Great Plains Zoo 🇺🇸

When you visit the 45-acre Great Plains Zoo in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, you are stepping into an award-winning, mid-sized facility home to more than 1,000 animals. Jointly managed by the City of Sioux Falls and the Zoological Society of Sioux Falls, this AZA-accredited park offers close-up animal encounters across thoughtfully designed global habitats. You can start your journey at the award-winning Japanese Macaque exhibit, where you will enjoy 180-degree views of snow monkeys splashing around two water features.

Head over to the Asian Cats exhibit for panoramic sights of Amur tigers, snow leopards, and Pallas cats, or explore Fortress of the Bears, a Southeastern-Alaska themed home for grizzly bears. For an immersive experience, stroll through Walkabout Australia to see red and eastern grey kangaroos, Bennett's wallabies, emus, and New Guinea singing dogs, or interact with rare livestock breeds at the Hy-Vee Face-to-Face Farm. You can also spot Eastern black rhinoceroses and see the new African lion exhibit featuring Simba and Amahle.

Please note that the adjacent Delbridge Museum of Natural History is permanently closed, but the zoo's vibrant animal habitats provide an engaging outdoor experience for all visitors.

What to see at Great Plains Zoo

• Award-winning Japanese Macaque exhibit with 180-degree views and water features
• Walkabout Australia housing kangaroos, wallabies, emus, and New Guinea singing dogs
• Southeastern-Alaska themed Fortress of the Bears featuring grizzly bears
• African lion exhibit housing lions Simba and Amahle
• Hy-Vee Face-to-Face Farm featuring rare livestock breeds like San Clemente Island goats

Visiting tips

Keep in mind that the Delbridge Museum of Natural History on site is permanently closed, so focus your visit on the outdoor animal exhibits across the 45-acre grounds.

How long: 2-3 hours · Best time: Morning

How to get there & what’s nearby

Great Plains Zoo is easy to reach on Sioux Falls’s public transport. For where to stay, the weather and full itineraries, see our Sioux Falls travel guide.