Voted by Newsweek readers as the Best Zoo in the country, the North Carolina Zoo is a must-visit for families and animal lovers! It may be hard to believe but the North Carolina Zoo is the largest natural habitat zoo in the world and one visit will show you why. Located in Asheboro, NC, about 75 miles from Raleigh and Charlotte, plan on a day trip if you visit. With over 1,700 animals, 250 species, and 5 miles of walking paths, expect to spend a half day in the park to truly enjoy everything.
What’s really great about the North Carolina Zoo is that it’s a totally affordable and budget-friendly adventure! $15/ticket for adults, $11/ticket for children, you can purchase tickets online and you’ll get a physical wristband as you enter. Parking is free and available at the main North America side of the zoo along with a second parking lot on the Africa side. There’s also a shuttle bus that regularly transports guests from one lot to the other if you need a hitch back to your vehicle. I prefer to start on the main, N. America side of the zoo, since the Africa side is a great way to end your visit!
Exploring through the N. America area, you’ll find everything from alligators to otters, polar bears, bison, and elk in areas representing their natural habitat. But of course, depending on what time you visit (and a bit of luck), what you’ll see actively moving around will vary a lot. I’d have to guess earlier in the day and at dusk is when you’re most likely to see zoo inhabitants rather than during the heat of mid-day.
Along the walking paths, you’ll find a variety of drink stands, restaurants, souvenir shops, and playgrounds to keep the kids busy. Prices are pretty reasonable compared to what you might find at a Florida park so thank you very much!
As you head out of the North America section of the park, you’ll hit a lot of construction. As part of a 2022 expansion plan, the Asia and Australia areas of the zoo are being built and scheduled to open in 2026. As big as the North Carolina Zoo already is, I can’t imagine how great it will be when these new sections open!
You’ll next hit the Prairie Outpost (a snack shop/cafe) which is about halfway through the North Carolina Zoo. A little further in you’ll also find the Mangum Desert building, a glass-domed structure exhibiting a variety of lizards, tortoises, bats, and other desert critters. Note that there’s also a zoo tram stop here which will pick you up and drop you off at three different areas of the park if the little ones get tired. You’ll also find another snack area and an old-school carousel for the kids halfway through the park. This section is the last for N. American before heading over to the wilds of the Africa exhibits!
First up in Africa are the baboons, gorillas, lemurs and chimpanzees! There habitats are fairly large some getting a close up view may be a challenge. Head to the left and you’ll run into the very spacious areas housing the antelopes, rhinocerous, and elephants. Thankfully there’s a water hole for the elephants right near the path so you’ll likely get to see the huge and majestic pachyderms. Their hides are tinged with the traditional North Carolina red clay soil!
Beyond the elephants you’ll find the giraffes, zebras, lions, and a whole lot more! There’s just so much to see and do at the North Carolina Zoo you really do have to take your time to absorb everything. And at this point in the visit, you might be a bit tired after this long and rich wildlife tour. There’s one final snack and souvenir area here and then you can head out of the Africa entrance to grab the shuttle bus back to North America!
But all in all, I think you’ll find the North Carolina Zoo to be a worthwhile stop if you’re visiting the state and have children. Just choose a cooler day during the spring or fall (North Carolina summers are H-O-T) and I think you’ll have wildly fun time!
Come Sail Away with Hello, Sailor in Cornelius for a Great Meal