A trip to the Nashville Zoo at Grassmere will make the kids go bananas

  • Only about 2 hours drive from Huntsville.
  • Pick from a variety of zoo experiences!
A young family stands outside the Nashville Zoo entrance.
A young family stands outside the Nashville Zoo entrance.
A sprawling treehouse style playground is available at the zoo with a green snake tunnel entrance.
A rope bridge spans a green area in the Nashville Zoo.
Two giraffes graze for leaves. +6
View Gallery
A young family stands outside the Nashville Zoo entrance.

At just over a two hour drive from Huntsville, the Nashville Zoo is a road trip that will make your little monkeys go wild! With gorgeous open habitats, a playground, and of course, a slew of animals, the Nashville Zoo is sure to keep kids (and grown ups) entertained for hours.

Go Wild at the Nashville Zoo

We opted to take Oliver in his stroller through the zoo, which was nice for carrying his diaper bag and any other things we picked up along the way (looking at you Dipping Dots and coffee). The grounds were extremely stroller friendly and the paths were plenty wide enough to accommodate several strollers passing at one time.

The day we went was a little busy and we had to park near the end of the lot, but we were still at the entrance within 5 minutes of leaving our car. Guests can either purchase their tickets at the gate, or pre-purchase their tickets to print or have saved on their phone. There were also restrooms and a nursing mothers room available before going through the gates.

Once inside we followed the path and were immediately drawn into the first habitat. I was pleasantly surprised to see that each of the animal’s habitats were spacious and meticulously maintained. We also thoroughly enjoyed all the shade that was provided between habitats by the bamboo forests surrounding the trails, but we still slathered on the sunscreen for good measure.

The atmosphere in the zoo is fun and inviting and sure to make kids feel like they are having an adventure.

Get Up Close & Personal

A personal favorite during our visit at the Nashville Zoo was the Kangaroo Kickabout. Our son loved being carried among the kangaroos and was fascinated to see them hop along the path with us. The grown ups in the group also enjoyed the up close experience and getting to learn more about the baby ‘roos’ that had just joined the family.

Guests can also visit Lorikeet Landing to stroll through the aviary or take a selfie with a goat or alpaca at the Critter Encounters exhibits. What makes these experiences even better, is that they’re included with general admission! Though if you want to get real close, you can pay an additional $2 at Lorikeet Landing to feed the lorikeets.

Guests can pet the kangaroos when they are on the walkway of their habitat.

Monkey Around on the Jungle Gym

Although Oliver wasn’t quite walking when we visited the Nashville Zoo, we still made a quick stop at the Jungle Gym during our visit. Kids could easily spend hours on the playground alone! According to the zoo’s website, the playground is a 66,000 square foot structure and is complete with a snake tunnel, slides, swings, and more!

During our visit the playground was only partially open due to renovations, but the playground also normally has a padded “tot lot” that’s perfect for the littles. There’s also a special section of the play area with accommodations for individuals with disabilities.

The playground area isn’t as shaded as the rest of the zoo, so be sure to bring the sunscreen!

The Jungle Gym is a sprawling playground that can offer endless entertainment.

Other Add-On Experiences at the Nashville Zoo

Near the playground, there’s an area full of rides and other additional experiences that are perfect for the older kids. Attractions include:

  • Soaring Eagle Zipline – $8
  • Wild Animal Carousel – $2
  • Wilderness Express Train – $2
  • Adventure 4D Theater – $4

Guests can also opt to purchase an adventure pass for $11 which includes unlimited rides and feedings all day long.

In addition to the rides, you can add on a Backstage Tour experience for even more of an adventure. Guests can enjoy a behind the scenes tour of the zoo and choose from a variety of meet and greet experiences with animals including: rhinos, giraffes, a sloth, a clouded leopard, and more. Experience range from $50 – $170 and can be scheduled here.

Scattered throughout the zoo are fun experiences like this rope bridge.

Plan Your Visit to the Nashville Zoo

Address: 3777 Nolensville Pike, Nashville, TN (Map)
Phone: 615-833-1534
Website | Facebook | Instagram

See Also
road trips from Huntsville

Admission: Pricing varies by day – we recommend purchasing online ahead of time so there’s no surprises.
Adults & Teens – $16 – $25
Kids Ages 2 -12 – $12 – $21
Kids Under 2 – FREE

Stroller/Wheelchair Rentals:
Single Stroller – $11
Double Stroller – $13
Manual Wheelchair – $12
Electric Wheelchair – $32

Hours change seasonally, you can find the current hours here.

Restrooms are available at the entrance, with additional facilities scattered throughout the zoo.

There’s a dedicated nursing mothers room at the entrance that is air conditioned with two private rooms with seating and a changing area. There’s also several areas throughout that are shaded and secluded enough for a semi-private feeding area.

Outside food and drinks are allowed in the Nashville Zoo or there are several concession stands available throughout along with a handful of dedicated eateries.

You Might Also Like…


Advertisement

Scroll To Top