Toronto Zoo tickets are sold online and at the gate, and memberships are an option for repeat visitors. The zoo lists hours of 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekends and holidays and 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on weekdays, with last admission an hour before closing. It is about 40 km (35 to 50 minutes) from downtown and 50 km from Pearson.
Our Toronto Zoo car service page covers the drop-off at the entrance, vehicles and an east-end itinerary. This post answers the questions people ask before that: how to buy tickets, how the hours shape the day, how the TTC compares with driving yourself or a chauffeur, and how to plan a long family day at the far eastern edge of the city so the drive home is the easy part.
How do you buy Toronto Zoo tickets?
The Toronto Zoo sells admission online and at the gate. Buying online before you leave saves a line at the entrance, which matters on summer weekends and school holidays when families arrive at the same time. The zoo also offers memberships as an alternative to daily admission, which suits GTA families who expect to visit several times a year. Special events and some experiences are ticketed separately on the zoo's events page. We do not print admission prices, ours or anyone else's; check the zoo's site for current tickets and any age-based categories.
What are the Toronto Zoo's hours?
When we checked on 2 October 2026, the zoo listed weekend and holiday hours of 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. and weekday hours of 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with last admission one hour before closing. Hours change with the seasons, so confirm them on the zoo's site for your date. The rule about last admission matters for the drive: on a weekday you need to be through the gate by 3:30 p.m., and with a 35 to 50 minute drive from downtown that means leaving the hotel by about 2:30 p.m. at the latest. In practice, most families should aim to arrive near opening, when animals are more active and the paths are quieter.
How long does a zoo visit take?
The site is large and spread across several geographic areas and pavilions. Families with young children usually need four to five hours for the main areas with lunch; visitors who want to see everything stay closer to six. On weekdays, with a 4:30 p.m. close, that means an arrival before 11 a.m. if you want a full visit. A morning arrival also gives you the coolest hours of a summer day.
Is the TTC, driving yourself or a chauffeur best?
| Option | Typical trip from downtown | Best for | Drawbacks |
|---|---|---|---|
| TTC subway and bus | Line 2 to Kennedy Station, then the 86 Scarborough bus | Solo adults and couples travelling light | Long trip with a change; crowded at closing |
| Driving yourself | About 40 km via the DVP and Highway 401 | Families with their own car | The 401 both ways, the parking lot, a tired driver |
| Ride-hail | Same route as driving | Getting there | Finding a ride at closing on a busy day |
| Chauffeur, one-way each way | About 40 km, 35 to 50 min | Full family days | You set the return time in advance |
| Hourly chauffeur | Same, with the car nearby | Short visits, extra stops, unpredictable days | 3-hour minimum |
The TTC 86 Scarborough route runs between Kennedy Station on Line 2 and the zoo; check the TTC's site for the current schedule. It is a fair choice for a couple on a weekday. For a family with a stroller, car seats and a cooler, door-to-door wins easily.
What does a family zoo day look like by car?
A Saturday in May for two parents, two children and a grandparent, staying at a Yorkville hotel:
- 8:40 a.m. Pickup with child seats fitted. About 36 km via the DVP and the 401, 35 to 50 minutes.
- 9:25 a.m. Set-down near the main entrance; tickets already bought online.
- 9:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. The pavilions and outdoor areas nearest the entrance while the children are fresh.
- 12 p.m. Lunch and a rest.
- 1 to 2:30 p.m. One more area, chosen by the children.
- 2:30 p.m. Text the chauffeur and walk back to the entrance; the far areas can be a long walk.
- 3 p.m. Drive home, ahead of the late-afternoon traffic on the 401.
That plan suits two one-way rides with a set return. If the grandparent may tire early, an hourly chauffeur keeps the car nearby so part of the group can leave first.
How do you get there from Pearson?
The zoo is about 50 km from Toronto Pearson, typically 40 to 60 minutes along Highway 401 east, or via the tolled 407 ETR when the 401 is jammed. The chauffeur tracks your flight and meets you at Pearson's pre-arranged pickup area on the arrivals curb; meet and greet inside arrivals is available at booking. Included waiting is 30 minutes for Canadian domestic and US flights and 60 minutes for other international arrivals. Families flying in for a few days often stay in Scarborough or the Durham Region, 15 to 25 minutes from the gate; see our Scarborough hotels page, or use our travel desk to book flights and a hotel with the car.
