Best Places to See Animals With Kids in San Antonio
Last updated by Moms Guide SA
Zoo Boo is on at the San Antonio Zoo through Nov. 1, with free trick-or-treating daily from 4 to 5 p.m.
Quick answer
Start with the San Antonio Zoo, where kids 2 and under get in free, or SEA LIFE San Antonio Aquarium downtown for sharks and sea turtles. For a drive-through safari, Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch is northeast of the city. Animal World & Snake Farm Zoo in New Braunfels has a petting zoo, and Cibolo Nature Center in Boerne is free.
- Zoo
- Kids 2 and under free
- Safari
- Drive your own car
- Free
- Cibolo Nature Center trails
Quick picks
- San Antonio Zoo
Giraffes, hippos, lions and gorillas north of downtown. Kids 2 and under are free, and garage parking is free during zoo hours.
- SEA LIFE San Antonio Aquarium
Indoor aquarium at Shops at Rivercenter with an ocean tunnel, sea turtles and a touch pool. Open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch
Drive-through safari with more than 500 animals. Kids 3 to 11 are $21.99.
- Animal World & Snake Farm Zoo
Big cats, reptiles and a petting zoo in New Braunfels. Kids 3 to 12 are $19.99, and 2 and under are free.
- Cibolo Nature Center
Free trails in Boerne where kids can spot turtles and fish in the creek.
Places to see animals at a glance
Prices, ages and hours come from each place, checked Oct 19, 2026. Prices can change, so check before you go.
| Place | Area | Animals | Ages | Kid price | Hours | Official site |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Antonio Zoo | North of downtown | Giraffes, rhinos, hippos, lions, gorillas, kangaroos, reptiles and birds | Kids 3 to 11 pay the child price. 2 and under free. Tiny Tot Nature Spot is for birth to 5. | As low as $8, and prices change by date. See the zoo's site for prices. | Hours change by day. See the zoo's hours page. | sazoo.org |
| SEA LIFE San Antonio Aquarium | Downtown, at Shops at Rivercenter | Sharks, sea turtles, stingrays, seahorses, jellyfish and a touch pool | No ages posted | See the site for kid prices. Adult tickets start at $19. | 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., last entry 4 p.m. | visitsealife.com |
| Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch | Northeast, off Natural Bridge Caverns Rd. | More than 500 animals from 40 species, plus a bird aviary | All ages. The aviary is for ages 3 and up. | $21.99 for ages 3 to 11. Adults 12 and up $31.99. | Open rain or shine. See the ranch site for days and hours. | wildliferanchtexas.com |
| Animal World & Snake Farm Zoo | New Braunfels, off I-35 | Big cats, lemurs, reptiles, a petting zoo and free-roaming birds | 2 and under free | $19.99 for ages 3 to 12. Adults $24.99. | 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Closed Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. | awsfzoo.com |
| Exotic Resort Zoo | Johnson City | Guided tractor tour or drive-thru, plus a petting zoo | Child price is for ages 2 to 12 | $15.95 for ages 2 to 12. Adults 13 to 59 $19.95. Feed is $8. | Daily 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Arrive by 4:30 p.m. | zooexotics.com |
| Once in a Wild Zoo: Café & Cuddles | Northwest, at Refuge Coffee + Beer Garden | Giant rabbits, tortoises, reptiles and guinea pigs | All ages | $18 per person online, $20 at the door | Last Sunday of each month, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. | onceinawild.com |
Zoos and aquariums
Two zoos and an aquarium, with what each one posts about itself.
Nature & Wildlife
San Antonio Zoo
See giraffes and white rhinos on the Naylor Savanna, hippos in Africa Live!, lions in Big Cat Valley and gorillas at Congo Falls. Kronkosky's Tiny Tot Nature Spot is a play area for kids from birth to 5. Ages 2 and younger get in free.
San Antonio
Entertainment
SEA LIFE San Antonio Aquarium
Walk under sharks in the ocean tunnel, see rescued sea turtles and touch sea stars in the rockpool. Open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. with last entry at 4 p.m.
San Antonio
Nature & Wildlife
Animal World & Snake Farm Zoo
Admission includes the petting zoo, free-roaming birds, animal shows, the reptile center and outdoor exhibits with big cats. Open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Parking is free.
