Last year for my daughters birthday, we went to the Central Park Zoo in NYC. She enjoyed visiting the zoo so much she wanted to go to the one right here in her hometown, the Maryland Zoo in Baltimore. Ive been away from Baltimore for several years, and am glad to be retired and living here again. I know Ill visit the zoo often, so I became a member. We had a wonderful day at the Maryland zoo... great place to go during this season of social distancing.

Great staff very friendly and helpful. Walkways were clean and well kept. Great food and slushies. Really love the variety of animals plenty of wildlife to see. The views they have of the animals are breathtaking,very photography friendly. Restrooms are not to far from each other wich is convenient. Hand wash stations for the kids and adults threw out the park to slow the spread . The staff kept safe by properly wearing there face mask and social distancing. Over all a great place for whole family or just a date day to get out of the house and help treat cabin fever. Definitely a five star place .

Absolutely loved our trip here. It was not crowded at all. People were respectful of distancing and wore masks. Overall a wonderful experience. We cant wait to go back.

We had such a fabulous experience here at the Maryland Zoo that we bought an annual membership! Very nicely laid out with large open spaces for the animals to roam and play. That was so wonderful to see. All the animals were out and we got to see so many of them. We loved the flamingos, penguins, leopards, giraffes, and monkeys! Still have to return to see the polar beers, lions and tigers! We live near Philadelphia and this is by far the best zoo we have ever been to! Loved it! Our only complaint is that due to CoVid many entrances were closed and we had to walk pretty far to get to see the animals. The shuttle also wasnt running and they should have had someone there to help point the way and give directions. It was hard for me to walk so far because I am a liver transplant patient at Hopkins so a disability shuttle would have been extremely helpful! It was confusing to get around the main barrier at first but we finally found someone to ask. Everyone was very friendly and professional. A must see if you are in the area!

This is the first time we have come since the Pandemic. They did an excellent job making sure everyone is as safe as can be. The improvements made on the Journey to Africa are incredible, especially the Lion enclosure. I love this place!

The African animals were really great! Some of the enclosures are kind of small and sad, but most of them were pretty cool. Id wait until covid restrictions are lifted to go. Everything cool for kids is closed off which was a shame. Kind of a bummer that you still pay full admission for half the experience.

Safe. Hand sanitizing stations available. Masks are also required at certain sections but recommended throughout the zoo. Entry is blocked out to tickets so limited number of people at the zoo at any given time. I recommend your purchase your tickets early online and make it there within the 30 minutes allotted. Have fun.

This is a great zoo to go to with young kids. The animals are often fairly easy to see, and there isnt as much walking as some zoos. Since COVID, they have been doing timed reservations, which limits the number of people there at once. The one downside is that the trolley hasnt been running during COVID, which means a long walk to the start of the exibits. We always enjoy our time there regardless.

Love this place. This is a premier zoo with many great exhibits. Doing a great job during Covid.

Great November day! Polar bears wrestling in the water! Zebras running and playing! Animals were very active! Saw the baby chimpanzees with their Mommas!

We had an outstanding time! Every one of the staff were very accommodating and took time to address our questions and provide us with answers to our many questions while they fed the animals or serviced their living spaces. Marty spent 20minutes patiently answering our questions and providing us with all the knowledge we could ask for about the animals. All the animals were up and moving about, they looked happy and healthy. All around really great zoo, animals, and staff. Cant wait to come back.

We love the zoo. The employees are top notch and put their heart and soul into making it an excellent place to visit.

Normally my family and I have a blast here. However, with covid a lot of the park isnt what it usually is. So if you have attended for the first time during the pandemic definitely understand that its much better and there are a lot of fun things to do. I definitely recommend people to come and definitely after a lot of restrictions are lifted. We love the zoo though!

This was a really great experience. They have done a great job prepping for COVID. Smaller crowds and channeled traffic made this one of the best visits weve had (except the kids missed seeing the bats and reptiles). All basic amenities are still provided (food and bathrooms), and the animals were very lively with the smaller crowds.

