Turtle Back Zoo

About

Turtle Back Zoo is the Essex County zoo, set inside the South Mountain Recreation Complex on Northfield Avenue in West Orange, a few miles west of Newark. The county runs it, and the zoo shares its parking decks with the neighboring ice arena, mini golf and reservation trails, so a zoo trip pairs easily with an afternoon on the paddle boats or a walk in the woods.

The animal areas are grouped by region. Big Cat Country, Amazing Asia, Wild America, Bear Path and the otter exhibit form the main loop. Shores of Africa holds the penguin house, and there is a reptile house, a touch tank with sting rays, and Essex Farm with goats and cattle you can see up close. Keeper talks are included with admission. A free walk-through aviary houses more than 400 budgerigars. Extras cost more: the giraffe feed, goat feed, pony rides, the Endangered Species Carousel, and a Butterfly Tent in season. The zoo train leaves its station about every 15 minutes and loops through part of the South Mountain Reservation before returning. Younger kids gravitate to the Prehistoric Playground.

The zoo itself says the average visit runs two to two and a half hours. Families who add the carousel, train and feedings stretch that to half a day. There is no re-entry, so plan food before you leave. The Savanna Cafe serves a limited menu from 11am to 3pm daily. You can bring your own food, and picnic tables sit throughout the grounds, though outside food is not allowed inside the cafe.

As of 2026 the zoo is open daily from 10am to 4pm. Admission is $22 for adults 13 and up, $19 for seniors 62 and up and children 2 to 12, and free under 2. Groups of 15 or more pay $17 in season and $15 off season. Tickets are non-refundable and sold online at turtlebackzoo.com. Parking is free in the recreation complex decks, with no ticket or validation needed, and Parking Deck 2 has electric vehicle chargers. Stroller rentals run $10 for a single and $14 for a double but close for the winter.

Accessibility

Turtle Back Zoo is wheelchair accessible with a real caveat: the zoo is built on the side of a mountain and the county itself says some paths are steep. A manual chair user should expect to need a strong pusher on parts of the main loop. That review is from 2012, but the terrain has not changed.

Parking is free in the multi-level decks of the South Mountain Recreation Complex. The zoo does not publish where the accessible spaces are or how far the decks sit from the gate, so call ahead if that distance matters to you. Guest Relations, at the main entrance, lends a limited number of manual wheelchairs first come, first served. None are motorized, so bring your own scooter or power chair if you rely on one.

The zoo lists accessible restrooms. Family restrooms are near Essex Farm, at the Touch Tank building, and behind the carousel concession stand. The zoo train is wheelchair accessible and runs about every 15 minutes from the station. An ADA access path map is listed on the accessibility page as coming soon, so ask Guest Relations for the least steep route when you arrive.

The zoo is certified Sensory Inclusive by KultureCity. Guest Services at the main entrance lends sensory bags with fidget tools and noise-canceling headphones at no cost if you leave an ID. Signs mark quiet zones (Amazing Asia, Otter, Bear Path, Wild America, Big Cat Country) and headphone zones (gift shop, amphitheater, reptile house, train, penguin house, touch tank, carousel, Savanna Cafe). Each spring the zoo runs a Sensory-Friendly Morning from 8 to 10am with limited capacity and the train and carousel running without music or whistles. It cost $10 in 2025 and required advance registration.

Service dogs are welcome under ADA rules; therapy and emotional support dogs are not. The zoo publishes nothing about ASL interpreters, assistive listening, braille or captioning. For any of those, or to ask about the parking walk, call Guest Relations at (973) 731-5800 before your visit.

Checked by Accessible America, August 2026. Report a change

More accessible places in New Jersey

• Thomas Edison National Historical Park (West Orange)
• Atlantic City Boardwalk (Atlantic City)
• Princeton University Art Museum (Princeton)
• Adventure Aquarium (Camden)
• Battleship New Jersey (Camden)
• Liberty Science Center (Jersey City)

Photo credits

• Turtle Back Zoo's glass entrance has wide stairs with handrails on both sides.: Davidng913, CC BY-SA 4.0 (source)
• Visitors cross the parking lot toward the Turtle Back Zoo entrance building.: Davidng913, CC BY-SA 4.0 (source)