Member Parking

Safari, Curators’ Circle, Ecologists' circle, council associate, council patron, council steward, council ambassador and chairman's council Donors

You receive six free hours of parking during zoo hours. Swipe your card at the entrance and exit.

Household-level Members; to use your two free parking passes

Please swipe your membership card at the zoo parking lot entrance and then pull the ticket that is dispensed. At the automated exit lane insert your entry ticket and scan the QR code on one of your free parking passes. 

Individual & household-level Members; your $9 discounted rate

Please swipe your membership card at the zoo parking lot entrance and then pull the ticket that is dispensed.  During your zoo visit, please stop by one of our pay-on-foot stations to pre-pay your $9 fee outside of Gateway Pavilion or near the Bus Gate. Please ensure to take your pre-paid receipt that is dispensed. When leaving the parking lot, insert your pre-paid receipt at one of the lot’s automated exit lanes.  If you did not have a chance to pre-pay, you may pay with a credit card at any of the automated exit lanes.

PLEASE NOTE: The zoo is no longer able to adjust fees charged when exiting the parking lot. As a result, failure to follow the steps above will likely result in you being charged the full rate. This includes patrons who have forgotten their membership card.

As always, you may visit Gateway Pavilion from 9:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. for any parking or membership questions. We recommend you resolve any parking concerns at Gateway prior to exiting the lot.

Special Parking Notice for Chicago Air and Water Show

Purchase your Chicago Air and Water Show parking spot now for $55 per day and save $10. Day-of rate will be $65 per day and may not be available.

Parking lot opens at 6 a.m. and closes at 11 p.m. Prepaid parking is good for one day only and only for the date purchased. There is no overnight parking available. Prepaid parking does not allow in-and-out privileges. Each car must have a ticket/pass to enter the parking lot.

Purchase a Parking Pass