40 Best Stops Between Cannon Beach and Sacramento (2024)

+55 other lists

07/08/23: the ticket is $24 per non-membership adult, and I thought it was a little bit expensive for a zoo ticket. However, the zoo experience did not disappoint me, and I enjoyed every minute of thereThere are tons of animal shows which are at 11:15 am and 1 pm. We visited on Saturday morning, and it got crowded quickly with parents and children.The Oregon Zoo is completely beating the Seattle Zoo in many factors: animal diversity, sceneries, and food trucks. I would love to be back soon

fun zoo the pathway is a little confusing sometimes and did cause us to backtrack to see the penguins. By far the coolest seal enclosure I've seen. the elephants seem well taken care of with lots of space compared to other zoo's. we went on a very hot day so some of the animals were away which I cant blame them one bit. overall good zoo experience. we have a 2 year old that almost never got out of her stroller cause she was tired and the zoo is very stroller accessible.

It's worth the membership.I have a toddler and anytime we need an activity this is an easy go-to. The animals are well treated, the staff is decently friendly and, more importantly to me, trustworthy.Twice I've lost items that were sent straight to the lost and found by the time i exited the park.Plan ahead! See any of these viewings and you won't be disappointed:Penguin feeding, Bird show, Elephant bathYou can also pet goats in the mornings, if you're into that sort of thing.My toddler loves the train ride! It's super short and you won't see animals, but we always enjoy a little choochoo ride.Find the harbor seals and the otters! They are my personal favorites.I'm adding some holiday zoo lights photos as well.

Portland Zoo is on the smaller size, compared to other ones I've visited in big cities. Elephants are fun to watch plus there's a huge lawn right next, perfect for a picnic. This is the second time visiting this zoo in the past 6 months and both times, the polar bears weren't available. On a better note, there were at least 2 zookeepers, one at the giraffe area and the other at the other orangutan enclosure. The caretakers were very friendly, informative & helpful.When we arrived, we went left and followed the path all the ways around... almost back to where we started. There's a Merry-Go-Round for a $3 ride. This is also the location where you would board the locomotive train. which circles the whole park. It's super cool. My son and his classmates had a blast. I have it 4/5 ☆ for the lack of interactive exhibits, empty enclosures (like the polar bear), not enough animals and it's just not that exciting for all age groups.

This zoo was nice...I could see all the animals. When u get there....u need to get a parking ticket. Price is determined on how many hours u are gonna stay. Then I noticed that I needed to buy my ticket online so did that by the entrance...very fast...done. I enjoyed the zoo even though it was raining this day.

Wife and I had a great time at the Oregon zoo. It was amazing to see the Polar bears. The zoo keeper calling them so that the public could see. They have a great structure in the zoo. Nice food (must try the elephant ears), great washrooms, lots of places ti site and take some rest. You can see the animals are well cared for. The gift shop is also a great stop, with lots of sustainable gifts. Staff is very polite and helpful.

A bit pricey at $24 per person, but overall a great experience. We visited on a Sunday and even with timed-ticket entry the zoo was crowded. There were multiple animal "shows" like scheduled feedings that were fun to watch. Very well planned walking path through the zoo, so visitors can view an animal enclosure from all sides and multiple angles.

Our family loves visiting this zoo. Besides normal visits, throughout the year, the zoo hosts fun events, like zoo lights, zoo nights, Halloween, etc. Our son loves looking at the variety of animals, especially the ones he has particular interest. The zoo also has a train he loved riding on, which does cost for each family member to ride on. If you plan on visiting more than twice I'd recommend getting an annual pass. Also, keep in mind you'll need to reserve a time slot before arriving. A great place to enjoy any time of the year!

This zoo is a really fun place to take your child. I've also taken dates here in the past and that was also fun. There are so many exhibits to see and interact with. Plenty of statues, and photo opportunities. The only problem I had was how expensive the food and drinks were. If I could give you one piece of advice it would be to bring all of your own food and drinks. You are allowed to bring your own so take advantage of it and do it. The zoo is already expensive unless you are low income and can show you receive food stamps or TANF. The elephant exhibit is amazing and I suggest seeing it.

Best medium sized zoo I've been to. The winding paths and elevation gains and losses create an adventure walk. Everything seems very well designed, organized, and enjoyable. The one way design makes navigating the crowds easier. Lots of food options about half way through is great. Elephant ears were a hit and we enjoyed the lunch we packed under a 4 bench picnic table with an umbrella. It was a workout making our way back up to the entrance. If we had more time, we would have enjoyed the train ride. Plan to go back if in town again in future.

