The Ultimate Guide: Planning Your Field Trip to Little Rock Zoo

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LITTLE ROCK (September 19, 2024) –Planning a field trip can be a daunting task, but with a little preparation, your visit to the Little Rock Zoo can be a fun and educational experience for everyone. Whether you’re a teacher organizing a school trip or a parent planning a family outing, this ultimate guide will help you plan the perfect field trip to the Little Rock Zoo.

Step 1: Schedule Your Visit

Before you visit, make sure to schedule your trip and take advantage of our group rates for school groups and large parties. To book a field trip, your group must include at least 10 paying guests, and reservations should be made at least 2 weeks in advance.

Spring and fall are vibrant seasons at the Little Rock Zoo, brimming with excitement and offering a lively experience. However, please note that Thursday and Friday mornings in spring can be particularly busy with multiple school groups, so it’s wise to plan accordingly. For a quieter visit, consider coming on Mondays, Tuesdays, or in the afternoons on any day of the week. The fall season, especially, provides a particularly pleasant and tranquil experience.

Step 2: Prepare Your Group

To ensure a smooth and enjoyable trip to the Zoo, follow these preparation tips:

Checking In: Please designate one group leader to handle check-in with Zoo staff. This leader should collect all admission and parking fees from the group before arriving—collecting payments ahead of time is highly recommended for the fastest check-in possible. To receive the group admission rate, the entire group must pay with one single payment at check-in—please allow extra time for counting. Everyone included in the group count must be present and ready to check in together; anyone arriving late or paying separately will be charged regular admission. Teachers, bus drivers, and aides with valid school ID receive complimentary admission. During peak seasons, multiple groups may be checking in at the same time, so we appreciate your patience.

Chaperones: To receive the group admission rate, parents and other visitors must be included in your group’s payment and checked in with the group upon arrival. Anyone not included in the group payment—or arriving late without checking in with the group—is welcome to visit but will need to enter through the main Zoo entrance and pay regular admission.

Parking: Buses park free, guests or chaperones driving their own vehicles will incur a $3.00 parking fee, payable during check-in.

Maps: Download and share the Zoo map with your group prior to your visit. Paper maps will not be provided for large groups due to the high volume of guests.

Train & Carousel: Groups can purchase tokens at $2 per person, per ride. Riders who want to enjoy both the Train and the Carousel will pay $4 total. Please let staff know at check-in if you’d like to add tokens to your total.

Step 3: Plan Your Itinerary

The Little Rock Zoo is home to a wide variety of animals and exhibits, so planning your itinerary in advance can help you make the most of your visit. Be sure to check the daily schedule to see what’s going on while you’re at the Zoo.

Here are some must-see attractions:

Great Apes: Visit the primate section to see gorillas, orangutans, and other fascinating primates.
Big Cats: Get up close with lions, tigers, and other big cats.
Arkansas Heritage Farm: A great spot for younger visitors to interact with friendly farm animals.

Step 4: Make Lunch Plans

Buying Lunch Inside the Zoo: The Zoo offers various food and beverage options at several locations throughout the grounds. Food carts are available seasonally, while Café Africa is open daily (unless otherwise posted) and provides a central, air-conditioned spot with restrooms—ideal for groups to meet and rest. Please anticipate lines and wait times, especially during lunch hours. Please note: The café is not able to accept advance orders at this time.
Bringing Your Lunches: To protect our animals, outside food is not allowed inside the Zoo. Please keep your lunches and ice chests on the bus, as we are not able to provide storage for them inside the Zoo. At lunchtime, you’re welcome to use the designated picnic area located at the Zoo entrance to enjoy your meals. We recommend stopping by the entrance and asking if the picnic area is unlocked before heading in that direction. If you wish to return to the Zoo afterwards, simply have your hand stamped at check-in for re-entry.

Step 5: Educational Opportunities

Enhance the educational value of your trip with these opportunities:

Keeper Talks: Check the schedule for Keeper Chats and animal feedings to enhance your adventure.
Educational Tours: Take your field trip to the next level by adding a Guided Tour from one of our dedicated Educators.
- Please note: This is an add-on experience that costs an additional $3 per person and must be booked separately with our Education Team. This is not a behind-the-scenes experience.
Educational Resources: Free, dedicated resources are available by grade level on our group reservations page.

Step 6: Follow Zoo Etiquette

Be sure to review the Code of Conduct with everyone visiting the Zoo. Respecting the Zoo and its inhabitants is crucial for a safe and enjoyable visit:

Respect the Animals
- Treat our animal residents with kindness and respect—remember, this is their home. Avoid loud noises, teasing, throwing objects, and running. Staying quiet is the best way to see the most animals!
Stay on Marked Paths
- For your safety and the well-being of our animals, please stay on marked paths and behind guardrails. Never cross or lean over railings or barriers.
Please Do Not Feed the Animals
- The animals have specially formulated diets, and outside food can be harmful. Only feed animals in designated areas with provided food.
Respect Our Staff
- We ask that you follow any Little Rock Zoo’s staff direction while visiting. Harassment, obscenity, hate speech, racism, offensive gestures, or otherwise abusive treatment of any other guest, staff member, or volunteer will not be tolerated
Respect the Plant Life
- Leave flowers where they’re growing; do not pick flowers or otherwise damage gardens or tamper with plant life.
Respect Local Wildlife
- While exploring the Zoo, you may encounter local wildlife such as birds, ducks, rabbits, and squirrels. Please respect these animals by giving them their space. Avoid chasing or bothering them, and instead, appreciate them from a distance. Remember, they are wild animals and deserve our respect.
Leave these Items at Home
- For the safety and enjoyment of all visitors, please do not bring outside food, styrofoam containers, balloons, toys or sports equipment, wheeled devices (bikes, rollerblades, hoverboards, scooters), or drones. a full list of prohibited items can be found on the Code of Conduct our page.