Columbian Park Zoo is a six-acre zoo inside Columbian Park in Lafayette, Indiana, with relatively flat terrain and a seasonal operating schedule. It’s a family outing that can fit into an hour or two, with the surrounding park offering green space, a lagoon and a playground.
- Location: 1915 Scott Street, Lafayette, IN 47904; the entrance is inside Columbian Park.
- From Economy Inn - Lafayette: about a 7-minute drive.
- Typical schedule: open daily from mid-April to mid-October; closed for winter, apart from a limited ticketed Boo at the Zoo reopening.
- Admission: $3 for visitors age 3 and older; children age 2 and under enter free.
Where is Columbian Park Zoo in Lafayette?
Columbian Park Zoo is at 1915 Scott Street, inside Columbian Park in Lafayette. The zoo entrance is within the park, so you can’t drive directly to it.
The city describes the zoo as a six-acre facility on relatively flat terrain. Columbian Park also has about 40 acres of green space, a lagoon and the multi-age SIA playground. Picnic shelters outside the zoo gates are first-come, first-served or can be reserved for a fee through Lafayette Parks and Recreation.
If you’re planning more time in town, a one-day Lafayette itinerary can help you fit the zoo into a broader visit.
What are Columbian Park Zoo hours and admission?
Columbian Park Zoo is generally open daily from mid-April to mid-October, including holidays, and closes for winter from mid-October through mid-April except for a limited, ticketed Boo at the Zoo reopening. Admission is $3 for visitors age 3 and older, while children age 2 and under enter free.
Temporarily closed
This place is listed as temporarily closed. Check the official site before you go.
Last checked November 2026.
Zoo exhibits close 15 minutes before the zoo itself. Most people can explore the grounds in an hour or two, so keep that buffer in mind when planning your visit. Hours and seasonal operations can change, so check the official site before you go; the City of Lafayette operates the zoo.
The Butterfly Garden Party operates weather permitting from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day. Exhibit areas may close or have restricted access when needed for animal welfare or visitor safety.
How should you plan your visit and park access?
Plan for a walk from the parking area to the entrance, then allow an hour or two to explore the zoo. The Wallace Street lot is the nearest parking to the main entrance, but the walk is still several hundred yards. Handicap parking spaces are available in that lot.
Zoo pathways meet ADA requirements and have concrete, gravel, sand and mulch surfaces. Wheelchairs and other ADA mobility devices are permitted in public areas, including contact yards and immersion exhibits. You can ask to borrow a wheelchair at the gift shop; it’s first-come, first-served, requires an ID to be left with staff, and can’t be reserved.
Strollers are welcome on zoo grounds but aren’t permitted in contact yards or immersion exhibits. Use the designated stroller parking and take valuables with you. Motorized scooters and other motorized vehicles aren’t allowed on zoo grounds, except for ADA mobility devices.
Leashed or harnessed service animals are allowed on zoo grounds, with exceptions for Wallaby Walkabout, Family Farm and Butterfly Garden Party; alternate exterior viewing areas are available.
A sensory bag is available to check out by request with an ID, at no fee if its items are returned undamaged. The zoo isn’t allergen-free: possible allergens used in animal diets include peanuts, tree nuts, seeds, eggs, dairy, fruits, vegetables and grains.
The Columbian Park Express train operates during zoo hours, weather permitting, in the operating season of about mid-April through early October; exact dates vary. Its last ride leaves 30 minutes before closing.
Tickets are $3 per rider, with children age 2 and under free; a 12-ticket pack costs $25 and can be used for the train, pedal boats or carousel. The train isn’t wheelchair accessible.
Pedal boats operate daily from Memorial Day weekend to early August, then on weekends through Labor Day, weather permitting. Each ride lasts up to 30 minutes, and each boat holds up to four riders.
Riders must be at least 3; children under 14 need to ride with an adult, and riders age 13 and under must wear a life vest under Indiana law. Pedal boats aren’t wheelchair accessible.
How do you get to Columbian Park Zoo?
Drivers from I-65 should take exit 172, head west on SR 26 as it becomes South Street, then turn left onto Park Avenue. From downtown, take South Street (SR 26) east, turn right onto Main Street, then left onto Wallace Avenue after passing Tropicanoe Cove and Loeb Stadium.
Parking is available along Park Avenue and Wallace Avenue, as well as in the lot on Scott Street. From any of these parking areas, continue on foot through the park to the zoo entrance; cars can’t reach the entrance itself.
If the zoo is part of a downtown-focused day, this guide to downtown Lafayette can help you plan the rest of your time in the city.
FAQs
How long does a visit to Columbian Park Zoo take?
Most visitors can explore the zoo in an hour or two. Remember that exhibits close 15 minutes before the zoo closes.
Can you drive to the zoo entrance?
No. The entrance is inside Columbian Park, and visitors must walk from parking. The Wallace Street lot is the closest parking area, several hundred yards from the main entrance.
Are strollers allowed at Columbian Park Zoo?
Yes, strollers are welcome on the grounds but not in contact yards or immersion exhibits. Use designated stroller parking in those areas and take valuables with you.
Can service animals enter the zoo?
Leashed or harnessed service animals are allowed on the grounds, but not in Wallaby Walkabout, Family Farm or Butterfly Garden Party. Alternate exterior viewing areas are available.