Beautiful zoo! We went in late summer-early fall when the zoo was full of gorgeous flowers and plants between the exhibits which made for an amazing nature walk. The animals seemed well taken care of and happy. Fairly easy parking available with a lot of restrooms throughout the zoo and even free water filling stations which were nice on a hot day. They also have places you can buy lunch, dinner, etc; however, it is pretty expensive. For a water be prepared to pay $4+ and I believe a pb & j was pushing $7-10. You can bring your own picnic stuff though so come prepared. We didn’t make it into their store to shop as the day went by too quickly and we ran out of time. Check-in was simple with a quick scan of our mobile tickets. The online ticket situation was a bit confusing as they didn’t make it clear with the timed entry if that meant you only had a certain amount of time to be inside the zoo or they just wanted an idea how many people where inside. We were never told we had to leave in a set amount of time which was nice as the zoo takes several hours to make it through. The paths were clearly marked, they also have a zoo map available online and we also rode the zoo train that was fairly priced and our younger child really enjoyed it. Note there are not many animals you can see other than than elephants if they are where you can see them. It was a great family outing and we plan to go back again in a few years.

We did the Zoo Lights event! It was very well organized, free over flow parking with free bus ride to the front gates. There were some concession up with things like kettle corn, and elephant ears. The train ride is fun and you get so see even more lights. They do an amazing job getting so many lighted displays up. My 5 year old daughter really loved train and the trees that were wrapped in lights. The bug house was open for warming up and for viewing bugs. Most animals were not viewable, but elephants are awake at night and we were able to go to the indoor viewing area. 3 elephants were in their playing and eating! The keep was setting out hay bales to reach for and eat. It was wonderful.It was sold out… but felt a bit crowded for my liking. Our group worn fun Christmas lights and it made it easier to keep track of each other with so many other people around.

Went to the Oregon Zoo with family. Age range from 65 to 1 ½, with stroller.Nice February Sunday afternoon. Everyone had a good time. A lot of the activities / informative shows were not in operation. Some animals were not visible, hibernating or just hiding. We still had an enjoyable timeI definitely recommend.

Amazing experience! My three year old and I went alone, the stroller was a must have and everything was so accessible. The experience was fun and easy. I'm really grateful for how well organized it all was. My three year old loved the zoo key, the train and the merry go round, so I'm glad I bought those ahead of time with the tickets. We went on a weekday, parking was easy.

Amazing experience! So many animals to see. Easy walking with all paths paved. Purchasing tickets online is easy. 3 hours was barely enough time to scratch the surface of what this Zoo has to offer. Early morning is best to avoid crowds. Will be back!

I felt this zoo is underrated and should be more famous. The setting is beautifully done and each animal is given a lot of space to move around unlike the typical zoos. Probably this was the reason, every animal in here was actively moving around rather than lethargically lying in a corner. This makes it a fun experience for adults and kids alike. There were also some unusual exhibits like - Vultures feeding on a whole deer carcass which you can view at your own discretion, a beaver who has an underwater home inside a tunnel, weaver birds busy weaving pretty nests, playful otters, a mountain goat and much more. It's divided into ecosystems like African savanna, Polar passage, Primate forest, Great Northwest etc. There are other interactive experiences at different times and also a zoo train for five bucks. We went two hours before closing and had to rush through everything to complete on time. Ample amount of paid parking available.

You can be Around 10am or 11am is perfect and you could see Wild animals shows. And They feed to animals that around noon or 1pm. You can see them how to eat and enjoy the meals. Restrooms are clean mostly. Cafe and restaurant are pretty ok and little bit pricey. Parking lots are big but sometimes overcrowded. Summer time Friday and Saturday are busiest days. Sunday is little bit less people. But still busy. Animals mostly are happy and napping all the time. They seemed to clean up cages a lots. Kids have a great time. Best family time in Portland Oregon.

Wonderful place for an easy and sweet date! We have a membership and popping over for a quick visit is so relaxing. Consider visiting on a hot day. Our last trip was over 90 degrees and the zoo was pretty empty. They set up misting stations and have cool drinks and plenty of shade. We were able to enjoy the trip without overheating!

Wow what an amazing zoo! The amount of trees and shade is wonderful on a hot day, the animals had a lot of room to roam and looked very healthy, and all the facilities were well kept.We came on a Friday morning when they opened. We bought our tickets via mobile phone maybe 15 minutes before we entered prior to getting into our car to drive there. There was still a decent amount of availability. Entering was easy with the QR code we received.We saw some otters, bears, went on a merry-go-round, and had a blast!