Regarding Zoo Lights BaltimoreFyi this review is only for the Christmas lights they set up. I been to the zoo when it wa not holiday and it was great.PARENTS do not buy the Zoo Lights Baltimore Christmas Lights. If you bought it, your going go be painfully disappointed.The reason why the 1 star because it was so short. Literally less than 15 min trip through. You will see. Save your money and go elsewhere for Christmas lights

Great spot to bring the kids especially with covid. Great staff!

Its a great zoo for what you get. While I think entrance fee is a bit steep, the annual price makes sense if you are a regular (and parking is free regardless). Very social distance conscious with mask required signs for close gathering spots and indoor as well as hand sanitizer stations set up.The African plains is great, with giraffes, lions, cheetahs, rhinos and zebras. And dont forget the elephants.We were a little remiss about not being able to see a polar bear (they did have a brown bear on) as well as a bald eagle. The penguin feeding is great if youre interested to learn about south african penguins.Very good walkable zoo, not in the best part of the city and a little steeply priced. The National Zoo in DC is a great alternative, but youll miss out on giraffes there.Would recommend, would go again, but I wont be getting a membership.

With covid very disappointed the park cannot be thoroughly enjoyed. When in full operation it is great family friendly place to be. The employees are kind & care for the animals very well. Animals we did see because it was a hot day were beautiful!

We had an intense experience with the male lion. What a handsome lad! He looked at each of us standing on the other side of the glass, staring directly into our eyes. Id go back just to see him. A new female elephant was also having a ball with a sprinkler.

We have been members for years. We appreciate the Maryland Zoo trying to remain open back in March using sensible covid19 precautions. We attended the final day in march before the zoo was shut down by....We were there the first day it reopened in early June then again on September 5th. I thought a few of the stringent restrictions may have been lifted, but were not. After a few rude customers cut in front of us september 5th, an employee turned us away saying our kids full face masks not acceptable. Bummer, but i had a few spare masks on me. I understand why some of the tight indoor areas like the reptile caves were closed, but quite a few more animal areas were offline. Even the kids playground closed, which is strange cause most playgrounds have been open for over one month. All about safety right? Then why is the gift shop open? Kids asked me to take them to Catoctin Mountain Zoo again. More animals there anyway. If the Maryland Zoo, remains stuck in phase 1 of reopening much longer, we may just buy a membership at the Catoctin Zoo. So many other sights in that valley to visit, like Grotto of Lourdes and Elizabeth Ann Seton Shrine in emmitsburg. She started in baltimore opening the countrys first catholic school, btw.

Fun covid safe night visit to see the lights and fund the zoo

This zoo is really great. The animals are almost friendly. The penguins come up to you against the glass. The lion would just walk up and stare at us. The animals look well taken care of. It was a pretty big zoo. We spent 2 hours there.

Had a great time despite the covid stuff going on. The zoo is doing a great job with keeping everyone safe while at the zoo and most of the exhibits are still open.

Everything was very well organized with clear signs. The zoo is incredibly clean and just the right size for young children. A favorite for the family any time of year.

They do a really good job at making you feel safe during covid. Understandable that a number of the touch things are closed. The kids 1 & 3 still had a great time.

Small and compact zoo. Quickly covered in 3 hours or less. Good for 5 year olds. Mostly Africa based theme. You can see Lions, giraffes, Elephants and a mighty Hippo(or was it a Rhino?, go find out!)

Had a great time with my mother, sister, and best friend. We had a great time visiting in the time of covid. It wasnt overly crowded and the staff were super helpful in giving us directions and such. There were also staff going around and cleaning railings and things we touch. The baby chimps were super cute.

This was my first time here. I had a lot if fun. The penguin and giraffe feeding were closed, but we still got to see them. We got to see the baby chimpanzees. We had walked out of the building watching them play outside and a zoo employee came and told us they started feeding them so we got to watch that and see the babies move around.

Timed-entry helped moderate visitor numbers. Care for guests and the zoo residents during the pandemic was evident. Hand sanitizer and wash stations abounded. All exhibits were outdoors. Uncrowded atmosphere seemed to bring out more active resident behaviour - which was very interesting and (for the humans) entertaining. A first-class zoo, worth a visit, as long as weather on the day you go is no deterrent.

The Maryland Zoo is a great place to go for a few hours. We enjoy seeing all of the animals. Currently the Zoo is open and has one way signs as you walk through the Zoo to promote social distancing. I suggest becoming a member if you visit more then twice a year.

