Beardsley Zoo With Kids: Our Baby & Toddler Review
We visited Beardsley Zoo with our baby over Labor Day weekend while staying near Fairfield, Connecticut. It ended up being a nice option for a few hours with a young child: the zoo was manageable, surprisingly well shaded, and had enough animals and kid-focused attractions to keep the visit interesting without feeling like an exhausting full-day outing.
Our favorite animals were the spider monkeys and Andean bears, but Beardsley also had some unexpected features, including a greenhouse filled with plants and koi, a prairie dog lookout for kids, a Farmyard, and an indoor carousel.
Our biggest takeaway? Beardsley Zoo works well with a baby, but I think walking toddlers and preschoolers will get even more out of it.
Is Beardsley Zoo With Kids Worth It?
For families with younger kids, I think it is — particularly if you’re already visiting Fairfield County or southern Connecticut.
Beardsley isn’t a huge destination zoo. You can walk around without feeling like you need to map out an entire day, and that was a big positive for us with a baby.
Another thing we appreciated was the amount of shade. Much of the zoo felt covered by mature trees, which made walking around considerably more comfortable over Labor Day weekend.
If you’re going primarily because your child wants to see huge animals like lions, elephants, rhinos or hippos, this probably isn’t the zoo I’d choose. But if you’re looking for a relatively easy zoo outing with young kids, Beardsley fits that role well.
The Spider Monkeys Were Our Favorite
The spider monkeys were probably our favorite animals of the day.
They were pretty active while we were there, so there was actually something to watch rather than trying to spot an animal sleeping somewhere in the back of an enclosure.
Their habitat was fairly large, although we only spotted a couple of spider monkeys in it.
Beardsley has several primates in its collection, including black-handed spider monkeys and black-and-gold howler monkeys. The zoo also lists Bolivian gray titi monkeys and golden lion tamarins among its animals.
We had previously visited Southwick’s Zoo, and Southwick’s seemed to have significantly more monkeys and primates overall. If monkeys are one of the main reasons your family likes visiting zoos, that difference was noticeable.
Still, the spider monkeys were easily one of Beardsley’s highlights for us.
Watching the Andean Bears at the Waterfall
The Andean bears were our other favorite animal experience.
Their habitat had a nice waterfall, and we happened to catch the bears bathing near the top of it. Afterward, we watched them get out and move over toward the trees to dry off.
Those tend to be our favorite zoo moments — when you catch an animal actually doing something rather than just getting a quick glimpse of it.
The waterfall also made the exhibit itself interesting to stop and watch for a while.
Andean bears are part of Beardsley’s current animal collection.
What Animals Will You See at Beardsley Zoo?
Beardsley felt different from the larger zoos where the main attraction is seeing as many of the classic big animals as possible.
During our visit, we didn’t see lions, tigers, elephants, giraffes, rhinos or hippos.
Instead, we saw more of a mix of monkeys, bears, wolves, prairie dogs, birds, reptiles, farm animals and smaller species.
We also saw animals that initially reminded us of foxes. Beardsley has maned wolves, which have long legs and a noticeably fox-like appearance.
Interestingly, the zoo does have some cats. Its current collection includes an Amur leopard and Brazilian ocelot, although we didn’t see either one during our visit.
So I wouldn’t go in expecting the animal lineup of a huge zoo. Beardsley is more about having a manageable family outing with a varied collection.
The Prairie Dog Lookout Is Great for Toddlers
One of the coolest kid-specific features was the prairie dog exhibit.
Kids can go underneath the habitat and pop their heads up through a clear lookout in the middle of the prairie dogs.
It looked like something toddlers and younger kids would absolutely love.
With an infant, though, it wasn’t particularly easy for us to use. Trying to maneuver through it while carrying a baby was a lot different from letting a toddler crawl or walk through independently.
That was probably the best example of why I think Beardsley becomes even more fun once kids are walking.
The Farmyard
There’s also a Farmyard area with more familiar animals.
We saw Dexter cows, barn owls and quite a few small black pigs. Those pigs are Guinea Hogs, which Beardsley lists as part of its animal collection. The zoo also has Dexter cattle.
It wasn’t necessarily our baby’s favorite area yet, but I could see the Farmyard being a lot more interesting for a toddler who’s starting to recognize and name cows, pigs and other familiar animals.
The Greenhouse Was an Unexpected Surprise
One of the most unusual parts of the zoo was actually something that had very little to do with the animals.
Beardsley has a greenhouse with a surprisingly large collection of plants, along with koi swimming inside.
We’ve visited zoos where plants are obviously important to the landscaping and habitats, but we don’t usually encounter a zoo with a greenhouse that puts this much focus on the plants themselves. It almost felt like walking through a small botanical garden in the middle of the zoo.
The emphasis is intentional. Beardsley says plants are used throughout its habitats to help recreate natural environments, while its greenhouse contains a variety of species, including some that are rare or endangered.
The zoo also lists koi as part of its animal collection.
It wasn’t something we expected going in, which made it one of the more memorable parts of the visit.
