6 Beautiful Zoos to Visit in Kansas

If you’ve been following Gentry Journeys for awhile, you know we are suckers for a good zoo. Luckily, here in Kansas we have so many stunning parks to visit. Read below to discover 6 Beautiful Zoos to Visit in Kansas.

giraffe feeding at Sedgwick county zoo

1. Sedgwick County Zoo

This might be a hot take, but in my opinion the Sedgwick County Zoo in Wichita competes with San Diego. It’s just so beautiful. Sedgwick County is an award-winning wildlife park recognized both nationally and internationally for its support of conservation programs and successful breeding of rare and endangered species.

2. Kansas City Zoo & Aquarium

Another beautiful zoo in Kansas is the Kansas City Zoo & Aquarium. The aquarium actually only opened in 2023. They are constantly making improvements to this park, so there’s always something new to see. The trek to and from the Africa area can be a lot, but you could always take the tram.

3. Topeka Zoo

The Topeka Zoo is an underrated park. We had the privilege of speaking with some of the zoo staff a few years back about the long term plans for the zoo, and I’m so excited to see them unfold. The most recent change is a larger area for the giraffes and it’s stunning.

red panda at sunset zoo in Manhattan

4. Rolling Hills Zoo

The Rolling Hills Zoo is just outside of Salina. Its rural location is so soothing, and the park is built into the flint hills, so you can truly appreciate the beauty of Kansas. We grew up going to this zoo pretty often, so it’s nostalgic for me. They also have a large museum that’s great for hot summer days.

5. Sunset Zoo

The Sunset Zoo might seem too small and basic, but they have great events throughout the year. We actually had our wedding reception at this zoo! They also have red pandas, so that’s worth the trip alone.

6. David Traylor Zoo of Emporia

The smallest zoo on our list of 6 Beautiful Zoos to Visit in Kansas is the David Traylor Zoo in Emporia. Though it is on the smaller side, it’s free to enter! The zoo is classified as a botanical garden as well, and for good reason. It’s a haven in a small town.

orangutan at Kansas City zoo

I hope you have enjoyed reading about these 6 Beautiful Zoos to Visit in Kansas. For extra more travel tips, check out these additional blog posts:

7 Beautiful Places to Visit in Topeka Kansas
The Very Best Places to Visit In San Diego
The Best Things to Pack for the Zoo

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Safe Travels,