We really do have a nice Zoo. The animals were all out and lively. The Red Panda was so adorable, I didn't get pictures, though. The Lions are just so majestic, I dropped everything and took pics of them.However, the so-so food is really over priced, and they close way too early. They wouldn't let us go into the gift shop 30 minutes before closing. We were ready to overspend in there, but they were more concerned with closing the doors on time. That's fine. We will just bring our own food next time, and go earlier I guess.

The Zoo is a everlasting source of joy, offering year-round fun for all ages. With kids in tow, our visits are never hurried, and that's part of the charm—we always discover something new every time we visit.Having cherished memories of this zoo since my own childhood, I've witnessed remarkable changes. The upgrades and new exhibits have transformed it into a captivating space. And let's talk about the Zoo Lights—it's a must-see! While there may not be many animals on display during this event, the breathtaking lights make up for it.The Zoo Lights experience is pure magic. The dazzling display creates a spectacular atmosphere, and the best part is, you can go at your own pace. It's a mesmerizing journey that adds an extra layer of enchantment to this already fantastic place.In summary, the Zoo offers not just a fun time but also a touch of magic, especially during Zoo Lights. The upgrades and thoughtful additions have truly elevated the experience. Highly recommend for families and anyone seeking a delightful escape!

First off, I really liked the loop design where you follow a one-way path all the way through. The exhibits are organized into biomes, and the Pacific Northwest part was my favorite due to the shade and tree coverage above the walkways. Good and semi-reasonable priced cafes at the entrance and exit. Also plenty of restrooms and water fountains throughout.

I was impressed. One of the most beautiful zoos I've been to and the high quality of animal care was apparent. We saw some playing tigers and bear cubs, a young orangutan, and something I'd never seen up close before - sea otters! The interpretation was also good at noting conservation efforts for the species and how guests can take action themselves.A few critical notes. The zoo key felt like being robbed since the machines were hard to locate and rarely worked. We also were turned off by the large cutouts of cartoon animals stationed around the zoo. I think they were going for a fun whimsical take on wildlife, and sure, art is subjective, but our group found them to be rather undignified and running counter to the zoo's apparent goal of encouraging respect for animals. The other upsells like the carousel and train were also pretty underwhelming.All in all a good visit and worth taking a look. Just please be respectful and kind when observing the animals!

Great zoo! The design was almost perfect. You can tell how well cared for the zoo is. It seems almost completely accessible by wheel chair. Beautiful views and happy animals. I only took one star off as the parking situation is unfortunate.

Loved loved loved!! Absolutely amazing how the zoo felt like it was part of the natural landscape. Amazingly curated of animals with educational information to learn more about the individual animals and its species. The way the zoo flows just makes sense and keeps the flow of people moving.(*only thing I would say is don’t go in a colder day because some of the animals were not out to see)

The Oregon Zoo is absolutely amazing. I especially appreciate their elephant habitat. It is absolutely huge compared to any other zoo. They do a great job at providing their elephants with space. There is an enormous indoor space for when it rains. There is an elephant size pool, deep enough that the elephants can actually swim. The enclosure wraps around a significant portion of the zoo. Elephants can range quite a distance. Zoos are always a bitter sweet experience. Seeing such a large variety of majestic wild animals in one place is a great educational opportunity. On the flip side seeing the animals confined to enclosures instead of ranging freely in nature is always a bit sad. The Oregon Zoo does a great job of balancing the quality of life for their animals against the ability of the public to view and experience the animals.

Wow. So much better than I expected! Totally worth the entry fee. Gorgeous walkways through forested hills. Beautiful places to be recovering animals who couldn't survive in the wild. Here you get the backstory of why the animals are here. Take the on-site train even though it costs extra and is a short ride. We got great close ups of the elephant eating. The elephant playing in the rain was priceless.