I enjoyed viewing the animals.

If you had asked me 6 months ago I would have rated it a 5-star. Im now giving it only 3-stars because all of the kid-friendly parts of the zoo are closed. I realize this is due to covid concerns, but how about let the patron decide their own willingness to accept the risk. We come to the zoo for the kids, but they were not able to fully enjoy it because all the most kid friendly stuff is closed.Im talking about things like the slides, the tunnel under the otter exhibit, the giraffe feeding, the goat petting area, the train and carousel, and the turtle exhibit. All the best things for kids are closed. Its especially disappointing because the whole reason we bought a year-long membership was so the kids could enjoy themselves there.Aside from this the zoo is a very wonderful place with lots of animals, very clean, and very convenient to get to.

I was surprised to see a Polar Bear!It was a good but not excellent experience. We entered at the 2pm-3 pm slot and even though the park itself closes at 4pm it would been nice to know they put away animal 10-15 min before 4pm.There was a good bit of animals thats were not in their habitats: rhinos, lions, giraffes, gazelles, jaguar and other I cant remember their names.Aside from that it was a good experience just to get out of the house for a little bit.

An excellent zoo! Baby chimpanzees are adorable!

Brew thru at the Zoo was lots of fun. Kudos to the staff for hanging out and bringing you the animals car side for a close up look. Lots of cool swag too.

Affordable and fun! The zoo is a good size; not too small and (more importantly) not too big. Admission prices are fair, and you can find discounts easily. The food was a bit more pricey; and the train ride was expensive ($5) compared to the ride time. It’s a nice route with a high bridge, but the journey is fairly short. Note this is a “ride” only, not a way to see the animals.The exhibits were informative and fun. I wish they would re-open the historic central path (that contains old cages) with signage and historical markers... that would greatly enhance the importance of the newer designs of modern enclosures. A great day trip!

Despite COVID, they have done well to keep the place going and the animals seemed happy enough, although bear enclosure seemed small. My toddler loved it, food and drinks werent too high, but the local enclosure, was terrible, nothing to see except at the petting farm. Still, had a great day. Still prefer Safaris as a source of seeing animals as naturally as possible.

Very nice zoo! We joined the day we came to visit and plan to continue to visit all year. The grounds were well kept and the staff and volunteers are very friendly. They have one-way directional foot traffic throughout the park, which works for now. I would like to see some mister stations throughout the park, as these summer days are incredibly hot. I would also like to see the tram back open, but the walk to the exhibits is not too bad.

4 stars cuz the price to enter was a great deal. But because of the covid not sure if its normal to mix up some of the animals and their habitats because Im reading the signs and its saying one animal should be here but a different animal will be there. Small Zoo but not too bad. But the people at people at the slushy shop not good. Not good at customer service. Customer service training is needed. I was there on Sunday September 6th around 12:30pm. I believe they were next to the elephants up the hill. Its was a young man maybe in his early 20s. The girl working was very nice tho. Kudos to her.

We had a wonderful visit on a beautiful fall day. Every staff person we came in contact with was super friendly and helpful - and that made our visit all the more pleasant. These are challenging times, to be sure, but it seems like the zoo team is doing the very best they can to keep the animals and visitors safe and happy. Looking forward to a return trip.

I loved the animals and the gift shop options. Have to say it was a bit busier then normal and I wouldve liked to see more transport options for those with canes and such. Many families with little ones made up the clientele for the day and really had a blast. Food was subpar but overall the experience was fun.

Always a great trip. Timed entry in light of covid. Great safety precautions implemented. One way foot traffic, hand sanitizer stations, social distancing and mask wearing in certain areas. Got some great pics!

Still an amazing Zoo. Handling Covid measures very well. Animals and staff always seem happy. Wonderful family spot. Looking into becoming a member now!

They were so organized! The reservation slots work well. The park has signs so you know the flow of people. It was absolutely a great visit.

We always love the Zoo, but I really appreciated how helpful the staff was today. People were taking masking seriously and I never felt uncomfortably close to anyone. We LOVED the baby chimps!

