Does anyone have a secret to parking at the zoo? We are coming in from College Station and it always seems to be a disaster finding a spot. Which parking lot/garage is easiest? Thanks!

Yes, get there before it opens or right after.

If you don't get there early, you can likely find a spot on Hermann Dr and the walk to the zoo isn't that bad.

There's a lot there as well, but it's often full.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/CzM36U4EcFNDXvkG9

You can park at the Ben Taub hospital garage and enter through the Cambridge zoo entrance right across the street.

Thanks! We will try to get there early!

redaszag99 said:

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You can park at the Ben Taub hospital garage and enter through the Cambridge zoo entrance right across the street.

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Is that entrance open? That was my go to pre covid when we would go into the children's zoo entrance.

Last minute decision to meet some friends at the zoo this morning. Got to the zoo at 10:20. I drove around for 45 minutes looking for a spot before I gave up and drove home. Every parking lot was an absolute madhouse. It felt like there were 100 cars looking for a single open spot. Hope OP got there early.

Did you try to park 4-5 blocks away instead of in the main lots?

Looking at the map I tried lot F, lot G, Lot H, and I was looking for parallel parking along Hermann Park Dr. Not sure where else to park. I've always been able to park in one of these lots before.

redaszag99 said:

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You can park at the Ben Taub hospital garage and enter through the Cambridge zoo entrance right across the street.

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Been closed for a few years

We just pay to park in a Rice lot and walk over. It's a jaunt but I'm not fighting for parking. Our zoo trips usually end at Ninfa's on Navigation because I need it by the end of those trips.

TXAG 05 said:

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Get there early

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This applies to anything where there will be a bunch of families

For future reference, there's a small parking lot on the property of Palmer Memorial Episcopal Church (across from Rice University and behind the church) that's usually wide open. Walkers around Rice use the lot, and the church has been pretty generous about allowing visitors to park there.

If it's a nice day and you're not there around opening time, I usually either uber or park at one of the lots on Rice campus. Driving around hermann playing parking spot lottery with kids in tow really sucks.

Texan_Aggie said:

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Buy a membership/donate and go only when it opens an hour before its open to the general public. Get through without many people, see everything, and leave right about when the commoners are fighting for spots.

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This is the way. Membership is just a touch more than 2 visits. Makes it an easy decision.

Pro tip for the future: Go to the zoo when it's like 35* or lower outside. Nobody is there, you get great parking, and all of the animals (especially the cats) are out and active. Much better than reliving parking at A&M, sweating your ass off dodging fats on their scooters, and searching for the animals that are hiding in the shade because they said "it's too damn hot."