The Sunshine State has no shortage of attractions, from beaches and theme parks to wildlife preserves and water parks.
So whether you’re hoping to pet some baby animals or enjoy the fun atmosphere, these are great places to visit with your family and friends while vacationing here in Florida.
But did you know that Florida also has plenty of petting zoos? From farm animal experiences to animal encounters with tigers, Florida’s petting zoos give tourists and locals a chance to get up close and personal with some of nature’s most majestic creatures.
Here are the different petting zoos in Florida that will please animal lovers of all ages!
1. Amma,s Ark Petting Farm and Alpacas
If you’re looking for a petting zoo with a little something extra, Amma’s Ark is the place for you. Aside from the regular animals like pigs and goats, they have alpacas!
All of the animals are friendly and approachable, allowing children to interact with them without any risk of getting bitten or scratched.
Picnic tables are also available if you want to bring your food or purchase some snacks on-site. The entry price is $6/adult, $4/senior, $3/child (3-11), and free for kids under three years old. They recommend arriving early as this petting zoo often gets crowded fast!
When you arrive, an employee will be ready to help you feed the chickens. And when it comes time to leave, don’t forget to say bye to all your friends before heading home.
Trust us, and once you’ve been to one of these petting zoos in Florida, you won’t want to go anywhere else!
2. River Ranch Petting Zoo
River Ranch Petting Zoo is a family-owned and operated petting zoo with over 3,000 feet of animal-filled space! Located between Tampa and Orlando, the petting zoo has been around for over 30 years.
Guests can enjoy meeting and interacting with animals such as goats, sheep, pigs, bison, llamas, alpacas, camels, and more.
Here are fourteen petting zoos in Florida you’ll want to visit. – Amelia’s Farmstead: Amelia’s Farmstead has plenty of critters for children to meet, including ducks, rabbits, pigs, and chickens.
They also have an area where kids can slide down from one hay mound to another, a maze, and duck races!
3. Mini Moo Petting Zoo
Getting up close with animals is always a must, and plenty of zoos across the country make great day trips. But if you live in Florida, you don’t have to go far–these petting zoos in Florida are perfect for animal lovers!
Mini Moo Petting Zoo (Orlando) is Located just outside of Orlando; this petting zoo is home to over 100 animals and offers visitors a chance to interact with all sorts of species.
In addition to the animals, there’s also an interactive play area where kids can enjoy climbing and slide before meeting furry friends.
The park is open year-round on weekdays from 10 am-4 pm and on weekends from 10 am-5 pm. They recommend arriving at least 15 minutes before closing time because the parking lot does fill up. There is a $10 entry fee for adults, $8 for children ages 3-12, and free for toddlers under three years old.
4. Petting Zoo Ocala
Petting zoos are great for kids and adults to get up close and personal with furry animals. The Ocala petting zoo is the largest in Florida, spanning 10 acres. Over 90 different animal species can be seen anytime, including kangaroos, capybaras, llamas, camels, zebras, and more!
The most popular attraction is the African Safari exhibit which is home to giraffes, hippos, and rhinos. Visitors can ride on an elephant for a tour of the grounds or hop on a camel for a one-hour trail ride.
Various food options are available throughout the park, including vegetarian dishes like veggie burgers and grilled cheese sandwiches.
There are also plenty of picnic tables, so visitors can bring their lunch if they choose to do so. In addition, to live shows, there are educational programs that teach visitors about how the animals live and what it’s like for them at the zoo.
With interactive displays, kid-friendly areas, and friendly staff members ready to answer questions – this might be your family’s favorite day out yet!
5. Bf Petting Zoo
Bf Petting Zoo is a family-owned petting zoo in Boca Raton, FL. We are open year-round except for Christmas Day. We have many different animals for you to meet and feed.
Some of our animals that may be found on the farm include llamas, donkeys, peacocks, alpacas, ferrets, and more! If you want to come out for the day or just an hour, these petting zoos in Florida can cater to your experience.
The admission includes access to the entire property and all of its attractions. For those who want to get their hands dirty, we offer hayrides, wagon rides, pony rides, and petting zoos with exotic species such as camels and zebra! There’s also a playground for kids where they can enjoy slides and swings.
6. Good Earth Farm Children’s Zoo Animal Sanctuary
On the back of a tractor-trailer, you can find animals from all over the world. Good Earth Farm Children’s Zoo Animal Sanctuary is a petting zoo where kids can get close and personal with everything from pygmy goats to llamas.
Founded by Fred Duesterberg and his wife, Lynn, Good Earth Farm has been open for over 30 years. Every animal at the sanctuary is rescued or retired and must have a safe place to live.
One way you can help is by sponsoring an animal so it can stay at the sanctuary longer.
These petting zoos in Florida also have educational programs for school groups and summer camps. They teach children about animal conservation and how to care for them properly.
In addition, they provide counseling services to adults who are struggling with mental illness or substance abuse.
7. Giraffe Ranch
Giraffe Ranch is a zoo and ranch with a focus on giraffes. Giraffe Ranch is located off Interstate 75 between Gainesville and Ocala, which makes it an excellent stop for visitors looking for both animal and scenic attractions. The ranch houses 14 giraffes, including three babies born in 2015.
Visitors can feed the giraffes with hay cubes or carrots, pet them if they like, or take a guided tour of the ranch.
