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Admission to the zoo is free! Rides on the zoo train & carousel are $3 each. The zoo is open year-round (even in the winter!) from 9:30am-5:00pm. There are a few select holidays when we close at 12:00pm — check out our Visit page for more information.

This varies, as we let our animals decide whether they’d like to be in their indoor or outdoor exhibit each day. So, there may be times when certain animals are not on display or certain animal buildings are closed to the public. Also, some animals are more active in the cooler hours of early morning and early evening, and less active during peak zoo hours. You may occasionally see keepers working in an animal habitat — take the opportunity to ask them about their work and their animals!

Henry Vilas Zoo is located at 702 South Randall Avenue in Madison, just down the street from the University of Wisconsin’s Camp Randall Stadium. The zoo is surrounded by Vilas Park, Lake Wingra, and the University of Wisconsin-Madison Arboretum. For more detailed directions and information about our free parking, refer to our Visit page. Once you’re in the zoo, you can use this map (also posted around the zoo) to get around.

Yes! You can join our Conservation Club, where 50% of your membership goes directly to wildlife conservation. We work with several conservation partners from around the globe who work in the field to protect wildlife habitat and work with local communities to preserve wildlife.