Topeka Zoo 🇺🇸

Located within Gage Park just off I-70 in Topeka, Kansas, the Topeka Zoo is a popular, AZA-accredited attraction hosting over 250,000 visitors each year. Despite its manageable medium size, you will discover more than 300 animals residing across immersive, thoughtfully designed exhibits. Step inside America’s very first indoor tropical rainforest to spot free-roaming scarlet macaws, Hoffmann's two-toed sloths, and Indian flying foxes.

Wander through Lianas Forest to observe Bornean orangutans and walk through North America’s first 360-degree glass viewing tunnel for gorillas. At Hill's Black Bear Woods, you can stroll along an elevated walkway to watch American black bears scale trees, or head over to Camp Cowabunga to view lions, cheetahs, and African artifacts. Families will love interactive spots like Giraffe and Friends, where you can feed giraffes from dedicated platforms, or Adventure Trail, which features a lorikeet feeding aviary, playgrounds, and a mining sluice.

From petable sheep in the Children's Zoo to the peaceful Japanese landscape of Kay's Garden, this destination packs a rich variety of wildlife encounters into a delightful experience.

What to see at Topeka Zoo

• Walk through the first indoor tropical rainforest built in the United States
• Experience North America's first 360-degree glass gorilla viewing tunnel
• Observe American black bears from an elevated walkway in Hill's Black Bear Woods
• Hand-feed giraffes and rainbow lorikeets at dedicated interactive exhibits
• Explore a traditional Japanese garden featuring a scenic koi pond at Kay's Garden

Visiting tips

Visit Giraffe and Friends or the Adventure Trail aviary for hands-on opportunities to feed the zoo's giraffes and rainbow lorikeets.

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

How to get there & what’s nearby

Topeka Zoo is easy to reach on Topeka’s public transport, and pairs naturally with Kansas Historical Society. For where to stay, the weather and full itineraries, see our Topeka travel guide.