Brevard Zoo, Melbourne: Hours, Address, Brevard Zoo Reviews: 4.5/5
Brevard Zoo
Brevard Zoo
4.5
9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
About
Explore the world of animals at Brevard Zoo, an internationally accredited facility home to giraffe, rhinos, big cats and hundreds of colorful parrots. Interactive experiences include giraffe and bird feedings, a children's water play area and kayaking around animal habitats.
Features animals
Learn more about animal welfare in tourismSuggest edits to improve what we show.
Improve this listingFull view
What is Travelers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travelers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travelers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Top ways to experience nearby attractions
The area
Address
Best nearby
Restaurants
117 within 3 miles

Sonny's BBQ
274
0.3 mi$$ - $$$ • Barbecue

Bob Evans
110
0.3 mi$$ - $$$ • American • Vegetarian Friendly

Chick-fil-A
89
0.4 mi$ • Quick Bites • American • Fast Food

Perkins Restaurant & Bakery
97
0.4 mi$$ - $$$ • American • Vegetarian Friendly
Ihop
12
0.3 mi$$ - $$$

Wendy's
20
0.3 mi$ • Quick Bites • Fast Food
McDonald's
17
0.4 mi$ • Quick Bites • Fast Food

Rendezvous Restaurant & Lounge
34
0.5 mi$$ - $$$ • American • Bar • Pub

Cracker Barrel Old Country Store
52
0.6 mi$$ - $$$ • American • Vegetarian Friendly • Gluten Free Options

Cracker Barrel
147
0.6 mi$$ - $$$ • American • Vegetarian Friendly • Vegan Options
Attractions
26 within 6 miles

Brevard Zoo Linear Park
67
0 ftBiking Trails • Parks

Ritch Grissom Memorial Wetlands
371
2.6 miNature & Wildlife Areas

King Center For The Performing Arts
241
Theaters

Space Coast Stadium
227
2.7 miArenas & Stadiums

The Avenue Viera
43
1.5 miShopping Malls

Art Gallery of Viera
9
1.5 miArt Galleries

Wickham Park
174
Parks

Helen and Allan Cruickshank Sanctuary
45
Nature & Wildlife Areas • Hiking Trails
Suseda Park
4
2.3 miParks

