Franklin Park Zoo

Our first trip to the zoo. Free Parking was easy and convenient. A few exhibits were closed but we enjoyed the birds, gorillas, prairie dogs and interactive exhibits. We will definitely go back in the summer. We had discounted passes from the Boston Public Library!

This zoo isn't like the rest. The conservation aspect is visible. The staff is friendly, educated, and helpful. The zoo grounds itself has a very natural feel, its in the woods with trails and plenty of shade. The enclosures are very nice. The animals appear content and healthy. There are no sad vibes like most zoos! I highly recommend!

The zoo is spread over a large area and offers plenty of free parking, which is convenient. There is also a nice play area for kids with slides, swings, and other activities, making it a good place for families with young children. However, I was a little disappointed with the overall experience. There weren't many animals, and most of the attractions were common ones like the gorilla, giraffes, and lions. I was expecting to see a wider variety of animals, especially some less common species. We also had trouble finding the zebra enclosure because the directions were unclear, and the viewing area appeared to be blocked. Another downside was the parking entrance and exit, which have large potholes and are unpaved with a sandy surface making it inconvenient to drive through. Overall, the zoo has plenty of space and some good features for kids, but I expected a greater variety of animals, clearer signage, and better-maintained access roads. It was an average experience overall.

The Franklin Park zoo is the perfect size for a 1 day outing for a family. Small enough to walk around the entire zoo without getting tired but large enough to keep you active and interested in all the different animals. There was a very goofy guerilla there which had everyone interested in its playtime. We went the first time during spring break so there was a ton of people including a lot of classes of very young kids. I'd suggest going on less busy hours especially if you want to parking sense the two lots are tiny. I'd also suggest a membership or look into when the prices might be cheaper. It would have been $90 for our family of four if we hadn't gotten a membership. Depending on the membership you get you could pay for it in two visits. Prices for food and merch were high like most event spaces but I found the zoos food and shops were higher than even I expected. Usually hats and shirts are around $25 to $35 but I found them to be $35 for hats and around $45-50 for shirts and sweaters. Food was $18+ in their cafe with a single small slice of pizza being $8. Definitely suggest bringing on a picnic!

I had a wonderful visit to Franklin Park Zoo and it was a great experience for both adults and kids. The zoo is very spacious, clean, and relaxing to walk through. There is a lot of room to explore, which makes the visit comfortable even on busy days. It is a perfect place for families looking to spend a fun and enjoyable day together. One of the highlights of our visit was seeing the giraffes up close. They were beautiful and fascinating to watch. The lions were also very impressive and exciting to see in their habitat. We enjoyed watching the zebras as well, and the variety of birds added even more color and energy to the experience. Every area of the zoo had something interesting to discover. The zoo is designed very nicely, with plenty of walking paths and open areas. It feels natural and peaceful, making it easy to spend several hours there without feeling rushed. The staff were friendly and the atmosphere was welcoming. There were many families with children having a great time, and it is easy to see why this zoo is so popular. Franklin Park Zoo is a fantastic place for kids to learn about animals while having fun outdoors. It combines education, entertainment, and nature all in one place. I would definitely recommend visiting if you are in the Boston area. We had a memorable day and look forward to coming back again in the future.

Great walk! Got some nice exercise. The only things that were really fun were the zebras, giraffes, and the kangaroo/wallaby. We really felt that the animals needed to be better taken care of. The animals we could see seemed matted and uncared for (camels, lion, sheep). In addition, a lot of animals were the only one in their enclosures when other zoos have them with companions. That can’t be good for them, and they seemed sad. (Lion, hyena, painted dog). We also felt areas of the zoo were really run down and need better maintenance. Contrasting the zoo with the New England Aquarium, the difference is night and day.

We got there early so parking was not an issue. There were quite a few exhibits that were empty, or the animals were too shy. It’s tough to say it wasn’t good because animals were too shy, you can’t really blame them, humans kinda suck. Anyways, it was a great walk and nice campus overall. Fun designs and friendly staff.

We visited the Franklin Park Zoo while visiting Boston. It was an ok zoo in my opinion. My kiddos and husband really enjoyed it though. There was a lot of walking to do to see the animals. Would recommend for people with younger children.