Dakota Zoo
The Dakota Zoo is a zoo in Bismarck, North Dakota located on the banks of the Missouri River. Its story as a place to visit starts in 1961. Further out, Fort Abraham Lincoln is 3.2 mi away.
A zoo & aquarium inside Bismarck
Winters are cold
January nights drop to 3°, with about 51" of snow a year. When to go ↓
You can stay in Bismarck
Dakota Zoo is inside Bismarck, which has 36 places to stay, so you won’t need a base farther out. Where to stay ↓
Best months: May, Jun, Jul, Aug and Sep
May, June, July, August and September are the mild months, with highs of 68–84°. When to go ↓
An airport 3 miles away
Bismarck Municipal (BIS) has airline service, about 3 miles from Dakota Zoo.
Established in 1961
Dakota Zoo dates from 1961. About ↓
Written from NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Overture places to stay, Census town figures, Wikidata and Wikipedia.
Highs and lows by month
The weather near Dakota Zoo shifts through the year, as below.
Dakota Zoo
The Dakota Zoo is a zoo in Bismarck, North Dakota located on the banks of the Missouri River. It is the third zoo built in North Dakota. The Dakota Zoo is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA).
- Type
- Zoo & aquarium
- Animals
- 600 animals · 125 species
- Area
- 90 acres
- Established
- 1961
- Wikipedia readers
- 1.5K a year
Bases for Dakota Zoo
Close by, places to stay are in Bismarck (36) and Mandan (11).
Compare 6 towns
| Town | From Dakota Zoo | Drive | Places to stay | People | Typical home | Safety |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bismarck | in town | — | 36 31 hotels · 2 motels · 1 inn or B&B · 2 RV parks | 77,963 | $300K | C− |
| Mandan | 4 mi northwest | 5 min | 11 5 hotels · 3 motels · 1 lodge or cabins · 1 campground · 1 RV park | 25,061 | $260K | C− |
| Hay Creek Township | 5 mi north | 10 min | 1 1 campground | 4,380 | $460K | — |
| Gibbs Township | 9 mi northeast | 15 min | 1 1 RV park | 2,856 | $475K | — |
| Menoken Township | 14 mi east | 20 min | 1 1 RV park | 178 | $292K | — |
| New Salem | 29 mi west | 45 min | 2 1 hotel · 1 motel | 1,082 | $187K | — |
Getting there
Nearest airports with airline service
More near Dakota Zoo
These well-known sights sit within 57 miles.
13 mi State parkFort Abraham Lincoln
56 mi LakeLake Sakakawea
41 mi LandmarkFort Mandan
47 mi National Historic SiteKnife River Indian Villages National Historic Site9K visitors a year
36 mi MuseumNorth Dakota Lewis and Clark Interpretive CenterPhoto credits
Fort Abraham Lincoln: MatthewUND, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Lake Sakakawea: Shannon1, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Fort Mandan: Gooseterrain2, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site: Unknown, Public domain · North Dakota Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center: Gooseterrain2, CC0
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Questions people have about Dakota Zoo
Is Dakota Zoo in Bismarck?
Yes. It’s inside Bismarck, ND.
When is the best time to visit Dakota Zoo?
May, June, July, August and September, with highs of 68–84°.
What is the closest airport to Dakota Zoo?
Bismarck Municipal (BIS), about 3 miles away.
Where should I stay near Dakota Zoo?
Bismarck (in town, 36 places to stay) and Mandan (4 mi, 11 places to stay).
Advice from Bismarck
There are no tips yet, so start one in Bismarck’s Town Square.
Sources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · NOAA climate normals · U.S. Census.