Potter Park Zoo
The Potter Park Zoo is a 102-acre (41.3 ha) zoo located in Lansing, Michigan, within Lansing's Potter Park. It goes back to 1915. Further out, Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum is 2.8 mi away.
A zoo & aquarium inside Lansing
Winters are cold
January nights drop to 16°, with about 50" of snow a year. When to go ↓
You can stay in Lansing
Potter Park Zoo is inside Lansing, which has 12 places to stay, so you won’t need a base farther out. Where to stay ↓
A day trip from Detroit
Detroit is about 76 miles east (straight-line). Where to stay ↓
Established in 1915
Potter Park Zoo dates from 1915. About ↓
Best months: May, Jun, Jul, Aug and Sep
May, June, July, August and September are the mild months, with highs of 69–82°. When to go ↓
Written from NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Overture places to stay, Census town figures, Wikidata and Wikipedia.
The climate here
Pick a month for Potter Park Zoo from the weather below.
Potter Park Zoo
The Potter Park Zoo is a 102-acre (41.3 ha) zoo located in Lansing, Michigan, within Lansing's Potter Park. Its mission is to Inspire people to conserve animals in the natural world. Potter Park Zoo is the oldest public zoo in Michigan and is currently home to over 160 species of animals. The zoo is owned by the City of Lansing, and operated by Ingham County. The zoo participates in the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) Species Survival Plan (SSP) designed to manage and conserve threatened or endangered animals. The Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine partners with the zoo to provide medical care for its animals.
- Type
- Zoo & aquarium
- Animals
- 350 animals · 160 species
- Area
- 102 acres
- Established
- 1915
- Wikipedia readers
- 3.3K a year
Places to stay near Potter Park Zoo
Lodging nearby is in Lansing (12) and East Lansing (11).
Compare 8 towns
| Town | From Potter Park Zoo | Drive | Places to stay | People | Typical home | Safety |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lansing | in town | — | 12 10 hotels · 1 inn or B&B · 1 campground | 113,884 | $129K | D− |
| East Lansing | 3 mi northeast | 5 min | 11 9 hotels · 1 inn or B&B · 1 hostel | 49,355 | $271K | C+ |
| Delta Township | 7 mi west | 10 min | 13 12 hotels · 1 motel | 33,175 | $253K | — |
| Meridian Township | 6 mi east | 10 min | 10 10 hotels | 44,869 | $331K | C+ |
| DeWitt Township | 7 mi north | 10 min | 9 5 hotels · 3 motels · 1 lodge or cabins | 15,516 | $276K | B |
| Lansing Township | 3 mi northwest | 5 min | 6 4 hotels · 2 motels | 8,060 | $146K | D− |
| Alaiedon Township | 8 mi southeast | 10 min | 5 5 hotels | 2,933 | $291K | — |
| Windsor Township | 9 mi southwest | 15 min | 5 3 hotels · 2 inns & B&Bs | 7,197 | $237K | — |
Getting there
Nearest airports with airline service
Places to add to Potter Park Zoo
These well-known sights sit within 63 miles.
Big draw51 mi Stadium & arenaMichigan Stadium
13 mi MuseumEli and Edythe Broad Art Museum150K visitors a year
44 mi Park & preserveNorth Country Trail
61 mi MuseumGerald R. Ford Presidential Museum
51 mi Park & preserveDomino's Farms61 mi MuseumMarvin's Marvelous Mechanical Museum
62 mi Theme parkAir Zoo
2in town MuseumR. E. Olds Transportation MuseumPhoto credits
Michigan Stadium: Lectrician2, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum: Dj1997, CC BY-SA 3.0 · North Country Trail: Huron-Manistee National Forests, Public domain · Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum: Staff of the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum, Public domain · Domino's Farms: Dwight Burdette, CC BY 3.0 · Air Zoo: User:my name, CC BY-SA 3.0 · R. E. Olds Transportation Museum: kennethaw88, CC BY 4.0
What people ask about Potter Park Zoo
Is Potter Park Zoo in Lansing?
Yes. It’s inside Lansing, MI.
When is the best time to visit Potter Park Zoo?
May, June, July, August and September, with highs of 69–82°.
How far is Potter Park Zoo from Detroit?
About 76 miles east of Detroit, as the crow flies.
What is the closest airport to Potter Park Zoo?
Capital Region (LAN), about 5 miles away. The nearest big hub is Gerald R. Ford (GRR), about 52 miles.
Where should I stay near Potter Park Zoo?
Lansing (in town, 12 places to stay), East Lansing (3 mi, 11 places to stay) and Delta Township (7 mi, 13 places to stay).
What locals in Lansing say
Nobody has posted a tip yet; ask or answer in Lansing’s Town Square.
Sources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · NOAA climate normals · U.S. Census.