The Produce Place of Suntree
14
3 miFarmers Markets
Contribute
Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
2,565 reviews
Excellent
1,804
Very good
599
Average
111
Poor
26
Terrible
25
hdc12079
Titusville, FL209 contributions
Jan 2022
We love the zoo, we are members. I try to arrive at the 9am opening that is reserved for members so we can watch the day to day operations taking place, the animals waking and the keepers getting their food and such. My son loves to spend his day there and we make loop after loop around.
The only down fall is that we renew every year and over time the membership value is just meh. The took away the little extras for the family passes and now only the highest level membership get them. Train rides are absurd now too, its a short- short trip around and while the cost is “ cheap” it just sucks that members get nothing for being a member. The only value is having a reciprocal list but even then most you have to wait to purchase tickets as a walk up windows and it takes so so long, you used to be able to purchase these at the other locations through their separate member areas.
Overall its a good place but there are features that haven’t opened back up and yet you still have to pay full price for a membership. Mast volunteers are nice although they got more than a handful that are not people people and need to rethink there “ job”.
The only down fall is that we renew every year and over time the membership value is just meh. The took away the little extras for the family passes and now only the highest level membership get them. Train rides are absurd now too, its a short- short trip around and while the cost is “ cheap” it just sucks that members get nothing for being a member. The only value is having a reciprocal list but even then most you have to wait to purchase tickets as a walk up windows and it takes so so long, you used to be able to purchase these at the other locations through their separate member areas.
Overall its a good place but there are features that haven’t opened back up and yet you still have to pay full price for a membership. Mast volunteers are nice although they got more than a handful that are not people people and need to rethink there “ job”.
Written January 30, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Meredith L
Michigan City, IN75 contributions
Feb 2022
This is a fantastic small zoo! You can easily visit all the animals within 1-2 hours, but we took much longer as we did not rush. They allow giraffe feedings for $2 per "treat" - romaine lettuce leaves while we were there - and that was definitely the highlight of our visit. Most of the birds were off exhibit due to a bird flu breakout which was kind of a bummer, but it was nice to see they take good care of their animals. Most animals are kept in nature enclosures, and you do not see bars and cages. There were many workers around who could tell you about the exhibits you were seeing, and they all seemed very knowledgeable. There was a sand sculpture exhibition while we were there that was also fun to walk through, and there are plenty of kids activities if you need that. We would definitely go here again while in the area.
Written March 5, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
HeatherPuckett
Parker, CO123 contributions
May 2022
This zoo is a cute little gem that is definitely worth visiting if you are in the area. They have a wide variety of wildlife including giraffes (which you can feed), lions, monkeys, rhinos, and birds. Unfortunately, we did not get to see many of the birds because bird flu had been detected in Florida, so most of them had been taken off of exhibit. But I was glad that the zoo was taking cautionary measures to keep their birds safe and healthy. One of the main reasons we went to the Brevard Zoo was because you can kayak through some of the enclosures on their manmade "river." This was a unique experience that we really enjoyed, although it was hard to see some of the animals because they were not near the water. But we did see a baby alligator and an ostrich egg! Our kayaking tour guide was knowledgeable and informative. It is small enough that you can see and do everything in 4-5 hours. They have ample shade, but it was still incredibly hot and humid (of course). As with any outdoor activity in Florida, be sure to wear sunscreen and drink lots of water.
Written June 13, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Steven S
5 contributions
Mar 2022
this is a fantastic zoo. Very natural setting with a lot of animals. Once in the zoo, for an extra small fee (I think it was $10) be sure to take the guided kayak tour. You paddle around some islands and get close to the animals. Next to the zoo, a separate experience is the tree top trek. This involves climbing up a very high series of ladders and then zip-lining down across the zoo. You must be in decent shape (takes some upper body strength) and not afraid of heights (no refunds if you panic) but this was AMAZING.
Written March 27, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Billy684
Washington DC, DC202 contributions
Mar 2022 • Family
What a quaint lovely zoo! Small, but it has all the necessary zoological entertainment for children and adults alike. You can feed the giraffes in the Africa section for $2, which was so awesome for the kids and great picture opportunities. They also have kayaking through the zoo habitats and zip lining. The kids enjoyed the Paws On area which is an area for young children with splash pad with a shallow pool, playground and petting zoo. Definitely recommend this zoo for families with young children.
Written March 20, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
WorldTravelers1999
United States557 contributions
Mar 2022 • Family
I feel like this place has a lot of potential, but it seemed like about 1/3 of the exhibits were closed. It’s not right to charge full-price admission when so many exhibits are closed. Again, lots of potential but full admission should equal full access. The other option is to be up front with customers about the percentage of closings prior to paying full-price admission.
Written March 14, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Donandninfa
Winter Garden, FL135 contributions
Jul 2020 • Family