Love It great place safe and good food

Amazing zoo the best zoo in the area! Lots of rare animals such as pink flamingos penguin & polar bear & artic fox wich u will not see anywhere else guaranteedLots of animals from Africa lions tigers & beats oh my!A bit costly to get in & lots of walking between exhibits so its for those who love to get there steps in!

It was my first time visiting this zoo and I loved it. Its a big zoo with plenty of exhibits. They also practice good precautions when it comes to COVID-19.

I am having the worst year ever in my life my mother passed with cancer my father and her are reunited in heaven.My father also had stage 4 cancer ...as i was asked to come along with friends to the zoo for a moment i was able to let go of the stress and depression. THANKFULLY WITH GOD WATCHING DOWN i enjoyed the time i was given to spend with my friends and the blessing of sight to interact with the wildlife in captivity. Definitely will come back in the future.....also the beer was good just expensive as all get out.

Visit was really interesting. Kids love every bit of time spent there

First time at your zoo. Came for the elephant breakfast with my daughter and granddaughter. We had a wonderful experience and day. Your staff is amazingThey were knowledgeable and very helpful and courteous. I want to especially thank Zack who transported us to certain sites because I needed a wheelchairThe precautions taken for covid were well appreciated. I want to thank you all for a great time.

We booked our time slot for 10 when it opened yesterday and glad we did we left by 11:30 when it was starting to get crowded. People were not staying 6 feet apart at exhibits and while there was timed entry there was no one counting people leaving so there was in my opinion no way for them to tell what capacity they were operating at. It was a warm day in November so it probably drew an usually large crowd but I was disappointed in the crowds considering the rising covid cases we didnt feel comfortable for large parts of our visit. It was our 2 year olds birthday and first trip to the zoo so we tried to make the best of it. Mask compliance was mostly good and glad they were required throughout the zoo or else we would have left earlier and asked for a refund due to the crowds.

It was great. Everyone social distance. Wore mask. Had good time with family.

This zoo is an amazing adventure. Theres incredible animals at each turn, and knowledgeable keepers! I love the new lion and elephant areas. Food here is pricey ! If you will visit often or live in the area get the membership its worth it.

Good for a few hours of animal watching. Recommend if you are looking for something to do.

It was a bit crowded and a lot of things were closed. We got a 9:30 AM slot and entered pretty quickly. Masks are needed and required in certain areas. Overall we (two mid 20s adults) finished in an hour. It was a bit hot and a good amount of walking so be prepared. I would look forward to returning when things open back up.

Even with Covid-19, we still had an amazing time. You can tell they care about the health of not only their visitors but also the animals. We especially enjoyed the African section and visiting the baby Chimpanzees!

Absolutely delightful. Social distancing was responsibly maintained and the reopening was well handled.

Well it was at least clean and the staff was friendly. However there wasnt much to see or do. We paid 22 dollars a ticket and we could have had a better time at our local playground that also has animals to see and touch in AA County. The aquarium was better as we also went there this week

Great for kids. Parking is free and easy. Times entry means zoo wasnt crowded. Overall a great day trip!

Took 4 year old (during COVID-19 era) on a hot summer day. Mask required for employees, adults and child in certain indoor and outdoor areas (look for signage). Most visitors complied. We were able to remove masks in less dense outdoor areas for a fresh air. Shuttles are not running so be prepared to walk long distance from entrance to main zoo area. Stroller, hats, tons of water, sneakers, sunscreen and snacks recommended. Animals were hot as well and often hard to see while they were cooling off. Reservations required for capacity compliance. Made about a week in advance. Not super crowded which made us feel more comfy around people during this Phase. Very organized from entrance, to one ways walking paths, etc....

We love seeing all the animals no matter what zoo we go to. The only thing that would make it even better, would be if the mask mandate was eliminated. Wearing masks deprives the body of oxygen and the mandate is oppressing everyone making them feel treated like lepers.

It was a long walk to see very few animals it was the 1st time we had been and somewhat disappointed I hope that they just had a lot of it shut down but if not the Richmond Virginia zoo was way better we will give it another shot though and we were told our parking was validated and to our surprise we payed 19 to park. Very disappointed

The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore is great! They have a large variety of animals. The staff is knowledgeable and friendly. On our most recent visit , the first since the beginning of the Covid 19 pandemic, we received helpful guidance on how to navigate the new layout. Unfortunately many exhibits were closed during our visit due to either Covid restrictions or construction. The exhibits that were open were fantastic . The animals were active up and moving around which Ill be honest , doesnt happen all the time. I highly recommend a visit to this zoo and my family and I will be returning again and again.

