Plumpton Park Zoo is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit zoo at 1416 Telegraph Road in Rising Sun, Maryland — about an hour and a quarter from Center City Philadelphia, and a straightforward run once you are clear of the city.
Getting here from Philadelphia
The simplest route is I-95 south into Maryland. Take Exit 100 for 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.
If you would rather stay off the interstate, US Route 1 south through Chester County and Oxford is a slower but prettier drive, and it brings you onto Route 273 from the north.
Parking is free. There is no garage to find and no shuttle to catch — you park and you are at the gate. Full directions.
What you will see
More than 200 animals across around 60 species. Three giraffes, white lions, two different tiger subspecies, bears, primates, owls, tortoises, and a barnyard full of animals children can meet at eye level.
What Philadelphia families tend to notice first is the sightlines. This is a small zoo and you stand close — close enough to watch a giraffe’s tongue work around a browse branch, rather than picking the animal out at a distance across a moat.
About half the collection came from private owners who could no longer care for an animal, or from facilities that closed. See the animals.
Planning your visit
The zoo is open seven days a week, with hours that change between the summer and winter seasons. Nearly all of it is outdoors, so the animals are more active on a cool morning than on a hot afternoon — the first hour after opening is usually the best time to arrive.
The giraffe feeding station runs at 12:00 noon on weekdays and 11:00am and 1:00pm on weekends (11:00am and 1:00pm daily in summer), weather permitting. It is the thing most children remember, so it is worth building the drive around one of those times.
Questions from Philadelphia visitors
How far is Plumpton Park Zoo from Philadelphia?
About an hour and a quarter from Center City in normal traffic. From Chester County it is closer to forty-five minutes.
Do I have to take I-95?
No. US Route 1 south through Chester County works well and avoids the interstate entirely. It takes a little longer and is a nicer drive.
Is parking free?
Yes, for all visitors, and the lot is at the entrance.
Can we feed the giraffes?
Yes, at the feeding station, 12:00 noon on weekdays and 11:00am and 1:00pm on weekends (11:00am and 1:00pm daily in summer), weather permitting.
Do we need to buy tickets in advance?
You can buy in advance online or at the gate when you arrive. Either works.
Can we leave and come back the same day?
Yes. Have your hand stamped on the way out and you can re-enter the same day at no extra charge.
More in the visitor FAQ.
Make a day of it
The oldest thing here is not an animal. A water-powered corn and grist mill was built on North East Creek on this ground in 1734, and the Jeremiah Brown House and Mill Site was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1987. The mill stands beside the admissions area at the front of the zoo and houses the gift shop. Read the history of Plumpton Park Zoo.
Coming from elsewhere in the region? See zoo near Wilmington, Delaware and zoo near Newark, Delaware. · zoo near Baltimore, zoo near Chester County, PA and zoo in Cecil County