The weather's getting warmer (finally)! If you're looking to get the kiddos out of the house but don't want to sign up for a trek into D.C., check out our other local zoo: Catoctin Wildlife Preserve!
Only about an hour's drive (or less) from most major DMV locations, Catoctin Wildlife Preserve & Zoo is home to 319 species of animals -- from bears to boas, lemurs to lizards, macaws to meerkats, pot-bellied pigs to pythons. You’ll meet over 450 exotic animals on your tour of this local zoo! Catoctin is divided into distinct habitat areas including Eurasia, North America, Africa, Latin America, Australia, and Madagascar/Islands. Some animals you can expect to see in each one include:- Eurasia: White Bengal tigers, boa constrictors, and pythons
- North America: alligators, Coati mundis (cousins to raccoons), and barred owls
- Africa: camels
- Latin America: jaguars and Amazon parrots
- Australia: wallabies, blue-tongued skinks, and kookaburras
- Madagascar/Islands: baboons, Cottontop tamarins, and Geoffroy’s marmosets
Planning Your Visit
Location: Catoctin Zoo is located at 13019 Catoctin Furnace Road, Thurmont, Maryland, and the web site helpfully gives directions from almost any major locale in the area. Hours of Operation: The zoo is open from March through October, with different hours for almost every month. The hours are:- March: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
- April: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
- May: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
- June, July, and August: 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.
- September, October, through November 8: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Tickets: Unlike the National Zoo, it will cost you to get into this local zoo! But the bonus (for me, personally) is that I don't have to stress out and plan the visit around rush hour traffic. Also, if you've ever had to push a stroller at the National Zoo, you're basically ready for an Iron Man (or Woman) competition by the time you're done! Catoctin Zoo offers flat roads and gentle hills instead.
March -- May 22: $18.75 (adults), $13.75 (kids aged 3-12), Free (kids 2 and under)
May 23 -- Oct 7: $19.75 (adults), $14.75 (kids aged 3-12), Free (kids 2 and under)
Oct 8 -- Nov 8: $18.75 (adults), $13.75 (kids aged 3-12), Free (kids 2 and under)
Food: The CWPZoo Safari Cafe is open from Memorial Day to Labor Day, but the zoo does permit you to bring your own picnic food. (As long as you don't share it with the animals! They're on special diets)!
Now you have all the deets you need for an action-packed day at our other local zoo. On the next balmy day, get those strollers and picnics packed, and head on over to Catoctin Wildlife Preserve & Zoo for an adventure the kids won't soon forget!