While not the largest zoo, the Baltimore zoo is built on pleasant grounds and has a decent variety of animals and great low key attractions for younger kids. As I visited during covid, several attractions were closed, but the experience was still enjoyable with less crowds and easy access to see the animals.

Anyplace I can spend timwith my granddaughter is amazing!

Its an awesome zoo to visit. But would be better without covid-19. Kind folks work there, very educational.

God social distancing is maintained. Decent cleanliness. Giraffe feeding is the best

The staff sent us back and forth with the existing process. It was way too hot for that especially with year old babies. Then they closed early for an event but no notification of an early closing was on the website when ordering tickets. Still had fun with the kids.

A well done, small zoo. Plenty of room for animals, easy to traverse, reasonable fees and helpful staff. They have good COVID precautions and easy parking.

Great zoo. My kids loved the day we spent. Favorites included baby orangutan, polar bear and penguin exhibit. Staff were friendly and helpful throughout.

BORING...NOT WORTH THE MONEY ! Not many animals and the ones the do have viewing is so limited because many areas closed off. Admission should definitely be reduced all kid areas closed. FOOD AREA covered with Bees. The path to get in is ridiculous if you you have any kind of ambulation concerns dont go !

Had a great time. So things the kids look forward to are currently closed, but it was so nice to go on a Sunday and it not be too busy.

I had an amazing day with my kids! Professional and helpful staff! Really nice atmosphere and great service!No doubt this is a nice place for families with little kids!) Highly recommend this Zoo to all my friends!

We arrived at our scheduled time, which I like because it allowed social distancing. It was our 1st visit & it was a huge surprise literally. I love how big it was & the selection of animals. We came at 2:30 so we missed the Polar Bears, however we saw just about every animal available except the Chimpanzees. There was a long line to see them which was ridiculous. After paying $58 I wasnt willing to stand in a line once I got passed the main gates. Other than that the kids had a great time. Wore them out lol

This zoo is a must see place to bring the kids. The one way system they have to view the animals is great. This was my first time here, and i enjoyed my day with my date.

We had a very good experience here, they have lots of FREE PARKING right next to the entrance, its a nice big zoo with mostly all types of animals.

It was absolutely horrible!!! And to pay $120 or so just to see a few things is pathetic. We are from out of town and thought how nice it would be to take our grandchildren and the family but what a disappointment. I understand a lot was closed because of the pandemic but to charge the prices that you charged was outrageous. I will never go back there again, so sad!

Love animals. They have animals that a small normal zoo doesnt have. Lions, polor bear, penguins, elephants among others. Plus I love the way its laid out. Very nice place 2 walk through and enjoy life.

Almost every attraction closed, which is understandable, but for the price it wasnt worth it right now. I appreciate it being opened at all. Whoever the 2 people are running the food and drink stand next to the giraffe enclosure today around 1:30, they are so rude. It was ridiculous.

This is the first visit to this zoo. I generally go to the Smithsonian zoo in Washington, DC but I wanted to try something different. I felt as though it wasnt worth the money (I believe it was $20 for adult entry). The zoo is very small and doesnt have a good selection of animals that you would expect. I believe it only took us maximum 2 hours to go through the zoo. The staff is all very nice and did a pretty good job with response to Covid-19. My family and I loved that there were hand sanitizer stations and hand washing stations around. I personally I wouldnt go back because the Washington, DC zoo has a much larger selection of animals and is free, but it was a cute visit.

I was a little apprehensive about venturing to the Zoo with it being a Pandemic and all. However, the Maryland Zoo created an effective system. Online ticket purchase only, 20% capacity limit, each family was directed to their own box office windows to scan ticket and were required to mask up upon entry. There was plenty of space to mull about and take pictures without someone hovering around you. Good experience.

The zoo is open, and taking precautions against Covid-19. Check the website for full details--some things are closed, including the trams. Everyone working there was masked and the animals were awesome. On leaving, my son (15yo) remarked he didnt have a great time, he had an excellent time.

