Brookfield Zoo, Illinois
- Nature & parks
- In Brookfield, Illinois
- 1.6 mi from Route 66
Brookfield Zoo, renamed Brookfield Zoo Chicago in 2024, spreads across 216 acres in Brookfield, IL, about 1.6 miles off the old road. It opened in 1934, and no zoo in the Chicago metro area is bigger; roughly 511 animal species live here. For Route 66 travelers with kids, or anyone who wants a long outdoor break before or after the drive, it is a full-day stop close to the start of the route.
What is Brookfield Zoo?
Brookfield is a big, walkable zoo whose other official name is the Chicago Zoological Park. The land belongs to Cook County's Forest Preserve District, while the Chicago Zoological Society runs the zoo day to day.
From the start the zoo set itself apart with open-style enclosures that use moats and ditches to separate visitors from animals, rather than rows of bars. That approach won it international attention soon after it opened. It is regularly named among the best zoos in the country.
History of Brookfield Zoo
The gates opened on July 1, 1934. Brookfield was the first American zoo to put giant pandas on display; one of them, Su Lin, is now preserved and shown at the Field Museum in Chicago. In 1960 it opened the country's first fully indoor exhibit for bottlenose dolphins, and in the 1980s it added a fully indoor tropical rainforest, at the time the largest indoor zoo exhibit anywhere in the world. The name changed to Brookfield Zoo Chicago in 2024.
Visiting Brookfield Zoo: tips
Plan on most of a day; 216 acres is a lot of walking, so comfortable shoes help. Parking and restrooms are on site, the zoo is listed as wheelchair accessible, and it is set up for children.
The zoo is a short hop from Route 66 sights: the Berwyn Route 66 Museum is about 1.9 miles away, and the Oak Park Conservatory about 3.5 miles. Hawthorne Works, about 5 miles away, is another nearby museum stop.
Practical info
- Address
- 8400 31st St, Brookfield, IL 60513
- Phone
- +1 708-688-8000
- Website
- brookfieldzoo.org
- Hours
- Mon–Fri 10–5 · Sat, Sun 10–6
- On site & nearby
Sources: OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) · Wikidata · official site — may be outdated. Suggest a fix
Where to eat near Brookfield Zoo
All diners on Route 66 →
On the map
Full mapBrookfield Zoo with the 6 closest stops and a place to eat (fork and knife). Tap a marker for details.
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Stops near Brookfield Zoo
All of Illinois1.9 mi from Brookfield Zoo
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Questions about Brookfield Zoo
Where is Brookfield Zoo?
In Brookfield, IL, a suburb of Chicago, about 1.6 miles off the old Route 66 corridor.
How big is Brookfield Zoo?
It covers 216 acres and holds roughly 511 species, making it the biggest zoo in the Chicago area.
When did Brookfield Zoo open?
On July 1, 1934.
Own or run Brookfield Zoo? Send us a photo or a correction.