The Brevard Zoo was a great way to spend a couple hours with our six year old granddaughter on an early Friday morning. We made reservations and purchased tickets online which is now required for all guests. The reservation process was simple and painless; they forwarded our tickets to us via email which we printed and easily used for park admission at our appointed time. The zoo is well laid out, with a one way traffic flow, plenty of signage and arrow marked path. It is scrupulously clean, with plenty of elbow room to accommodate social distancing; face coverings are required on the zoo grounds. The exhibits were well maintained and spacious; in most cases the animals did not feel caged. There is a good assortment of animals; our favorite habitat was the giraffe enclosure which is a raised shaded platform which puts guests at giraffe eye level. For a very modest $2.00 fee guests can feed a giraffe; our granddaughter loved this encounter - it was the highlight of her visit, along with mingling with the kangaroos. Most of the zoos walkways are well shaded and make for a pleasant, leisurely stroll. Our teenage grandchildren visited Treetop Trek while we toured the zoo. Expect to spend a couple hours here to see everything. There is a splash area for kids along with a petting zoo with alpacas, goats, cavies, and armadillos. We’ve been to a lot of zoos around the world, and found the Brevard Zoo to be a gem. Definitely worth a visit.
Written July 14, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Noe D
Chicago, IL100 contributions
Jul 2020
Went to this zoo today to check it out. I was a little disappointed. I bought my ticket online, since it said online that there was a timed entrance given Covid, and with fees paid $27 plus bucks which seems a bit on the high side for what it it. It took me about 2.5 hours to go through the whole thing, and some exhibits more than once, as well as a 30 plus minute wait for the train. Train cost an additional $3. The zoo was rather small, a lot of the animals in the exhibits were not there including the meerkats or the cheetahs. The giraffe exhibit was nice, and while I didn't pay to feed them, they came over several times and the staff fed them lettuce and provided a lot of info on them which was nice. Probably the best part of the zoo! They were very cute and sweet, and had a blast eating leaves from the nearby trees. There were other cool exhibits like the kangaroos too which were super cute but it was overall limited.
A lot of the other exhibits were sadly disappointing. The train ride while not bad was frustrating. I bought a ticket, and was told that the train would leave at 11:15. The train didn't leave until around 11:50. Frustrating to say the least. The staff was not particularly pleasant either in general.
Couldn't partake in the cafe as it seemed to be close. All the shows seemed closed or cancelled, unsure of which.
Parking was free which is nice considering that the cost of the zoo was already kinda high.
So overall I'm glad I checked it out but given the high price and the limited attractions, probably won't be back again.
A lot of the other exhibits were sadly disappointing. The train ride while not bad was frustrating. I bought a ticket, and was told that the train would leave at 11:15. The train didn't leave until around 11:50. Frustrating to say the least. The staff was not particularly pleasant either in general.
Couldn't partake in the cafe as it seemed to be close. All the shows seemed closed or cancelled, unsure of which.
Parking was free which is nice considering that the cost of the zoo was already kinda high.
So overall I'm glad I checked it out but given the high price and the limited attractions, probably won't be back again.
Written July 5, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Billy W
Merritt Island, FL22 contributions
Apr 2021
First of all, it's expensive. The admission tickets are costly and the food in the park is like most parks, extremely expensive for what you get. The animal exhibits are well done and the animals appear to be well cared for. Loved the aviary and the birds (Lorikeets) landing right on your arm to feed on the $2 cups of nectar they SELL you. The entire zoo is set up to pull money from your pockets. The giraffe exhibit, they charged $2 for a single leaf of lettuce to feed the animal. But the worst rip off of all is the train ride. I was a party of 6 and we had 2 grandkids with us. Cost $24 for a very short train ride that was a total joke. Throughout the park, you are in the open air and they enforced the wear of the masks which was hot and in my view, totally unnecessary. No, I won't be going back, ever!
Written April 29, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Wanderer453911
1 contribution
Sep 2020
An extra fee for online payment (not optional) on top of a pricey zoo entrance fee, not cool. The zoo is an excited adventure, but with a family of eight its unaffordable. This is even an expensive date night adventure. I'm very disappointed.
Written October 10, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Can you bring your own stroller to brevard zoo?
dej
Palm City, FL117 contributions
Yes, sorry for the delay
Is the Zoo open Christmas Day?
Mike M
Orlando, FL19 contributions
No they are not.
How much money to go to cocoa zoo
Deb-NY-FL
Viera, FL766 contributions
Adults$24.95
Seniors$22.95
Children ages 3 - 11$14.95
Children under 3FREE
Shore nails
22 contributions
Hi how far is this place from the Orlando airport?
Heidi-ready-2-travel
Crystal Lake, IL2,086 contributions
Depends on time of day & traffic.... 45 minutes to an hour.
What is admission costs
Denice26
Melbourne, FL60 contributions
It is 20.00.Eat before you go. New company just took over the food and it is expensive. $6.99 for a kids hot dog which is the size of my pinkie finger, little juice box, zoo crackers and a apple before tax.A Icee is 5.15. Dippin Dots sm. Is 5.50. LG 6 something..Bring your own water. Its 3.20 for a water. We the zoo used to sell it for 2.00. It is a beautiful zoo. Takes about 2-3 hours. If you have little kids they have a sm pool area so bring suits
Cclark4108
3 contributions
Can you take drinks in?
tlyn1960
Kansas City, MO113 contributions
We brought in our bottles of water and our refillable bottles too- they have beer too!
hjjoin1
Cocoa, FL
How much does it cost?
888holly888
Palm Bay, FL15 contributions
I buy a yearly family pass but you can check their website for general admission.
Frequently Asked Questions about Brevard Zoo
- Brevard Zoo is open:
- Sun - Sat 9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
- Hotels near Brevard Zoo:
- (0.32 mi) Hampton Inn Melbourne-Viera
- (0.28 mi) avid hotel Melbourne - Viera, an IHG Hotel
- (0.49 mi) Holiday Inn Melbourne-Viera Conference Ctr, an IHG Hotel
- (0.64 mi) La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Melbourne Viera
- (0.79 mi) Home2 Suites by Hilton Melbourne Viera
- Restaurants near Brevard Zoo:
- (0.29 mi) Sonny's BBQ
- (0.35 mi) Bob Evans
- (0.43 mi) Chick-fil-A
- (0.42 mi) Perkins Restaurant & Bakery
- (0.33 mi) Ihop
- Attractions near Brevard Zoo:
- (0.00 mi) Brevard Zoo Linear Park
- (0.07 mi) Treetop Trek
- (3.24 mi) Good Natured River Tours
- (2.62 mi) Ritch Grissom Memorial Wetlands
- (0.63 mi) Baytree National Golf Links