Before you can reserve your timed entry admission tickets you must have a login and password for the zoo’s website. Completing the process below in advance of reserving tickets will ensure a smooth process.

Step 1: Register for our website (if you have already registered for our website you can skip to step two).
Step 2: Check to make sure that your website registration is linked to your zoo membership.

Step 1: Register for our website: www.saczoo.org/register

1. To make sure your website registration links to your zoo membership, you need the following information as it appears on your membership card: your name, address, phone number, and email. (Note that each named member may create their own login with their own email address so that they may log in independently of one another.)
2. You will know that you have registered successfully when you receive a confirmation email

Step 2: Test your website registration: www.saczoo.org/membertest

1. You need to test your website registration to make sure that it links to your zoo membership and that your membership is active.
2. Make sure you are logged in to the website
   If you can add an attendee to your shopping cart for this test event, great, you are all set! Please do not click “add to cart”. It is not necessary to go through with this registration. It seems simple but if you are logged in and have the ability to add an attendee to this membership test then this really is the final step in the process.

Need assistance with this process? Call 916-808-5888 during regular business hours.

Once this process is complete, go the the Plan Your Visit page and scroll down to the orange “Buy Tickets” button to reserve your tickets for any open time slot.

I just purchased my membership online. Yay! How do I get into the zoo?
Your membership is active as soon as it is purchased! Simply show your photo ID at the Member Entrance on your first visit for admission. We will look up your record and verify your membership for entry (this will take a moment, thank you for your patience!) Be sure to stop by the Member & Visitor Services Office to pick up your physical membership card for use on subsequent visits. Membership cards are not mailed automatically to allow for more of your generous support to go to the care and feeding of our animals. If you would like a physical card mailed to you, contact the Member & Visitor Services office at 916-808-5888 or info@saczoo.org for assistance.

Digital membership cards are also available for your smart device. If we have your email address on file, you will automatically receive emailed instructions to download your card to your digital wallet within 48 hours your purchase. please see the FAQs for Digital Cards section below for more information.

A photo ID is required upon entry to verify proper use of your membership benefits.

How do I get my membership card?
If you purchase or renew your membership at the Member & Visitor Services Office, you will receive your membership cards that day! If you purchase your membership at the Member Entrance, over the phone, or online, your cards will be available for pick up at the Member & Visitor Services Office on your next visit. Membership cards are not mailed automatically to allow for more of your generous support to go to the care and feeding of our animals. If you would like a physical card mailed to you, contact the Member & Visitor Services office at 916-808-5888 or info@saczoo.org for assistance. Your membership begins at time of purchase, not when the cards are picked up.

You may also download a digital version of your card to your smartphone; please see the FAQs for Digital Cards section below for more information.

Will I need to show my photo ID to get into the zoo?
Yes, you will be asked to show a photo ID that matches the name on your card every time you visit the zoo.

Why am I asked to show my ID along with my membership card?
The safety of our members is very important to us, and we want to ensure that no one else is using your membership card.

What do I do if I lose my membership card?
A replacement membership card may be purchased for $5 at the Member & Visitor Services Office or over the phone at 916-808-5888. You may also download a digital version of your card to your smartphone; please see the FAQs for Digital Cards section below for more information.

If my card is lost/stolen, can I still come to the zoo?
Yes! We can look up your membership status using only your photo ID however you will not receive your Zoofari Market and Kampala Cafe discounts without your card.

I have a membership that allows for guests. Can a guest use my membership without me?
No. One of the members whose name is on the membership card must be present with their photo ID in order to use the membership.

If I don’t list a second adult, does that count as a guest?
If your level of membership allows guests, you can bring a guest regardless of whether a second name is listed on your card or not. If there is a second name on your card, that person can use the card in your absence.

Can my childcare provider/parent use my membership to bring my children to the zoo?
No, they cannot. However, we do have an optional add-on category that allows one named adult to be added to your membership in order to escort your children to the zoo. Call the Member & Visitor Services Office at 916-808-5888 or visit the Membership page for more information.

Can I upgrade my membership?
Yes!* You can upgrade your membership to a higher level any time during the course of your membership. Best of all, you only have to pay the difference!
*Membership upgrades will not change your expiration date.

Can I change the names on my cards or transfer my membership to someone else?
Yes, for a nominal fee. Call the Member & Visitor Services Office at 916-808-5888 for details.