The Oregon zoo is a wonderful zoo. The animals are well taken care of, and staff was friendly and knowledgeable. The elephant exhibit was amazing and the indoor part is so nice. Bathrooms are clean and well stocked. The zoo art is also very unique and fun to look at. If highly recommend visiting the zoo if you are in Portland

This is definitely one of the most unique zoos I have every been to. It was beautiful with huge enclosures for all of their animals. I was especially impressed that you can see the animals pretty much anywhere they were in their enclosure. There are several ways to view each enclosure so you can be sure that you will get to see almost every animal they have. When we arrived at the zoo the bear cubs were high up in a tree and you could see them from the front gate. That was pretty awesome! My favorite enclosure was for the polar bears. They were playing in the water and were the most active I have ever seen polar bears in a zoo. There appears to be a lot of enrichment for the animals at this zoo and they appear to be pretty content. While we were there I would say we saw 95% of the animals they have which is pretty good in my experience. Usually there are animals put away or in areas that you cannot see. The way the zoo is laid out is really nice as well. We were there on a Tuesday morning in April and the zoo was fairly empty. It was really easy to get around and spend as much time as we wanted at each animal enclosure. I would definitely recommend going to this zoo if you are near Portland.

Great place for a long walk. The Oregon Zoo: Where the animals have better homes than most Portland apartments! Get ready to embark on a wild adventure filled with furry friends, feathered pals, and some serious monkey business. From the majestic elephants to the mischievous otters, this zoo is sure to make you go wild with excitement. Just be careful not to challenge the chimpanzees to a game of chess - they always seem to be one step ahead! So grab your safari hat and get ready for a roaring good time at the Oregon Zoo - where the only thing missing is your own personal petting zoo in the backyard!

The Zoo lights during Christmas holidays are very nice, they did a great job decorating the beautiful lights in different animal shapes, and the big Christmas tree at the entrance is very cool. We enjoyed walking around in the park and seeing all kinds of animals lights. Definitely a good place to go at night with family and friends to have some holiday fun.Prepared for big lines for the train rides.Wish they have opened more areas, it feels smaller than before.

Love the Oregon Zoo! One of the best zoos I've had the pleasure of visiting. Just went last weekend and got to see the polar bear, red panda, and a baby rhino! Fantastic activity on a nice sunny day.Note: parking can be a headache when the Zoo is busy (usually on sunny days), so I recommend either getting there early or being prepared to park farther away and take the free shuttle in!

Took our LO to the zoo and had a great time! The park was big, well planned out, and had many different types of animals. Some animals weren't in their areas but it didn't detract from the experience for us. The morning was well spent exploring.

Had a wonderful time touring the zoo with the family. Got to see almost all of it in an afternoon. Even stopped for an elephant ear treat. We loved the exhibits. It’s nice to have stops along the way to walk in for air conditioning.Would love for their to be more dietary options, especially for Gluten Free people. My husband ended up not eating anything because he didn’t want a salad. Lactose free ice cream options too would be awesome! We love the zoo and will continue to be members!

first of all this zoo is amazing! not only do the animals looks happy, it’s a gorgeous place to walk through, but what we really noticed the most was the staff! The staff were so vibrant and happy to share their love for the animals they care for. Every staff from the gate entry to the custodial worker were happily talking about the baby bears that were out that day! We had a great time and can’t wait to bring our family here!

The zoo is always fun. The polar bear was cute, swimming in circles. Poor thing looks bored. The penguins are my favorite. The otters were super cute. And the seals were fun too. I really enjoyed watching the lions play slightly after feeding time the male even did a roar. The red panda was sooo cute!

Pleasant stroll through a ni E well maintained zoo. The animals seemed well taken care of and they had a little of all the main zoo animals. The elephant portion is huge and I guess they're known for their elephant program. Swing by on a weekday, not as big if a crowd.

I love this zoo. It is constantly improving. I've been going to the Oregon Zoo for 30+ years. It was fun to spend the day reminiscing about the way it used to look. Where the entrance used to be. What animals and events I'd been to over the many years. I love the knowledge of the volunteers and the friendliness of the staff. The animal enrichment keeps the animals rewarded and engaged and is so fun to watch. Membership is worth the price.

With a membership it’s a steal! Me and my kid and their friend were free. Only 21 for my boyfriend. Today was extra special because my daughter got to see her favorite animal -the cheetah up and close. We also saw an elephant playing with toys and numerous other animals! This zoo is a beautiful place set with numerous walking paths through wooded areas. A little water fall along the path and plenty of areas where kids can play. Good eats and you may also pack your own food. Just a word of caution…it’s very stinky in the area of the penguins and bats, so plug your nose! My kid wanted to leave immediately and I was hoping she would stay to watch the penguins more. Enjoyed the carousel and watching the train. You can easily spend all day here! Also, FYI the bathrooms near the elephants have more stalls than the front. If you need to go, that’s where you go!

4.5

(21508)

4.5

(2628)

4001 SW Canyon Rd, Portland, OR 97221, USA