Zoo & aquarium · Washington · District of Columbia

National Zoological Park

Photo: Quadell, CC BY-SA 3.0

Nearest place to stay

0.3 mi

Kalorama Guest House

Visitors in 2015

2.2M

Wikidata

Open since

1889

In brief

A zoo & aquarium inside Washington

Places to stay next door

Kalorama Guest House is 0.3 miles away; Marriott Wardman Park Hotel (0.4 mi) and Rock Creek Park (0.5 mi) are close too. 254 places to stay are within 4 miles. Hotels nearby ↓

A day trip from Baltimore

Baltimore is about 35 miles northeast (straight-line). Hotels nearby ↓

Established in 1889

National Zoological Park dates from 1889. About ↓

Best months: Apr, May, Sep and Oct

April, May, September and October are the mild months, with highs of 67–80°. When to go ↓

An airport 5 miles away

Ronald Reagan Washington National (DCA) has airline service, about 5 miles from National Zoological Park.

Written from NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Overture places to stay, Census town figures, Wikidata and Wikipedia.

When to go

How the seasons run

Plan a visit to National Zoological Park around the weather below.

Jan44° / 27°

Feb47° / 28°

Mar56° / 35°

Apr67° / 45°

May76° / 55°

Jun84° / 64°

Jul89° / 69°

Aug87° / 67°

Sep80° / 60°

Oct69° / 48°

Nov57° / 38°

Dec48° / 31°

Typical highs and lows in Washington. Green months are the mild ones. Weather: NOAA 1991–2020 normals for Washington. Washington’s full climate →

About

National Zoological Park

The Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, commonly known as the National Zoological Park or simply the National Zoo, is one of the oldest zoos in the United States. The zoo is part of the Smithsonian Institution and does not charge admission. Founded in 1889, its mission is to "provide engaging experiences with animals and create and share knowledge to save wildlife and habitats".

Type: Zoo & aquarium
Animals: 400 species
Established: 1889
Area: 163 acres
Listed: National Register of Historic Places (1973)
Wikipedia readers: 35K a year

From Wikipedia (CC BY-SA). Facts: Wikidata.

Where to stay

Places to stay by National Zoological Park

Lodging within 4 miles comes to 254 places. The shortest trip is to Kalorama Guest House, 0.3 miles.

National Zoological ParkWater1Places to stay (the list)Places to eat

Closest places to stay

1Kalorama Guest Houseinn or B&B · 0.3 mi westDirections
2Marriott Wardman Park Hotelhotel · 0.4 mi southwestDirections
3Rock Creek Parkcampground · 0.5 mi northDirections
4Omni Shoreham Hotelhotel · 0.5 mi southwestDirections
5Adam's Inninn or B&B · 0.5 mi southeastDirections
6The LINE DChotel · 0.6 mi southeastDirections
7Adams Morgan Historic Hotelhotel · 0.6 mi southeastDirections
8Washington International Student Centerhostel · 0.7 mi southeastDirections
9HighRoad Washington DChotel · 0.7 mi southeastDirections
10Windsor Park Hotelhotel · 0.8 mi southDirections

Places to eat nearby

1,172 restaurants, cafés and bars within 1½ miles

164 bars & pubs139 Asian & Indian108 Mexican & Latin89 coffee & cafés60 pizza41 Italian39 ice cream & sweets

Compare 8 towns to stay in

Town	From National Zoological Park	Drive	Places to stay	People	Typical home	Safety
Washington	in town	—	247 201 hotels · 2 motels · 24 inns & B&Bs · 6 lodges & cabins · 12 hostels · 2 campgrounds	693,645	$737K	D⁻
Arlington	5 mi southwest	5 min	58 54 hotels · 1 motel · 1 inn or B&B · 2 lodges & cabins	236,254	$895K	—
Alexandria	8 mi south	10 min	44 41 hotels · 2 inns & B&Bs · 1 lodge or cabins	160,662	$735K	C
Bethesda	5 mi northwest	10 min	26 23 hotels · 1 inn or B&B · 2 lodges & cabins	69,397	$1,170K	—
Tysons	10 mi west	15 min	25 25 hotels	28,936	$640K	—
College Park	8 mi northeast	10 min	17 16 hotels · 1 motel	35,418	$438K	—
North Bethesda	8 mi northwest	10 min	13 13 hotels	49,677	$732K	—
Silver Spring	5 mi north	10 min	8 7 hotels · 1 lodge or cabins	81,462	$643K	—

Day trip from

Straight-line miles.

Baltimore35 mi northeast Richmond99 mi south

Getting there

Nearest airports with airline service

DCARonald Reagan Washington National · major hub5 mi

IADWashington Dulles · major hub22 mi

BWIBaltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall · major hub27 mi

Places to stay and eat: Overture Maps (hotels, motels, inns, lodges, campgrounds, RV parks; not vacation rentals) · streets, water and the site outline: Overture Maps / OpenStreetMap contributors · town figures: U.S. Census ACS · Safety: TownRatings Safety grade · airports: OurAirports. Distances are from National Zoological Park’s main visitor area; drive times are estimates.

Make a day of it

What else is near National Zoological Park

Nearby, within 4 miles, are these places.

Big draw2 mi National park siteWhite House311K visitors a year

Big draw3 mi National MemorialWashington Monument204K visitors a year

Big draw3 mi LandmarkUnited States Triumphal Arch

Big draw4 mi LandmarkArlington National Cemetery

Big draw3 mi MuseumSmithsonian Institution30.0M visitors a year

Big draw3 mi National MemorialLincoln Memorial7.7M visitors a year

Big draw3 mi National Historic SiteFord's Theatre National Historic Site394K visitors a year

Big draw4 mi LandmarkTomb of the Unknown Soldier

Sources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons

Photo credits

White House: This image or media was taken or created by Matt H. Wade. To see his entire port, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Washington Monument: Oren Rozen, CC BY-SA 4.0 · United States Triumphal Arch: Hstoops, CC0 · Arlington National Cemetery: Protoant, Public domain · Smithsonian Institution: Highsmith, Carol M., 1946-, photographer, Public domain · Lincoln Memorial: Aerial_view_of_Lincoln_Memorial_-_east_side.jpg: Carol M. Highsmith derivative w, Public domain · Ford's Theatre National Historic Site: Ingfbruno, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Tomb of the Unknown Soldier: Arlington National Cemetery, Public domain

Common questions

Visiting National Zoological Park: the answers

Is National Zoological Park in Washington?

Yes. It’s inside Washington, DC.

When is the best time to visit National Zoological Park?

April, May, September and October, with highs of 67–80°.

How many people visit National Zoological Park each year?

2,200,000 in 2015, according to Wikidata.

How far is National Zoological Park from Baltimore?

About 35 miles northeast of Baltimore, as the crow flies.

What is the closest airport to National Zoological Park?

Ronald Reagan Washington National (DCA), about 5 miles away.

What hotels are near National Zoological Park?

Kalorama Guest House (0.3 mi), Marriott Wardman Park Hotel (0.4 mi) and Rock Creek Park (0.5 mi). 254 places to stay are within 4 miles.

From locals

From people who live in Washington

Tips will appear here once someone posts in Washington’s Town Square.

When do you go to beat the crowds at National Zoological Park? Where do you eat after a visit to National Zoological Park? Is National Zoological Park worth it with small kids? What do visitors to National Zoological Park usually miss?

Sources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · NOAA climate normals · U.S. Census.