The Sacramento Zoo has been in William Land Park since 1927, making it one of the older continuously operating zoos in California. It covers 14.3 acres at 3930 West Land Park Drive in the south part of the park, and the entrance is off Land Park Drive. Here is what to know if you have not been or have not been in a while.
Basic Logistics
Zoo hours are 9 am to 3 pm. Tickets are purchased online through the zoo’s website at saczoo.com; buying ahead is recommended, particularly for weekends and holiday periods. The zoo’s phone number is 916-808-5888 if you have questions before you go. Parking is available in the zoo’s lot on Land Park Drive at no charge; there is also street parking within William Land Park.
The 14.3-acre site is walkable in a morning. Most visitors spend between two and three hours depending on how long they stop at each habitat. The layout is a loop, so it is straightforward to cover the whole zoo and return to the entrance.
Current Special: Dinosaur Safari
Through December, the zoo is running Dinosaur Safari, an exhibit of life-size animatronic dinosaurs positioned throughout the zoo grounds. The Sacramento Zoo website describes this as included with general admission — no separate ticket required. If you are planning a visit before the end of the year, this is currently part of the experience.
What Is There
The zoo holds a range of habitats built out over its 97-year history. Among the more notable:
Giraffes (Tall Wonders): The giraffe habitat opened in 2010 after the original wooden barn was replaced with a larger, heated facility. The pavilion allows visitors to stand at eye level with the giraffes, which is one of the more memorable aspects of the zoo.
River otters: The North American river otter exhibit opened in 2011 with glass viewing panels that let visitors get close to the otters in a naturalistic habitat. The river otters are described as sociable and are typically active during morning hours.
Small Wonders of Africa: This section of the zoo, opened in 2014, includes aardvarks, Wolf’s guenon (a primate), and red-billed hornbills among other animals. It is one of the more recent additions to the zoo’s collection.
Beyond these, the zoo covers a broad range of species across its grounds. The Sacramento Zoological Society, which has managed the zoo since 1997, is an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA).
History
The zoo opened on June 2, 1927, as the “William Land Park Zoo,” with 40 animals that had been gathered from various local parks — monkeys, raccoons, birds, and deer. It occupied 4.2 acres at that time. The zoo expanded to its current 14.3-acre footprint in the early 1960s when new habitats were built throughout the grounds. The name changed to Sacramento Zoo in 1970. The Sacramento Zoological Society formed in 1958 and took over day-to-day operations from the city in 1997.
What Else Is in William Land Park
The zoo shares William Land Park with Funderland, a small amusement park near the zoo entrance, and Fairytale Town, a storybook-themed attraction at the northern end of the park on Sutterville Road. If you are planning a full day in the park, both are within easy walking distance of the zoo. The park also has a golf course, picnic areas, and open lawns along Land Park Drive.
Quick Reference
- Address: 3930 West Land Park Drive, Sacramento, CA 95822
- Phone: 916-808-5888
- Hours: 9 am to 3 pm
- Tickets: Buy online at saczoo.com (check for current pricing)
- Parking: Zoo lot on Land Park Drive; additional street parking in the park
- Through December: Dinosaur Safari animatronic exhibit included with admission
- Nearby: Funderland, Fairytale Town, William Land Park grounds