Who can use my membership card?
Only the individuals named on the membership card may use the benefits and a corresponding photo ID must be presented at the time of admission.

How many people can I get into the zoo with my membership card?
The number of individuals admitted per visit is determined by the membership category. You may have received two identical cards at the time of purchase; this extra card is for your convenience and does not admit additional guests. If you would like to bring more people than your membership category covers, you may pay the regular daily admission rate OR purchase an Add-a-Guest or Add-a-Kid card.

Does my membership allow me to get into ticketed zoo events for free?
No, but members receive a discount on many of our events if the ticket is purchased during the “early bird” discount window. Call 916-808-5888 or email the Member & Visitor Services Office if you have questions about a specific event.

Is my membership tax deductible?
Membership is tax deductible less the fair market value of items received, whether used or not. The fair market value of benefits received is not substantial for the Member PLUS Pack level and below. Please email the Member & Visitor Services Office or call 916-808-5888 if you have questions regarding the fair market value of benefits received at the Zoo Builder level and above.

Is my membership refundable?
The Sacramento Zoo is a non-profit organization that relies heavily on membership dues to feed and care for the amazing animals at the zoo. Memberships are considered non-refundable tax-deductible donation. Thank you for your support!

By auto-renewing your membership, you’re choosing the most sustainable and convenient way to support the zoo you love.

• Provide continuous support for the care of the animals and zoo’s conservation efforts while enjoying the perks of membership year after year. Never worry about a lapse in benefits!
• Save paper and resources so your membership dues go toward the animal—not filling your mailbox and inbox with renewal notices.

How do I enroll in the auto-renewal option when I purchase or renew my membership?
For online purchases:  Visit our membership page and select the Join or Renew button. There is a check box for the option to renew automatically directly below the list of available categories. Check that box and you are enrolled!

For phone and in-person sales: Inform the Associate assisting you with your purchase and they will set it up during the transaction.

I am already a zoo member. How do I set up auto-renewal?
Contact the Member & Visitor Services office at 916-808-5888 and an Associate will be able to assist you. Please have your preferred credit card information available.

When will my credit card be charged?
Your credit card will be charged one day before your membership is due to expire. For example, if your membership is due to expire on September 30, 2022, your card will be charged on September 29, 2022.

Is my credit card information safe?
Yes! Your credit card is encoded in our secure database. Once entered, only the expiration date and last four digits of your card number are visible to our Member & Visitor Services staff.

I received a discount on my membership initial purchase. Will that discount be applied to my auto-renewal?
Unfortunately, no discounts can be applied to an auto-renewal. You will be charged the full advertised price of your current membership level at the time of renewal.

Will I receive a reminder about auto-enrollment before my credit card is charged?
Yes, you will receive an email approximately one month AND one week prior to your credit card being charged.

Can I cancel my auto-renewal enrollment?
Absolutely! Simply contact the Member & Visitor Services department at info@saczoo.org or 916-808-5888 to let us know your request to cancel enrollment in the auto-renewal option. As long as you cancel prior to the day BEFORE your membership expires, your card will not be automatically charged.  For example, if your membership is due to expire on June 30, please contact us by June 28 to cancel enrollment.

How much will I be charged for my renewal?
You will be charged the full advertised price of your current membership level at the time of renewal. Prices are subject to change and may increase occasionally to provide support for the care of the animals we all love.

How do I update my credit card information?
Contact the Member & Visitor Services office at 916-808-5888 and an Associate will be able to assist you. Once entered, your credit card is encoded in our secure database. Only the expiration date and last four digits of your card number are visible to the staff.

Will I be sent a new membership card when my credit card is charged?
We do not automatically mail physical membership cards so that more of your membership generous membership donation goes to the care and feeding of the animals. If you would prefer to have a physical card, simply stop by the Member & Visitor Services Office on your next visit and we will happily provide one at no charge. If you would like a physical card mailed to you, contact us at 916-808-5888 or info@saczoo.org.

If you have a digital membership card, your expiration date information will be updated within 48 hours of purchase. Information on digital membership cards can be found in the digital membership card section on this webpage.

I have a KidKeeper or Add-a-Guest/Kid membership add-on. Will that be renewed automatically?
Add-on memberships are processed independently from main memberships. Contact the Member & Visitor Services office at 916-808-5888 and an Associate will be able to assist you.

