Kansas City Zoo, 202-acre zoological park in Swope Park, Kansas City, United States
Kansas City Zoo is a zoological park in Swope Park, Kansas City, Missouri, covering roughly 202 acres with multiple themed zones. The grounds feature recreated habitats where visitors observe mammals, birds, reptiles, and marine species throughout the day.
The site opened on December 13, 1909, after years of planning by local advocates who wanted to establish a major zoological garden. Since then, the grounds have been expanded and redesigned several times to meet evolving standards in animal care.
Families gather here on weekends to watch animals in settings that mirror their natural homes, and children often attend summer camps focused on wildlife. The name honors the city that has supported this gathering place for more than a century.
Visitors can board a tram, a miniature train, or a sky lift to move across the large grounds and see habitats from above. The best time to arrive is in the morning when animals are more active and pathways are less crowded.
The aquarium opened in 2023 displays marine creatures in tanks lit by daylight, and visitors can touch stingrays in shallow pools. The sky lift platform offers a view of elephants and rhinos from above that you cannot get anywhere else on the grounds.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
