Photo: RM Palm
Photo: andy burgess
Photo: Jorge Bucheli
Riverbanks Zoo & Garden
★4.7(22,422 reviews)$$Zoo
🕑 4-6 hours for a full visit, or 3 hours if you focus on highlights👶 Best for ages 2-12, though all ages will find something to enjoy. Toddlers love the interactive Barnyard exhibit and colorful birds, while elementary-aged kids are thrilled by the giraffe feeding platform and daily animal demonstrations. The varied terrain and educational opportunities also engage curious tweens.🧡 Saved by 400+ families
About
Riverbanks Zoo & Garden is one of the Southeast's premier family destinations, featuring over 2,000 animals from around the world spread across beautifully landscaped grounds. Kids can hand-feed towering giraffes, watch sea lion shows, explore a stunning botanical garden, and get up close with everything from elephants to penguins,making it an unforgettable adventure for the whole family.
Highlights
- ✓Hand-feeding giraffes at the elevated platform,a bucket of lettuce creates magical eye-to-eye encounters
- ✓Daily sea lion and elephant demonstrations with educational keeper talks
- ✓Ndoki Forest with western lowland gorillas and stunning naturalistic habitats
- ✓Waterfall Junction splash pad and playground for cooling off
- ✓Beautiful botanical gardens with seasonal blooms and peaceful walking paths
Pro Tips
- 1.Arrive right at opening (9 AM) to see animals at their most active and beat the crowds,plus you'll have first access to the popular giraffe feeding station.
- 2.Download the zoo map ahead of time and plan your route around the daily demonstration schedule to catch keeper talks and feeding times.
- 3.Bring a wagon or comfortable stroller,the zoo covers 170 acres across two sides of the Saluda River connected by a bridge, so there's lots of walking.
- 4.Pack water bottles and sunscreen, but know that food is available on-site. Picnic areas are available if you want to bring lunch and save money.
- 5.Don't miss the Ndoki Forest's gorilla exhibit and the Waterfall Junction play area where kids can cool off and burn energy between animal exhibits.
Best Time to Visit
Visit on weekday mornings during spring (March-May) or fall (September-November) for mild weather, active animals, and smaller crowds. Weekends and summer afternoons can be hot and busy, though the zoo offers plenty of shade and misting stations.
What to Know
General admission typically runs around $20 for adults and $16 for children (2-12), with parking included. The zoo offers stroller rentals, multiple dining options from snacks to full meals, and is mostly stroller and wheelchair accessible with some hilly areas.
Seasonal Notes
Open year-round with special events throughout the year including Boo at the Zoo (October) and Lights Before Christmas (November-January). Summer can be very hot and humid, so morning visits are ideal. The botanical gardens are spectacular during spring bloom season.
Nearby Eats
The zoo has several on-site dining options, but nearby you'll find kid-friendly chains along Greystone Boulevard. For a local favorite after your visit, try Lizard's Thicket (Southern comfort food) about 10 minutes away, or grab pizza at Mellow Mushroom in the Harbison area.
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