If you live in Southeastern Michigan you’re probably not far from the Detroit or Toledo Zoo. So how do you choose which one to go to? Which is better, the Detroit or Toledo Zoo? For me, it just depends on what you’re looking for and how you define “better.” We have an annual pass to the Detroit Zoo and have been more times than I can count. Visiting the Toledo Zoo was new for us and I defiantly have some thoughts. Read my perspective on each below and let me know your thoughts on which is better, the Detroit or Toledo Zoo.
Size
The Detroit Zoo (125 acres) is almost triple the size of the Toledo Zoo (51 acres) in terms of acreage. So if getting your steps in is important to you then Detroit is for you. If getting in a lot of animals in a smaller amount of time is more your speed then give a point to Toledo.
Animals
Yes, the Detroit Zoo is bigger, but Toledo actually has more animals. I think this is mainly because of the aquarium inside the zoo. There are over 3,000 aquatic animals alone compared to about 2,000 total animals in Detroit. The Detroit Zoo has less animals but most exhibits are bigger than the ones at Toledo.
The other thing to consider in terms of animals is what ones your family wants to see. Toledo has elephants, orangutans, cheetahs, hippos, a snow leopard, dingo and an aquarium. There are other differences but lets start there. The Detroit Zoo has a separate facility just for amphibians, an incredible and very large penguin exhibit (Toledo has a few penguins in a very small habitat), a butterfly house, lions, bison and kangaroos.
Again, there are other differences in animals but those are the ones that stood out to me. If there is a specific animal you or your child wants to see, I highly recommend checking out the Detroit Zoo and the Toledo Zoo websites to make sure you’ll see what’s important to you.
The other thing I’ll say when comparing which is better, the Detroit or Toledo Zoo is that overall, the habitats in Detroit are much larger than Toledo. The penguin habitat for instance is worth the trip to Detroit alone while the penguin habitat in Toledo could fit inside of Detroits several times. Detroit also features bar-less habitats. So while you can cover more ground in less time in Toledo making it more of an efficient trip, I do love seeing the animals having more space in Detroit. Again, just a matter of deciding what is best for you and your trip to the zoo.
Food
The Detroit Zoo does not have a problem with guests bringing in their own food and non alcoholic beverages so we usually bring lunch in a thermos and some water to save money. We do however make sure to get a pretzel at the stand just past the river otters and before the camels. They’re the best pretzels I’ve ever had hands down.
The Toledo Zoo does state that outside food and drinks are not permitted. I didn’t realize this until we got there but they didn’t search bags that didn’t set off the metal detector so my waters and snacks made it inside. Sorry Toledo. We got burgers, pulled pork sandwiches, “zoo fries” and a giant pretzel. It was all typical overpriced food you’d find at most zoos but it wasn’t bad at all.
The Toledo Zoo did seem to have more options for food and snacks than the Detroit Zoo especially when you take into account the square footage difference.
Extras
Both have a train that you can take which is always fun for the kids. The one in Detroit is a one way trip. So we typically walk to the back and then take the train to the front or vice versa. The one in Toledo is round trip and takes you by the cheetahs, camels, giraffes, and zebras.
Both have a nice playground if your kids need to get some energy out or if you just need a break from walking. Toledo also has a splash pad. I would absolutely take advantage of that in the summer. They both also have a carousel which is a huge hit with my son every time.
Bottom Line
If your family enjoys going to the zoo, you’re going to have a great time no matter which one you choose. Ultimately the decision comes down to what’s important to you. Regardless, once you’ve made the trip, make sure to let me know which one you think is better, the Detroit or Toledo Zoo.
If you want to read more about my family travels, click here.
