Spring is in full swing across Oklahoma City, and there is no better place to celebrate the season with your family than the Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden. From a brand-new Dinosaur Expedition featuring over 60 life-sized animatronic dinosaurs to the sweeping 12-acre Expedition Africa habitat — plus a lineup of adorable new baby animals and hands-on interactive experiences your kids will talk about for months — the OKC Zoo is packed with reasons to visit this spring. Whether you’ve been dozens of times or haven’t stopped by in years, spring 2026 is genuinely one of the most exciting seasons the zoo has offered in recent memory.
Why Spring Is the Best Time to Visit the Oklahoma City Zoo
Spring is without question the prime season for a zoo visit in OKC. The weather is warm but not punishing, the botanical garden sections are alive with color, and the animals are noticeably energized by the mild temperatures. The Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden spans more than 100 acres northeast of downtown, home to over 1,900 animals representing more than 500 species — and April is when you’ll find some of the most active and entertaining animal behavior of the entire year.
Spring also means the zoo’s full seasonal lineup is running, from the Flamingo Mingle to the Explorikeet Adventure to the Endangered Species Carousel. The botanical garden paths burst with native wildflowers and flowering trees, making every stretch of the zoo a genuinely beautiful walk. Planning your visit on a weekday gives you a noticeably relaxed experience, but with so much to discover, even a busy spring weekend here is a fantastic day out for the whole family.
Dinosaur Expedition — OKC Zoo’s Most Thrilling New Attraction of 2026
The biggest headline at the Oklahoma City Zoo this year is the all-new Dinosaur Expedition, presented by Mathis Home. This immersive outdoor exhibit features more than 60 animatronic dinosaurs — some stretching over 60 feet long and standing 25 feet tall — designed with scientifically accurate movements and vocalizations based on the latest paleontology research. Located adjacent to the Eleanor Kirkpatrick Jungle Gym Playground, Dinosaur Expedition runs daily through November 1, 2026, meaning your family has the entire spring and summer to roar through it.
Inside the exhibit, kids will encounter towering T. rexes, sweeping long-necked sauropods, interactive fossil dig pits, and dino skull photo ops that make for unforgettable family pictures. Admission to Dinosaur Expedition is $9 per person for ages 3 and up (or $7 for ZOOfriends members) on top of general zoo admission. For the best value, grab the Adventure Ticket at $15 per person ages 3+, which bundles unlimited same-day access to Dinosaur Expedition, Explorikeet Adventure feedings, and the Endangered Species Carousel all in one. Dino rides are available separately at $6 per ride, or grab a bundle of three rides for $15.
Expedition Africa, Baby Animals, and the Habitats You Can’t Miss
The zoo’s 12-acre Expedition Africa habitat remains one of the most spectacular zoo experiences in the entire region. Anchored by a state-of-the-art giraffe barn and a completely renovated Love’s Pachyderm Building, this expansive habitat offers extraordinary close-up views of giraffes, elephants, and a range of African wildlife in a setting that feels genuinely immersive rather than just a typical zoo exhibit. MetroFamily Magazine named Expedition Africa one of the most impressive zoo expansions in Oklahoma history, and it’s easy to see why the moment you step inside.
Spring 2026 also brings a wave of exciting new arrivals. A Sumatran tiger cub has recently joined the zoo’s big cat family, and an Asian elephant calf — which would be the sixth elephant calf ever born at the OKC Zoo — is expected to arrive later this year. A rare Francois’ langur infant is now the fourth member of this endangered species troop in the Sanctuary Asia habitat. For families, spotting these baby animals is pure magic, and spring is when the little ones are at their most playful and active.
Giraffe Feeding, Flamingo Mingle, and Interactive Experiences for Every Age
One of the most memorable parts of an OKC Zoo spring visit is the hands-on animal experiences woven throughout the park. In Expedition Africa, guests can participate in a giraffe feeding encounter — going face-to-face with one of the world’s tallest animals for just $5 per person. Giraffe feedings are offered Thursday through Sunday and fill up fast; head to the habitat early to secure your spot. TravelOK.com highlights the Oklahoma City Zoo as one of Oklahoma’s premier family destinations, specifically citing the interactive animal experiences as a standout reason to visit during spring and summer.
The Flamingo Mingle lets your family stroll right among the zoo’s vibrant flamingo flock, while the Explorikeet Adventure puts colorful lorikeets directly on your arms and shoulders as they sip nectar from cups in your hands — a genuinely unforgettable experience for kids of every age. The zoo’s Botanical Garden sections are also at peak beauty in April and May, with native wildflowers, flowering trees, and manicured garden beds creating a gorgeous backdrop throughout the entire visit.
Admission, Hours, and Tips for Visiting the OKC Zoo This Spring
The Oklahoma City Zoo is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with last entry at 4 p.m. The zoo is located at 2000 Remington Place, Oklahoma City, OK 73111, just off I-44 and NE 50th Street. General admission pricing for 2026 is as follows:
Adults (ages 12–64): $20
Children (ages 3–11) and Seniors (65+): $17
Children ages 2 and under: FREE
ZOOfriends membership offers free general admission year-round plus discounts on add-on experiences — one of the best values in OKC for families who visit more than twice a year. To save time at the gate and skip the entry lines, buy your tickets in advance online through the zoo’s ticketing page — a smart move on spring weekends when the parking lot fills up fast. Arriving by 9:30 a.m. on Saturdays gives you first pick of parking and lets you hit Dinosaur Expedition before the crowds build.
Make a Full Day of It — Things to Do Near the Oklahoma City Zoo
The OKC Zoo sits in the heart of the Adventure District, a cluster of top-tier family attractions that makes extending your trip into a full day surprisingly easy. Science Museum Oklahoma is located right next door — one of the finest hands-on science centers in the region, with interactive exhibits, a planetarium, and a fun gift shop your kids will love. For families captivated by dinosaurs after the Dinosaur Expedition, the Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History in Norman is a natural follow-up trip later in the spring. VisitOKC’s online guide is a great resource for planning everything in the metro, from the Adventure District to downtown dining and evening entertainment.
On your way back downtown, make a stop at Scissortail Park — OKC’s stunning 70-acre urban park — for a scenic walk along the waterfront, a picnic on the open lawn, or a spin on the playground while the kids run off any remaining energy after the zoo. Spring evenings at Scissortail are simply beautiful, with the city skyline glowing behind the water features as the sun goes down.
The Oklahoma City Zoo spring 2026 season is one of the most exciting in years — with Dinosaur Expedition roaring to life daily, Expedition Africa in full swing, adorable new baby animals arriving, and hands-on experiences tucked around every corner. Whether you’re planning a full-day family adventure or a spontaneous Saturday outing, the OKC Zoo delivers everything you need for a truly memorable spring day in Oklahoma City. Have you visited yet this season? Drop your favorite experience in the comments below, and share this guide with a family who’s overdue for a great day at the zoo!
