We visited in December and the Zoo was not crowded at all. The employees were helpful and friendly. We loved the Cheetah's and large primates. The Lowland Gorillas and Orangutans were our favorites. We spent around two hours here and I highly recommend this to DC visitors. No, it is not like a theme park with guaranteed viewing times or fireworks, but it was a very relaxing and informational visit for my husband and I.

We followed all the zoo's suggestions the main one of getting to the zoo early. What a waste. We arrived at the zoo at 8am and there we no animals to view and the visitor center wasn't even open. We walked around for 2 hours trying to find an animal for our daughter to look at. We knew the buildings didn't open until 10am but the website claimed the outdoor animals would be out..... They were not. Even after 10am we couldn't find any animals. We were starting to wonder if the zoo even had animals. We will never waster our time going back as we stayed until 1pm and only saw a few animals. As the title says - A WASTE OF TIME...........

Enjoy your Sunday afternoon at the Zoo. I like reptiles, there's a lot of stuff to learn By the way, Pandas also worth to visit. Oh, take DC Metro, do not drive.

It's amazing to find anything free these days. Don't miss the pandas, tiger cubs, and the indoor animal exhibits. I am not sure why the other person said the animals are in cages. It is the opposite, they are in large, natural exhibits. Obviously some exhibits are behind a fence, but they still have nice yards. Take the metro, parking is not free and it fills up quickly.

This zoo is in need of some work. The animal habitat is no more than cages. These are anmimals that need room to move and it is a disgrace that this is in our Nation's capitol city.

this place had almost every animal you could think of the gift store prices were not bad at all. this zoo is not just for chidren but fun for the whole family

The seals are always a highlight-the center-stage! A baby pup undulated and glided over the water w/ such agility, ease and grace. The Sea Lions next-door moved out to extend a greeting after a long 2007/8 Winter Season. A Chetah family of three relaxed in the shade; while other animals seem to want for thier privacy. Respectfully, I moved on and gave them space; since, they will be bombarded during high-tourist summer season. Some tourists, however, were rude and unfriendly. This Spring, as a Washingtonian visiting Capitol cultural resources: Presidential memorials, museums, etcetera, I've learned it's best to avoid the Tourist crowds, and visit from September/Labor Day (Fall)--late-winter, March. This is what city-natives everywhere have said almost to a cliche. Also, whenever possible travel in couples or groups for security; although, the Zoo's Police is adequate, and other Friends of the National Zoo (FONZ) are supportive functioning as a Zoo Park neighborhood watch.

This is such a beautiful zoo. Everyone is very friendly and helpful, and the zoo attendants that stand at the various areas are very informative about the animals. I love this zoo! I saw animals here that I never saw anywhere else. It's quite an experience for any age.

The National Zoo opens at 6 am. We read online that the early hours were the best time to see the animals being fed and to avoid the crowds. We arrived early and walked the entire zoo without seeing ONE large animal. The elephant and hippo were still inside. The pandas were inside. None of the buildings opens before 10 am. The great apes were inside. No zebras, no tigers. An employee told us some of the exhibits were under renovation and some of the animals were inside because of the heat. After 10 am, all of the buildings opened and we had a great time and saw all of the animals. Be prepared to walk a lot. Bring some bottled water because the concessions are expensive.

We had to this a quick trip but the Metro made that possible. We exited at Cleveland Park, walking downhill to the Zoo, which seemed to be a good idea. We returned to downtown via the Woodley Park station. Anyway, the Panda exhibit was worth the trek. They are so cute and fun to watch. When you're planning a trip, keep in mind that the zoo opens early and closes late, so you can fit in into most schedules.