Brandywine Zoo

Wilmington, DE · 1 hour 19 minutes from Reading · Under $20 a person

brandywinezoo.org|Day trips from Berks County

Plan the day

Drive1 hour 19 minutes from Reading, 54 miles1 hour 19 minutes from Boyertown · 1 hour 42 minutes from Hamburg · 1 hour 3 minutes from Morgantown

Where1001 N Park Dr, Wilmington, DEOpen in maps →

OpenOpen daily year round, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., except Christmas Day; may close early for events or weather.Daily 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; last admission 3:30 p.m.

AdmissionMay 1 to October 31: adults $9, seniors $8, children 3 to 17 $7. March, April and November: adults $7, seniors $6, children $5. December through February: free except special events. Under 3 free (posted Oct. 2026).

Plan on45 minutes to an hour, by the zoo's estimate.

Good forlittle kids, big kids, adults, a group of friends, older adults

The Brandywine Zoo is a zoo of under five acres in Brandywine Park along the Brandywine River in Wilmington, DE, run by the Delaware Division of Parks and Recreation with the Delaware Zoological Society.

It is small enough to see in 45 minutes to an hour by the zoo's own estimate, with red panda, caracal, ring-tailed lemurs and squirrel monkeys among the animals, and the new Hidden Falls exhibit pairs an outdoor yard with a climate-controlled indoor building for five species. Parking in Brandywine Park is free, adult admission tops out at $9, and from December through February entry is free except on special-event days.

Before you go

Parking is free in Brandywine Park. Bring a stroller (none to rent). Outside food is fine; no glass, plastic straws, balloons or alcohol. Fall, winter and cloudy days are quieter and the animals more active; tropical animals may be off view below 50 degrees. Pets stay home; service dogs only.

Coming up

Boo at the Zoo runs October 16 to 18, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., free with admission, costumes welcome. Creepy & Crawly Trivia Night (21 and over) is October 17, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., and a Halloween Sip & Stroll is October 22, 5 to 7:30 p.m.

Official site →Tickets →

Checked October 8, 2026 on the official site. Hours, prices and seasons change, so confirm there before a long drive.

More zoos and animal parks worth the drive

Zoos and animal parksLancaster County

Wolf Sanctuary of PA

Lititz, PA · 40 minutes from Reading · $20 to $50 a person

Wolf Sanctuary of PA is a refuge for gray wolves and wolf-dogs on Speedwell Forge Road in Lititz, PA. The only way to see the wolves is on a reserved guided tour or at an event.

Zoos and animal parksLehigh Valley

Lehigh Valley Zoo

Schnecksville, PA · 57 minutes from Reading · Under $20 a person

Lehigh Valley Zoo is an AZA-accredited zoo inside the Trexler Nature Preserve in Schnecksville, PA, run by the nonprofit Lehigh Valley Zoological Society since 2004.

Zoos and animal parksBucks and Montgomery counties

Elmwood Park Zoo

Norristown, PA · 1 hour 2 minutes from Reading · Under $20 a person

Elmwood Park Zoo is a zoo in Norristown, PA, with giraffes you can hand feed, jaguars, red pandas, eagles and a playground, plus free parking.

Zoos and animal parksHershey, Harrisburg and Lebanon

ZooAmerica North American Wildlife Park

Hershey, PA · 1 hour 11 minutes from Reading · Under $20 a person

ZooAmerica is an 11 acre walk-through zoo of North American wildlife in Hershey, PA, next to Hersheypark. It is open year round and takes about an hour to walk.

Zoos and animal parksPhiladelphia and Camden

Philadelphia Zoo

Philadelphia, PA · 1 hour 15 minutes from Reading

The Philadelphia Zoo is a zoo in Fairmount Park in Philadelphia, PA, at 34th Street and Girard Avenue. It calls itself America's first zoo.

Zoos and animal parksMaryland

Plumpton Park Zoo

Rising Sun, MD · 1 hour 21 minutes from Reading · $20 to $50 a person

Plumpton Park Zoo is a zoo in Rising Sun, MD, with giraffes, white lions, tigers, bears, wolves, sloths, zebras and camels on the grounds.

See every one of the zoos and animal parks on the list →