BrookField Zoo
add photosLocated about 15 miles west of downtown Chicago in the suburb of Brookfield, the Brookfield Zoo is the largest zoo in the greater Chicago area. More than 2,500 animals of all types live within 215 acres of carefully re-created habitats, including savannas, seascapes, rain forests, and deserts.
$12 for general admission. $8 for children and seniors. Children under 3 are free. Special exhibits cost more. Packages are available.
44 Reviews for BrookField Zoo
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"Well worth it!!"
The Nitty Gritty: We went here on a Friday morning In August and it was already getting busy. Since we had 2 free general passes (my son was free since he was under 2) we splurged on the trolley and stingray admissions.
There is a huge parking lot ($9), but I would consider coming early if you want to park close to the entrance.
The fun: Well what can I say - we saw lions, tigers, bears, monkeys, polar bears, giraffes - you name it! The park is huge I would definitely allow the whole day to take everything in. They have special events throughout the summer and we were lucky enough to have the Blackhawks fest during our visit. Lots of people in Blackhawks gear, music playing and games being played. Autographs could be signed by a player.
They also have a few unique eats - we ordered food at a restaurant that served buffalo burgers.
Son's fav moment: Watching the polar bears playing around in water.
Parent's fav moment: The mini trolley which let us rest our weary feet and watching our son bust a groove to the music played during the Blackhawks fest.
Bottom Line: Most definitely!! We love this zoo and would consider a membership once our children aren't able to enter for free.
Tip: Lots of parents with kids brought their wagons (or you can even rent one). We have a wagon and will definitely bring it next time. Splurge on the trolley if you can - your feet will thank you!
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"Lots to see!!"
This place was so much fun!! My son got to pet and feed sting rays. We used the trolley for our long jaunts which made the day a little less exhausting. I really enjoyed the traditional zebras and giraffes, but they had several really unique things as well. Definitely an all day event, and be sure to wear your comfy shoes. Also, snacks and sodas are very expensive, so try to pack a few to take the edge off.
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"Really nice zoo"
We really enjoyed this zoo. We did have trouble renting a stroller. They were saying that that was not normal for them having trouble locating a stroller. We did end up finding one but would want to bring our own next time just in case. The animlas were easy access for our small kids. The restrooms were plentyful and the zoo was kept clean. you know how the gift stores are always expensive? Well this one seems to be more expensive and has really cool stuff. So if you are not planning on buying anything don't take your kids in thee to just look around. :-)
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"Excellent Zoo"
The BrookField Zoo is pretty great by many standards, although it is quite pricey. If you can get a free pass, do so. Check out the Entertainment Book to see if you can find some deals, or take the train so you don't have to pay for parking. It can get crowded, especially in the smaller exhibits, so if you have a baby I'd recommend bringing him/her in a baby carrier and packing LIGHT if at all possible. Lincoln Park zoo is not as great, but it is FREE.
1 family found this helpful
"Best zoo in the area"
We have gotten season passes to this zoo since our 8-year-old was 2. Hamilton Family Zoo (costs extra from general admission) always has fun things for the kids to do.
The new bear exhibit is awesome...very well thought out and taken care of.
Great for kids of all ages.
Be sure to pack a lunch and save $ on food. Bring an umbrella stroller if you plan to ride the trams; only small umbrella strollers will be allowed on the trams.
Skip the dolphin show.
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"Great!"
There are so many things to do at this zoo! I always have so much fun when I get to go there. It isn't too expensive, I believe it is about $20 for the car. Then admission is about $25. It's all worth it! I recommend you go to the Dolphin Show! I had a blast!
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"Love It"
We received free passes from a friend and were thrilled to go! Our son loves to see all the animals! Be sure to stop by the Hamil Family Play Zoo for a wonderful hands on learning experience. We packed a picnic lunch and it was perfect to avoid the high food and drink costs of the concession stands. The zoo is open all year long and they have a wonderful Winter light exhibit around Christmas time.
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"Best Zoo!"
This is a remarkable zoo! I love the variety of animals, it is easy to get around, snacks and restrooms are readily available. Our must go to is the hands on kids area. This is a great place where kids can dress up like a bird and sit in a large birds nest. They can also dress up like a vet and look at animal x-rays and pretend they are a real vet. Lots to see and do, a must stop by for any visitor or local.
