Lincoln Park Zoo — Chicago, Illinois

Address2001 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60614

HoursOpen every day of the year. Gates 10 a.m.–5 p.m.; animal buildings and Farm-in-the-Zoo 10 a.m.–4:30 p.m. (official visit pages)

PricesFree

Price notesAdmission is always free. Rides and experiences are priced separately. ZooLights (Nov 20, 2026–Jan 3, 2027) is a separately ticketed evening event.

Age notesFree for all ages; no tickets or reservations are needed for general admission.

BookingNo reservation needed for general admission.

Suggested timeAbout 3 hours

AccessibilityThe zoo publishes accessibility information on its own site (lpzoo.org/accessibility); specific features are not enumerated in the text fetched.

ParkingZoo lot at 2400 N Cannon Dr (entrance at Fullerton Parkway and Cannon Drive): free for the first 30 minutes, then $35–$45 per day; lot open 6 a.m.–11 p.m.; cash not accepted (official Hours & Location page).

ParkingZoo lot at 2400 N Cannon Dr (entrance at Fullerton Parkway and Cannon Drive): free for the first 30 minutes, then $35–$45 per day; lot open 6 a.m.–11 p.m.; cash not accepted (official Hours & Location page).

StrollersNEW, PAGE-VERIFIED (Accessibility page): the zoo advises caution operating strollers (and mobility devices, walkers and canes) because many areas contain narrow walkways and doorways, hanging tree branches and/or uneven terrain, and grounds surfaces include brick, dirt paths and aggregate as well as concrete and tile. No stroller rental is mentioned on the page.

AccessibilityPAGE-VERIFIED (Lincoln Park Zoo Accessibility page, read in full — this replaces the previous placeholder that no features were enumerated): wheelchairs (standard, pediatric and bariatric) and electronic conveyance vehicles (ECVs) are available first-come, first-served at Searle Visitor Center — wheelchairs are free with an ID or $20 refundable deposit; ECV rental costs $30 plus an ID or refundable $20 deposit; guests renting either are encouraged to enter through the East Gate. All public buildings have at least one wheelchair-accessible entrance; elevators and ramps to second stories are in Regenstein Small Mammal-Reptile House, Park Place Café and Bird's Eye Bar & Grill; some buildings/habitats (e.g. the free-flight area in McCormick Bird House) lack automatic doors for animal-safety reasons. The lot at 2400 N. Cannon Drive includes 28 accessible parking spaces; ADA paratransit drop-off/pick-up is at the East Gate, 2150 N. Cannon Drive, and paratransit vehicles may stay in the lot up to 30 minutes without charge. Accessible restrooms are listed for 11 locations across the zoo; service animals are welcome under the zoo's ADA service animal policy. ASL interpreters and open captioning are available on request for events, classes and programs (email at least 14 days in advance); scripts of animal-demonstration narration are available at each demonstration. The Lionel Train Adventure has a wheelchair-accessible caboose and the Endangered Species Carousel has moving and stationary animals and a ramp for access. Grounds surfaces vary (brick, concrete, tile, carpet, dirt paths, aggregate) and many areas have narrow walkways/doorways and uneven terrain — the zoo advises caution with mobility devices, walkers, canes and strollers.

Sensory notesNEW, PAGE-VERIFIED (Accessibility page): the zoo is KultureCity Certified Sensory Inclusive and an Epilepsy Foundation of Greater Chicago Seizure Smart Partner. Sensory bags (fidget tools, noise-reduction headphones and other resources) can be checked out at Searle Visitor Center at no cost with an ID; weighted lap pads are also available there on request at no cost with an ID. Quiet rooms are located in Searle Visitor Center (ask staff/volunteers; commonly used for breastfeeding, sensory relief and prayer; lockable doors in a staff-only area). The Accessibility Map (high-contrast) identifies high- and low-sensory locations, captioned videos, tactile experiences, benches/rest stops and path lengths; a Visual Schedule (English and Spanish, borrowable at Searle Visitor Center and the Member Center with an ID deposit), a social narrative on the KultureCity app, and a Communication Board support visit preparation and communication. The page also gives per-building sensory notes (e.g. McCormick Bird House free-flight area is warm and noisy with birds that may fly close; Pritzker Family Children's Zoo building can get very loud and hectic; Helen Brach Primate House is generally dark and fairly quiet) and lists tactile elements across exhibits.

Family facilitiesNEW, PAGE-VERIFIED (Accessibility page): an adult changing table is available at Searle Visitor Center (ask staff/volunteers for access to that restroom); child-sized changing tables are available at public restrooms throughout the zoo. Single-stall, all-gender and family restrooms are at Regenstein Macaque Forest, East Gate, Pepper Family Wildlife Center, Searle Visitor Center and Pritzker Family Children's Zoo. The Searle Visitor Center quiet rooms are commonly used for breastfeeding.