Before you use this list, our guide to how reciprocal zoo membership works covers the distance rule, who counts as covered on the card, and the three things that catch families out at the gate.

Membership perks

Reciprocal zoo membership: which zoos and aquariums honor your card

148zoos and aquariums we list

42states covered

Varieseach place sets its own limit

Check before a long drive. This program publishes no single near-home radius, but individual institutions set their own limits and many exclude places close by. A two minute call is cheaper than a wasted trip.

Where this card goes furthest

The six states with the most places that take it.

California 12 places Florida 12 places Texas 9 places Kansas 7 places New York 7 places North Carolina 7 places

Browse all states

Every state we carry for this program. Choose one to jump to its list.

AL Alabama 1 AK Alaska 1 AZ Arizona 3 AR Arkansas 1 CA California 12 CO Colorado 2 CT Connecticut 1 DE Delaware 1 DC District of Columbia 1 FL Florida 12 ID Idaho 2 IL Illinois 6 IN Indiana 3 IA Iowa 2 KS Kansas 7 KY Kentucky 1 LA Louisiana 1 MD Maryland 1 MA Massachusetts 5 MI Michigan 6 MN Minnesota 3 MO Missouri 5 MT Montana 2 NE Nebraska 2 NJ New Jersey 2 NM New Mexico 1 NY New York 7 NC North Carolina 7 ND North Dakota 3 OH Ohio 7 OK Oklahoma 2 OR Oregon 2 PA Pennsylvania 6 SC South Carolina 2 SD South Dakota 1 TN Tennessee 4 TX Texas 9 UT Utah 3 VA Virginia 2 WA Washington 3 WV West Virginia 1 WI Wisconsin 5

Common questions

What is AZA Reciprocal Admissions?▾

A zoo membership usually does more than one zoo. Zoos and aquariums accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums can join its reciprocal admissions program, and a membership at one is worth free or half price admission at the others. It covers accredited zoos and aquariums. You do not join it separately and it does not come with its own card: the membership card from the institution where you are a member is the one you show.

How do I know if my membership includes AZA Reciprocal Admissions?▾

Look for the AZA Reciprocal Admissions logo on your membership card, or check the membership page of the institution where you joined. Not every membership level includes it, and it is often attached to a family or higher tier rather than the cheapest one.

Does AZA Reciprocal Admissions work at places near me?▾

This program publishes no single distance rule, but individual institutions set their own and many exclude venues close to the one where you are a member. Check with the place you plan to visit before you go.

How many zoos and aquariums are on the list?▾

We list 148 zoos and aquariums across 42 states, and the roster changes as institutions join and leave. Every place on this page has been checked against the official program roster rather than assumed from its category.

What does it actually get me in the door for?▾

General admission, normally for the people named on the card. Special exhibitions, planetarium and large format theater shows, parking, timed tickets and store discounts are usually excluded unless the venue says otherwise. Guests are not covered unless they hold a valid card of their own.

Is a digital membership card enough?▾

Usually yes, shown together with photo ID. The card has to be the one issued by the institution where you are a member, and the name on it has to match your ID. A screenshot of a member list is not a membership card.