There’s an Indoor Carousel
Beardsley also has a carousel inside its own building.
That’s a nice bonus for younger kids and provides something different to do between animal exhibits. The zoo currently lists the carousel as operating daily from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., with the final ride at 3:45 p.m.
It wasn’t a major part of our visit with an infant, but it’s another feature that adds to the experience for toddlers and preschoolers.
A New Red Panda Playground Was Under Construction
When we visited over Labor Day weekend, we noticed that Beardsley was also building a new playground that appeared to be themed around red pandas.
We were right.
The new Red Panda Playground is planned to include a 13-foot red panda climbing sculpture, bamboo swings and sensory activities. As of September 2026, the zoo says construction is expected to wrap up by the end of the month.
It wasn’t open during our visit, but it looked like it would be a meaningful addition for younger kids.
Between the playground, prairie dog lookout, Farmyard and carousel, Beardsley has a surprising amount to do beyond simply walking from one animal enclosure to another.
Buy Beardsley Zoo Tickets Online
One practical thing we learned after we arrived was that regular admission is cheaper online.
Instead of paying the higher gate price, we stood outside and bought our tickets on our phones before going in.
During the current peak season, which runs Fridays through Sundays from Memorial Day weekend through the end of September, adult admission is $23 online versus $26 at the gate. Child and senior admission is $19 online versus $22 at the gate. Online tickets are also cheaper during the off-peak season.
So if you’re paying regular admission, I’d buy the tickets online before arriving.
Check Your Library for Discounted Beardsley Zoo Passes
If we hadn’t been going over a busy holiday weekend, we likely would have tried to get a discounted pass through a local library.
Beardsley’s current Library Pass program offers $10 admission per person for up to six people. You need to bring the checked-out library pass and purchase those tickets at the front gate rather than online.
Depending on your library’s availability, that could save a family a substantial amount compared with regular admission.
It’s definitely something I’d check before paying full price.
Is Beardsley Zoo Good With a Baby?
We thought it worked well.
With an infant, the biggest advantages weren’t necessarily the kid attractions — they were the shade, relatively compact layout and ability to see quite a bit without committing an entire day.
Our baby could watch the more active animals, while we could move through the zoo at our own pace.
The main limitation was that several of the most interesting kid features are designed for children who can explore independently. The prairie dog lookout is the clearest example, and the new playground should make that difference even more noticeable.
So I’d be comfortable bringing a baby again, but I think toddlers and preschoolers are probably the sweet spot for Beardsley Zoo.
Beardsley Zoo vs. Southwick’s Zoo
Having visited both, we found the experiences pretty different.
Southwick’s Zoo seemed to have significantly more monkeys and primates, and overall it felt more focused on seeing a large variety of animals.
Beardsley felt smaller and easier to manage, particularly with a baby.
Which one is better really depends on what you want from the day.
If your priority is seeing as many animals as possible, we’d lean toward Southwick’s based on our experiences. If you want a relaxed zoo outing with younger kids, Beardsley’s size and shade are advantages.
Would We Visit Beardsley Zoo Again?
Yes, although I think we’d get more out of it once our baby is old enough to explore independently.
I’d especially like to come back when he could use the prairie dog lookout himself and try the new red panda playground.
For another animal-focused Connecticut outing, Mystic Aquarium was one of the highlights of our trip to Mystic with a baby.
That said, the next time we’re staying around Fairfield, we’ll probably try the Bronx Zoo instead. We’ve now seen Beardsley, and we’d like to experience a much larger zoo with a broader range of animals next time.
That’s not really a knock against Beardsley. They’re just very different types of zoo days.
Our Beardsley Zoo With Kids Verdict
Beardsley Zoo is worth visiting with kids, particularly if you’re already in Fairfield County or southern Connecticut.
It isn’t where I’d go specifically to see lions, tigers, elephants, rhinos or other huge animals.
What we liked was how manageable and comfortable the experience was with a baby.
The zoo was well shaded, the spider monkeys were active, and watching the Andean bears bathe near their waterfall was probably our favorite animal moment of the day. The greenhouse was an unexpected addition, while the prairie dog lookout, Farmyard, carousel and new playground give younger kids more to do than simply look at animals.
For us, it worked well as a relaxed few-hour family outing rather than an enormous destination-zoo day.
And if you’re paying regular admission, learn from us and buy the tickets online before you walk up to the gate.
Know Before You Go
| Location | 1875 Noble Avenue, Bridgeport, Connecticut |
| Hours | 9 a.m.–4 p.m. daily |
| Best for | Toddlers and younger kids, although we had a good experience with a baby |
| Our favorite animals | Spider monkeys and Andean bears |
| Best interactive feature | Prairie dog lookout |
| Unexpected highlight | Greenhouse and koi |
| Coming soon | Red Panda Playground |
| Ticket tip | Buy regular admission online or check your library for a discounted pass |
| Our verdict | A shaded, manageable smaller zoo that’s a good family outing if you’re visiting the Fairfield/Bridgeport area |
