Houston Zoo Parking: Free Lots, Paid Garages & the METRORail
Houston Zoo parking is free in Hermann Park's lots, which fill fast on weekends. Paid garages, the METRORail and the closest lots to try first.
By Thomas A. · Updated October 5, 2026 · Written with AI assistance
The Houston Zoo does not have its own parking lot. Parking is free in Hermann Park's lots, which fill up fast on holidays and good-weather days, and the Zoo lists paid garages, the METRORail and rideshare for when they do.
Hermann Park's Free Lots
Free parking is available in Hermann Park, and the Zoo warns that it fills up fast on holidays and on good-weather days. The Zoo points drivers to Hermann Park lots G, F, E, H and I, about a 5-10 minute walk to the entrance. Lot C, entered from Hermann Drive at Crawford Street, is a 15-20 minute walk and has a three-hour limit.
The Zoo opens at 9am daily. On a busy weekend, arriving at opening gives you the best chance at the closest lots.
Paid Garages When the Park Fills
The Zoo lists other options: paid Medical Center and Museum District garages, the Houston Museum of Natural Science garage, the METRORail and rideshare.
The Houston Museum of Natural Science garage, 5555 Hermann Park Drive, is open daily: $30, or $10 for HMNS members.
Garages at Memorial Hermann Medical Plaza (6400 Fannin, weekends), the AU Lot, Garage 8 and the Horizon Garage charge varying rates. You can reserve through ParkWhiz.
METRORail: Skip the Parking Entirely
Ride the Red Line to Memorial Hermann Hospital/Houston Zoo and walk about 10 minutes through the Commons. The Hermann Park/Rice U stop also works, with a walk in through the park. The standard fare is $1.25.
Rideshare drop-off is at the Zoo's main entrance on Hermann Park Drive.
Hotels near Hermann Park & the Zoo →
What It Costs and What the Ticket Covers
The Zoo uses flex pricing, so the ticket price depends on the date chosen; child and senior tickets are 20% off the adult price shown. Tickets are not sold on site - non-members must reserve online. Once you are in, you can stay until closing.
Free Zoo Days, presented by ExxonMobil, run the first Tuesday of every month from open to close. An online reservation is required, none are available at the gate, and they sell out. Students at listed Houston colleges and universities can reserve one free general admission ticket with a valid student ID.
When to Arrive and What to Expect
The Zoo is at 6200 Hermann Park Drive inside a 445-acre public park, and the Zoo itself covers 55 acres, so expect a lot of walking once you are inside. Strollers, wagons, wheelchairs and scooters rent from a booth just inside the entrance.
Making a Day of It
If you are combining the Zoo with other Museum District stops, park once and walk. The Museum of Fine Arts, the Contemporary Arts Museum and the Children's Museum are nearby, and the walk through Hermann Park is part of the day.
The most common Free Zoo Day mistake is assuming you can turn up at the gate on the first Tuesday. You cannot: every ticket is reserved online, and dates sell out. Reserve as soon as dates post - October 6 is already sold out.
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