Franklin Park Zoo - Zoo New England

Official Website:	Franklin Park Zoo - Zoo New England
Location:	One Franklin Park Road, Dorchester, MA
Phone:	617-541-5466
Hours:	Hours Vary see below
Ages:	Toddlers, Kids, Teens, Adults
In/Outdoor:	Indoor, Outdoor
Cost:	$$ see below
Category:	Zoos & Aquariums

Other Ideas: Capron Park & Zoo; Roger Williams Park Zoo; Southwick's Zoo; Butterfly Landing at Franklin Park Zoo; Magic Wings Butterfly Conservatory

The Franklin Park Zoo is a 72-acre zoo located in Boston, Massachusetts. It opened to the public in 1913, and is currently operated by Zoo New England, which also operates the Stone Zoo in Stoneham, Massachusetts.

The zoo is located just four miles from downtown Boston in the northeast portion of Franklin Park, Boston's largest park and the last component of the city's Emerald Necklace. It has been accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) since 1990.

The Farmyard area provides hands-on contact with the more commonly seen farm animals. Kalahari Kingdom, an awesome Lion habitat where you can really see lions up close (through glass of course!). The Butterfly Landing, open seasonally, is filled with hundreds of butterflies. Kids will also like the African Tropical Forest Habitat where they'll see Gorillas at play (a must-see), and don't miss the Australian Outback where you'll come face to face with wonderful Red Kangaroos.

Parking at Franklin Park Zoo is limited, but free.

Find out more about having a Zoo Birthday Party.

Education
Zoo New England offers an exciting array of interactive classes for children and adults featuring a wide range of themes. Topics include:
• Animal Adaptations
• Biodiversity
• Habitats
• Lifecycles
• The Web of Life
• Wild Careers
• Wildlife
• Conservation
Zoo programs motivate students through hands-on, participatory activities that utilize the Zoos’ rich educational resources. All classes reflect the National Science Education Standards, Massachusetts State Education Framework and the Boston Public Schools Learning Standards for grades K-12. Programs can be modified to fit specific topics.

Hours

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Apr. 1 – Sept. 30: Mon-Fri 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.,
Weekends and Holidays: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Oct.1 – Mar. 31: Daily 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
*Last entry one half hour before closing.

*Closed on Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day

Cost

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Adults: $17.00
Senior Admission (62+): $14.00
Child Admission (ages 2-12): $11.00
Children under 2: Free
Members: Free

View Current Admission Rates

Location

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One Franklin Park Road, Dorchester, MA map

Signage is dismal and these routes are complicated if you don't know where you are going. (Typical Boston, no signs and confusing roadways). GPS or mapping this out BEFORE you go will save you some hassles.

Storrow Drive:
Take the Fenway exit to Route 1 South
Follow Route 1 (Riverway) to Route 203 East, following signs for Franklin Park Zoo
Once you pass the Arnold Arboretum, keep left to go over the overpass
At the next rotary, go two-thirds of the way around
Enter Franklin Park, and follow Zoo signs

Route 128 North or South:
Take exit 15A (Dedham Exit) to Route 1A
Stay on Route 1 (approximately 4 miles) until it becomes the VFW Parkway
Continue on the VFW Parkway, approximately 3 miles, until it ends
Take a left on Centre Street
At the rotary take 203 East onto the Arborway
Pass the Arnold Arboretum and keep left to go on overpass
At next rotary, go two-thirds of the way around, enter Franklin Park, and follow Zoo signs

I-93 North of Boston:
Take I-93S to Exit 15, Columbia Road
At the end of ramp take a right onto Columbia Road
At the 3rd light Columbia Road turns left
Continue on Columbia Road through 9 more lights
Go straight across Blue Hill Avenue
Parking for the zoo is on the left - entrance into the zoo is on your right. If lot is full, stay straight on Franklin Park Road and there is additional parking on your right

I93 South of Boston:
Take I-93N to Exit 15, Columbia Road
Take a right at the end of the ramp - you must go up and around the rotary and then come back - to be heading in the correct direction on Columbia Road
At the 3rd set of lights, Columbia Road turns left. Continue on Columbia Road through 9 more sets of lights
Go straight across Blue Hill Avenue
Parking for the zoo is on the left - entrance into the zoo is on your right. If lot is full, stay straight on Franklin Park Road and there is additional parking on your right

Route 9:
Take Route 9 to Route 1 (the Jamaica Way) south
Follow Route 1 to Route 203 East
Stay in the left lane and go over the overpass
At the next rotary go two-thirds of the way around, enter Franklin Park, and follow Zoo signs

Public Transportation
Franklin Park Zoo is accessible by the MBTA.

Take the Orange Line or Commuter Rail to the Forest Hills station, then take the number 16 bus to the Franklin Park Zoo.

Take the Orange Line or Commuter Rail to the Ruggles station, then take the number 22, 28, 29, 44 or 45 bus to the Franklin Park Zoo.

Take the Red line to the Andrew station, then take the number 16 bus to the Franklin Park Zoo.

All of the above bus lines will take you to the Zoo. For bus schedules, rates, and more information please contact the MBTA at 617-722-3200

Facebook Comments

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Recent Reviews

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even in winter!

We love this zoo! I just took my 1st and 2nd grade class for a Rainforest field trip. Wetook a great class about the rainforest and then wandered through the indoor rainforest building. Warm and cozy! And so many cool animals! We even got to see the baby gorilla close up. We also walked through the (warm) bird house. A wonderful field trip option or family option for winter!

Zoo Visit

My girls and I make an annual visit to the Franklin Park Zoo. It has become somewhat of a tradition. We especially enjoy the gorilla exhibit.

Franklin Park Zoo ~ A Great Time For Little Ones

My three year old and I had a great trip to the Franklin Park Zoo in September 2008. We live 15 miles away and do not make the trip to this Zoo nearly often enough. It was a warm drizzly Sunday afternoon and the zoo was not crowded. All of the animals that are sometimes not easy to see were out and easy to watch from all viewpoints. The male lion was putting on a roaring show, the three giraffes (including the new baby) were walking all around their enclosure and the wild dogs were racing around chasing one another. The staff was helpful and parking was free and convenient. Franklin Park is not in the nicest area of Boston and the zoo itself is not the size or caliber of the San Diego Zoo, but, as long as you go with the proper expectations (e.g., this is a smaller city zoo with a good, not great, mix of animals, and in good, not great, condition) it is absolutely worth the very reasonable price of admission and is a real treat for families with small children who love animals. More local families should make the trip to this Zoo with their families and support Boston's zoo!

Franklin Park Zoo

We had an amazing time at the zoo. The price was right and my two year old absolutely adored it!

A Great Zoo

well, you have to drive through a rough neighborhood to get there, and there are some seedy characters in the park next to the parking lot....other than that...it is great! excellent zoo for $9! the tropical rainforest and the bird house are my favorites and worth the price of admission alone!