Zoos

Columbus Zoo and Aquarium

Name: Columbus Zoo and Aquarium
Address: 4850 W Powell Rd, Powell, OH 43065, Powell, OH, US
Telephone: (614) 645-3400
Rating: 4.7

★★★★☆ 4.7 (41101 reviews)

📍 4850 W Powell Rd, Powell, OH 43065

📞 (614) 645-3400

🌐 www.columbuszoo.org

Visit Website 📍 Get Directions

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About Columbus Zoo and Aquarium

Park showcasing land & sea life with a hands-on tide pool, reptile house, kangaroo walkabout & more. The Columbus Zoo features interactive manta ray and stingray pools where visitors can feed and touch the animals, a rare hands-on experience not commonly found in most zoos. Rated 4.7 out of 5 stars by 41,101 visitors.

Quick Facts

Type: Zoo and Aquarium
Best For: All ages
Mission: Empowering People. Saving Wildlife.
Offerings: Animal encounters, tours, birthday parties, membership programs

💡 Did You Know?

⭐The Columbus Zoo features interactive manta ray and stingray pools where visitors can feed and touch the animals, a rare hands-on experience not commonly found in most zoos
⭐The zoo organizes its animal exhibits by geographic regions of the world, with an exceptionally comprehensive reptile collection noted as among the best collections of reptiles, lizards, and amphibians by visitors
⭐Every visit to the Columbus Zoo supports conservation efforts in Central Africa, directly linking tourism revenue to wildlife protection on the continent
⭐The zoo hosts 'Wildlights,' a seasonal Christmas event featuring illuminated exhibits throughout the park with synchronized light shows set to music, attracting multi-day visits from repeat guests
⭐The zoo is associated with Jack Hanna, a notable conservationist and television personality, making it a destination for conservation-minded visitors

💬 What Visitors Say

💡Plan for at least 2 days to fully appreciate the zoo's extensive exhibits, or prioritize must-see areas like the manta ray pool (where you can feed and touch them), polar bears, and the reptile houses which visitors consistently highlight as among the best they've seen
🕐Visit during off-peak times like weekday evenings or non-holiday weekends to avoid crowds while still seeing active animals. Evening visits during Wildlights season (November-early January) offer a unique experience with fewer visitors than daytime visits
💬Take advantage of AZA membership discounts (50% off tickets) or look for discounted tickets at local Kroger stores to significantly reduce admission costs, especially important given the zoo's higher price point
💡The zoo organizes exhibits by world regions and features interactive experiences like feeding stingrays and manatees at the aquarium section—plan your route to hit these hands-on exhibits early before animal activity decreases in afternoon/evening hours
💡Every visit directly supports conservation efforts in Central Africa through the zoo's Jack Hanna-affiliated programs, making this an educational opportunity to learn about animal behaviors (like polar bear vocalizations/chuffing) and global conservation impact