1 / 2Orange County Zoo
π Orange, CA
Small zoo inside Irvine Regional Park specialising in rescued and non-releasable southwestern wildlife including black bears, mountain lions, bald eagles, and coyotes. Hands-on barnyard with gentle domestic goats and sheep. Ages 3+.
π Family Action Verdict
Families with children between ages 3 and 6 get a first zoo experience scaled to young attention spans - the compact layout covers all exhibits in 60 to 90 minutes without fatigue. The barnyard petting area is the strongest draw for under-5s. Older children can engage with the scavenger hunt and audio tour for more depth.
βΉοΈ What to Know Before You Go
π¬ What Families Are Saying
View all reviews β3,969 Google reviews
G Reviews from Google
Rebe Ο
9 months ago
βSuch a fun place to visit. It's a little quaint zoo perfect for toddlers up to age 6 to entertain for an hour and a half. They have a scavenger hunt and at the end you turn it in an the kids earn some stickers. Lots to see from mountain lions, bears, eagles, to snakes and much more. They have a petting zoo for goats where you can brush them and feed them...just remember to bring quarters to get food. It's near by other attractions, riding horses, train ride, ride a bike or boat cycle in their pond. My 4 year old does not get bored of this place. Entrance is a few dollars. And there is plenty of parking with an outdoor food shack or perfect for a day picnic.β
Vijay
9 months ago
βOrange County Zoo is a wonderful place to visit! The staff are extremely friendly and make the experience welcoming from the moment you arrive. The $2 ticket price is truly worth every penny - very affordable and great value for what you get. The zoo has a good number of animals and pets, all well cared for and easy to view. Itβs a perfect spot for families, kids, or anyone looking for a relaxing and enjoyable outing in nature. Highly recommended!β
DeeAnna Solorio
11 months ago
βGreat place to visit. It's a small cozy zoo. The children enjoyed looking at all the animals. The cost was $5.00 for parking. Finding parking was a challenge so prepare to walk. The cost for the zoo entrance was $2.00 per person including children. Under 2 years old is free. No sorvernior store.β
π¬ What parents mention
Overview
Orange County Zoo houses native southwestern species - many rescued or non-releasable - in naturalistic enclosures across a compact, walkable layout. The barnyard lets children brush and hand-feed domestic goats and sheep with quarters from the dispenser. A scavenger hunt sheet from the entrance kiosk earns stickers at the end. A free cell-phone audio tour provides keeper narration for each exhibit. Park admission and zoo admission are two separate fees.
