Peoria Zoo
African grasslands, primates, big cats, Australian species, reptiles, and a century-old park setting make close observation possible without an all-day march.
Artwork inspired by Aaron Bohrod
Peoria Zoo’s compact scale supports patient observation. The Africa! loop brings giraffes, rhinos, zebras, lions, and smaller species into a landscape sequence, while Asian Trail, Tropics, and the Conservation Center allow comparisons in locomotion, diet, and habitat use. Read labels for the zoo’s breeding and field-conservation roles, not only range maps.
A two- to three-hour route can include every major zone without the fatigue of a metropolitan mega-zoo, but weather changes animal access and behavior. Check chats or feeding times, allow children to repeat a favorite viewing area, and pair the visit with Luthy Botanical Garden only if energy remains; the two institutions have separate entrances and schedules.
- Opened
- 1955
- Main loop
- Africa!
- Allow
- 2–3 hours
Quick guide
- Use the compact scale
- Return to an animal later and compare behavior rather than treating each window as one chance.
- Compare movement
- Watch how hoofed animals, cats, primates, reptiles, and birds use space differently.
How to make Peoria Zoo count
- Use the compact scale
- Return to an animal later and compare behavior rather than treating each window as one chance.
- Compare movement
- Watch how hoofed animals, cats, primates, reptiles, and birds use space differently.
- Ask about population work
- Connect breeding recommendations and transfers with the wider managed population.
- Do not overpack the park
- Choose the zoo or add the botanical garden only if time and attention remain.
Good to know
Open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with last admission at 4:30 p.m. The zoo closes on its listed major holidays and may adjust hours for severe weather. Free parking is shared with Glen Oak Park near the zoo entrance. Busy park events can increase the walk.
Notice these
- Africa! loop
- Asian Trail
- Conservation Center