A National Zoo day trip from Annapolis: routes and visit planning

Yes, the National Zoo is a plausible Washington-area day trip from Annapolis. The zoo sits in the heart of Washington, D.C., a few miles north of the National Mall.

Plan the outing around the zoo’s grounds hours and the time you need to travel to Washington. The grounds open at 8 a.m.; seasonal closing times vary, and the last entry to the grounds is one hour before closing. Indoor exhibit buildings open later, at 9 a.m., so an early arrival gives you time outside before those buildings open.

For a visit that includes indoor exhibits, keep their separate entry cutoff in mind: last entry is 30 minutes before the zoo closes. That means 3:30 p.m. in winter and 5:30 p.m. in summer. The zoo is open rain or shine, apart from its December 25 closure.

You can plan the trip around driving, public transit, or a direct ride to the zoo’s main entrance. Annapolis’s city government identifies New Carrollton Metro Station on the Orange Line as a primary Metrorail access point for travel to and from Annapolis.

If you're arranging your arrival by air first, BWI-to-Annapolis transfer options can help with that part of the journey. For current rail and bus connections, check the relevant transit planners as you plan your journey.

If you use Metro in Washington, the zoo is about halfway between Woodley Park-Zoo/Adams Morgan and Cleveland Park stations. Both stations are accessible and about half a mile from the zoo. The walk from Woodley Park-Zoo/Adams Morgan includes a moderate uphill stretch; the zoo recommends Cleveland Park for visitors with mobility issues.

Metrobus D70 stops directly in front of the main entrance on Connecticut Avenue. Taxis and rideshares should also use that entrance for drop-off and pick-up. MetroAccess provides door-to-door shared rides for eligible riders with disabilities; enter the main entrance address, 3001 Connecticut Ave. NW, as the destination when booking.

If you drive, the zoo has a car entrance at 3001 Connecticut Ave. NW. Parking is limited and can sell out. A parking pass costs $30 per vehicle when bought at least one day ahead, or $40 on the visit date.

Passes are nonrefundable; online exchanges depend on availability and are not permitted within 48 hours of the scheduled visit. Accessible spaces in the parking lots are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

The zoo requires a free Entry Pass for every visitor, including infants, even though admission itself is free. Passes are for a specific date, and visitors with booked passes may arrive at any time that day.

The zoo recommends reserving passes online in advance. A limited number of walk-up passes may be available at the pedestrian entrances, but advance booking gives you a pass for your chosen date. The zoo has a main entrance for cars, buses, and pedestrians at 3001 Connecticut Ave. NW, as well as a pedestrian-only entrance at the Harvard Street Bridge.

Grounds hours change by season: they run from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. from September 15 through March 14, and from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. from March 15 through September 14.

Last entry to the grounds is at 3 p.m. in the shorter-hours period and 5 p.m. in the longer-hours period. Indoor buildings open at 9 a.m.; their final entry is at 3:30 p.m. in winter and 5:30 p.m. in summer.

Before you go, check the official site for current hours, Entry Pass availability, parking, and visitor information.

Start by choosing your entry point and setting aside time for the grounds before the indoor buildings open at 9 a.m.

From the main entrance on Connecticut Avenue, you can begin with the outdoor grounds, then fit indoor exhibits into your day before their last-entry cutoff. Keep the seasonal grounds closing time in mind when deciding how late to stay.

The zoo’s grounds are open to pedestrians, but buses and scooters, including personal transport vehicles, may not be ridden inside. Mobility scooters, wheelchairs, and accessibility devices are allowed.

If you want to add a walk outside the zoo, a paved half-mile section of Rock Creek Park trail called the Zoo Loop runs along the zoo property. It opens one hour before the zoo and closes one hour after it, though it may close without advance notice for emergencies, inclement weather, or zoo management decisions.

Keep the plan flexible: the zoo operates outdoors in all weather, and the Zoo Loop can close without notice. Confirm the day’s practical details before setting out, then use the grounds and indoor-building entry times to pace your visit.

In Annapolis, the city centre is about 10 minutes by car from Village Inn; the guide to downtown Annapolis covers getting around there.