Brookfield Zoo Chicago is home to more than 3,400 animals from 500 different species, all spread out along more than 200 acres in west suburban Brookfield. It opened in July 1934, so some of its buildings are quite historic, and the zoo has big plans for updates before its 100th anniversary! We got a zoo membership as a Christmas gift from my parents when my older child was just six months old, and we've gone at least three times a year over the last decade. There's so much to see and do that it's hard to get to everything in one visit. We usually have each member of the family pick their top choice of animal to visit and we make sure to see those first, followed by any strong second choices. This alone usually takes three hours, but you could experience a lot of the zoo in as little as 90 minutes, or you could spend the whole day there.

We usually arrive at the north gate of the zoo close to opening time (tip: Parking is about 20% cheaper in the north lot), and choose whether to follow the path along the center fountain in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction depending on what the top choices are. There's not a lot of shade at the zoo, so if you go when it's hot, see the outdoor exhibits first. On cold days, go to the indoor places in the morning and as the sun is setting and save the outdoor animals for the warmest part of the day.

Here are our favorite exhibits to see at Brookfield Zoo Chicago:

The Headliners

Tropic World and the new Bramsen Tropical Forests

Mostly devoted to primates, the original Tropic World is divided into three indoor habitats: South America, Asia, and Africa. The main action in each habitat is in the tree tops, with gibbons, orangutans, and gorillas attracting attention by swinging, grooming, and wrestling. But also be sure to look down and check for otters, anteaters, and sloths, and up to see tamarins and birds, which have free range throughout the habitat and may even be directly over your head. 

This past summer, Broofield Zoo Chicago opened its Bramsen Tropical Forest habitat in what was previously a picnic area outside of the Tropic World building. The exhibit gives some animals free range to be indoors or outdoors, and allows visitors to see the primates up close, sometimes inches away with a plate of glass in between. When we visited, the gibbons were really enjoying the new outdoor play space, and the gorillas had recently been fed, so we got to see live action vegetable-eating to encourage good dietary habits. You can also read more about conservation efforts, like how to plant a garden and how to recycle electronics so we can support primates in the rain forests over time. This updated view of the gorillas, orangutans, and spider monkeys is defintely worth a look if you haven't been to Brookfield Zoo Chicago in a while!

Great Bear Wilderness

Alaskan brown bears and polar bears make their homes here. The zoo got two playful brown bear siblings, Tim and Jess, from Alaska after they were orphaned in 2023. They reside on one side of the indoor portion of the exhibit. On the other side, you can see three polar bears, including newcomer Amelia Gray who recently arrived from the Oregon Zoo. The brown bear habitat has a giant window where you can look into the grassy plain to see the bears at play. Keepers also put the bears' food near the window, so you can see them rooting around for treats up close. The indoor part of the exhibit is between two pools of water where bears sometimes take a dip. It's fun to see these giant animals dive in to play with a barrel or cool off from the heat.

Seven Seas: Dolphins and Sea Lions

Brookfield Zoo Chicago's dolphin underwater viewing area has recently been renovated to include more rock structures and bubbles so its dolphins can interact in more ways as visitors watch. The zoo currently has seven dolphins of varying ages, and they all seem to have different personalities and talents. Even if you don't have the time or interest in seeing the actual dophin show, it's fun to see the underwater viewing area as they play with the trainers. This area also has seating and is dark and cool, making in a good place to go for a break on a hot summer day. There's also a nursing pod in one corner in case your baby needs some refreshment!

Walk across the walkway and back underground to get a view of the sea lions as they make laps underwater. My kids have always enjoyed seeing if the sea lions will follow their finger as they hold it up near the glass — and sometimes they do! There's above water views of the sea lions and seals as well, and my kids love the walrus statue near the seal viewing area.

Habitat Africa: Giraffes and more

This is sometimes our first visit on the way in since it's right next to the north gate.  Brookfield Zoo Chicago's tower of giraffes (yes, a group of giraffes is called a tower) includes six long-necked friends. You can watch them through binoculars or at a relatively close distance from several places outdoors, as well as an indoor portion of the Habitat Africa exhibit. The zoo sometimes has baby giraffes, although the most recent calf was moved to another zoo.  You can feed the giraffes for an extra fee.

If your kids are particularly interested in African wildlife, there are some other interesting animals in Habitat Africa. We like walking along the Habitat Africa Forest path to see unique animals like okapi, pangolins, and red river hogs. The African painted dogs are fun to compare to your house pets.

Big Cats

Check out the African lions, Amur tigers, and snow leopards near the north end of the zoo. The lions are brothers, and they sleep a lot. If you get a chance to see them when they're awake, or during a Zoo Chat, stick around! They're interesting to watch. We like the snow leopards, which you can often find relaxing by the glass in the cave-like viewing area near Seven Seas. The snow leopard recently had babies, which may be active in the habitat soon. With less than 200 of these beautiful cats left in the world, it's a great opportunity to see a unique species.

