At A Glance
Nestled in two different cities within the Show-Me state, the STL Zoo and the Dickerson Park Zoo serves as safe havens for many diverse species, offering unique experiences to their visitors.
Located in St. Louis, the STL Zoo, a sprawling 90-acre haven, houses up to 16,000 animals including crowd favorites such as tigers, giraffes, capybaras, elephants, and even sea lions.
Marketed as an institution focused on family fun, education, conservation, and free entry for all, the STL Zoo, unfortunately, is not accessible via public transportation, with parking available at $15 per car.
On the other hand, with an expanse of 70 acres, the Dickerson Park Zoo located in Springfield is home to over 450 animals with an array of tigers, giraffes, elephants, and lions.
Although entry is paid, it encourages close encounters with animals and protection and conservation.
Both the zoos prioritize disability access with wheelchair-friendly walkways and are excellent destinations for families with children of varying ages.
A notable distinction is that the Dickerson Park Zoo allows visitors to bring their dogs, offering free parking and on-site food stalls but prohibits the introduction of outside food and drink.
An average trip to either of these institutions is likely to last 2-3 hours, promising a day full of fun-filled exploration and learning.
Size
The STL Zoo and Dickerson Park Zoo, both located in the state of Missouri, showcase diverse animal species in expansive settings.
The STL Zoo stretches over a larger area covering 90 acres, while Dickerson Park Zoo spans over a slightly smaller area of 70 acres.
Despite this size difference, both zoos offer a similar range of experiences as it takes about 2-3 hours on average to fully explore each location, giving visitors ample time to appreciate the rich variety of wildlife nurtured within their grounds.
More About STL Zoo
| Size (acres) | 90 |
| Time To Walk Around | 2-3 Hours |
| Adult Price | $free |
| Child Price | $free |
| Infant Price | Free Under free Years Old |
| Price For Family Of 4 | $free |
| Parking | $15 |
| Number Of Animals | 16,000 Animals |
| Can Bring Your Own Food? | Yes |
Information from https://stlzoo.org/
Price
In terms of pricing, a stark contrast could be seen when comparing the STL Zoo and Dickerson Park Zoo.
While the STL Zoo in St Louis offers free entry, providing an economical outing for families, the Dickerson Park Zoo in Springfield charges $17 for an adult ticket, $12 for a child’s ticket, and $14 for concessionary tickets.
Despite children under the age of 2 gaining free entry at Dickerson Park Zoo, the cost for a family of four stands at $58, quite a contrast to the free family outing at STL Zoo.
No matter the family size, STL ‘s pricing model is certainly more beneficial for those visiting with children under the “free for children” age, as all entries are free of charge regardless of age.
The cost of an average family of 4 at STL Zoo is $free compared to 58 at Dickerson Park Zoo.
Popular Animals
Both STL Zoo and Dickerson Park Zoo offer their visitors an impressive range of animals to marvel at, although the quantity and selection of animals varies between the two.
STL Zoo, with its vast assortment of over 16,000 animals including such exotic offerings as capybaras and sea lions to its collection of tigers, giraffes, elephants and big cats, certainly outnumbers the Dickerson Park Zoo’s 450 animals.
However, Dickerson Park Zoo maintains its own enticing selection that includes tigers, giraffes, elephants, and lions, much like the STL Zoo.
Both zoos pride themselves in housing and caring for endangered species like tigers and elephants as part of their shared dedication to animal conservation.
Overall, although the STL Zoo takes the lead in terms of variety and sheer volume of its animals, both zoos possess unique wildlife populations that offer educational and enjoyable experiences for animal lovers of all ages. <div class=”overview” markdown=”1”id=”wyntk-dickerson-park-zoo”>
More About Dickerson Park Zoo
About Dickerson Park Zoo
- 1401 W Norton Rd, Springfield, MO 65803, United States
- 417-833-1570
- https://dickersonparkzoo.org/
| Size (acres) | 70 |
| Time To Walk Around | 2-3 Hours |
| Adult Price | $17 |
| Child Price | $12 |
| Infant Price | Free Under 2 Years Old |
| Price For Family Of 4 | $58 |
| Parking | Free |
| Number Of Animals | Over 450 animals |
| Can Bring Your Own Food? | No |
Information from https://dickersonparkzoo.org/
Accesibility
Both STL Zoo and Dickerson Park Zoo are strongly committed to being accessible and enjoyable for all visitors, regardless of any physical limitations.
Each facility has been designed with disability access in mind, providing walkways suitable for wheelchairs, allowing for smooth and easy navigation even through more rugged exhibit areas.
While the STL Zoo spreads out over a larger area, 90 acres as opposed to Dickerson Park Zoo’s 70 acres, this does not impact the level of accessibility in either zoo.
It’s wonderful to see that even though their sizes and the number of animals they house vary significantly, both zoos prioritize providing all visitors with convenient access to their various attractions and exhibits.
However, specific information regarding additional accessibility features such as wheelchair rentals, accessible restrooms or interpretive services, will need to be directly obtained from each zoo.
Pefect For
Both the STL Zoo and Dickerson Park Zoo are exceptionally family-friendly, tailoring their attractions and facilities to cater to all; from toddlers to older children as well as providing disability access.
The STL Zoo, with free entry, is fantastic for a cost-friendly day out.
With a wide variety of distinctive animals like capybaras, sloths, bears, and sea lions, it’s especially suited for a trip that emphasizes education and conservation.
However, if you’re planning a family day out where interactiveness plays a significant role, the Dickerson Park Zoo, famed for its close encounters with animals, may be the best choice.
Notably, it’s one of the few that allows dogs, making it the perfect choice for families wanting to include their furry members.
That said, it’s critical to keep in mind the cost implication at Dickerson Park Zoo, though it does offer free parking, unlike the STL Zoo.
However, both zoos assure a memorable visit, encouraging a deeper understanding and appreciation of wildlife.
Conclusion
In conclusion, both STL Zoo and Dickerson Park Zoo have plenty to offer their visitors.
Each having a variety of exciting and intriguing animals, from tigers and giraffes to elephants and lions.
While both zoos emphasize a fun family experience and have accommodative paths for the disabled, STL Zoo stands out with its free admission, a relief for families on a budget.
Despite the parking fee, families are allowed to bring their own food and drink, which can be quite cost-saving.
On the other hand, Dickerson Park Zoo presents a unique feature, the allowance for pet dogs.
This added feature could be a fun twist for families who love their furry friends.
Although admission is charged, parking here is completely free.
The choice between the two could easily depend on family preferences and budget.
Ultimately, both STL Zoo and Dickerson Park Zoo stand as remarkable places for education on animal conservation, serving as delightful options for family trips in Missouri.
