Turtle Back Zoo

Awesome place to go with the family. The kids love to see all of the animals and there are even a few that they get to feed. The place is big enough for a day trip but not so big that you feel like you didn’t get a chance to see everything when you leave. Prices for food aren’t even too terrible. Overall would solidly recommend and would definitely go back again.

I recently visited the Essex County Turtle Back Zoo and had an absolutely fantastic time! From start to finish, the experience was nothing short of enjoyable. The zoo's focus on wildlife conservation and commitment to providing an entertaining and educational experience was evident throughout my visit. The exhibits at the zoo were beautifully curated, showcasing a diverse range of turtle species in their natural habitats. From the tiniest terrapins to the grandest tortoises, each enclosure was well-maintained and provided ample opportunities to observe these incredible creatures up close. The information boards accompanying each exhibit offered valuable insights into the turtles' behaviors and conservation efforts, enhancing the overall experience. One of the highlights of my visit was the chance to capture videos of the turtles and other animals. This allowed me to share the excitement and beauty of the zoo with my friends and family, giving them a glimpse into the engaging and educational environment it offers. Being able to document my visit through videos was an added bonus that helped me create lasting memories and provide valuable content for others considering a trip to the zoo. If you're looking for a fun and informative day out, I highly recommend visiting the Essex County Turtle Back Zoo. The knowledgeable staff, well-maintained exhibits, and the ability to capture videos make it an excellent destination for individuals and families alike. I had a blast exploring the zoo, and I'm sure you will too!

Accessible and amazing zoo for people of all ages and interests! The paths are easy to navigate on foot, with a stroller or in a wheelchair. Misters located throughout the zoo for those hot days!My favorite stops were the Touch Tank, Giraffes and Otters. Somewhat unique to this zoo is the abundance of seating facing and very close to animal exhibits! Perfect for lunch breaks or just a walking break. Plenty of bathrooms around the zoo and clearly marked. The bathroom in the Touch Tank was never full and there was ample seating in the exhibit for those waiting. Bonus, you got to touch the rays again while you were there! The exhibits are beautiful, with adequate space for animals and tools to showcase natural behaviors. The educational signage is well placed and informative. We spent about 2-3hrs here, only doing a few of the paid attractions, and just had to explore the South Mountain Reservation while we were in the area. Touch Tank feed for the stingrays is $3. 1-2 pieces of fish but definitely something worth doing if it's your first time! The stingrays were very gentle and playful. Keep in mind, some of the attractions are cash only! Bonus stop at the sea turtle hospital to view the live feed! It was a wonderful exhibit, just wished they had a little more on their work with the turtles. Parking is free and only a couple steps from the zoo's entrance. Traffic cones, staff and signs were very clear. Plenty of staff at the entrance booths. To use AZA reciprocity, we had to go in-person but there were no lines. Daily shows vary and are posted by the entrance which only means we'll have to come back again and again. For the avid pin collectors, there's a good variety in the gift shop by the exit.

Well when they complete the zoo excavation and half the animals are not out they may get 4 stars. For a small zoo and easy to get around, this is decent zoo. The staff is great and food good. The exhibits are small but beautiful...it's just that once again half the animals being off site, kills what could be a better than decent zoo!

I recommend coming when it opens because it gets so busy around 1pm. There is a parking garage that is free, along with ground parking, with a very short walk to the front of the zoo. The park is SO clean and is 100% stroller/wagon/wheelchair friendly. There is now a bar that serves beer, wine and liquor above the cafe and even though the chicken tenders were expensive for 4 of them $8, they were delicious! The animal enclosures were actually really large, which was nice for the animals. You can tell they put a lot of love into this zoo!

Wonderful adventure for any age and any size group. Not huge but has everything you need for a great time. Many beautiful animals and plants with plenty of seating and rest areas throughout. Food and vending is also available throughout the park and at the Cafe.Visited onWeekendWait timeNo waitReservation recommendedNoPrice for adult entry$31+

This is definitely a top place to visit as a family, especially with young kids. They have an array of different animals and its a fairly large size zoo to walk through. I love that it's outdoors, and has clean smooth pathways where you can enjoy the walk in the process. Would 100% come back to visit again. We took our 9 month old baby and appreciated the time as a family of 3 making some new memories. Parking was super easy. We went on a Friday early afternoon and it was pretty empty which made it even more enjoyable. There's a McDonald's across the street, dunkin, and bagel shop. I also think they sell food indoors but we didn't get a chance to check it out. We paid $19 a ticket which was extremely affordable and valuable for the experience you receive.

This is the best zoo I’ve ever been too.. it is smaller than the Bronx zoo but you get to see all the animals awake or at sleep., my 2 year old loved it. Will definitely be back.Visited onWeekdayWait timeNo waitReservation recommendedNoPrice for adult entry$16–20

Very nice zoo! Have free train for kids. Parking possible free, if you found parking spot. Highly recommend. Also other side lake have a playground for kids and boats.Visited onWeekdayWait timeNo waitReservation recommendedNot surePrice for adult entry$21–30

Highly recommend this zoo for a family fun day. The food is good and served by Aramark company at the moment. The enclosures were clean and well kept. All the animals were out and about except for the wolves and cheetahs, but that's not the zoos fault. I can't lower the stars on the review based on the animal's mood that day that would be unfair. Butterfly experience was great I just wished they had a bigger variety of flies I could only notice 4 different species of butterflies. We attended a birthday party and the designated areas were clean and organized.