoo's Cascade Crest exhibit.
Credit: © Oregon Zoo / photo by Shervin Hess
A wild dog with furry, pointed ears and mottled tan, black and white spots
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See wild dogs in the Predators of the Serengeti exhibit at the Oregon Zoo.
Credit: © Oregon Zoo / photo by Kathy Street

The Lay of the Land

Stroll the zoo’s parklike grounds — 64 acres (25.9 ha) in total — as you explore numerous exhibits grouped into geographical areas:

  • Great Northwest — Mountain goats, black bears, snowy owls, bald eagles, turtles, river otters, beavers, waterfowl, cougars, California condors, goats
  • Pacific Shores — Polar bears, sea otters, penguins, harbor seals
  • Discovery Zone — Tigers, insect zoo, red panda, wildlife garden, zoo train
  • Primate Forest — Chimpanzees, gibbons, orangutans
  • Elephant Lands — Asian elephants
  • Africa — Lions, lemurs, painted dogs, cheetahs, aviary, black rhino, bontebok, tortoises, monkeys, naked mole rats, giraffes, porcupines, crocodiles, flamingos, otters, fruit bats

The Oregon Zoo is located inside the 410-acre (166 ha) Washington Park, two miles west of downtown and accessible by MAX light rail. Make a day of it and explore more nearby, including the World Forestry Center Discovery Museum, the International Rose Test Garden, the Rose Garden Children’s Park and playground, Hoyt Arboretum and more.

Events and Attractions at the Zoo

The zoo offers special events for every season, from the egg hunts and lawn games of Hop into Spring to Howloween’s trick-or-treating, but none shines as brightly as ZooLights, the annual holiday light display that runs from late November through early January. This popular event transforms the zoo into a winter wonderland with more than a million LED lights adorning trees and animated sculptures.

The ZooNights summer concert series brings local acts to its outdoor stage from June through August. Visit the animals before staking a spot on the shady lawn and digging into locally sourced food, beer and wine sold on-site. Every show opens with a chance to get to know some of the animals active during twilight hours.

The narrow-gauge Washington Park and Zoo Railway offers a nostalgic, kid-friendly way to explore the zoo. In addition to carrying passengers, steam-powered trains also transport U.S. mail, making this one of the last railroads to continuously offer U.S. mail service. Just drop your letters or postcards on the locomotives or into mailboxes on the zoo grounds to get them hand-canceled with the Washington Park and Zoo Railway stamp.

Explore Events at the Oregon Zoo

From Howloween to Zoo Nights and Zoo Lights, the Oregon Zoo has fun for you.

Discounts and Special Offers

The zoo offers discounted admission for income-assistance programs, veterans and active-service military members, large groups and more. Check the zoo’s discounts page for current offers.

Getting to the Oregon Zoo

The Oregon Zoo is served by the MAX Light Rail Blue and Red lines; the Washington Park MAX station is also close to the World Forestry Center Discovery Museum, the Vietnam Veterans of Oregon Memorial, and the 4T and Wildwood trailheads.

TriMet Bus Line 63 also runs from the central city (with a stop near Providence Park and another near Pioneer Courthouse Square) to Washington Park, where there’s a stop near the International Rose Test Garden and the Portland Japanese Garden.

Washington Park offers a free shuttle for transportation within the park, with stops at all the park’s major attractions and the Washington Park MAX station. The shuttle operates daily, 9 a.m.–7 p.m.

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