Zoos and Aquariums In And Around Jersey City
Summer is here we know how important educational and fun activities are for kids and parents which is why we are creating this helpful guide for parents about zoos and aquariums. Step out today and treat your kiddos to a day filled with adventure at a local zoo or aquarium!
Please make sure to check each business’s website about reservations and openings before you visit.
Cape May Zoo
707 U.S. 9, North, NJ 08210
What’s better than a trip to the zoo? Maybe free admission? Well, Cape May County Zoo meets the criteria! You can now enjoy free admission and parking when you visit this zoo. As a park visitor, you and your family are able to observe almost 600 unique animals over 80 acres of luscious land. There is a range of programs that teach visitors about the different animals and the preservation efforts being taken to encourage their survival in the wild. There are a ton of different activities here besides visiting animals such as their carousel, rock-climbing, and a fun train ride!
Turtle Back Zoo
560 Northfield Ave, West Orange, NJ 07052
Turtleback Zoo is open daily from 10am-4pm! It is around 30 minutes away from Jersey City and is one of the oldest zoos in the area. They are offering timed tickets right now if you would like to visit. The zoo features an amazing number of exhibits and also offers various events monthly and seasonally to keep visitors entertained and learning. Lions, bears, tigers and so much more is what you can find here.
Six Flags Safari
1 Six Flags Blvd, Jackson Township, NJ 08527
Six Flags Wild Safari Drive-Thru Adventure is now open from the comfort of your own car! HOT TIP: Plan your visit on a weekday for the best reservation availability. You will have to make an online reservation before your visit of course. Six Flags Safari boasts 1,200 animals from all parts of the world. The drive itself takes you very close to the animals while being entertained and informed by guides the whole way through. Camp Aventura is the main stop on this excursion. It offers opportunities for activities like ziplining and seeing exotic animals up close. This kind of trip is bound to be a great bonding experience for the whole family, regardless of age.
Lakota Wolf Preserve
89 Mt Pleasant Road, Columbian NJ
Want to take a wild wolf tour? Luckily, you can at Lakota Wolf Preserve. During the tour, you and the kids will also learn all about wolf habits, wolf packs, their interactions with humans, and so much more. This is truly an amazing experience to have with the whole family, making it one of the places to visit in New Jersey this summer.
Space Farms Zoo Museum
218 County Road 519 Sussex, NJ 07461
Space Farms Zoo in Sussex, NJ is home to over 500 live wild animals. Explore the most popular zoo animals. Space Farms Zoo is home to many big cats: African lions, black leopards, South American jaguar, cougars, lynx, bobcats, and Bengal tigers. Space Farms has the largest private collection of North American animals in their natural surroundings, in the United States. You can buy your ticket online or at the door.
Popcorn Park Zoo
1 Humane Way, Forked River, NJ 08731
Popcorn Park is as fun as its name implies, which is why it’s on our list of the best zoos and aquariums near Jersey City.The park is located on a spacious 7 acres of land in the beautiful New Jersey Pine Barrens. The goal of this park has always been to offer refuge to wild animals that have been abandoned, are sick, abused, injured and those that have reached the end of their prime. Your family will get to learn about the humane efforts behind the park and the importance of animal rescue efforts.
Bergen County Zoological Park
Van Saun County Park, 216 Forest Avenue, Paramus, NJ 07652
For families who are looking for a more targeted experience, Bergen County Zoo might just be what you are looking for. The zoo only features animals that are native to South and North America making it a great place for school-aged children, field trips, and also smaller kids. Bergen County Zoo is on the list of the best zoos and aquariums near Jersey City thanks in part to the wide range of educational programs and interactive camps that are available for visitors that let you get up close and personal with the wildlife.
Adventure Aquarium
1 Riverside Dr, Camden, NJ 08103
Adventure Aquarium is welcoming families. Explore one-of-a-kind exhibits and over 15,000 aquatic animals, including the largest collection of sharks on the East Coast. Discover the underwater world like never before at this aquarium! There are a ton of other attractions for kids to enjoy! Reservations are highly recommended.
Jenkinson’s Aquarium
300 Ocean Avenue, Point Pleasant Beach, NJ 08742
Right off the boardwalk is the aquatic oasis! Visit Jenkinson’s Aquarium for exhibits such as Atlantic sharks, Pacific sharks, coral reefs, penguins, and seals, and the opportunity to get up close to animals from around the globe. Another attraction, the touch tank, allows visitors to touch live animals ranging from a sea star to a stingray! Tickets will be available for purchase at Guest Services. The line to enter the aquarium will begin at the front doors and extend toward the right.
New York Aquarium
602 Surf Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11224
The New York Aquarium is the oldest continually operating aquarium in the United States, located on the Riegelmann Boardwalk in Coney Island, Brooklyn, New York City. Experience underwater views of sea lions, harbor seals, sea otters, and penguins as they swim up to the glass to get a closer look at you!
SeaQuest Aquarium
101 Woodbridge Center Dr, Woodbridge Township, NJ 07095
SeaQuest Aquarium is open Monday-Sunday from 11am-7 pm. Guests are encouraged to connect with animals and learn about their ecosystems through various hands-on activities which include hand-feeding sharks, stingrays, birds, and exotic animals. Adventurers in search of a more daring experience can enjoy walk-in aviaries, behind-the-scenes tours, feeding caiman alligators or snorkeling with reef sharks, stingrays and hundreds of tropical fish.
Atlantic City Aquarium
800 North New Hampshire Avenue, Atlantic City, NJ 08401
Nothing says fun like Atlantic City and is just a stone’s throw away from Jersey City, it’s the perfect place to take the whole family when you are in the mood for a fun-filled day at the aquarium. Atlantic City Aquarium is home to more than 100 species of marine life immersed in more than 30,000 gallons of sea water! There are three levels of colorful exhibits to entertain the whole family, so it’s easy to understand why Atlantic City Aquarium is on the list of the best zoos and aquariums. Your kids are sure to enjoy the live dive show while you enjoy a fresh meal after a visit with the Giant Loggerhead turtle Groman. If hands-on activities are more to your liking, the location features touch tanks that allow visitors to get up and personal with various sea creatures.
Updated Feb 11th 2024
