Chicago-area families have a world-class zoo in Brookfield, Illinois. Located just west of the city of Chicago, Brookfield Zoo Chicago has over 3000 animals from all over the world. The animals’ indoor and outdoor habitats are nestled among lush landscaping and wide walkways. With plenty of interactive and interesting exhibits, an all-day visit for all ages is both pleasant and practical. This Chicagoland treasure is a favorite destination for our family and so many others. But, did you know that Brookfield Zoo Chicago has over thirty free admission days in winter 2025? Plan your visit for free with our guide to Brookfield Zoo Chicago free days, and have a wild adventure this winter.
What is Brookfield Zoo Chicago?
Brookfield Zoo Chicago is a zoological park and accredited arboretum located west of the city of Chicago, Illinois. It was founded in 1934 and just keeps getting better!
In 2024, Brookfield Zoo updated its name to Brookfield Zoo Chicago. This new name reflects the zoo’s stunning 100 year legacy and its relationship with the Chicago Zoological Society (not to mention its convenient proximity to Chicago).
The blessing of space in Brookfield, Illinois allows for a 235 acre park-like setting and gorgeous habitats for the approximately 3400 (and counting) animals who live at Brookfield Zoo Chicago. During your visit you can spot snow leopards lounging near the Big Cat Walkway, wombats scurrying through the Australia House and bottlenose dolphins jumping in Seven Seas Lagoon. There are so many animals to see at Brookfield Zoo Chicago. Add the fascinating animal talks, two playgrounds and a play zoo for children, and you will need multiple days just to experience it all.
Where is Brookfield Zoo Chicago?
Brookfield Zoo Chicago is located just west of First Avenue and south of 31st Street in Brookfield, Illinois. The zoo has both a north and south entrance with a parking lot at each. It is accessible by public transportation.
Parking Lots at Brookfield Zoo Chicago
Even on free admission days, Brookfield Zoo Chicago charges a fee to park in the parking lots. The north gate parking lot is located at 8400 31st St in Brookfield. The south gate parking is at 3300 Golf Rd also in Brookfield. The south parking lot is smaller and closer to the gate. The north parking lot is larger, and there is bit of a walk to the entrance. Still, the walk from the north lot can be exciting for kids, because it takes you through a tunnel. The south parking lot costs more than the north parking lot. You can find current parking rates on the zoo website here.
Alternative Transportation to Brookfield Zoo Chicago
If you prefer to walk to the zoo, the south gate is more easily accessible to pedestrians. It is also the entrance with the closest bus stop for the route that serves the zoo: Pace Bus Route 331.
The south gate is also the entrance you are going to use if you choose to arrive by train. The closest train stop to Brookfield Zoo Chicago is the Zoo Stop (also known as the Hollywood Stop) on the Metra BNSF line.
When to Visit Brookfield Zoo Chicago for Free Admission
For January and February in 2025, Brookfield Zoo Chicago is offering free admission on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays. That means free weekends at Brookfield Zoo Chicago for all of January and February! Let us reiterate: four out of seven days a week are free at Brookfield Zoo Chicago now, and two of those days are on the weekend!
The zoo hours during this time are 10am to 5pm. Indoor spaces and some other attractions usually close before the official zoo closing time.
What is Included with Free Admission to Brookfield Zoo Chicago
Brookfield Zoo Chicago is huge and amazing. It is so big, that you probably will not be able to see everything in one visit. (Good thing there are so many free days!)
Everything that is included in general admission to Brookfield Zoo Chicago is also included in your free admission. Outdoor habitats are available for your viewing, but animals may be inside during the cold winter. Most of the indoor buildings are open, but keep in mind that some of them might be closed on any given day. Animal safety is a priority, and sometimes zoo staff will close select areas.
Indoor Habitats Open at Brookfield Zoo Chicago this Winter
Here is a list of buildings open this winter at Brookfield Zoo Chicago, with some commentary on each:
- Australia: indoor habitat for wombats, bats, echidnas and more
- Clouded Leopard Rain Forest: a (warm!) walk-through building with multiple species native to the world’s rain forests
- Desert’s Edge: another warm walk-through but this time with desert species (the Clouded Leopard Rain Forest and Desert’s Edge have separate entrances but share a building)
- Feathers & Scales: an older building with birds and reptiles and neat architectural details
- Great Bear Wilderness: the indoor viewing area for the larger bear habitat
- Habitat Africa: The Forest: a combination indoor and outdoor viewing area with our family-favorite Brookfield Zoo Chicago resident: the okapi!
- Habitat Africa: The Kopje: indoor viewing for giraffes, African painted dogs and other species. You can get really close to the giraffes when they are indoors!
- Hamill Family Play Zoo: multiple indoor play areas for kids in one building. This is also where you can find the koalas. The restrooms here are particularly nice for little ones.
- Living Coast: fish, penguins, rays, sharks, eels… anything aquatic that is not a mammal
- Macaws: new dedicated indoor macaw habitat, this one has ample indoor benches
- Regenstein Wolf Woods Indoor Viewing: indoor viewing area for the larger wolf habitat, has some interactive exhibits many kids enjoy
- Reptiles and Birds: …you get the idea
- Sea Lion Cove Underwater Viewing: cave-like area with windows into the sea lion habitat, this one is not fully enclosed and is colder than other indoor viewing
- Seven Seas Underwater Viewing: cozy building with windows into the dolphin tanks for Seven Seas Lagoon, also has bathrooms and a nursing pod. Unlike the dolphin show, Dolphins in Action! this does not require an extra fee.
- Swamp: lots of swamp inhabitants including river otters and the (relatively new) flamingos, always warm and usually with a strong aroma
- Wild Encounters Aviary: indoor free-flight parakeet habitat inside the larger Hamill Family Wild Encounters, you can buy feeding sticks for an extra fee
What is Not Included for Brookfield Zoo Chicago Free Days
Extra attractions that usually require an additional fee (like the Dolphins in Action! show) will still require that same additional fee. They are not included in your free admission. The good news is that some areas which previously required an additional fee do not at this time: Hamill Family Play Zoo and Hamill Family Wild Encounters are currently free for all guests!
Some seasonal attractions are closed for everyone during the winter. At the time of writing, the Motor Safari, the Carousel and the Butterflies! enclosure are not operating. The splash pad near the Living Coast plus all water misters are turned off. In our experience, outdoor water fountains are usually shut off as well. Tropic World (where you usually find monkeys and gorillas) and the Pachyderms building are also currently closed to all guests.
In addition to these attractions and exhibits, other operations—like dining and shopping—are limited during January and February. You may need to walk further to find an open location. For dining, BZ Red Hots on the east side of the zoo (near the dolphins) and Cafe del Sol, in the southwest corner of the zoo (near the penguins) are usually open year round.
Thank you for reading our post on Brookfield Zoo Chicago free days for winter 2025.
We hope that you will visit Brookfield Zoo Chicago this winter. We are writing additional posts with our top tips for visiting Brookfield Zoo Chicago in any season. Please subscribe to our free newsletter below to get those and future posts in your email inbox!
For other tips on Chicago area attractions, take a look at Top 5 Tips for Visiting Chicago’s Shedd Aquarium, New Shedd Aquarium Exhibit Dazzles: Wonder of Water and Don’t Miss Thomas and Friends at Kohl Children’s Museum. Thanks again for reading!