The Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens offers a traditional zoo experience north of Orlando, with animal habitats, botanical gardens, interactive experiences, and family attractions throughout its Sanford property.
Along with seeing animals from around the world, visitors can feed a giraffe, explore the children’s zoo, cool off at the tropical splash ground, discover themed gardens, and look for keeper talks and other experiences offered throughout the day.
Central Florida Zoo Quick Facts
- Location: Sanford, Florida
- Setting: Primarily outdoors
- Parking: Free
Animals at the Zoo
The Central Florida Zoo is home to animals from around the world, with giraffes, greater one-horned rhinoceroses, and a substantial reptile collection among the highlights.
Animal experiences extend beyond viewing the habitats. Keeper chats and presentations provide opportunities to learn more about individual species, while select feedings and animal encounters offer a closer experience.
Giraffe feeding is one of the zoo’s signature interactive experiences. If feeding a giraffe is important to your visit, check availability when you arrive because animal experiences can depend on weather, scheduling, and animal participation.
Things to Do with Kids
The zoo has several attractions designed especially for families with younger children. Barnyard Buddies offers opportunities to see and interact with farm animals, while the Wharton-Smith Tropical Splash Ground provides water features where kids can cool off during warmer weather.
A miniature train also travels through natural Florida scenery around the zoo property. Some rides, feedings, and animal experiences may require an additional fee.
If your kids plan to use the splash ground, bring a change of clothes or something they can comfortably get wet in. The splash area is outdoors and may close because of weather conditions.
Botanical Gardens
The gardens are more than landscaping between animal exhibits. Plant collections are incorporated throughout the zoo, including a Butterfly Garden designed for pollinators, a Health & Wellness Garden featuring culinary and medicinal plants, and collections of bromeliads, ferns, and other plants.
What to Expect
The Central Florida Zoo is considerably more compact than the large theme-park animal attractions around Orlando. That can be an advantage for families with younger children or anyone looking for a zoo visit that doesn’t require an entire day.
Most of the experience is outdoors, with paved paths and wooden boardwalks connecting animal habitats, gardens, and family attractions. Florida heat, rain, and thunderstorms can affect the experience, so check the weather when planning your visit.
Accessibility
Guest paths include paved surfaces and wooden boardwalks designed to accommodate strollers and mobility devices. Service animals are permitted under the zoo’s accessibility guidelines.
The Central Florida Zoo is also a certified sensory-inclusive facility, with sensory resources available for guests who may benefit from them.
Parking & Getting There
The Central Florida Zoo is located in Sanford near Interstate 4, north of Orlando. It’s approximately a 25–30 minute drive from Downtown Orlando and about 35–50 minutes from the main theme park and Lake Buena Vista area, depending on traffic and your starting point. Parking at the zoo is free.
Looking for More Animal Attractions?
For larger animal-focused experiences combined with theme park attractions, Disney’s Animal Kingdom combines wildlife with rides and themed environments, while SeaWorld Orlando focuses on marine animals, presentations, and thrill rides.
Pair Your Visit
Pair your zoo visit with Downtown Sanford, where restaurants, breweries, shops, and the Lake Monroe waterfront make an easy second stop after a morning or afternoon at the zoo.