Birmingham Zoo

Birmingham Zoo

Founded in 1950, the 122 acre (49 hectare) Birmingham Zoo started with a small menagerie of exotic animals kept in a Southside firehouse. Today, it is home to approximately 750 animals of 250 species. It draws more than 450,000 visitors annually.

The zoo, once known as The Jimmy Morgan Zoo, opened its doors with Monkey Island as its first official exhibit on April 2, 1955.

Location

Lane Park, near U.S. Highway 280 at U.S. Highway 31
Bimingham, Jefferson County
Alabama, USA

Getting There

The Birmingham Zoo is located about 5 miles southeast of the city center. Here are some ways to get to the Birmingham Zoo from the city center:

By Car: You can drive to the zoo from the city center by taking 18th St S and Messer Airport Hwy/Elton B. Stephens Expy to US-280 E. Continue on US-280 E for approximately 4 miles. The zoo is located at 2630 Cahaba Rd, Birmingham, AL 35223. There is a parking lot available on site.

By Public Transportation: Birmingham-Jefferson County Transit Authority (BJCTA) provides public transportation in Birmingham, including bus service to the zoo. Check their website for schedules and fares.

By Taxi or Rideshare: You can take a taxi or rideshare service such as Uber or Lyft from the city center to the Birmingham Zoo.

The nearest airport to the zoo is Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport (BHM), which is approximately 8 miles away.

No matter how you choose to get there, be sure to check the hours of operation before you go. Additionally, please note that parking can be limited during peak times, so plan accordingly.

Nearby Airports

This is a list of primary airports in Alabama that have scheduled passenger service on commercial airlines.