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"WOW "
This zoo is ok has alot of exhibits but be prepared that this zoo will break your pocket for a day. My family just went in the summer and I was pregnant and had to walk tons but My husband for 2 adults 1 child was $60 bucks and extra if you wanted to see the dolphin show and to pet the sting rays and food was outrageous too. There was so many people here I couldn't understand why till I seen all the attractions it was a good 10mile radius of zoo if not more but just bring the bank
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"Great Zoo"
We really enjoyed the Brookfield Zoo! The price is cheap for a family and even better for a season pass! The zoo is very large but features so much for all ages! My kids enjoyed the petting zoo area and the dolphins! The zoo is very clean and there is staff everywhere to answer questions! They offer great facts by each animal for a better learning experience! A must see zoo!
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"Good enough if you get free passes"
We had a free pass, and I'm so glad we did! Parking was around $9. The zoo was nice, but we must have gone during an "off" time because many of the animals were not out. We went early in the day (around 10am). The food selections were not anything to write home about, so definitely pack a lunch to avoid paying out the wazoo for substandard food.
1 family found this helpful
"Brookfield Zoo trip"
Brookfield zoo offers awesome family fun for all ages. The animal exhibits are well kept and very educational. The Family zoo and Children's zoo weren't worth the extra money for our toddlers, but they loved the other exhibits enough that it didn't matter. My daughter's favorite part was the giraffe outside exhibit, because you can get pretty close to them. I would recommend this zoo for a family day trip, just keep in mind that if you take a stroller you can't take it into a lot of the indoor exhibits.
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"Brookfield Zoo"
My family and I enjoy going to Brookfield Zoo several times a year. A wonderful event is going during wintertime when they have the decorated Christmas trees and ice carvings. My family and I would dress warmly and drink tons of hot chocolate to get us through. Get there early as the parking lot and zoo fill-up quickly.
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"Great Zoo!"
This is a great zoo for the whole family. There is an openness to this zoo, so even when it is busy, it doesn't seem cramped. Don't miss out on the enclosed rain forest or the amazing butterfly garden. If you tire from looking at all the animals, you can take a break on the grassy areas. Very nice.
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"Great for older kids not much for the younger ones."
I took my son and niece to Brookfield over Christmas Break. They are 2 and 4. It was very cute and nicely decorated for the holidays, however the only problem was that my son whose in a stroller cannot see over the barricades to the animals. They have the fences open for strollers to come right up to the displays but then the concrete barricade is a lot higher. Of course you have to take the baby out and then everyone knows they dont want to go back in as nicely as they came out and it was quite exhausting. Other than that it is a nice zoo always clean and spread out enough that its not too crowded.
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"Love this place!"
I take my godson here pretty frequently, and I think I enjoy it as much as him! The exhibits are awesome and they have things for everyone to enjoy. I always bring snacks to save money at the concession stands. Also, my library has 4 passes that you can check out, and then all you have to pay for is parking. I would definitely recommend this for a fun, inexpensive day out of the house.
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"Not enough time to enjoy this gem!"
I cannot say enough good things about Brookfield Zoo. I grew up enjoying trips to this zoo and now enjoy bringing my children as season pass holders. You simply cannot see everything in one trip, but you can easily find the animals you want to see most using their maps. Although large, Brookfield offers a trolley to get you around, as well as numerous shows to enjoy, food stands to keep you refreshed and even a carousel that my kids can't get enough of!
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"Brookfield Zoo - fun for all ages!"
We love Brookfield Zoo. It is wonderful for people of all ages. It is a large zoo with tons to do. Lots of fun little exhibits and plenty for children to do. Make sure you bring a stroller or wagon, this is a large zoo and little legs get tired easily.
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"An Annual Family Outing"
We love Brookfield Zoo! There is something for everyone, fun for all ages. We have been taking our son to Brookfield since he was just a few months old. After a long cold Chicago winter, this is the best place to go to get out of the house.
There are so many different areas to explore and it seems like they are always adding on new and exciting exhibits. Be sure to check out the monkey house, you can spend half of your day there just watching all of the primates interact with each other.
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"Amazing Zoo!"
This zoo is simply amazing! I've been to many other zoos, but this one definitely tops my list at being the best. And when I say it's amazing, trust me... it's AMAZING! I love the many attractions, the food, and the people are very kind and generous. I guess that the only bad thing about the zoo would be that you are unable to take strollers into the many attractions. Other than that, it's a simply amazing place to visit!
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