Prospect Park Zoo vs. Staten Island Zoo

[Anonymous]

Has anyone been to the Prospect Park Zoo or Staten Island Zoo (or ideally both!)? We’re going to be in Brooklyn soon with a preschooler and trying to decide which zoo to go to. I’d love any recommendations or a comparison of the two to help me decide. Also, how is parking?

[Anonymous]

Do you want to drive to Staten Island? The Staten Island Zoo is fine, but not sure it's worth a special trip if you aren't otherwise there. Parking won't be a problem, though.

I haven't been to the Prospect Park one, but Prospect Park is lovely...

[Anonymous]

The Prospect Park zoo is totally fine for a preschooler. It’s not too big, pretty low key. The parking is street parking, so you may or may not luck out and you may need to walk a little bit.

[Anonymous]

They're not that great. Just go to the Bronx Oo

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do you want to drive to Staten Island? The Staten Island Zoo is fine, but not sure it's worth a special trip if you aren't otherwise there. Parking won't be a problem, though.

I haven't been to the Prospect Park one, but Prospect Park is lovely...

Good point. Going to be in Dyker Heights so think that drive isn’t too far.

[Anonymous]

Bronx Zoo. That's the only one worth going to.

[Anonymous]

You can take the ferry to Staten Island and then a short bus ride to the zoo.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Bronx Zoo. That's the only one worth going to.

Central park zoo is nice.

I couldn't get into the Bronx zoo. Free on Wednesdays and it was filled. I could have bought an annual pass and they let me in but over $200 was too expensive

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Bronx Zoo. That's the only one worth going to.

Central park zoo is nice.

I couldn't get into the Bronx zoo. Free on Wednesdays and it was filled. I could have bought an annual pass and they let me in but over $200 was too expensive

We’ve already been to Central Park Zoo. This time it’s just between Prospect Park Zoo and Staten Island Zoo.

[Anonymous]

We live next to Prospect Park and visit the zoo all the time. It's great for kids and honestly the perfect size for a morning or afternoon activity. There's a loop you can walk to see most of the outdoor animals and then some houses with indoor stuff and a barn where you can feed farm animals. You can stop at the carousel right by the entry, and the park overall is fun to explore. If you go on the right day you can stop at Smorgasbord nearby in the park for tons of fun food, and visit the splash pad at Lefrak (also in the park). Make a whole day of it! Staten Island zoo is on our list to explore this summer but haven't been yet.

[Anonymous]

Pp from above. If you're driving you should be able to park on the corridor of Flatbush Ave between the zoo and the Brooklyn botanic garden, as long as you're early (before noon or so). Visit the garden too while you're there!

[Anonymous]

I live in Brooklyn. Go to PP if you're going to walk there. Not worth driving in my opinion.

Bronx Zoo the only one worth driving for.

I have a preschooler too, and honestly, he doesn't differentiate between the local zoos. So I'd just go back to Central Park zoo again and make a whole day around there. My kid loves scrambling on the rocks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I live in Brooklyn. Go to PP if you're going to walk there. Not worth driving in my opinion.

Bronx Zoo the only one worth driving for.

I have a preschooler too, and honestly, he doesn't differentiate between the local zoos. So I'd just go back to Central Park zoo again and make a whole day around there. My kid loves scrambling on the rocks.

I see where you're coming from, but think that driving 15 minutes from Dyker Heights is substantially easier than the 1+ hours it could take to get to the Bronx Zoo. We love the BX zoo too but it's a full day outing. There's tons of fun stuff to explore in Prospect Park per my post above, and sparing yourself the drive through 3 boroughs feels worth it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do you want to drive to Staten Island? The Staten Island Zoo is fine, but not sure it's worth a special trip if you aren't otherwise there. Parking won't be a problem, though.

I haven't been to the Prospect Park one, but Prospect Park is lovely...

Good point. Going to be in Dyker Heights so think that drive isn’t too far.

Oh, no, if you’re in Dyker Heights, you’re already basically in Staten Island, so you may as well go there. Probably easier to get to than Prospect Park. The bridge is expensive but you can find good pizza or other Italian (or Sri Lankan) food for lunch once you’re there, too.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the feedback, all.

I should have included that we will also have an older person who can walk decently well but not as far or as fast. Is one zoo better in this scenario?