Visiting the Smithsonian National Zoo in Washington DC

Visiting the Smithsonian National Zoo in Washington DC is a fun day trip for the whole family. Both of my kids love it when we go to the zoo.

Visiting the Smithsonian National Zoo in Washington DC is a fun day trip for the whole family. Here is the story about our trip to the zoo and a few tips for visiting the Zoo with kids.

If you’re planning your first trip to the Smithsonian National Zoo get ready it’s an awesome place to explore.

Admission to the Zoo is free, parking in one of the zoo parking lots is $22. The parking lots fill up fast so arrive early if you want to park on zoo property.

We have found free street parking near the zoo several times, but depending on how busy it is finding parking can be a challenge. Taking the metro is a good option so you don’t have to worry about parking.

Things To Do at The National Zoo

The zoo has so many different areas to explore and animals to see. Below I’m sharing just a few of our favorites.

Animal Statues

The Zoo has tons of Animal Statues throughout the park that make for great photo opportunities with your little ones. (They are also great for climbing all over, just ask my kids!)

Along with the fun statues throughout the park, there are a lot of LIVING Animals! We had tons of fun exploring the park and visiting the animals.

Visiting The Animals

The kids loved watching some of the animals and others we moved past rather quickly.

Giant Panda National Zoo Washington DC

Giant Panda

The Giant Panda was our favorite animal to watch at the zoo. The Panda was moving all over while we were there it was fun to see her so active. If you don’t see the panda outside don’t worry sometimes they are inside the panda house.

The National Zoo is one of only a few zoos in the country that have Giant Pandas. Other Zoo’s that have giant pandas are Zoo Atlanta in Atlanta, Georgia and the Memphis Zoo in Memphis, Tennessee.

Elephant Eating at the Smithsonian National Zoo in Washington DC is a great place to spend the day with the family. There is even a petting zoo area. Admission to the Zoo is free - Parking is $22.

Elephants

The National Zoo is set up in an awesome way so you can see some of the animals from a few different areas.

We could see the elephants from high up above and then from the side and again up close.

Tips for Visiting The National Zoo

After Visiting the zoo several times here are a few tips to make your trip as stress-free as possible when exploring with kids!

Consider Visiting During the Week

During the week, there are fewer people at the zoo, especially during the school year. If you are going on a weekend expect larger crowds.

We just went on a Saturday a couple of weeks ago and though it was more crowded then when we visit during the week it wasn’t too crazy since the zoo is so large.

Side Note: The crowds are almost always crazy when you’re in the area right around the pandas.

Arrive Early

Earlier in the day there are typically fewer people and during the summer it is often cooler so the animals are more active. If you are visiting on a weekend arrive early especially if you want to park in one of the zoo parking lots.

Bring a Stroller

The National Zoo is situated on a hill and there is a lot of walking to see all of the animals. If your kids are at the age they like to walk but still get tired and want to be carried, I would totally recommend you bring a stroller. (If you don’t bring a stroller and end up wanting one, they are available to rent.)

Take Pictures

I love seeing how excited my kids get when they see the animals. It’s always fun to capture that excitement in a photo or video.

Taking pictures is one of my favorite ways to journal about our adventures, so of course, I’m going to recommend you remember to pull out your camera or phone and capture the moment.

Bring Snacks or a Picnic

There are a number of picnic tables and benches throughout the zoo perfect for a picnic lunch.

There are a few options to purchase food if that’s what you would prefer. We always like to bring fun foods I know my little ones will eat. If you don’t want to bring a whole meal that’s totally fine. But don’t forget to bring a few snacks.

Stay Hydrated

Don’t forget to bring water and drink it! Spending the day outside especially in the heat will make you really glad to have some cool water with you.

We like to bring our Thermoflask water bottles since they do such a good job of keeping our water cold!

Don’t Forget the Wipes and Hand Sanitizer

With so many things to touch and explore wipes and hand sanitizer are a must! The kids always have dirty hands from picking up every rock and stick they can find along with touching everything else.

Print a Map at Home

You can purchase a map at the zoo or to save money you can print a map at home and bring it with you. Having a printed map can also help you plan how you want to do your day at the zoo before you arrive!

Have you visited the National Zoo? What is your favorite animal to see?

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2 thoughts on “Visiting the Smithsonian National Zoo in Washington DC”

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