Your Guide to NJ Area Zoos: Drive-Throughs and Reopening Dates

Take a walk through the zoo with new social distancing measures, or see the animals the safety of your car.

zoo
Six Flags Great Adventure

While many zoo attractions are still shut down due to COVID-19, a few spots have begun offering drive-through options. Here are some nearby places to see animals, from barnyard goats to African Elephants.

Brookhollow’s Barnyard
Boonton
Hop in the car to see farmyard favorites like horses, goats, alpacas and even a peacock at Brookhollow’s Barnyard. Reservations are required and tickets can be purchased online. After making a reservation, you’ll have an hour to drive-through the farm as many times as you want. Tickets go on sale at 10 am for time slots the following day. Limited quantities are available so be sure to get online early to reserve a spot. $10/car on weekdays, $15/car on weekends and holidays. Follow Brookhollow’s Barnyard on Facebook for updates.

Lehigh Valley Zoo
Schnecksville, PA
For bison, camels, porcupines and zebras, visit the Lehigh Valley Zoo’s Cruise LVZoo event this weekend. The event will run for the last time this Saturday and Sunday from 11 am to 2:30 pm.  Exclusive merchandise will be available for purchase all weekend. Reservations must be made online. Tickets are $25/car for non-members and $10/car for members. Visit the Lehigh Valley Zoo website for rules and FAQs. The zoo plans to reopen as soon as Lehigh County enters the green phase of the state’s reopening plan.

Six Flags Great Adventure
Jackson
Go on a safari right here in New Jersey at Six Flags Great Adventure. The 350-acre attraction is now open as a drive-through for the first time since 2013. The safari is home to 1,200 animals from six continents, including elephants, tigers, giraffes and more. It takes about an hour to drive-through the safari. Reservations can be made online after purchasing tickets. No tickets will be sold at the gate. $20/person, free for members and season pass holders. Visit the Safari Adventure website for rules, FAQs and to learn about the safari’s 11 areas.

In addition to these drive-throughs, a few NJ zoos have reopened their gates.

Cape May County Zoo
Cape May Court House
This zoo is also open daily from 10 am-4:30 pm with new social distancing guidelines. Indoor attractions will be closed and admissions will be limited. All guests over the age of 2 are asked to wear face coverings and adhere to social distancing guidelines. The Reptile House and Aviary will remain closed at this time, and the zoo will be limiting admission to maintain a small capacity. The playgrounds will also remain closed until an executive order allows the zoo to reopen them.


Turtle Back Zoo 
West Orange
Turtle Back has reopened with timed tickets, valid for a specific date and time. Guests must reserve tickets online and will have a 30-minute time frame to enter the zoo. Early or late arrivals will not be accommodated and there will be no reentry. The zoo is asking that customers do not print their tickets, and instead show the confirmation email on your phone at the entrance to create a contact-free entry. Guests are required to wear face coverings and temperature scans will be done upon arrival. Attractions like the carousel, playground, giraffe feed, pony rides, goat feed and aviary will remain closed for the time being—however, the train is open. Thre’ll be note markers to line up and social distance, and indoor areas will have one-way traffic patterns and capacities. Turtle Back also won the Best Zoo category in New Jersey Family’s 3rd Annual Ultimate Bucket List.

Reopening information for Popcorn Park Animal Refuge, the Bergen County Zoo and the Cohanzick Zoo have yet to be announced. New York City zoos, including the Bronx Zoo and the Central Park Zoo, also have not shared reopening details but can be visited virtually. Pennsylvania is following a county-by-county reopening plan and zoos can reopen once a county is in the green phase. Make sure to follow your favorite zoos on social media for more reopening updates.

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