Other on-site animals include ostriches, emus, zebras, peacocks, and llamas. Giraffe Ranch is open year-round from 9 am until 5 pm except for Christmas Day.
In these petting zoos in Florida, admission ranges from $6 to $8 depending on age; children under 2 are free.
Giraffe Ranch also offers family memberships that allow families of up to four people unlimited visits throughout the season for $30 per person (discounted rates available). A small café offers a variety of snacks and drinks, including apple cider donuts and giraffe milkshakes.
In addition, there are picnic tables where visitors can have lunch while watching the giraffes roam around their habitat.
8. Cock-A-Doodle-Doo Petting Zoo
Cock-A-Doodle-Doo is a petting zoo located at 1000 S.E. Jammes Road in Sarasota, FL, 34237. These petting zoos in Florida are open every day from 10:00 am to 4:30 pm, except on Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day, when they close at 2:00 pm, and from December 24 through January 1, when they close at noon.
Admission costs $7 for adults and $6 for children 3-12 years old, except on some holidays when admission costs $8 or $9 per person, depending on the day of the week it falls; tickets are free for children under two years old who an adult accompanies with a paid access!
Cock-A-Doodle-Doo has various farm animals, including sheep, goats, cows, chickens, ducks, geese, and more!
The animals are well cared for and loved, so if you’re looking for a place to spend time with family and friends while learning about how food gets from the farm to your table, this is the place for you.
9. Fragata Family Farm
It’s not always easy to find a petting zoo, but Florida offers plenty of options. One of my favorites is the Fragata Family Farm, located just outside Winter Park.
These petting zoos in Florida have many animals and even offer a hayride and pony ride at the end of your visit.
I recommend making this one-day stop if you’re driving from Tampa to Orlando because it’s only about an hour out of the way! Be sure to bring cash because they don’t accept credit cards.
Another one of my favorites is called Alligator Attraction, and it’s located right in Orlando. It’s a bit pricier than Fragata at $12 per person, but they have tons of alligators, snakes, and tortoises you can visit.
There are other animals like emus, llamas, goats, and pigs too! Plus, it’s only open seasonally, so keep an eye on their Facebook page because they do special events throughout March-April that cost less.
10. The Bittner’s Rodeo Ranch
The Bittner’s Rodeo Ranch is a petting zoo with a rodeo feel. These petting zoos in Florida allow visitors to pet and feed animals and experience a live rodeo show.
The ranch has plenty of space for children and adults alike, so everyone can explore at their own pace and get close to some friendly critters.
Picnic areas are available for those who want to enjoy a meal. A day pass costs $20 per person; seniors (65+) receive a discounted rate of $18. All proceeds go towards conservation efforts.
Adventure World opened its newest exhibit: New Kids on the Block. With over 60 acres of natural environments for all ages, Adventure World guarantees fun for all guests.
Another place you may want to check out is Busch Gardens Tampa Bay which welcomes families and animal lovers across Florida with interactive exhibits featuring penguins, kangaroos, orangutans, and more!
11. Bella’s Little Farm, Mobile Petting Zoo
Bella’s Little Farm is a family-owned petting zoo with goats, sheep, pigs, chickens, and other animals. The farm has been open since 1967, so it brings a lot of experience and expertise to the table.
However, it’s only available from April 1 through October 31 because that’s when the farmer can take care of all the animals and make sure they’re healthy.
There are picnic tables for visitors to eat lunch or dinner while spending time with the animals. Bella’s Little Farm also offers pony rides during special events like Easter and Mother’s Day.
Visitors who enjoy more contact can come on one of the petting days, where volunteers will instruct how to handle and interact with the animals appropriately.
A visit here will be perfect for those who want to learn about farming and agriculture and those looking for an activity where kids are welcome.
12. Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens
Located in Sanford, Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens is a full-service zoo and botanical garden. The zoo houses many animals, including African elephants, cheetahs, giraffes, and zebras. The zoo is open except for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day.
In these petting zoos in Florida, admission includes access to the park and its exhibits and rides on the monorail, carousel, or train.
One downside is that this zoo does not have any restrooms inside the park, so be sure to pack water if you plan on spending time there.
If you’re looking for some thrills, head to the Swamp Safari, where you can hop into an airboat and explore alligators, turtles, and other wildlife in their natural habitat.
Not only can visitors drive through an alligator habitat, but they can also view more than 60 species of snakes!
13. Romelia Farms
This farm offers several attractions for visitors, including a petting zoo and a corn maze. With so much to see and do here, Romelia Farms is a great day trip from Orlando.
In addition, on the first Saturday of every month, the farm hosts its Kids’ Night Out, where children can enjoy games, prizes, and food while their parents have time to relax.
On these nights, children get an animal tour before they’re released into the petting zoo. Check their website for more information on this event or any of Romelia Farm’s activities. These petting zoos in Florida don’t just consist of rabbits and cows.
14. Pony and A Zoo
The first stop on our list is Pony and A Zoo, a petting zoo that offers pony rides for kids! They are open year-round, so stop by any time! This petting zoo has a wide variety of animals, including donkeys, sheep, and camels!
The last stop on our list is one of the largest petting zoos in Florida. With over 50 animals, this place has everything.
Conclusion
Florida is home to many petting zoos that are perfect for kids. These petting zoos in Florida are also great places for adults, who can learn about the ecosystem and biodiversity as they pet goats and pigs.
These petting zoos in Florida are also great places to learn about the ecosystem and biodiversity.
