Minnesota Zoo
The Minnesota Zoo (formerly the Minnesota Zoological Garden) is an AZA-accredited zoo in Apple Valley, Minnesota.
A zoo & aquarium inside Apple Valley
Winters are cold
January nights drop to 7°, with about 41" of snow a year. When to go ↓
You can stay in Apple Valley
Minnesota Zoo is inside Apple Valley, which has 5 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 68–82°. When to go ↓
An airport 8 miles away
Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport / Wold–Chamberlain Field (MSP) has airline service, about 8 miles from Minnesota Zoo.
Established in 1978
Minnesota Zoo dates from 1978. About ↓
Written from NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Overture places to stay, Census town figures, Wikidata and Wikipedia.
Weather, month by month
Typical highs and lows in Apple Valley. Green months are the mild ones.
Minnesota Zoo
The Minnesota Zoo (formerly the Minnesota Zoological Garden) is an AZA-accredited zoo in Apple Valley, Minnesota. The zoo is one of two state-supported zoos in the United States, with the other being the North Carolina Zoo. When it opened on May 22, 1978, it was fairly revolutionary in its exhibit design. The zoo, built in a suburbanizing rural area, had more space to house exhibits and was one of the first zoos to organize its animals by their living environment as opposed to their species.
The Minnesota Zoo is a state agency. This differs from other zoos in Minnesota and most others in the United States, which are run by municipalities or private organizations. The Minnesota Zoo charges admission and sells annual memberships. The zoo is also home to a high school, the School of Environmental Studies.
- Type
- Zoo & aquarium
- Animals
- 4 animals · 505 species
- Area
- 485 acres
- Established
- 1978
- Wikipedia readers
- 10K a year
Where to stay near Minnesota Zoo
The closest towns with hotels, motels or campgrounds are Apple Valley (5) and Bloomington (60).
- 1U.S. Bank Stadium
- 2Huntington Bank Stadium
- 3Nickelodeon Universe
- 4Target Field
- 5Grand Casino Arena
- 6Valleyfair
- 7Fort Snelling
- 8Allianz Field
Compare 8 towns
| Town | From Minnesota Zoo | Drive | Places to stay | People | Typical home | Safety |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apple Valley | in town | — | 5 2 hotels · 3 campgrounds | 55,248 | $370K | C+ |
| Bloomington | 7 mi northwest | 10 min | 60 57 hotels · 1 motel · 2 campgrounds | 89,034 | $362K | D |
| Minneapolis | 14 mi north | 20 min | 92 77 hotels · 2 motels · 4 inns & B&Bs · 4 lodges & cabins · 5 campgrounds | 430,324 | $362K | D− |
| Eagan | 4 mi northeast | 5 min | 26 23 hotels · 1 motel · 2 campgrounds | 67,109 | $397K | C+ |
| Burnsville | 4 mi west | 5 min | 15 13 hotels · 1 motel · 1 inn or B&B | 65,244 | $355K | C |
| St. Paul | 13 mi north | 20 min | 36 25 hotels · 3 motels · 6 inns & B&Bs · 2 lodges & cabins | 306,684 | $295K | D |
| Shakopee | 14 mi west | 20 min | 18 15 hotels · 1 motel · 1 campground · 1 RV park | 49,366 | $375K | B− |
| Lakeville | 7 mi south | 10 min | 7 6 hotels · 1 motel | 79,270 | $453K | A− |
Getting there
Nearest airports with airline service
Also near Minnesota Zoo
Other well-known places within 16 miles. Numbered ones are on the map above.
Big draw114 mi Stadium & arenaU.S. Bank Stadium
214 mi Stadium & arenaHuntington Bank Stadium
36 mi Theme parkNickelodeon Universe
415 mi Stadium & arenaTarget Field
513 mi Stadium & arenaGrand Casino Arena
613 mi Theme parkValleyfair
79 mi LandmarkFort Snelling
813 mi Stadium & arenaAllianz FieldPhoto credits
U.S. Bank Stadium: Darb02, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Huntington Bank Stadium: Lectrician2, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Nickelodeon Universe: Tyler Vigen, CC BY 4.0 · Target Field: Lectrician2, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Grand Casino Arena: AlexiusHoratius, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Valleyfair: https://www.flickr.com/photos/clumpinglitter/, CC BY-SA 2.0 · Fort Snelling: en:User:The Statue With The Dictionary, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Allianz Field: Andy Witchger, CC BY 2.0
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Visiting Minnesota Zoo
Is Minnesota Zoo in Apple Valley?
Yes. It’s inside Apple Valley, MN.
When is the best time to visit Minnesota Zoo?
May, June, July, August and September, with highs of 68–82°.
What is the closest airport to Minnesota Zoo?
Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport / Wold–Chamberlain Field (MSP), about 8 miles away.
Where should I stay near Minnesota Zoo?
Bloomington (7 mi, 60 places to stay), Minneapolis (14 mi, 92 places to stay) and Eagan (4 mi, 26 places to stay).
Tips from people in Apple Valley
No tips yet. Ask, or answer, in Apple Valley’s Town Square.
Sources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · NOAA climate normals · U.S. Census.