Best Bets for Little Kids

Hamill Family Play Zoo and Hamill Family Wild Animal Encounters

Tucked away in the southeast corner of the zoo, these two exhibits are a great place to see a lot of little animals in a small area. This can be a good way for little kids to manage the zoo while taking in some play time, too. Inside the play zoo, you can see the koalas for a little bit longer before they ship out to their new home. You can also see small reptiles and domesticated animals. Keepers frequently bring out animals like chickens for meet and greets so kids actually get a chance to touch them. There's a greenhouse where kids can water plants and a play animal hospital where kids can pretend to be vets.

Outside in the Hamill Family Wild Animal Encounters, you can pet and/or feet a whole lot of goats, and bounce around the wallaby enclosure along with the wallabies! Buy a feeding stick for the parakeets in the aviary, or check out Sven and his friends at the reindeer habitat.

The Living Coast

This exhibit about South American coastal animals includes lots of unique species of fish like moon jellies, cownose rays, and potbellied sea horses. The finale, of course, is the free flying room full of penguins and terns. The extra large viewing windows of the aquariums make this a larger-than-life experience for little kids, and the penguins are fun to watch for longer periods of time. Be on the lookout for the axolotl! It's tucked away in the penguin room. If your kid really loves penguins, you can book a special meet and greet with them at designated times.

Reptiles and Birds

One of the oldest buildings at the zoo, the reptiles and birds building features lots of little habitats, as well as larger enclosures for the reticulated python and komodo dragon. Try out the free flying bird area with lots of brightly colored birds and fun-to-watch ducks in the water. This building always reminds me of the early scenes of Harry Potter as my son tries to speak parseltongue to the snakes. They're so close it's hard not to imagine that they're trying to understand you!

Often Overlooked Gems

Australia

With the recent popularity of Bluey, you should really consider checking out the indoor-outdoor Australia exhibit. Outside, there are kangaroos, wallabies, and emus (none of which are named Sean). They're particularly active on spring and fall days when the weather is just right. Inside, check out the nocturnal habitat. It's completely dark, so you can see animals that aren't usually active in the day, like short-beaked echidnas, wombats, and fruit bats.

The Swamp

This old-school building has gained some popularity since flamingos were introduced a few year ago. It also houses a crocodile, swamp birds, turtles and more. We like learning about the ecology of the swamp and how wetlands benefit everyone. The best part is the otters right before the building exit. They're almost always active and so cute!

Hoofed Animals

On good weather days, this part of the zoo is a nice way to be outside. There's camels, zebras, and other animals that you might not know as much about like addaxes and Przewalski's horses. Keep traveling down to the west end of the exhibit — there are sometimes animals from other parts of the zoo that are in special care that you can see up closer than you normally would.

FAQs

Q: How much does Brookfield Zoo cost?

A: As of September 2025, Brookfield Zoo Chicago admission is $29.95 per adult and $20.95 per child.

Q: How much is parking at Brookfield Zoo?

A: Parking at the North Gate is $17 and South Gate is $20 for non-members. Parking for members is free at the North Gate and $7 at the South Gate. 

Q: How much is a Brookfield Zoo membership?

A family membership is $199 per year. This means that for a family of four, it's worth buying a membership if you plan to go even twice in a year. You can also buy senior memberships so that grandma and grandpa can take the kids for $129.

Q: Is Brookfield Zoo free?

A: No, but Brookfield Zoo has frequent free days. In October and November 2025, it's free on Tuesdays and Thursdays. It's also free on Mondays in December. Often, the zoo has multiple free days a week in January through March when many families don't want to be out in the cold. If you have preschoolers and can go during the week, it might be worth it to hold off on buying a membership until they're school-aged and can only go on weekends or during summer.

Q: Can I bring food into Brookfield Zoo?

A: You are allowed to bring your own food and non-alcoholic drinks into the zoo. We highly recommend this, especially on crowded days when there may be long lines. If you do choose to eat at the zoo, try the new Graze restaurant near the Living Coast where you can get sandwiches, vegetarian and non-vegetarian green and grain bowls, and chicken tenders to match the tastes of everyone in your group. There's also lots of places to stop for ice cream, pretzels, popcorn, and even seasonal Leinenkugel's beers.

Brookfield Zoo Chicago Events 

Throughout the year, Brookfield Zoo Chicago hosts lots of different events and special days. Boo at the Zoo is back in full force in 2025, featuring festive decorations, spooky animal chats, and Halloween themed food and drinks all week long, along with trick-or-treating, magicians, and art fairs on the weekends. 

During the holiday season, check out Holiday Magic, where the zoo is decked out with millions of LED lights. Some are shaped like your favorite animals, while others created light tunnels along walkways or room-sized ornaments for selfies. Before it gets fully dark, check out trees decorated by local community groups along the zoos trails.

There's events for kids and grown-ups throughout the year. Look for concerts, farm-to-table dining events, Easter and Mother's Day brunches and adult events featuring specialty cocktails throughout the year. 

All photos by the author