Blank Park Zoo

About

Blank Park Zoo is an animal park on the south side of Des Moines, Iowa. Outdoor exhibits include a rhino pavilion, an eagle exhibit, and an overlook for the zoo's Japanese macaques, spread along paved paths that loop through the grounds. A separate Discovery Center is built around a bat cave and gives visitors an indoor stop, and a second building offers indoor giraffe viewing on cold or rainy days.

Visitors walk the loop at their own pace, stopping at exhibit windows and keeper talks along the way. A carousel and a train run on site; the zoo lists both as ADA accessible, and the train's front car is built to hold a wheelchair, though there is no adjoining seat for a companion. A shaded picnic shelter sits near the main entrance playground, and the zoo also allows picnicking in its parking lots. Admission covers re-entry the same day, so a visitor can step out for lunch and come back without buying a new ticket. A trip can run a couple of hours or fill most of a day, depending on the season and how many rides, keeper talks, and exhibits you fit in.

As of 2026, the zoo opens daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and closes for Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day. Admission is $20 for adults ages 13 to 64, $19 for seniors 65 and up, $15 for children 2 to 12, and free for children under 1. Parking is free.

The zoo sits at 7401 SW 9th St on the south side of Des Moines, Iowa.

Accessibility

Blank Park Zoo is wheelchair accessible. The zoo states that all pathways through the grounds are ADA accessible.

The zoo's website does not publish specifics about accessible parking spaces or the main entrance, so anyone who needs a marked space close to the gate should call ahead to (515) 285-4722 to confirm.

Once inside, paths are concrete and wide enough for wheelchairs and mobility scooters, with only gentle grades between exhibit areas such as the rhino pavilion, the eagle exhibit, and the Japanese macaque overlook. The zoo's carousel and train are both listed as ADA accessible; the train's front car is built to hold a wheelchair, though there is no adjoining seat for a companion to ride along.

Restrooms throughout the zoo are wheelchair and stroller accessible and include changing tables rated for up to 50 pounds. Family restrooms sit near the rhino pavilion, behind the bat cave in the Discovery Center, at the indoor giraffe viewing area, and at GoGo Plaza, where there is also an adult-sized changing table.

Guests can check out a free wheelchair at the admissions building or the outdoor rental stand near the eagle exhibit in peak summer, and electric scooters rent for $20 (a driver's license is held during the rental). Braille maps are available at admissions on the same basis. The zoo is KultureCity certified and lends sensory backpacks with noise-canceling headphones and fidget tools at no charge, plus weighted lap pads on request. Marked quiet zones sit at the macaque overlook, next to the butterfly garden, and across from the train depot, among other spots. Trained service animals are welcome and are escorted by staff at first for the safety of the animal and the zoo's collection.

Bring a driver's license to check out a wheelchair, scooter, braille map, or sensory bag, since all of them require one on file. The zoo does not publish information about accessible parking spaces, elevators, tactile paving, or assistive listening devices, so confirm those directly with guest services before you go.

Checked by Accessible America, August 2026. Report a change

More accessible places in Iowa

• Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden (Des Moines)
• Science Center of Iowa (Des Moines)
• Des Moines Art Center (Des Moines)
• Iowa State Capitol (Des Moines)
• Merle Hay Mall (Des Moines)
• Figge Art Museum (Davenport)

Photo credits

• Blank Park Zoo entrance sign spans the paved driveway leading into the park.: Lawrence Lansing, CC BY-SA 4.0 (source)