When is Plumpton Park Zoo open?
We are open seven days a week. For most of the year our hours are 10:00am to 5:00pm, with last admission at 4:00pm. From Memorial Day through Labor Day we open earlier and stay later: 9:00am to 6:00pm, with last admission at 5:00pm. We normally close only on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day.
How much does admission cost?
Adults are $21.95, children ages 2 to 12 are $15.95, and seniors are $18.95. Children under 2 are admitted free. You can buy tickets in advance online or at the gate when you arrive.
Is parking free?
Yes. Parking at the zoo is free for all visitors.
Can I leave and come back the same day?
Yes. Have your hand stamped on your way out and you can re-enter the same day at no extra charge.
Is there food at the zoo?
Yes. The snack bar at the admissions area is open every day the zoo is, serving hot dogs, sausage, soft pretzels, chicken tenders and fries, along with snacks, Coke and Pepsi products, juice boxes and hand-dipped ice cream. You are also welcome to bring your own food and a cooler; there are picnic tables on the grounds.
Is there a gift shop?
Yes. The gift shop is inside the Jeremiah Brown Mill, the 1734 gristmill beside the admissions area, and keeps the same hours as the zoo.
Can we pan for gemstones?
Yes. The Jeremiah Brown Mining Company is our gem and fossil panning sluice. Buy a bag of mining rough, wash it through the sluice, and keep whatever you find. Bags come in several sizes and prices. See Gemstone Mining.
Can I feed the animals?
Our giraffe feeding station runs at 12:00 noon on weekdays and 11:00am and 1:00pm on weekends for most of the year, and 11:00am and 1:00pm every day in summer, weather permitting. It costs $5, no booking is needed, and a keeper hands you browse to feed the giraffes from a wheelchair-accessible platform. We deliberately avoid fixed feeding times for the rest of the collection so the animals do not build unnatural habits around a schedule. See our giraffe feeding page.
How many animals live at the zoo?
More than 180, across mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians. About half of them came to us from owners who could no longer care for them, and Plumpton Park Zoo is their permanent home.
Where is the zoo, and how do I get there?
We are at 1416 Telegraph Road, Rising Sun, Maryland 21911 — only about 10 minutes from I-95 and 5 minutes from Route 1. From I-95, take Exit 100 to Route 272 North, continue to the second traffic light at Route 273 and turn left; the zoo entrance is roughly one mile ahead on your left.
Do you offer memberships?
Yes. Individual, Family, Family Plus and Grandparents memberships all include unlimited admission for a full year, so they pay for themselves quickly if you visit more than once or twice.
Do you host school trips and group visits?
Yes. Groups of 15 or more paying visitors receive $2 off each admission, and a one-hour guided educational tour can be added for $45 per 20 people. Reservations are required three weeks before your visit.
What payment methods do you accept?
We accept Square, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Visa, Mastercard, American Express and Discover.
Is Plumpton Park Zoo a nonprofit?
Yes. Plumpton Park Zoological Gardens Inc. is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit, EIN 52-1548155. Admission, memberships and donations go directly toward animal care, rescue and education.