Henry Vilas Zoo
Henry Vilas Zoo is a 28-acre (11 ha) public zoo in Madison, Wisconsin, United States, that is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). It dates back to 1911. Top of the list nearby is Camp Randall Stadium, 0.7 mi away.
A zoo & aquarium inside Madison
Winters are cold
January nights drop to 11°. When to go ↓
You can stay in Madison
Henry Vilas Zoo is inside Madison, which has 97 places to stay, so you won’t need a base farther out. Where to stay ↓
A day trip from Milwaukee
Milwaukee is about 73 miles east (straight-line). Where to stay ↓
Established in 1911
Henry Vilas Zoo dates from 1911. About ↓
Best months: May, Jun, Jul, Aug and Sep
May, June, July, August and September are the mild months, with highs of 70–83°. When to go ↓
Written from NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Overture places to stay, Census town figures, Wikidata and Wikipedia.
A month-by-month look
This is the year’s weather near Henry Vilas Zoo.
Henry Vilas Zoo
Henry Vilas Zoo is a 28-acre (11 ha) public zoo in Madison, Wisconsin, United States, that is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). Owned by Dane County, the zoo receives over 750,000 visitors annually.
- Type
- Zoo & aquarium
- Animals
- 95 species
- Area
- 28 acres
- Established
- 1911
- Wikipedia readers
- 5.8K a year
Bases for Henry Vilas Zoo
Nearest for a night are Madison (97) and Middleton (11).
- 1Camp Randall Stadium
- 2Kohl Center
- 3Overture Center for the Arts
- 4Elvehjem Museum of Art
- 5University of Wisconsin–Madison Arboretum
- 6Olbrich Botanical Gardens
- 7National Mustard Museum
Compare 8 towns
| Town | From Henry Vilas Zoo | Drive | Places to stay | People | Typical home | Safety |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Madison | in town | — | 97 83 hotels · 4 motels · 6 inns & B&Bs · 2 lodges & cabins · 1 hostel · 1 campground | 286,233 | $373K | C |
| Middleton | 6 mi northwest | 10 min | 11 10 hotels · 1 campground | 23,115 | $484K | B |
| Monona | 4 mi east | 5 min | 7 7 hotels | 8,664 | $428K | C− |
| Fitchburg | 5 mi south | 10 min | 7 7 hotels | 34,615 | $417K | C+ |
| Verona | 8 mi southwest | 10 min | 6 6 hotels | 16,821 | $420K | A |
| Waunakee | 9 mi north | 15 min | 6 5 hotels · 1 inn or B&B | 16,411 | $516K | A |
| Sun Prairie | 12 mi northeast | 20 min | 6 5 hotels · 1 motel | 39,227 | $366K | B− |
| Stoughton | 13 mi southeast | 20 min | 6 4 hotels · 1 lodge or cabins · 1 campground | 13,256 | $294K | B− |
Day trip from
Straight-line miles.
Getting there
Nearest airports with airline service
After Henry Vilas Zoo
Every place here is under 31 miles away.
1in town Stadium & arenaCamp Randall Stadium
2in town Stadium & arenaKohl Center
32 mi MuseumOverture Center for the Arts
30 mi Park & preserveIce Age Trail
4in town MuseumElvehjem Museum of Art
52 mi GardenUniversity of Wisconsin–Madison Arboretum
64 mi GardenOlbrich Botanical Gardens
76 mi MuseumNational Mustard MuseumPhoto credits
Camp Randall Stadium: Carol M. Highsmith, Public domain · Kohl Center: Pbrown111 at English Wikipedia, Public domain · Overture Center for the Arts: Chief-O of English Wikipedia, Public domain · Ice Age Trail: MDuchek, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Elvehjem Museum of Art: James Steakley, CC BY-SA 3.0 · University of Wisconsin–Madison Arboretum: Yinan Chen, Public Domain · Olbrich Botanical Gardens: Chief-O at English Wikipedia, Public domain · National Mustard Museum: Corey Coyle, CC BY 3.0
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A visit to Henry Vilas Zoo: questions
Is Henry Vilas Zoo in Madison?
Yes. It’s inside Madison, WI.
When is the best time to visit Henry Vilas Zoo?
May, June, July, August and September, with highs of 70–83°.
How far is Henry Vilas Zoo from Milwaukee?
About 73 miles east of Milwaukee, as the crow flies.
What is the closest airport to Henry Vilas Zoo?
Dane County Regional Truax Field (MSN), about 7 miles away. The nearest big hub is General Mitchell (MKE), about 77 miles.
Where should I stay near Henry Vilas Zoo?
Madison (in town, 97 places to stay), Middleton (6 mi, 11 places to stay) and Monona (4 mi, 7 places to stay).
What locals in Madison say
Nobody has posted a tip yet; ask or answer in Madison’s Town Square.
Sources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · NOAA climate normals · U.S. Census.