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Zoos

Minnesota Zoo

📍 Apple Valley, MN

★4.6(16,137 Google reviews)

Minnesota Zoo in Apple Valley spans 500 acres with over 4,500 animals across indoor and outdoor trails. Features include a dolphin presentation theater, a monorail, and seasonal butterfly garden.

✓ animal welfare✓ full-day outing✓ easy parking✓ keeper talks✓ family trails✓ dolphin show
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★★★★★Featured review by M McNally

A great place to spend the day where you can tell the animals are treated very well. Parking is easy. Don't be put off by the number of school busses. There's plenty of space for all and it never felt crowded to me.

🏆 Family Action Verdict

Best for families with kids aged 3 and up willing to spend a full day outdoors. The Wells Fargo Family Farm engages toddlers well. School-age children get the most from keeper talks and the dolphin presentations. Parking is plentiful and the grounds rarely feel overcrowded even with school groups present.

â„šī¸ What to Know Before You Go

💡Check the daily animal encounter schedule online before you arrive to plan your route around keeper talks
⏰The monorail is a good mid-day rest option that remains covers the outdoor trail animals
đŸŽŸī¸Bring a stroller for toddlers — the trails cover significant distances across hilly terrain
🚗Members of reciprocal zoo and aquarium programs may receive discounted admission

đŸ’Ŧ What Families Are Saying

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4.6
★★★★★

16,137 Google reviews

Well-cared-for animals45%
Spacious and uncrowded30%
Easy parking and access15%
Great for school-age kids10%
M

M McNally

★★★★★

“A great place to spend the day where you can tell the animals are treated very well. Parking is easy. Don't be put off by the number of school busses. There's plenty of space for all and it never felt crowded to me.”

Reviews from Google

Overview

Minnesota Zoo covers diverse biomes across five trails, including the tropics-themed Tropics Trail and the Russia's Grizzly Coast exhibit. The Wells Fargo Family Farm brings kids close to domestic animals, and the 4D theater adds an interactive screen experience. A daily schedule of keeper talks and animal encounters runs throughout the day. The zoo's large footprint means families should plan for several hours of walking, and a tram helps cover the outdoor trails.

🕐 Opening Hours

Monday10:00 – 16:00
Tuesday10:00 – 16:00
Wednesday10:00 – 16:00
Thursday10:00 – 16:00
Friday10:00 – 16:00
Saturday10:00 – 16:00
Sunday10:00 – 16:00

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