Which route does the chauffeur take?
From downtown the usual route is the Don Valley Parkway north to Highway 401 east, then local roads to the zoo off Meadowvale Road. From North York it is the 401 east the whole way, and from Markham, Pickering and Ajax it is local roads or a short stretch of the 401 west. The 401 through Scarborough is among the busiest roads in the country, so weekday rush hours are the times to avoid. Our chauffeurs check Ontario 511 before leaving and change route when there is a closure.
When is the zoo quietest?
Spring and autumn weekdays are the calmest, with cooler temperatures that make the walking easier. Summer weekends and school holidays are the busiest. Winter is quiet, and the indoor pavilions make a cold-weather visit possible with the right clothes. Mornings are generally best for active animals, which is another reason to book an early pickup.
Which ticket choice suits which family?
- Visitors from out of town, one visit: daily admission bought online for your date.
- GTA families visiting several times a year: compare a membership on the zoo's site.
- School, camp and company groups: check the zoo's group options before booking a coach for 55.
- Families planning an evening event: buy the event ticket first, then book the car hourly, because evening finish times vary.
What should you pack for the zoo?
- Tickets on a phone, and a charged phone for texting the chauffeur at the end of the day.
- Water bottles, snacks, sunscreen and hats: much of the walking is outdoors.
- Layers in spring and autumn; the site is open and the wind can be cool.
- A stroller or a carrier for under-fives. The zoo lists rentals on its site if you would rather not bring one.
- A small bag for the car: on an hourly booking, coats and souvenirs can stay locked in the trunk.
Leave car seats to us: infant, convertible and booster seats are available at booking and fitted before pickup, so you do not carry them around the zoo.
Is the zoo manageable for grandparents and visitors with limited mobility?
The paths are long and some are hilly, so plan a shorter route and more breaks. The zoo publishes its own accessibility information and rentals on its website; read it before you go. On our side, the car sets down as close to the main entrance as the zoo's traffic plan allows, and the chauffeur can come back early for part of the group on an hourly booking while the others stay on. We also have a wheelchair-accessible vehicle: book it in advance and tell us at booking about the wheelchair or scooter, so the right car is held for your date. For passengers who can transfer to a seat, the chauffeur can also fold and stow wheelchairs, walkers and rollators. Mention mobility needs in the booking notes so the right vehicle arrives.
Which car fits a zoo trip?
An SUV suits most families: six seats, child seats at booking and room for a folded stroller and a cooler. The premier luxury SUV is easier for grandparents to step into. Two families together fit the twelve-seat Sprinter luxury van. Tell us the ages of the children and the number of strollers so the right seats and trunk space arrive.
What mistakes make a zoo day harder?
- Arriving at 3:45 p.m. on a weekday, after last admission.
- Underestimating the walk back from the far areas to the entrance.
- Booking a fixed pickup at closing, when everyone leaves at once.
- Forgetting water and sun protection; much of the site is outdoors.
- Driving home on the 401 at rush hour after five hours on foot.
- Planning a second stop that is too far away; keep it local.
Can you add a second stop nearby?
Yes, on an hourly booking. Rouge National Urban Park is next door, with trails a few minutes from the zoo, and the Scarborough Bluffs are about 20 km south-west on the lake. Rouge National Urban Park is managed by Parks Canada, which posts trail conditions. With toddlers, one extra stop is plenty.
How is the fare worked out?
The reservation engine shows a fixed fare before you confirm, with HST shown separately, and 407 ETR tolls on the planned route are included. It depends on the vehicle class, the distance and time, waiting, extra stops, the hours on an hourly booking and the date. Zoo tickets are separate and are bought from the zoo. Read how our fares work for details, and our sibling post on Canada's Wonderland tickets and a day plan if you are planning a second family day north of the city. Cancellation is free more than 72 hours before pickup, then 10 %, 50 % and 100 % at 72, 48 and 24 hours or less.
How do you book the car?
- Buy zoo tickets online for your date, or plan to buy at the gate.
- Open the reservation engine and choose one-way, round trip or hourly.
- Enter the pickup and the Toronto Zoo, Meadowvale Road, as the destination.
- Add the return time, the vehicle and child seats.
- See the fixed fare and confirm.
