Cheyenne Mountain Zoo
The Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is a zoological park located southwest of downtown Colorado Springs, Colorado, on Cheyenne Mountain in the United States. Its story as a place to visit starts in 1926. Further out, North American Aerospace Defense Command is 5.7 mi away.
A zoo & aquarium inside Colorado Springs
Winters are cold
January nights drop to 17°, with about 33" of snow a year. When to go ↓
You can stay in Colorado Springs
Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is inside Colorado Springs, which has 202 places to stay, so you won’t need a base farther out. Where to stay ↓
A day trip from Denver
Denver is about 68 miles north (straight-line). Where to stay ↓
Best months: May, Jun, Aug and Sep
May, June, August and September are the mild months, with highs of 70–83°. When to go ↓
An airport 9 miles away
City of Colorado Springs Municipal (COS) has airline service, about 9 miles from Cheyenne Mountain Zoo.
Written from NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Overture places to stay, Census town figures, Wikidata and Wikipedia.
The year’s weather
Use the months below to time a visit to Cheyenne Mountain Zoo.
Cheyenne Mountain Zoo
The Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is a zoological park located southwest of downtown Colorado Springs, Colorado, on Cheyenne Mountain in the United States. At an elevation of 6,714 feet (2,046 m) above sea level, it is the highest zoo in the country. The zoo covers 140 acres (57 ha), 40 of which are in use. The zoo houses more than 750 animals, representing nearly 170 different species, with more than 30 endangered species. The zoo was ranked the #2 best zoo in North America in 2025 by USA Today. It is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.
- Type
- Zoo & aquarium
- Animals
- 750 animals · 170 species
- Area
- 140 acres
- Established
- 1926
- Wikipedia readers
- 10K a year
Where to stay near Cheyenne Mountain Zoo
The closest lodging is in Colorado Springs (202) and Manitou Springs (42).
- 1North American Aerospace Defense Command
- 2Pikes Peak
- 3Garden of the Gods
- 4Cheyenne Mountain
- 5Weidner Field
- 6Falcon Stadium
Compare 8 towns
| Town | From Cheyenne Mountain Zoo | Drive | Places to stay | People | Typical home | Safety |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado Springs | in town | — | 202 143 hotels · 19 motels · 10 inns & B&Bs · 17 lodges & cabins · 2 hostels · 6 campgrounds · 5 RV parks | 494,743 | $453K | D |
| Manitou Springs | 7 mi northwest | 10 min | 42 17 hotels · 9 motels · 5 inns & B&Bs · 8 lodges & cabins · 1 campground · 2 RV parks | 4,577 | $561K | C |
| Cascade-Chipita Park | 14 mi northwest | 20 min | 11 5 inns & B&Bs · 4 lodges & cabins · 2 campgrounds | 1,412 | $515K | — |
| Fountain | 11 mi southeast | 15 min | 7 3 hotels · 3 motels · 1 campground | 29,450 | $398K | C− |
| Fort Carson | 8 mi southeast | 10 min | 4 3 hotels · 1 RV park | 18,019 | — | — |
| Cripple Creek | 18 mi west | 25 min | 13 7 hotels · 3 inns & B&Bs · 1 lodge or cabins · 2 campgrounds | 1,120 | $286K | — |
| Green Mountain Falls 48% vacation homes | 14 mi northwest | 20 min | 7 3 inns & B&Bs · 4 lodges & cabins | 601 | $449K | — |
| Stratmoor | 4 mi east | 5 min | 2 2 hotels | 5,412 | $310K | — |
Getting there
Nearest airports with airline service
What else is near Cheyenne Mountain Zoo
Pair a visit with these, within 68 miles.
Big draw16 mi LandmarkNorth American Aerospace Defense Command
Big draw211 mi MountainPikes Peak
37 mi Park & preserveGarden of the Gods
43 mi MountainCheyenne Mountain
Big draw65 mi TheatreRed Rocks Amphitheatre
54 mi Stadium & arenaWeidner Field
Big draw68 mi Stadium & arenaEmpower Field at Mile High
616 mi Stadium & arenaFalcon StadiumPhoto credits
North American Aerospace Defense Command: Unknown, Public domain · Pikes Peak: David Shankbone, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Garden of the Gods: Dicklyon, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Cheyenne Mountain: Jimmy from Grand Junction, CO, CC BY-SA 2.0 · Red Rocks Amphitheatre: Unknown, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Weidner Field: KM Newnham, CC BY-SA 2.5 · Empower Field at Mile High: Thelastcanadian, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Falcon Stadium: David Shankbone, CC BY-SA 3.0
Planning a visit to Cheyenne Mountain Zoo
Is Cheyenne Mountain Zoo in Colorado Springs?
Yes. It’s inside Colorado Springs, CO.
When is the best time to visit Cheyenne Mountain Zoo?
May, June, August and September, with highs of 70–83°.
How far is Cheyenne Mountain Zoo from Aurora and Denver?
About 65 miles north of Aurora and about 68 miles north of Denver, as the crow flies.
What is the closest airport to Cheyenne Mountain Zoo?
City of Colorado Springs Municipal (COS), about 9 miles away.
Where should I stay near Cheyenne Mountain Zoo?
Colorado Springs (in town, 202 places to stay), Manitou Springs (7 mi, 42 places to stay) and Cascade-Chipita Park (14 mi, 11 places to stay).
Inside knowledge from Colorado Springs
Tips will appear here once someone posts in Colorado Springs’s Town Square.
Sources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · NOAA climate normals · U.S. Census.