Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens
Griffith Park, Los Angeles, California, United States, 5333 Zoo Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90027
The Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens is a distinct, ticketed destination within Griffith Park, owned, operated, and maintained by the City of Los Angeles. Its official information places it at 5333 Zoo Drive in the park’s north-east section, directly across from the Autry Museum of the American West. The zoo spans 133 acres and combines animal habitats with a substantial botanical collection, with more than 800 plant species across the grounds. That botanical dimension matters: this is not simply a sequence of enclosures, but a landscaped campus where planting and habitat design form part of the visit. For travellers, this is one of the city’s clearest full-scale family attractions and merits separate recognition from other Griffith Park stops. Official visitor guidance confirms daily opening from 10 am to 5 pm, with the zoo closed on Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day; animals begin going in for the night at 4 pm and last entry is at 3.45 pm. Parking is free, and Metro Bus 296 serves the zoo. Ranked sixth, it broadens the list beyond museums and viewpoints while remaining firmly within Los Angeles city limits and under a clearly verified civic operator.