We had a great time. The Zoo was very clean and organized. Greeters at the entrance were friendly and informative. There are a few new process and rules to follow during the Coronavirus season. Ticket entry is timed, so you have to plan ahead a little. Some actractions are closed like the polar bear truck and giraffe feeding. But you can still see the animals. We noticed many construction improvements through out the park, especially at the elephant exhibit. We had a good day.

Ive been coming here since I was a kid. I love it!

Ok animal presentations, but 1/3 of the exhibits were closed, no train ride, all the stuff for the kids was a no go because of HEALTH CONCERNS yet there was no sanitizing of hand rails, bathroom doors, floors or stalls, there was piss on the bathroom floor and then 3 hours later it was still in the same spot so no cleaning was done. Disappointed in the overall quality of the visit.

Just a delight. Staff and exhibits are first rate

The Maryland Zoo is such an enjoyable day, and I feel like the food is good, and reasonably priced. We bought a membership since we go all the time anyway, and it is awesome!

Every animal was very activeso glad to see so many

I went here because i was visiting places to go in maryland and this zoo is ok the price should be less but it was ok they should have things more opened i would give this a 5 but too little animals great selection of food places.

Not everything open but there is still a lot of animals to see. Its something I recommend people doing once but I would not go again because there wasnt much of a wow factor compared to larger zoos.

We love going to the zoo! Since our little guy is so young we tend to go during the week when the crowds are a little less which is perfect! We always see animals and love when the keepers have some out where we can take a closer look. My son loves to see Lucy the snake. The grounds are always clean and the staff very pleasant!

I had a great time with a friend here. The place was clean, and the animal seemed well kept for. Just before the zoo closes, around 3:30, they have penguin feeding, and it was very cute. The petting zoo was wonderful too.

There was no one there due to Covid, so it was nice to not be around crowds. However, I have a back injury and the website does not state anywhere how much walking you have to do to get to the attractions, or to get around inside. The shuttle was closed down, so I had no choice but to walk, which hurt me badly. A lot of the exhibits were closed, so my grandson was disappointed at times. The staff was just standing around, not friendly or helpful at all.

This is a nice zoo, just not huge. You can easily see all of it in part of a day. They have been making improvements over the past couple of years, which means you cant see all of the animals all of the time, but you can see that they are making spaces better for the animals.They also have some really neat animals that you dont normally see at places, and a fantastic group of penguins. It is more impressive than the DC Zoo, but this one also costs money to enter.They offer good information and education on the animals and ecology and are making moves towards sustainability with their waste management and food sales.

The Maryland Zoo is one of my favorite places to go in Baltimore. They have a beautiful and open natural designed habitat for the animals. You can tell they really look out for the needs and well being of these beautiful creatures. The Maryland Zoo has really taken all the extra steps to make sure your visit is safe during this time of covid19. We scheduled our visit appointment online. When we arrived we were greeted at the gate by a friendly zoo staffer who gave us instructions for navigating our way through the zoo. They have hand washing stations, one way walkways with arrows showing you which direction to walk. Along the paths are zoo staffers to provide information and help with directions. Since the visits are by appointment, the zoo is not overcrowded so your visit will be very relaxed. The are spaces where masks are required and other open spa es where masks are not required. Concession stands are available for food and drink purchases as well.

Animals were very active. Especially loved seeing the elephants and baby gorillas.

What a great place to visit whole in the city. Its a great little zoo. The New penguin pool is spectacular. The New elephant area is cool and the and lioness are fine to watch.

The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore is massive! I mean you need the day if youve visting. Great place to take the children for the day.

We had a good time at the zoo. We got to see almost all of the animals in about 2 hours, minus the Chimpanzee Forest. There was a slow moving line for that exhibit, since it is enclosed. Everything went well, despite social distancing and masks.But there was one rude male employee driving a golf cart, that drove so fast through my family and another without beeping the horn or slowing down, I was walking with my 5 year old daughter and my husband was pushing our 1 year old son in the stroller. My husband had to tell me to more over. He then proceeded to drive recklessly through another crowd. Though he had more space then, a child can always come running out of nowhere in a public space like that. If I had more information I would definitely share it with management, because his behavior was unacceptable.