Saint Louis Zoo Adventure Pass Well Worth the Fee

Last summer my granddaughter and I visited the Saint Louis Zoo in St. Louis, Missouri. Zoo admission is free. However, we opted for the Adventure Pass, which gets you into six attractions that aren’t included in the free admission. The Adventure Pass is well worth the $12.95 fee (fee may change seasonally). In fact, the Adventure Pass fee is less than admission at other major zoos. We had planned to spend only the morning at the zoo. But with all that the Adventure Pass offers, we ended up staying all day.

At first we walked…and walked…and walked…as you do at any zoo. We saw reptiles and amphibians.

St. Louis Zoo - Lizard
St. Louis Zoo - Lizard Two
St Louis Zoo - Tortoise One

It was hard to pull away from the penguins and puffins—they’re so cute!

St Louis Zoo - Penguins Singing
St Louis Zoo - Puffins

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Of course, primates are always a zoo highlight.

St Louis Zoo - Monkey
Saint Louis Zoo - Monkey Pair

This zoo resident and my granddaughter sat staring at each other for several minutes, imitating each other.

St Louis Zoo Primate House

Walking around a zoo on a hot St. Louis summer afternoon gets tiring. That’s when it’s nice to have the Adventure Pass. More than once we took the Zooline Railroad. It was relaxing to ride through the zoo for a while instead of walk. We also took advantage of it to get from one part of the zoo to another.

Saint Louis Zooline Railroad

I can’t resist a carousel, so we took a spin on the animals.

St Louis Zoo - Conservation Carousel

We also petted the Stingrays at Caribbean Cove, checked out the Children’s Zoo, and enjoyed the Sea Lion Show. All of these activities usually aren extra fee. But, with the Saint Louis Zoo Adventure Pass, they’re included.

St Louis Zoo - Sea Lion Show
St Louis Zoo - Sea Lion Show 2

To cool off from the afternoon and for more entertainment we saw the show at the 4-D Theater. 4-D shows are always fun, with the vibrating seats, mist, and other surprise elements.

Before we knew it, it was time to head back to the our hotel. We never even got to the giraffes, lions or bears, which we’ll have to save for a return visit. Had we not had the Adventure Pass, we probably would have tired out and left much earlier.

If you visit Saint Louis Zoo

Saint Louis Zoo, located in Forest Park in St. Louis, Missouri, is consistently ranked among the top zoos in the United States. Admission is free. However, there is a parking fee, and as noted in the article, a fee for extra zoo attractions. You can purchase the attractions included in the Adventure Pass separately at $3 to $7.95 each, but the Adventure Pass offers a big savings when experiencing multiple attractions. Check the website for complete zoo details.

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Saint Louis Zoo

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4 thoughts on “Saint Louis Zoo Adventure Pass Well Worth the Fee

  • August 14, 2019 at 2:03 pm
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    I’m trying to find out what it would cost for my husband and I to be able to do everything in the zoo we are seniors thank you for your time Tonce

    Reply
    • August 14, 2019 at 3:48 pm
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      Hi Tonce. Basic admission to the Saint Louis Zoo is free. However, there is a parking fee if you are driving there. You can check the parking fees at https://www.stlzoo.org/visit/parking-directions. To take advantage of almost everything the zoo offers, you’ll want to purchase an Adventure Pass, which as of today, is $12.95 per person. The Adventure Pass includes the Children’s Zoo, Zooline Railroad, Conservation Carousel, 4D Theater, Sea Lion Show, and the Stingrays at Caribbean Cove. (Note that the Sea Lion Show and Stingrays at Caribbean Cove are seasonal attractions.) Only the Safari Tour ($5 per person) and Wild Wonder Outpost (A Discovery room designed for very young children) are not included in the Adventure Pass. Food is available for purchase at various restaurants and food stands and special events may have a separate fee. See upcoming events at https://www.stlzoo.org/events/calendarofevents.

      Reply
      • August 31, 2023 at 9:56 pm
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        Is there any possibility of an adult having the opportunity to pet an elephant?

        Reply
        • September 13, 2023 at 12:13 pm
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          Carolyn, I don’t see elephants listed on the zoo’s available tours, but I suggest you check with Guest Relations at guestrelations@stlzoo.org or (314)646-4689.

          Reply

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