The Emerald Coast has two real zoos, and they sit roughly 80 miles apart. The Gulf Breeze Zoo is the big one: a 50-acre park on U.S. 98 between Gulf Breeze and Navarre, with a train through a free-roaming preserve. ZooWorld in Panama City Beach is smaller and more hands-on, set right on Front Beach Road near the other rainy-day attractions.
Both make a good half day, and both work when the Gulf is too rough for swimming. Which one you pick mostly comes down to where you are staying and how old your kids are. Here is how they compare, plus the drive from Destin and a third, smaller option inland.
Quick answer
- Biggest zoo: Gulf Breeze Zoo, with more than 900 animals, giraffe feeding and the Safari Express train.
- Best for short attention spans: ZooWorld in Panama City Beach, a compact walk with sloth, kangaroo and lemur encounters.
- Closest to Destin: Gulf Breeze Zoo by a little; both are roughly an hour’s drive, depending on traffic.
- Pair it with: Turtle Roll ice cream in Gulf Breeze, or WonderWorks down the street from ZooWorld.
- Smaller option inland: Emerald Coast Zoo in Crestview, a family-run park with a daily lion feeding.
Gulf Breeze Zoo and ZooWorld at a glance
Prices and hours below are as of November 2026. Both zoos change hours by season, so check before you go.
| Gulf Breeze Zoo | ZooWorld Panama City Beach | |
|---|---|---|
| Location | 5701 Gulf Breeze Pkwy (U.S. 98), between Gulf Breeze and Navarre | 9008 Front Beach Rd, Panama City Beach |
| Size | About 50 acres, including a 30-acre preserve seen by train | Compact; plan about 2 to 3 hours |
| Animals | More than 900, including giraffes, gorillas, rhinos and hippos | Giraffes, sloths, lemurs, kangaroos, capybaras, gibbons and 80-plus alligators |
| Adult ticket | $29.95 (ages 13 to 64); seniors $27.95 | $24.95 (ages 13 and up) |
| Child ticket | $22.95 (ages 2 to 12); under 2 free | $19.95 (ages 2 to 12) |
| Discounts | 15% off for military and law enforcement with ID | 20% off for military and Bay County residents with ID |
| Hours | 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily Nov. 2 to Feb. 27; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. the rest of the year; last entry one hour before close | 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily, rain or shine; last entry 3 p.m. |
| Closed | Thanksgiving and Christmas Day | Thanksgiving and Christmas Day |
| Signature extra | Safari Express train and giraffe feeding | Paid animal encounters (sloth, kangaroo, lemur, capybara) |
Gulf Breeze Zoo: the big day out
The Gulf Breeze Zoo opened on this site in 1984 as The Zoo Northwest Florida and reopened under new owners as the Gulf Breeze Zoo in 2010. Today it covers about 50 acres. Roughly 20 acres are walking paths and exhibits. The other 30 are a preserve where animals roam and you see them from the Safari Express train.
Do the train early. It is the part of the visit kids talk about later, and it gets you close to hippos and the larger hoofed animals you will not see from the paths. On foot, the elevated boardwalk, the farm and the gorilla habitat fill the next couple of hours.
What to do at the Gulf Breeze Zoo
- Feed the giraffes. Giraffes are fed daily, and a cup of romaine costs $5 (as of November 2026).
- Walk the budgie aviary. The Budgiery Adventure Aviary is a walk-through flight of small parakeets. Seed sticks are $2 each or 4 for $7.
- See the new tiger cubs. Three Bengal tiger cubs, Arusha, Saber and Taj, made their public debut on November 7, 2026. Their habitat is across from the ring-tailed lemurs. Viewing depends on the cubs’ care schedule.
- Visit the farm. The petting area is a good stop for toddlers. Animal feed is $4 a cup.
- Try the mining sluice. Kids sift for gems; it is a nice break in the shade.
The zoo recommends buying tickets online in advance. Wheelchair and wagon rentals are available. If you are coming from Pensacola Beach or downtown Pensacola, the drive is about 20 to 30 minutes east. Our guide to things to do in Gulf Breeze covers lunch and the waterfront parks nearby.
ZooWorld Panama City Beach: small, close and hands-on
ZooWorld sits on Front Beach Road in the middle of Panama City Beach’s attractions strip. That location is its biggest advantage. You can do the zoo in the morning and be back at the pool by early afternoon.
It is smaller than Gulf Breeze, and that suits younger kids. The paths are short, the animals are close, and the encounters are the main event. General admission covers the walk-through; experiences cost extra.