New Braunfels
Zoo Boo at the San Antonio Zoo
The zoo's fall event runs through Nov. 1, 2026, and it's included with standard admission.
- Free trick-or-treating daily from 4 to 5 p.m.
- Fiesta de los Muertos, a new Día de los Muertos area
- A DJ every Saturday
- Open until 9 p.m. on Halloween, Saturday, Oct. 31
- The Spider Rainforest has real spiders, so skip it with kids who are scared of them
Drive-through safaris
Drive your own car past the animals. Both parks sell animal feed.
Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch
The drive is more than 6 miles and takes about 1 to 2 hours. Kids 3 to 11 are $21.99 and adults 12 and up are $31.99. The aviary, where kids feed budgies, is $5 more for ages 3 and up. Pets, convertibles and motorcycles aren't allowed.
San Antonio
Exotic Resort Zoo
In Johnson City. Take a guided tractor tour or drive through in your own car, same price. Kids 2 to 12 are $15.95, adults 13 to 59 are $19.95, and feed is $8. Buy drive-thru tickets online to hold a spot.
Johnson City
Petting zoos and animal meet-ups
For farms, U-pick fruit and fall petting zoos, see our farms and petting zoos guide.
Free ways to see animals: nature centers and bird watching
Trails and nature centers where kids can look for birds, turtles and deer.
Cibolo Nature Center
Free to visit, with trails open dawn to dusk. Kids can spot turtles, bass and catfish in the creek, birds like the painted bunting, and deer and rabbits in the woods. Leashed dogs are welcome.
Boerne
Friedrich Wilderness Park
A city park known for bird watching, where endangered golden-cheeked warblers and black-capped vireos nest. Open sunrise to sunset. Pets and bikes aren't allowed.
San Antonio
Mitchell Lake Audubon Center
More than 300 kinds of birds visit each year, including American white pelicans. Call (210) 628-1639 for hours.
San Antonio
Herff Farm (Cibolo Center for Conservation)
Visit the Chicken Schoolyard during the Saturday farmers market, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Boerne
Tips for seeing animals with kids
What the places post on their own sites.
- The San Antonio Zoo doesn't allow outside food or drinks, except bottled water, baby food and formula.
- The zoo rents strollers: $16.25 for a single and $19.50 for a double.
- At SEA LIFE, bring your parking ticket to the front desk for 2 hours in the Crockett Street or Commerce Street garage for $3.
- Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch's drive takes about 1 to 2 hours, so bring water and snacks for the ride.
- At Exotic Resort Zoo, the park suggests one feed for every two people.
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Questions parents ask
Where can kids see animals in San Antonio?
The San Antonio Zoo north of downtown and SEA LIFE San Antonio Aquarium at Shops at Rivercenter are the closest. Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch is a drive-through safari northeast of the city, and Animal World & Snake Farm Zoo in New Braunfels has a petting zoo.
How much is the San Antonio Zoo for kids?
Kids 3 to 11 pay the child price, which starts as low as $8 and changes by date. Ages 2 and younger are free. Parking in the zoo's garage is free during zoo hours.
Is there a drive-through safari near San Antonio?
Yes. Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch has a self-guided drive of more than 6 miles that takes about 1 to 2 hours. Kids 3 to 11 are $21.99. Exotic Resort Zoo in Johnson City has a drive-thru and a guided tractor tour, with kids 2 to 12 at $15.95.
When is Zoo Boo at the San Antonio Zoo?
Zoo Boo runs through Nov. 1, 2026, and it's included with standard admission. Free trick-or-treating is daily from 4 to 5 p.m., and the zoo is open until 9 p.m. on Oct. 31.
Where can kids pet animals near San Antonio?
Animal World & Snake Farm Zoo's admission includes its petting zoo, and Exotic Resort Zoo has one too. Once in a Wild Zoo's Café & Cuddles, on the last Sunday of each month, lets kids meet rabbits, tortoises and guinea pigs. Our farms and petting zoos guide lists more.
Where can we see animals for free?
Cibolo Nature Center in Boerne is free, with trails open dawn to dusk. Kids can look for turtles and fish in the creek and birds along the trails.
How we check facts
We check the facts in this guide on each venue's official site, and we update the guide when they change.
We don't make up ratings or reviews.