What are digital membership cards?
Beginning in 2018, the Sacramento Zoo began offering digital membership cards which can be saved to your smartphone. Digital cards mean you never have to worry about forgetting your membership card, in addition to being more environmentally friendly and helping to reduce administrative costs. When you buy a new membership or renew, you will receive an email through our partners at Cuseum to download your cards directly to your smartphone.

How do I add the membership card to my iPhone?
When you click “download,” the card will automatically go to your iPhone’s Apple Wallet. It can be accessed in Wallet at any time.

How do I add the membership card to my Android phone?
Android users need to download Wallet Passes from Google Play. After you have the app, click “download” in the membership email, and the card will automatically go to Wallet Passes, where it can be accessed at any time.

I’d prefer not to use this digital membership card, what should I do?
Simply stop by the Member & Visitor Services Office on your next zoo visit to request a physical card.

I don’t have a mobile phone, what can I do?
Simply stop by the Member & Visitor Services Office on your next zoo visit to request a free copy of your physical card.

I have a question about my membership benefits.
Visit the Member Benefits page or Email or call the Member & Visitor Services Office at 916-808-5888.

My name is spelled wrong/membership level is incorrect.
Email or call the Member & Visitor Services Office at 916-808-5888 and we would be happy to make the correction.

There are two adult names on my membership, how can the second person receive the card?
Navigate to the back of the card and use the “Share Pass” button to send the card to your secondary member. As always, we will request a corresponding photo ID upon entry to ensure that only named members are using your digital card.

I have a KidKeeper add-on to my membership. Can they get a digital card too?
Unfortunately, we cannot generate digital cards for add-on categories at this time. Simply have your KidKeeper stop by the Member & Visitor Services Office on their next zoo visit to request a physical card

I downloaded my card but I can’t find it
If you have an iPhone, the card will automatically download to Apple Wallet. Check the app for your new card (scroll through any cards that are already there–it may be hiding!). If you have an Android, you’ll need to download Wallet Passes from the Play Store prior to downloading the card.

Will I still need to show my Photo ID with my digital card?
Yes. The safety of our members is very important to us, and we want to ensure that no one else is using your membership benefits.

I bought a gift of membership for someone; will they receive an email to download their card?
No, gift recipients will not receive an email to download their card automatically. We wouldn’t want to ruin any surprises!

What is Plan-Ahead Pricing?

Plan-Ahead Pricing is a new pricing structure at the Sacramento Zoo that gives paying guests more options to save. By buying tickets at least a day in advance of their visit, guests paying for admission tickets can save money.

With this pricing structure, the Sacramento Zoo will become more accessible to many audiences and advance its mission to inspire appreciation, respect and a connection with wildlife and nature through education, recreation, and conservation.

How does Plan-Ahead Pricing work?

The Sacramento Zoo’s pricing calendar lists the prices for the next 60 days. Paying guests are encouraged to explore the calendar to find a day that fits both their schedule and their budget. Please note that prices may increase daily, so it’s best to purchase early to get the best price. The price will never be lower for a particular day than is currently listed. If you run into technical difficulties, call Member and Visitor Services at (916) 808-5888.

Why is the zoo adopting a new pricing structure?

We want the zoo to be a place that provides visitors with more options to accommodate both their budget and schedule.  In many cases, the starting ticket price listed will be lower than the admission fee prior to launch of this new structure.

Why do prices change every day?

Plan-Ahead Pricing means that different days and times have different prices based on several factors, including capacity, seasonality, and how many people are interested in that time. In general, prices for periods with higher estimated attendance will reflect higher demand. This allows us to more evenly spread-out visitors and help provide a consistent and positive guest experience.

I’m a member. How does Plan-Ahead Pricing impact me?

Members will still receive free admission tickets as dictated by your membership level. Fluctuations in admission prices will not impact the tickets covered by your membership.

However, many members bring additional guests that are not covered by their membership. Purchasing those extra tickets upon entry will always be the most expensive option. We highly encourage our members to plan ahead and purchase early when planning to bring a guest to the zoo.

If you bring an additional guest often, we suggest purchasing an Add-a-Guest or Add-a-Kid add-on to your existing membership. These membership add-ons allow you to bring one additional adult or child with every visit. Visit the Join or Renew page for pricing. These add-on memberships can only be purchased over the phone at 916-808-5888 or in person.

Does Plan-Ahead Pricing impact membership rates?

No, membership rates are not affected by Plan-Ahead Pricing. Membership rates will remain static regardless of changes to the daily admission rates.