What to do at ZooWorld
- Book an encounter. Sloth, kangaroo, capybara, lemur and alligator experiences are listed at $70.95 for adults and $64.95 for kids, and they include general admission (check current prices with the zoo). The lemur encounter can be lively, so it may not suit very young children.
- Feed the alligators. The Allapattah Swamp alligator feeding uses feed buckets sold on site.
- Feed a giraffe. Giraffe leaves are sold in small bundles at the feeding area.
- Walk the budgie aviary. Entry is free with admission; feeding sticks cost extra.
- Visit the Friendly Farmyard. The petting zoo is the easy win for toddlers.
ZooWorld is a few blocks from WonderWorks and Ripley’s Believe It or Not!, so it slots easily into a full attractions day. Our Panama City Beach family attractions guide has the rest of that stretch.
Which zoo should you choose?
Go to the Gulf Breeze Zoo if you want a full day, bigger animals and the train. It is the better pick for kids 6 and up, for grandparents who want a real zoo walk, and for families staying anywhere from Pensacola to Navarre.
Go to ZooWorld if you have toddlers, if you are staying in Panama City Beach or the east end of 30A, or if a close-up sloth or kangaroo encounter is the goal. It is also the easier fit for a half day between other plans.
If you are staying in Destin, either one works. The Gulf Breeze Zoo is a straight run west on U.S. 98 through Fort Walton Beach and Navarre. ZooWorld is east on U.S. 98 past 30A. Both take roughly an hour without traffic, and summer Saturdays add time in either direction.
Other animal stops near Destin
If you searched for a zoo near Destin and want something closer, two options fill the gap.
- Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park: Not a zoo, but the closest animal attraction to Destin. It has operated on Okaloosa Island since 1955, with dolphins, penguins and a sea turtle rescue program. It is open 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with admissions closing at 3:30 p.m. (as of November 2026).
- Emerald Coast Zoo: A family-run zoo off U.S. 90 in Crestview, open since 2017. It has sloth, lemur and kangaroo encounters, a walk-through aviary and a daily lion feeding. It is closed Mondays. Crestview is about 45 minutes to an hour north of Destin. See our Crestview guide for lunch nearby.
For more ideas by age, see our Destin with kids guide and our upcoming Emerald Coast with kids guide.
Before you go
- Storm note: Hurricane Isaias brought down trees and landscaping at the Gulf Breeze Zoo in October 2026. The animals were reported safe, and the zoo has reopened, with the tiger cub debut held in front of visitors on November 7. Some areas may look different, and a few animals may spend extra time in holding areas during cleanup. ZooWorld reported its animals safe and shows normal hours. Call ahead if a specific exhibit or the train matters to your plans.
- Go early. Animals are more active in the morning, and summer afternoons are hot. Gulf Breeze’s last entry is an hour before closing; ZooWorld’s is at 3 p.m.
- Budget for extras. Feeding cups, seed sticks and encounters are sold separately at both zoos and add up fast with a family.
- Rain plans. ZooWorld stays open rain or shine. Gulf Breeze also opens daily, but paths and the train are outdoors.
- Holiday closures. Both zoos close on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day.
Gulf Breeze Zoo and ZooWorld FAQ
How much are Gulf Breeze Zoo tickets? As of November 2026, a day pass is $29.95 for adults (13 to 64), $27.95 for seniors (65 and up) and $22.95 for children 2 to 12. Children under 2 are free. Military and law enforcement get 15% off with ID, and groups of 15 or more get $1 off each ticket.
How long does it take to go through the Gulf Breeze Zoo? Plan on three to four hours if you ride the train, feed the giraffes and see the walking exhibits. Families with toddlers often do it in about two and a half.
Is ZooWorld in Panama City Beach worth it? For families with young kids, yes. It is compact, close to the beach and built around up-close encounters. If you want large animals and a long walk, the Gulf Breeze Zoo is the stronger pick.
What is the closest zoo to Destin? The Gulf Breeze Zoo and ZooWorld are both roughly an hour away. For a shorter drive, the Gulfarium on Okaloosa Island is about 15 to 20 minutes from Destin, and the Emerald Coast Zoo in Crestview is about 45 minutes to an hour north.
Is the Gulf Breeze Zoo open after Hurricane Isaias? Yes. The zoo reopened after storm cleanup and held a public debut for three Bengal tiger cubs on November 7, 2026. Trees and landscaping took damage, so check the zoo’s website or social pages for any exhibit closures before you go.
Can you feed the giraffes at both zoos? Yes. Both zoos sell giraffe feed at their feeding areas, and both sell budgie seed sticks for their walk-through aviaries.
Planning more of the western coast? Start with the Gulf Breeze area page, or browse the Panama City Beach area page for places to eat after ZooWorld.