The National Zoo is located at 3001 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008. There are several ways to get to the Zoo, including taking public transportation and driving.

There are pedestrian and vehicle entrances on Connecticut Avenue, at the west side of the Zoo.

There are two entrances for pedestrians and vehicles at the east side of the Zoo, near Rock Creek Park. One is off Rock Creek Parkway, the other is at the intersection of Harvard Street and Adams Mill Road. NOTE: During Homeland Security Orange Threat Level, these entrances are closed, except during morning rush hour. At all other times, visitors must enter at Connecticut Avenue. We're sorry for any inconvenience.

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To get to the Zoo by public transportation:

By Metrorail:
  • Take the Red Line to the Woodley Park/Zoo/Adams Morgan stop or the Cleveland Park stop. The Zoo entrance lies halfway between these stops, and both are a short walk from the Zoo.
  • Tip: It's an uphill walk from Woodley Park to the Zoo, and a level one from Cleveland Park. We suggest you arrive at Cleveland Park and leave from either Metro station.
  • If you exit at the Woodley Park–Zoo/Adams Morgan stop, walk north (away from McDonald's and CVS). The Zoo is about three blocks from the stop, on the right (east) side of Connecticut Avenue.
    Note: It's an uphill walk of about one-third of a mile from Woodley Park. You may prefer to take a bus from this station to the Zoo. Get a bus transfer at the station where you begin your trip (with the transfer, the bus fare is 35 cents). When you arrive at Woodley Park, cross Connecticut Avenue and catch an L2 or L4 bus, in the direction of Chevy Chase Circle. The third stop is the Zoo stop and is right at the Zoo entrance.
  • If you exit at the Cleveland Park stop, take the exit on the east side of the street and walk south, toward the Uptown movie theater and the restaurants that line Connecticut Avenue (away from 7-11 and the Exxon station). The Zoo is on the east side of the street, about three blocks from the stop, after a bridge and just past a large apartment building.
    Note: The walk from Cleveland Park is about half a mile. You may prefer to take a bus from this station to the Zoo. Get a bus transfer at the station where you begin your trip (with the transfer, the bus fare is 35 cents). When you arrive at Cleveland Park, exit on the west side of the street (by the restaurant Indique) and catch an L1 or L2 bus, in the direction of Dupont Circle or McPherson Square. The third stop is the Zoo stop and is across the street from the Zoo entrance.
Metrobus:

To get to the Zoo by car:

After following the appropriate directions below and arriving at the Zoo, you can enter the Zoo from Connecticut Avenue, Harvard Street, or Rock Creek Parkway*. Parking in the Zoo and nearby is limited, so we strongly encourage you to use public transportation.

By car from Virginia via:

By car from Maryland via:

Parking:

Parking at the Zoo costs $10 for the first hour, $15 for two to three hours, and $20 for more than three hours, but is free for FONZ members. Every dollar you spend at the Zoo—for parking, food, and gifts—supports our education, research, and conservation efforts.

Driving to the Zoo January 17-20? See special inauguration weekend parking information.

Please note: The Zoo is a popular destination, and lots fill early in the day during spring break and summer, so we encourage you to take the Metro. We are located in a city, and there is not a lot of street parking in the neighborhood.

Tour bus parking is extremely limited, and can be guaranteed only to groups that book one of our Group Safari Packages. Tour buses may not drop off passengers on Connecticut Avenue. This is both unsafe and illegal.

School buses
During the school year, reserved bus parking is available only during the busy spring season, from April 13 to June 12, 2009. Reservations for this time will be taken after March 2, 2009, by calling 202.633.4480. Parking for the remainder of the school year is available most weekdays. On weekends and during the summer, bus parking is not available.

The Zoo is just a few minutes by public transportation or car from the Capitol, the White House, and the Smithsonian museums on the Mall.

Get directions from the National Zoo to:

 

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